IPDA National Championship and Convention 2013-2014

The International Public Debate Association would like to cordially invite you to be in attendance at our annual National Championships and Convention to be held April 10-13, 2014. Our host will be Middle Tennessee State University. Pat Richey and his fine squad are hard at work to make this a memorable weekend. The national championship tournament will feature 8 preliminary rounds of debate in all three IPDA individual debate divisions and 4 preliminary rounds in IPDA Team debate. Please note that Team IPDA has been designated as a Varsity division and is scheduled to run on Thursday, April 10. MTSU is trying to locate enough rooms for a series of exhibition rounds of IPDA Team for a Professional division. More information will be posted on the IPDA Website if room availability allows for these exhibition rounds (no sweepstakes points will accrue).
In addition, the IPDA will also be hosting its National Convention prior to the beginning of individual, competitive rounds on Friday, April 11. This is an excellent opportunity for students and directors alike to feature debate-specific academic work in an educational and professional environment. If you are interested in presenting at our convention, or know someone who is, please contact IPDA Managing Director, Mary G. Jarzabek via email at mary.jarzabek@LSUS.edu. Paper presentations are scheduled after Friday's registration again this year. We hope this will enable everyone to attend this convention event.
Thank you for your interest in IPDA and for your attendance at our association's premier event. We look forward to seeing you in Murfreesboro, TN this April!
Sincerely,
M.G. "Jorji" Jarzabek -318-797-5318
mary.jarzabek@LSUS.edu
IPDA Managing Director
Louisiana State University in Shreveport

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
ENTRY PROCEDURE AND DEADLINE : Entry deadline is 5:00 PM, Friday, April 4. We prefer emailed entries to the Managing Director, but will accept fax or mailed entries. Each entry change (including adds or drops) made after 5:00 PM, Tuesday, April 8 will be assessed a $20 per change add/drop fee per individual change. PLEASE NOTE: The Executive Committee of IPDA reserves the right to review and make changes to the name used to identify independent programs during the National Championship Tournament.

RULES AND ENTRIES : Each "program" as defined by the IPDA Constitution may enter as many contestants as it wishes, space permitting. Three individual divisions will be offered: NOVICE, VARSITY, and PROFESSIONAL. Team debate offers the Varsity division only. If you have any questions about division eligibility, you can find your answers in the IPDA Constitution and Bylaws located on the web at ipdadebate.info. The tournament will follow IPDA guidelines and regulations as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws. The time format for individual debate will be 5-2-6-2-3-5-3. Team debate times are: 4-2-5-2-5-2-4-2-3-4-4-3.
JUDGES : You will notice on the entry form there is no price for uncovered entries. That is because this IS NOT AN OPTION! We require that each program cover its entries to ensure a diverse and equitable judging pool. One judge will cover up to four debaters and/or two teams. Programs are mandated to meet this requirement (so for every four debaters or two teams you enter you MUST bring a judge!). All judges are obligated to ALL rounds including ALL outrounds. Necessity may not call for them to be used every round, but we need them as an option. PLEASE TAKE THIS REQUIREMENT VERY SERIOUSLY! Additionally, competitors who do not break must be on standby as judges in case they are needed for outrounds. We will minimize their use as much as possible, but some will be needed in order to keep our elimination schedule moving along.
Judging for the National Championship Tournament
To maintain consistency and fairness for the National Championship Tournament, participating