February 4, 2024
Dear Debate Coaches:
Balmoral Hall School invites you to the 2024 Junior High Provincial Debating Championship for Grade 8 and Grade 9 students.
Date: Sunday, March 10th, 2024
Location: Balmoral Hall School, 630 Westminster Avenue
Time: Competitor & Judge Registration - 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Briefing for Judges - 12:20 PM – 12:50 PM - All judges must attend the briefing to receive the scoring guidelines used at this tournament.
Awards - Approximately 5:15 PM
There will be three impromptu rounds of parliamentary debate. The preparation time will be 20 minutes. The government will be required to share the definition during the first 5 minutes of preparation.
Speaking times will be a maximum of 6 minutes for constructive speeches and 3 minutes for rebuttals. There is no minimum time. Points of Information are allowed and expected during the constructive speeches, with 1 minute of protected time on either end of the speech. Heckling is not allowed. There will NOT be a novice category at this tournament.
Snacks will be provided. Awards will be presented at approximately 5:15 PM.
Schools may send a maximum of 3 teams to the Manitoba Junior Provincials at Balmoral Hall, plus 1 extra team for each MSDA tournament they have held or will hold this year. Depending upon numbers, it may be possible to send additional teams. If you would like to do so, please indicate this on the registration document. We will respond regarding the potential of sending additional teams by March 4th.
Schools are required to bring one judge per team. If you are bringing student judges, they must be experienced debaters in grade 11 or 12, as we do not have a novice category. Experienced Grade 10 debaters are permitted to judge with prior approval from the tournament organizer. If you are able to bring additional judges, please let me know so I can ensure there are an adequate number of judges for the tournament. Copies of the rules are available on the Manitoba Speech and Debate Association website. https://sites.google.com/site/manitobadebate/resources-for-debaters-and-coaches/rules-and-scoresheets/parliamentary-debate-rules
The top teams in this competition will represent Manitoba at the Junior National Debate Championships in Halifax from May 17 to May 19, not including travel days. Selection of teams for the nationals is based on the rule that no school can send more than 1 team until all schools with teams in the top half of the tournament are sending 1 team. After that, any remaining places will be filled by teams based solely on their rank in the tournament regardless of school.
Please complete your registration by accessing the following link and completing the form. The deadline for registration is February 27th. Please email me if you have any questions, or phone me at 784-1600 ext 637. We look forward to seeing you at the 2023/24 Junior High Provincial Debating Championships.
Registration Forms:
School Participation Registration Form:
Judge Registration Form:
Sincerely,
Carissa Balcaen,
Balmoral Hall School Speech & Debate Program Coordinator
cbalcaen@balmoralhall.ca
AGENDA
11:45 – 12:00 p.m. Registration for Competitors & Judges in the Atrium at Balmoral Hall School
11:45 – 12:15 p.m. Briefing for Moderators– Library
12:20 – 12:50 p.m. Briefing for Judges– Room 107
12:20 – 12:30 p.m. Competitor Briefing – Sifton Family Theatre
Please go to the Sifton Family Theatre. You will receive your room assignment as part of the briefing. Your room assignment paper will indicate whether you are the government or opposition side.
12:30 – 12:55 pm Round I - 20 Minute Impromptu Preparation – Motion Release in Theatre
12:55 – 1:50 p.m. Round I Debate
1:50 – 2:00 pm Break
2:00 – 2:25 p.m. Round II - 20 Minute Impromptu Preparation – Motion Release in Theatre
2:25 – 3:15 p.m. Round II Debate
3:15 – 3:25 p.m. Break
3:25 – 3:50 p.m. Round III - 20 Minute Impromptu Preparation – Motion Release in Theatre
3:50 – 4:40 p.m. Round III Debate
5:15 p.m. Awards – Sifton Family Theatre