UCLA

UCLA INVITATIONAL

2-3 December 2023

DEADLINE

23 November 2023
NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE

ELIGIBILITY

open to middle and high school students

LOCATION

Online through NSDA Campus

Information

The Debate Union at UCLA is pleased to invite you to the 2023 UCLA Invitational, which will be held online via Tabroom NSDA Campus from Saturday, December 2, to Sunday, December 3.

This competition is held by the Debate Union at UCLA, and is not hosted by or affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles, itself.

Logistics

Throughout the tournament, please refer to the live docs for updated information. The schedule, which may change on the day of the tournament if there are unforeseen delays, can be found here. All events will be using the NSDA topics for December 2023, when the tournament will take place.

We will offer Novice and Open divisions in all events. If an event does not have a sufficient number of entries, the Novice and Open divisions may be combined, or the event may be canceled altogether. Individual rounds, including elimination rounds, may be cut from certain events if the number of entries is low, or if time does not permit.

Initially, all entries will be waitlisted, then approved by tournament staff as judging requirements and registration fees are fulfilled.

Events
All events below have both a Novice and Open division.

Debate:
- Public Forum
- Lincoln Douglas
Speech:
- Original Oratory
- Original Advocacy
- Informative
- Dramatic Interpretation
- Humorous Interpretation
- Duo Interpretation
- Impromptu
- US Extemp
- International Extemporaneous
- Original Prose & Poetry
- Program Oratorical Interp

Depending on the number of entries, some events may have their Open and Novice divisions combined, or be canceled before the day of the tournament.

Double Entry Policy
Double entry in two speech events, or a speech event and a debate event, is technically permitted. However, it is the competitor’s responsibility to manage their rounds should they double enter.

Judges will be informed that if they have a double-entered participant, the participant should go first if possible. Double entered participants may enter a speech round later than the start time due to another event. However, it is not permitted for a double entered participant to enter a debate round late due to another event, as this will cause tournament-wide delays.

Team/Event Participant Caps
In order to ensure that we are able to offer this opportunity to smaller speech and debate teams, we will initially have a cap of 35 entries per school/institution. Starting from 3 weeks before the tournament, permitted that there is still room left, tournament staff will allow schools to enter additional entries.

Currently, the entry cap is set for 60 per speech event, and 50 per debate event (including Congress).

Judge Information
Although forensics experience is not required, judges should be proficient in English and be of at least 18 years of age. High school seniors will not be accepted as judges, though “first year out” judges are permitted.

In order to maintain a fair and equitable competition, judges must disclose any and all conflicts on Tabroom prior to the tournament. Conflicts include:

Competitors from the same institution as them (including any past institutions, such as an alma mater)
Competitors whom the judge knows personally
Competitors whom the judge is currently coaching, or has coached in the past
Competitors whom the judge will not be able to consider impartially for any reason (i.e. due to past judging experience, personal experience, etc.)

If it is discovered after rounds begin that a judge purposefully did not disclose a necessary conflict, a fine of $300 will be charged to the institution which the judge is affiliated with.

Judges are encouraged to post a paradigm on Tabroom, if they have not done so already.

Equity Policies
Matters such as unprofessional conduct or disputes over results should be reported to the tournament’s Equity Officer (see contact information above), and will be considered by the Equity Officer, the Captains, and the Tournament Director.

Code of Conduct
All debaters should conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner, keeping in mind that they are representing their teams and schools. Any disrespectful or harmful behavior towards other competitors or judges will not be tolerated and will be grounds for disqualification from the tournament. Dishonest behavior, such as internet usage during a debate round (not including the 15 minutes of open prep for Parliamentary Debate before the round), will also be grounds for disqualification.

Entry Price

One speech event and parent is judging $80
One speech event and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $150

Two speech events and parent is judging $110
Two speech events and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $180

One PF event and parent is judging $85
One PF event and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $185

One PF event + 1 speech event and parent is judging $115
One PF event + 1 speech event and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $215

One LD event and parent is judging $100
One LD event and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $200

One LD event + 1 speech event and parent is judging $130
One LD event + 1 speech event and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $230

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.

Schedule

Please click below to view the schedule. Make sure you are looking at the right speech or debate event.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nEOxuZEw6OC4EYZ4_lBgD4kmV5pxgunM0s60NiAe-Kc/edit#heading=h.6jgih2ruilkd

Drop Fee

Changes or drops made after the deadline will be charged a nuisance fee by the tournament. 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: vrivasumana@tgsastaff.com
Nadia Budiman
Contact email: nbudiman@tgsastaff.com
Or info@tgsastaff.com

Registration Form

STUDENT INFORMATION

* Indicates required field

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

If this is your first time competing, make sure to first create a Tabroom account here: https://www.tabroom.com/user/login/new_user.mhtml
It's super simple and quick (<1 minute), but follow the guidelines here in case anything is confusing: https://docs.tabroom.com/Sign_Up

PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Your email address will be the one included when we send the logistics email.

Parent Name *

First

Last

Parent Email *

Parent Phone Number *

EVENT SELECTION
Double entry in two speech events, or a speech event and a debate event, is technically permitted. However, it is the competitor’s responsibility to manage their rounds should they double enter.

JUDGE PROVISION

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? Click here to learn how to do it! Or watch our Youtube playlist here.
There are also these training cards available that include a summary of each event's rules and comments.

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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

Submit/take to payment

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

School year Hours

M-F: 3:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Telephone

510-270-8480
510-470-0531

Email (preferred)

For more info email us at: info@tgsastaff.com

Locations

Fremont: 200 Brown Rd #201, Fremont, CA 94539

Cupertino: 20432 Silverado Avenue Suite 211, Cupertino, CA 95014

Aborn Institute: 2804 Riedel Road, San Jose, CA 95135