bpBethel Park Forensics
309 CHURCH RD., BETHEL PARK, PA 15102
Coach:John MasslonCaptain:Emily Augustine
Assistant:Pat ZenzAssociate Captain:Danika Moody
November 30, 2015
Dear Colleague,
You are cordially invited to the 29th Annual Black Hawk Invitational to be held February 12 and 13, 2016. We will provide competition in Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Program of Oral Interpretation (POI), Prose/Poetry (rounds alternate between Prose and Poetry), Original Oratory, Extemporaneous Speaking (rounds alternate between domestic and international topics), Congressional Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Parliamentary Debate.
In speech events, depending upon the number of entries in each event, we will either have five preliminary rounds and break to quarterfinals or six preliminary rounds and break to semifinals. Rounds on Saturday will either be power paired or lag-power paired. There will be six preliminary rounds of debate. Rounds 1 and 2 will be random. Rounds 3-6 will be power paired or lag-power paired. All 4-2’s will break. There will be two preliminary sessions of Congressional Debate and a supersession.
LOCATION: Bethel Park High School - 309 Church Rd., Bethel Park PA, 15102. Please do not park in the
lot next to the stadium. Instead, park in the lot across the street from the stadium.
HOTEL:85 rooms have been reserved for Friday night and a limited number have been reserved for Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, 164 Fort Couch Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. The hotel is a 1.7 mile/4 minute drive from Bethel Park High School. The rate is $109+tax. The block is open until January 29, 2016 under “Bethel Park Forensics.” Reservations can be made with Colleen at (412) 347-0351.
FEES:$10.00 per student
$10.00 School Fee – Waived for schools with less than ten students
Entry fees are locked at the close of registration
Checks are payable to: Bethel Park Activity Fund
JUDGES:1 per 5 students (or fraction thereof) in Speech/Congress
1 per 3 in Lincoln-Douglas
1 per 3 in Public Forum
1 per 2 in Parliamentary Debate
We have a limited number of judges for hire at $150.00 per judge.
RULES:NSDA rules apply to all events with the exception of Parliamentary Debate (PHSSL rules) and Prose/Poetry (CFL rules)
PARLI:Rounds 2, 3, 5, 6: This House would incorporate the right to be charged by a
grand jury into the Fourteenth Amendment.
Remaining rounds: Impromptu Rounds
CONGRESS:All schools participating in Congress may submit bills for consideration. Bills must be submitted via email to by Friday, January 29. The bills will be posted on January 31.
AWARDS:All break round participants will receive awards.
SWEEPS:Sweepstakes Awards will be given to the top two schools in speech and to the top
two schools in debate. Two schools will be recognized in the overall
category. In addition, two schools with less than 10 entries will be recognized in the overall category. Only preliminary rounds will be counted
SPEECH: Top 10 entries will be counted.
DEBATE: Top two entries in each event will be counted. For Congress, points will be halved
when calculating sweepstakes points.
OVERALL: Total of speech and debate.
REGISTRATION: Will be conducted via tabroom.com beginning on December 15, 2015. Registration will
close at 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Drops can be made on tabroom until the tournament begins.
You can either use the online tabroom check-in procedure or register in person at the tournament. If you use the tabroom check-in procedure, you can pick up your registration packet and pay anytime on Friday.
SCHEDULE:
Friday:
2:45-3:30RegistrationLibrary
4:00General MeetingAuditorium To follow Rounds 1-3
Saturday:
7:30Extemp competitors to the Prep Room
7:30 Round 4 – Debate
8:00 Round 4 – Speech
Session 2 – Congress
To followRounds 5, 6, and break rounds
5:00Awards
FOOD:
Competitors:
On Friday,grilled cheese sandwiches, veggie wraps and walking tacos will be sold.
On Saturday, a homemade lunch prepared by our parents will be available for $6.00.
Snacks will be available throughout the tournament.
Adults:
A hospitality area will be available on Friday and Saturday. Our parents will once again provide their delicious buffet as our thank you.
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SPIRIT OF FORENSICS
This plaque is awarded in memory of Ajay Tandon, a former competitor in LD Debate and Congress (sometimes Extemp) and captain of the Bethel Park team who lost his valiant fight against cancer in June of 1997. Ajay was our spiritual leader, dedicated to the success of the team and the friendships that can and do develop among competitors. This award goes to an individual, nominated by his/her team that best exemplifies leadership and a willingness to aid the team through peer coaching, competition, cheer-leading, etc. The nominee need not be one who is a top competitor who is always a finalist; but one who is there week after week, practicing his or her craft and looks upon the competition as being as important as the winning. Nominations from coaches are to be by letter and must include a description of the characteristics and activities that exemplify “The Spirit of Forensics”. Please email as a Word document to . Nominations should be received no later than January 31.