COMMUNITY
Changes to Supplemental and Consolation Events for the 2020 National Tournament
A
s we reflect on the growing size and number of competition opportunities afforded at the National Tournament, the NSDA has decided to pilot a change to the tournament structure. At the 2020 National Tournament, we will explore turning consolation events (Impromptu and Storytelling) into supplemental events, as well as running all supplemental speech events using a traditional tournament model. We believe this change will maximize the educational potential of the tournament experience and reduce logistical challenges for attendees.
in all supplemental speech events are guaranteed a full day of competition on Wednesday through three preset preliminary rounds. On Thursday, each event will break to the appropriate level of elimination rounds based on the size of the pool. These elimination rounds will be in the form of a single elimination bracket. Competition will continue through Thursday until final rounds are held on Friday. Supplemental speech events will remain open to double entry, and the Executive Director will determine appropriate double entry patterns based on entry numbers from previous National Tournaments.
Logistical Details of the Pilot
We believe this pilot would give more attention to Storytelling and Impromptu events, as well as move to a system that guarantees a more robust educational experience for students. Guaranteeing three preliminary rounds on Wednesday means that every student in the National Tournament has a chance to receive three full days of competition. Because consolation events eliminate
All supplemental events, including Extemporaneous Debate, Impromptu, and Storytelling, will begin on Wednesday and be available for students who have finished competing in their main event by Tuesday evening. Due to the size of the pool, Extemp Debate will continue to use a double down model. Students
Philosophy of the Pilot
students after one down, half of the students in Impromptu and Storytelling only receive a one-hour long competition opportunity on Thursday. Now that final rounds begin as early as 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, there are educational opportunities for all students each day of the tournament, even for students who have been eliminated from competition on Wednesday.
Who the Pilot Affects All students eliminated from competition on Wednesday in both main events and supplemental events will no longer have any competitionrelated activities on Thursday before finals begin at 1:00 p.m. This new system will affect round 9 qualifiers in main event debate and speech, House quarterfinalists, and Senate semifinalists who do not qualify for competition in these events on Thursday. This also affects students who, in previous years, entered in two supplemental speech events, were eliminated on Wednesday, and then entered a consolation event. Based on past tournament data of re-registered students, this will affect about five to seven percent of the debate
Summary of Pilot Changes for 2020 • Impromptu and Storytelling will be turned into supplemental events • Supplemental speech events will use a traditional tournament model • Three guaranteed prelim rounds on Wednesday • Single elimination round bracket on Thursday
and speech pool and up to 15 percent of the newly expanded Congressional Debate pool. However, given the move to a traditional tournament model, the number of guaranteed rounds offered students will remain the same.
Next Steps We will solicit community feedback before and after the pilot at the 2020 National Tournament. Based on your feedback, we may adjust our tournament structure for future National Tournaments. Lauren Burdt is the Big Questions Manager for the NSDA.
Questions or feedback about the 2020 Nationals pilot? Please contact lauren.burdt@speechanddebate.org. 12
ROSTRUM | APRIL/MAY 2019