We
welcome parents and family supporting their children’s growth as speakers!
We
ask that you abide by our tournament rules.
Basic
Rules
·
You may watch your child debate in their
debating/speaking room (on Zoom or in a classroom).
We suggest you gauge how comfortable your child is with you watching.
If they don’t want you there, it is a sign that they care about your opinion.
·
No video recording, no photographs, no
screen shots during debate or speech rounds.
WA state law forbids photographing people without their written permission.
·
Please, no talking with students from
other schools.
·
Remain neutral and quiet during the
round. You may applaud for all competitors after the final speech.
·
We encourage you to be supportive of
your debater/speaker.
Coaching
your Kid
Assuming
it is okay with your school/program coach and your child, you can coach your
child.
These
are the restrictions:
1.
You cannot coach in any way during the round. (note: in middle school 3 on 3
debate, the round begins when the topic is announced)
2.
You should not write out arguments for your child. You can edit, you can
suggest but your child should do the work—that is learning.
3.
Read the rules for the event your child is in; this will greatly help in the
advice you provide.
4.
You AGREE to be supportive of your child whether they win or lose, have a great
or a not so great speech.
Complaint about a
judge? Two things:
·
1) Remember not everyone agrees even
if you feel really strongly your child should have won.
·
2) If a judge violated a rule and
especially if they did not treat students with courtesy and respect—please report
it to your coach who can bring the issue to the attention of the tournament
directors.
·
Decisions are changed only in
egregious cases.
IN-PERSON? PLEASE
DO NOT TAKE FOOD UNLESS YOU KNOW YOUR COACH
HAS PAID FOR YOU AS A PARENT/FAMILY MEMBER TO EAT THE FOOD.