GIRLS

WHAT IS THE GIRLS' INVITATIONAL?

How many tournaments have you been to where you're the only girl in the round? One of the few at the tournament? How many times have you been to a tournament and fewer than a third of the breaking teams comprise any person of your gender at all? How many times have you received a ballot that criticized your clothes instead of your arguments? Do you have women or other girls you can look up to in debate? Do you feel like you are knocked down in speaker points for the same style of debate that wins extra points for boys?
Well, this tournament is for you.

We invite you to join us through Tabroom and NSDA Campus on 12/5 to experience a tournament that is completely female centered -- all competitors, judges, and volunteers will be women. The winners? Women. The top speakers? Women. The judges? Women. Really.

We're here to connect female-identifying competitors in debate to create a space where we can share and problem solve about issues that affect them at all levels of debate and beyond.
We're looking to help foster mentorship relationships especially for girls who don't have adult women mentors to look to for advice. We want to connect high school and middle school girls with college student and adult mentors who can help them navigate the debate world.
It's more than a tournament, The Girls' Invitational is part of a movement.
*For our purposes, all femme/female identifying individuals, and those that experience marginalization because of their gender in debate, are welcome. Elsewhere where you see "girls" we are referring to all those identities for simplicity sake. Please see FAQ for more information.

WHAT EVENTS ARE OFFERED?
We are offering asynchronous rounds of Interpretive and Platform events (triple entry allowed), along with synchronous rounds of Parli, PF, and LD (only single entry in this pattern). Synchronous rounds of debate will run between panel discussions and interactive Zoom meetings moderated by women leaders and designed to empower and educate our registrants.

ASYNCHRONOUS
Dramatic Interpretation
Expository
Humorous Interpretation
Original Advocacy
Original Oratory
Original Prose/Poetry
Program Oral Interpretation
Duo Interpretation

DUO competitors MUST film separately and upload their performance as a split-screen video. Competitors who film together will be disqualified.

SYNCHRONOUS
Lincoln Douglas

NSDA LD Nov/Dec
Resolved: The United States ought to provide a federal jobs guarantee.

Public Forum

NSDA PF Nov/Dec
Resolved: The United States should adopt a declaratory nuclear policy of no first use.

DOUBLE ENTRY POLICY
Triple entry allowed for asynchronous events (speech). Only single entry is allowed for synchronous events (debate).

JUDGES
Women only.

RATIONALE AND FAQS - WOMEN IN DEBATE BY THE NUMBERS
We let the facts speak for themselves.

.2
Less speaker points, on average, than male counterparts
<20%
Women in the top 100 of NPTE rankings
<20%
Forensics directors who are women
2
Number of female-female teams that broke at 2015 NPTE
3
female-female teams in top 32 of the 2016 NPTE
25
teams with any girls on them of 57 in the 2015 NPDA championship

Read more at
https://issuu.com/speechanddebate/docs/2017_winter_rostrum_web/44.

FAQS

Find the answers to most commonly asked questions here!

DO I HAVE TO BE A WOMAN OR GIRL TO ATTEND?
Are you policing this?
The short answer is, if you identify with the statements above, and navigating debate and the world at large as a feminine-identifying or afab person, then this tournament is for you. If that is not your experience, it would not be. Male chaperones or adult presence will have a virtual lounge during the tournament but are not welcome as part of the forum or other events. We will not be policing those that enter but trust registrants to know whether this is an appropriate space for them.

WHY NO MEN?
Are we man haters?
Nearly the entire world is open to men. They have access to spaces and power that many of us never can enjoy. The conversation and experience is entirely different with them in the space. The point is to carve out a safe place for discussion and networking and to provide a much needed place where we can be the dominant voice for once in debate. We hope you understand that while we don't hate men, there are times when their voices are actually counterproductive and this is one of them.

CAN I JUST COME AND OBSERVE?
I don't do the events listed and am not comfortable learning in a short time, but this sounds cool!
Absolutely! We will post the link to the NSDA Campus tournament and you may observe and take part in our panel discussions. We highly encourage observers, particularly middle school girls interested in doing high school debate! That said, we prefer no amab observers, please see the section above.

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

THE GIRLS INVITATIONAL

5 December 2020

Information

Entry Price

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

THE GIRLS INVITATIONAL ​