General Information

SOUTHERN BELL FORUM PHILOSOPHY: 

We regard our tournament as a non-profit affair. Our only hope is that we can host a national-caliber tournament that can operate with a moderate loss. We are certain that our many hospitality offerings and quality awards will assure you that we are not profit-oriented. We plan to run the tournament the weekend of January 2 - 4 regardless of weather conditions at the time.   

ENTRY FEES:  

The entry fee will be $250. Make all checks payable simply to: Montgomery Bell Academy. To ensure an entry slot for your team, the registration form must arrive by Friday, December 12. A series of anonymous donors are committed to ensuring that all individuals and schools are able to attend this event. If attending would require an exceptional personal sacrifice for an invited student, please let us know. We will work with you to ensure all invited students are able to attend. 

REGISTRATION: 

Registration will occur on Friday, January 2 at the tournament hotel (to be announced in a subsequent communication). Registration will occur from 8:30-10:00PM. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION ONLY, IF YOU CANNOT REGISTER DURING THE ABOVE HOURS, PLEASE CALL US AT (214) 490-3260 and we will ensure that you get registered first thing Saturday, January 3. 

THE TOURNAMENT:  

There will be ten rounds of competition on Saturday and Sunday. Draw will be held 30 minutes before the beginning of each round. A cross - examination period will be utilized for every round, using the OLD NFL format which featured a 3-minute open cross-examination period. There will be four sections in each round with four competitors in each section. We will stagger draw by 15 minutes. In our format, each competitor meets every other competitor exactly one time over the course of the first five rounds and exactly once in the second five rounds. We will run a closed tab room. Ballots will be released following the Awards Assembly. To receive your trophy and ballots, you MUST be present for the Awards Assembly. Please make your reservations and travel plans accordingly for leaving on Monday, January 5. 

JUDGING:  

We will be utilizing guest judges for some rounds, as well as experienced Extemp judges who will be in Nashville for the Southern Bell Forum. The esteemed coaches from attending schools will, however, provide the bulk of the adjudication. Each section will utilize the standard round robin format of three judges in each round. NOTE: A change from previous years is that we can no longer accept parent judges (unless, of course, they are the official coach of the school) or first year college students (without prior approval) as school judges. I do have a few judges available for hire. If you require outside judging, please let me know and I will put you in touch with someone. You will have to make your own arrangements with these individuals—often, they require little more than transportation, lodging, and basic incidental expenses.