OBSERVERS

The most popular competitions for families and friends to attend are the Mark Reitz Memorial Tournament in January (hosted by Lodi Mock Trial), the Regional Tournament in February, and the State Tournament in March. However, family and friends are welcome at all competitions!

All observers must promote the ideals of good sportsmanship and show respect to the opposing team, other observers, coordinators, judges, and volunteers. Please be aware that the team can be penalized for poor behavior by any of our observers.
Observers are allowed to enter and exit courtrooms or classrooms during trials, as long as their movement is not disruptive to the performance. If possible, please try to enter or exit during transitional moments, such as when a witness is coming on or off the stand.
Before entering the courtroom or classroom, please ensure that your phone is on silent to avoid distractions.

Observers are not allowed to talk to, text, signal, or otherwise communicate with students during a trial. This rule remains in effect even during emergency recesses.
If you need to contact a student during the competition, please text Mrs. Potter, who will relay your message as soon as possible. Students may contact family or friends only after the trial has concluded.

Coaches, alternates, and observers must remain in the spectator section of the courtroom. Only students participating in the round may sit inside the bar and communicate with each other.
Observers must sit behind the Lodi team during the trial and not behind the opposing team. In some courtrooms, seating may be limited, but if there are empty seats behind the opposing team after the trial begins, we are permitted to move into those available spots.

All team members must ride school-provided transportation to and from events unless the principal has granted prior authorization.
Students may ride home with their own parents, but the parent must sign out the student with the coach before leaving the event.
Parents wishing to have their child ride home with another adult must submit a written request to the principal and coach before the event. The principal and coach must also hear from the adult providing the ride, confirming their responsibility.

No Lodi Gear

At the Regional and State Tournaments, teams must remain anonymous to the judges; therefore, teams are referred to by a number throughout the day. For this reason, no one, not even spectators, can wear or bring any Lodi gear or clothing into the courtroom.

Metal Detectors

Most courthouses require security to operate the metal detectors during competitions. This often requires additional time for you to get into the building.

Competition Schedule

Each team competes in four trials, but we can't be sure when your child will perform. We aren’t told until minutes before each trial which side will present that round. It is possible that our team could play one side of the case three times.
An agenda with approximate times is given to us before the day of the competition. Know that these times are approximate and that a round could end earlier or later than estimated, thus causing subsequent breaks, lunch, rounds, and awards to be impacted by this shift in time either earlier or later. (Usually later!)

No Electronic Devices

IMPORTANT: During the tournaments, coaches, team members, and observers are prohibited from using any electronic devices, including any computer or phone of any kind, to communicate with anyone concerning the conduct of any trial round, including any information concerning the performance, presentation, members, appearance, or conduct of our own team or any other team. This prohibition applies to communication by blog, email, text message, Twitter, or in any other way on a computer, cell phone, or other device.
The only permissible use of an electronic device is to disseminate posted information (such as the location and time of a round).

No Spying

Team members, alternates, attorney-coaches, teacher-coaches, and all other persons directly associated with a mock trial team are not allowed to view any other teams' performances during the competition.

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