BIG BLUE

The Big Blue Invitational is a one-day online tournament that offers competitors the ability to showcase their skills in Public Forum Debate. Our tournament is open to competitors of all levels, specifically catering to students in the high school and middle/junior high debate circuit. We recognize that this will take place at the end of the debate season. With that in mind, we strive to provide the most reliable, equitable, and fun experience, prioritizing an educational backdrop at this competition.

Format:This tournament will be held virtually through Zoom, with PF Debate taking place synchronously.

Eligibility: We welcome competitors from high school and middle schools of all levels of experience.

Events: Our tournament will offer Public Forum Debate. The NSDA Manual will serve as the official standard for adjudication. The PF Debate topic will be the April 2024 topic.

Awards: All finalists in each event will receive awards. Awards will be mailed following the completion of the tournament.

Entry Price

PF debate and parent is judging $70
PF debate and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $200

Each person in a PF team would be responsible of providing their own judge, so one PF team would need to either provide two judges, both pay the judge fee, or one of each option.

Registration will not be complete until payment is received.

NOTE: We will charge set up fees if we have to create tabroom.com accounts for judges. It is recommended you do so on your own.

Tentative Schedule

Please note that all times are in EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST).
Green listed times have been converted into PST.

(elimination rounds are subject to change based on entry numbers, debate rounds will be accelerated where possible)

Sunday, May 5 (all times are in Eastern Time)
9:30 AM - Introductory Remarks & Attendance / Judge Training --- 6:30 AM PST
10:30 AM - PF Debate Round 1 --- 7:30 AM PST
12:15 PM - PF Debate Round 2 --- 9:15 AM PST
2:00 PM - PF Debate Round 3 (power-matched) --- 11:00 AM PST
3:45 PM - PF Debate Semifinals --- 12:45 PM PST
5:15 PM - PF Debate Finals --- 2:15 PM PST
7:00 PM - Awards Ceremony --- 4:00 PM PST

Drop Fee

Drop fees will be the same amounts as the entry fee PLUS any fees the tournament charges us for late drops. Drop requests should be made to Victor and Nadia.

Please do not drop out last minute to avoid being charged these fees.

Contact Info

Victor Rivas Umana
Contact email: [email protected]
Nadia Budiman
Contact email: [email protected]
Or [email protected]

Registration Form

Student Name *

First

Last

Student Email (make sure you have a Tabroom account) *

Student Phone Number *

Does the student have a Tabroom account? *

Yes and it is linked with GSA's account(s) Yes but it is not linked and we need you to add to your roster No but I will create one before submitting registration No but I will pay the additional $35 setup fee

JUDGE PROVISION
This tournament has a powerpoint of their judge training from 2024's tournament. Please review it to make sure you know what is expected.
PF Judging Slides
Another tournament has also created this easy-to-use PF judging guidelines. Please take a look at them if this is your first time judging.
PF Judging Guidelines

Will you (parent) be judging at this tournament? *

Judge Name *

Judge email (Must be linked to a tabroom account. Register first at tabroom.com before completing this sign up) *

Judge phone *

Does your judge have a Tabroom account? *

Yes No but I will create one before submitting registration No but I'll pay the additional $35 setup fee Not judging

Does your judge understand that he/she is responsible for the entire tournament schedule and that missing a round incurs fines from the tournament? *

Yes, understood Not judging but understood as well

Click here to complete the highly recommended Cultural Competency judge training course

Signing up a judge without having a Tabroom account will result in us charging you for the set up fee.
You can do this easily on your own by going to tabroom.com. It literally takes less than a minute.

First time judging?
This is a great collection of short videos that one of the leagues have put together to learn each event: click here.
There are also these training cards available that include a summary of each event's rules and comments.
Click here to find other training and official certification resources. Or watch our Youtube playlist here.

Tournaments encourage judges to have a paradigm on their Tabroom account, which can be a few sentences on your preferences of debating styles, etc. See here for example. It doesn't need to be this long, but make sure to add something before you sign up. For example: "I am a parent, please speak clearly and slowly and avoid technical jargon".

More tournament resources can be found here.

I will keep a copy of this form for reference. *

YES

We are signing up with the understanding that my child will work to be ready by the tournament date. If we choose to drop out because my child is not ready that will be considered when making assessments for future classes. *

YES

I understand that if I fail to drop the tournament before the deadline that I will still be responsible for the fees of both my son or daughter, along with that of his or her partner and the fines. *

YES

I understand that if payment is not received we won't be registered and our spot will be given up to someone else. *

YES

I confirm that I have completed all necessary paperwork for this tournament. *

YES

I understand that The Golden State Academy has no control over tournament entries other than the initial sign up. I understand that my child's priority will be based on either the last time I signed up OR the date paid, whichever is latest. *

YES

I understand that my child must check in and check out periodically at the tournament with the coach and that if I do not my child will be barred from participating in following tournaments. This is to ensure coaches can see where students are at competitively and to give any initial feedback for improvement. *

YES

I understand that I can check my entry status through tabroom.com. *

YES

I am a consenting adult. I understand that by submitting this form I agree to all that has been covered. *

YES

BIG BLUE INVITATIONAL

5 May 2024

Information

Entry Price

Tentative Schedule

Drop Fee

Contact Info

Registration Form

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.
Check our home page for the schedule!

School year Hours

Telephone

Email (preferred)

Locations

BIG BLUE INVITATIONAL

5 May 2024

Information

​Entry Price

Tentative Schedule

Drop Fee

Contact Info

Registration Form

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.Check our home page for the schedule!

School year Hours

Telephone

Email (preferred)

Locations

Entry Price

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.
Check our home page for the schedule!