• Setup:

  This status is used while the tournament is still being setup.

• Open:

  This status means tournament registration is open. Families can register for the tournament.

• Drops Only:

  This status means only registration drops are allowed. There are no new entries allowed but families can drop entries.

• Closed:

  This status means registration is currently closed for the tournament. There are no adds or drops allowed. Please contact the tournament director with any questions.

• Completed:

  This status means the tournament is completed.

WELCOME Cactus Clash Judges!

Decision in Room Process 

The START of the round: 

The round will commence as per STOA rules.  The competitors from each side will introduce themselves and ask the judge to provide their judging philosophy.  Once this has been completed they will begin the round.  Once again the round will be executed per STOA rules

1. Team Policy Debate Rules and Procedures
2. Lincoln Douglas Debate Rules and Procedures
3. Parliamentary Debate Rules and Procedures 

AFTER the round: 

When the round has come to a completion, the competitors will exit the room and wait outside the door.  The competitors will not pack their items at this time, they will wait to pack up their items after the decision and feedback have been shared. 

You have a couple of resources to help you formulate your decision on the judges table, including: 

• A summary from the live training
• Judge feedback form

10 minutes for Judge Deliberation:

1. Set your timer for 10 minutes.
2. Decide the winning team and circle your decision on the ballot.
3. Circle the speaker points and total the points for each debater.
4. Text a picture of the front of your ballot to the number provided by the tournament.  Logistics Staff will be in the hall outside your door to help with any questions you may have.
5. After the picture is texted, invite the students back into the room to give them your immediate feedback. 

15 minutes for Verbal Feedback to Debaters in the Debate Room:

1.  Set your timer for 15 minutes.
2. Tell the debaters who won and give the reason for your decision.
3. Tell debaters any feedback about the debate that will help them become better communicators.
4. Answer questions of the debaters.
5. After timer goes off, please dismiss the competitors so they can go to their next event.

 Notes:

1. If you ask for evidence to review, please take that into account and reduce your decision time or the feedback time for students.
2. The total time for decision and feedback is 25 minutes for all debate events. You will have an additional 20 minutes after giving the decision to make additional notes to the students, either on the feedback sheet or on the back of the ballot.
3. Once you complete any additional notes. Please return your ballot and any notes you wish to give the students to ballot collect.

Cornerstone Family Church

10215 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

Remember, we are Guests!

Trash: Pick it up!

Parking: Please save the parking lot spaces close to the building for our Community Judges. Competitors may park at the back or the south side .

Student Area: Outside. The mild October weather is great in Arizona! There is no outside seating, so consider bringing camping chairs. Please do not leave them out overnight.

Weather: Mornings and evenings are cool in the desert. A sweatshirt or jacket will be appreciated!

Student meals: Pre-purchased student meals will be picked up in the Student Area. Food coolers may be placed in the student area during the day, but please do not leave them out overnight.

Only water is allowed in the competition rooms, Worship Center, and hallways.

Personal crockpots: Can not be used at this facility.

As you might expect, no smoking is allowed on the church property.

Parents

You will need to check in at the same time as your student. After confirming that both competitor and parent judge are present, the student will be able to compete.

We are blessed by the support of many community judges but you are the lifeblood of Cactus Clash! Your presence on campus and willingness to take ballots are essential. Check with Ballot Push 45 to 30 minutes before rounds to see if you are needed to take a ballot.

Please plan on judging every other round. Ballot Push will let you know each round whether or not you are needed.

Even though you will select specific rounds on your registration, please be flexible at the tournament. We want to prioritize community judges that have taken time out of their day to judge our students!

Greatest Need

Our greatest need is often the first and last rounds of the day.  Please do your best to be at the ballot table early so that all ballots can be pushed AND we can start the round on time.

Each registered student needs to have at least one of their own parents judging for them every day of the tournament. Thank you for your understanding and efforts to make Cactus Clash Amazing!

Parent Meals

We invite you to enjoy coffee, snacks and standard meals.  Use this fuel to help keep you energized for judging.  

Learn more about the Professional Speech and Debate Coaches attending Cactus Clash or helping to create an amazing tournament. 

To get more details about the Professional Coaches please click on their logos to link you to their homepages.  

Another great benefit to attending the tournament...look for Coaches tables at the tournament.  You can sit one on one with the coaches to discuss your case or any other areas you need assistance with.  All of this for free when you signup as a competitor for our tournament.

At Nile Debate, we transform passionate students into formidable debaters who confidently tackle any challenge. With our expert coaching and proven strategies, we equip our students to dominate the competition and emerge as leaders in the world of debate. Join us and conquer the debate stage with unparalleled skill and conviction.

Coach Vaughan has been working with Christian Speech and Debate students since 2006. Having done this for so long, he knows how students can connect better with the judges. Coach Vaughan approaches all instruction from a strong biblical perspective, as his ultimate desire is to train up warriors for Christ. Many of his students have gone on to great success including a number of national champions in speech and debate. Contact Coach Vaughan at steven@monumentpublishing.com for more information or to schedule a coaching session.

Hotels Near the Church

Comfort Inn Fountain Hills
Approximately 1 mile away
17105 E Shea Blvd
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

Sonesta Select Scottsdale at Mayo Clinic Campus
Approximately 6 miles away
13444 E Shea Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Host Housing

We realize that many families would not choose to travel and compete without this option. We are pleased to offer limited host housing, available on a first-come, first-served basis, for those families who are traveling. However, host family preferences (i.e. “available space”) and other special factors (i.e. guest “allergies”, etc.) are taken into consideration to make a good match.. We will not be able to accommodate all requests. Please consider the following general guidelines before seeking host housing.

We require every family at the tournament to have a parent in attendance and judging each day. Please only request housing for yourself and your own children.

If you desire to be considered for host housing, please request ASAP. Requests will no longer be accepted after October 11 or when available housing is full whichever comes first.

What you can expect from your host home:
• A place to sleep
(maybe a bed, sofa, or room on the floor for your sleeping bags)
• A bathroom to shower and get ready for tournament

What your host can expect from you:
• A thankful heart and Christ-like attitude
• Carefully supervised children at ALL times regardless of age
• NO smoking in or near host homes

Our hosts open their homes out of generosity, kindness, and support for the activity of speech and debate. In order for us to keep host families year after year, we wish for them to have a great experience with their guests. If you cannot abide by the above guidelines, it is best to choose other lodging arrangements. However, if this sounds like a BLESSING for your situation, please contact our Host Housing Coordinator. Please provide the following information via email to hosthousingmhsd@gmail.com

Please type the following in the subject line: "Cactus Clash Host Housing Request - Your Family's Last Name"

Copy and paste the following questions in your e-mail and answer completely before sending your request.

• How many people total need housing?
• Do you need housing for a married couple?
• Name and gender for each adult.
• Home address, phone number, and email address for each adult.
• How many competing students are there?
• Name, age, and gender for each competitor.
• How many non-competing children are there?
• Name, age, and gender for each non-competing child.
• Estimated arrival and departure day/time.
• Any special needs or limitations the host family may need to be aware of?
• Any allergies?
• Name of speech & debate club.

PLEASE READ To help better serve our STOA family, please notify your Host Housing Coordinator if you have found a place to stay and no longer need them to keep searching for you. Please note if the Host Housing Coordinator makes two attempts to contact you about hosting housing and you do not return their messages, you will be dropped from the Hosting Housing search list. Thank you for understanding.

Novice Apologetics

We are offering Novice Apologetics, for STOA Competitors in their FIRST YEAR.

1. This is not a NITOC qualifying event.
2. Only students in their first year of Apologetics are eligible to compete in this event.
3. Students competing in Novice Apologetics may not compete in the regular Apologetics event at Cactus Clash.
4. Only the 5 questions listed below will be used at Cactus Clash.
5. The Stoa Apologetics event rules and ballot will be used for this Novice event.
6. The 2 Novice Apologetics prelim rounds will take place during the Parli rounds on Friday.
7. The Novice Apologetics Finals will take place during the Speech Finals round on Saturday.

Novice Apologetics Topics

Category 1: The Character and Nature of God

1. What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? Why is it important?
2. Why is it important that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man?

Category 2: Foundations of Christianity

1. What is the grace of God? Why is it important?
2. What is the importance of the resurrection of Jesus?

Category 3: Scripture

1. What does the inspiration of Scripture mean? Why is it important?

Apologetics

For this tournament we will be using Apologetics questions from the following Stoa categories.

1. Category 1: The Character and Nature of God
2. Category 3: Scripture
3. Category 5: Christian Worldview Application

Please see the updated Apologetics questions here.

Description: In Apologetics, the competitor is given four (4) minutes to prepare a persuasive and reasoned speech that defends a tenet of the Christian faith.

Goal: Stoa Apologetics is designed to help students understand the core issues of their faith. Students will craft a response considering their audience may or may not accept the Bible as truth. The speech is not intended to be a sermon, and it is not necessarily a presentation of the Gospel or an overtly evangelistic opportunity. Therefore, the presentation should be a thoughtful response to the question/topic and the reason(s) why it is important for theological truth and Christian living.

Content is key: Greater weight should be given to the speech content, rather than the presentation style.

Mars Hill Speech Event

We will use the following Stoa categories for this tournament:

1. Current Film and Television (Last 5 Year)
2. Classic Film and Television
3. Current Music

Please see the 2025-2026 topics here.

Mars Hill

Description: The competitor uses books, movies, and other genre to discuss the appeal and impact of the theme(s) within the topic, holding them up in light of Christian truth found in the Bible.

Goals: The competitor learns to relate cultural references to themes common in humanity to find common ground and draw the listener to Christian truths. The competitor will share Biblical principles on a conversational, personal level to inspire reflection, understanding that God’s truth is not divorced from culture.

Purpose: Mars Hill is a speech event that trains students to connect culture and Christianity. The name of this event is taken from the Apostle Paul’s speech in Athens as described in Acts 17 where he uses Greek cultural ideas to find common ground to make a connection to Christ. The goal is to have students recognize that God’s truth is not divorced from culture; rather, God’s truth undergirds all of culture because God is the maker and sustainer of all things. In addition, it is intended that students will begin to see shared cultural experiences as a way to draw unbelievers into a conversation about Christ in a natural and understandable way.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the MH topics do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of Stoa, the Board, or the Speech Committee. Mars Hill is intended for competitors 14 and older due to some mature themes and elements included in the content.

Extemp Prep Room: A104 

Extemp has priority! If you are in other speech events, be sure you schedule your time so you do not miss your draw time. The times are fixed and if you are late to the prep room, your prep time is shortened. Speaker positions cannot be switched or changed.

Note: Speaker 1 prep time will begin at the start of the Speech Round. Check the Speaker order before the round begins.

Liability:

1. Students must accept full responsibility for the safety and security of their electronic devices for the duration of the tournament.
2. Tournament staff are not responsible for the devices at any time.
3. All electronic devices should be clearly labeled with the participant’s name and contact information.

Please Read:
Extemporaneous Rules

Extemporaneous Prep Room Protocol

Slam Poetry

Description: Using a poem or a selection of poems, a speaker will convey a single theme through an expressionistic and engaging presentation that portrays the meaning of the poetry and the poems’ artistic language. 

Goal: To select and/or write poetry and then bring the meaning to life to an audience through creative expression.

The Poem may not be AI generated.

Slam Poetry Rules

Lincoln Douglas (LD) Value Debate

We will have 6 prelim rounds, semi-finals with a final round.  We will have power matching starting round 2.  All prelim rounds will be decision in room, semi-finals and finals will not have decision in room.  

Resolved: In foreign policy, diplomacy is more effective than military intervention

Statement of Purpose: The purpose of Lincoln Douglas Value Debate is to train Christian home school students in the skills of presentation, critical thinking, research, and analysis of basic values in an environment of honorable competition, to cultivate maturity, wisdom, grace, and poise, bringing glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Competitors List will be provided

Please Review:

LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE RULES
EVIDENCE STANDARDS

Team Policy Debate

We will have 6 prelim rounds, semi-finals with a final round.  We will have power matching starting round 2.  All prelim rounds will be decision in room, semi-finals and finals will not have decision in room.  

2025-2026 Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reform its policy toward one or more countries in Central/South America.

Statement of Purpose: The purpose of Team Policy Debate is to train Christian home school students in the skills of presentation, critical thinking, and research in an environment of honorable competition, to cultivate maturity, wisdom, grace, and poise, bringing glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Timing: Please be prepared to self time debates.

Competitors List will be provided

Please review:

TEAM POLICY DEBATE RULES
EVIDENCE STANDARDS

Lincoln Douglas

• Jenna Manley
• Lincoln Carli
• Cayleigh Bentley
• Charley Worthington
• Emmitt Worthington
• Matias Carson
• Jackson Moody
• Luke Gile
• Elizabeth Ormand
• Jack Twogood
• Aleesiah Barajas
• Peter Twogood
• Alexis Harris
• Claire Monroe
• Gianna Infantino
• Ivan White
• Levi White
• Easton Ponchot
• Reese Assaturian

Team Policy

• Cash Carli & Malachi Smith
• Avery Leotaud & Griffin Leotaud
• Jonathan Cazares & Jason Spurling
• Braelyn Geller & Hannah Gile
• Kiele Johnson & Sevilla McKinney
• Levi Anderson & Luke Anderson
• Timothy Kim and Adrian Velarde
• Izzy Green & Maddie Green
• Beartice Green & Ethan Green

Parliamentary

• Jenna Manley & Jackson Moody
• Griffin Leotaud & Malachi Smith
• Matia Carson & Emmitt Worthington
• Hannah Gile & Luke Gile
• Peter Twogood & William Vannoy
• Leighton Websiter & Zane Webster
• Aleesiah Barajas & Elizabeth Spurling
• Alexis Harris & Amexandra Kramer
• Braelyn Geller & Elizabeth Ormand
• Easton Ponchot & Ivan White
• Elijah Ponchot & Levi White
• Levi Anderson & Luke Anderson
• Izzy Green & Maddie Green
• Cash Carli & Lincoln Carli

Parliamentary (Parli) Debate

We will have 6 prelim rounds, semi-finals with a final round.  We will have power matching starting round 2.  All prelim rounds will be decision in room, semi-finals and finals will not have decision in room.  

Parli Prep Room will be in the Worship Center. Topics will be announced at the beginning of the round time. The announcement will not be delayed if both members of a team are not present. The member that is present will make all "strike" decisions. If no member from a team is present, the opposing team for that round will have sole discretion to choose the Resolution.

Strikes

For each round, 3 resolutions will be presented by the Parli Proctor.
1. The Opposition Team will go first to strike one of the resolutions.
2. The Government Team will go next to strike one of the resolutions.
3. The remaining resolution will be debated during the round. It is the responsibility of the Government team to inform the proctor which resolution will be debated.

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of Parliamentary debate is to instill in Christian home school students the skills of presentation, critical thinking, reasoning, and analysis of various issues. That endeavor is accomplished in an environment of honorable competition that cultivates maturity, wisdom, grace, poise, and brings glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Timing: Please be prepared to self time debates.

Please Review:

Parliamentary Debate Rules

We are very excited to be offering a Juniors Tournament. This will be for students ages 8-11 only as of October 1, 2025.

Students may register for up to two different events. $15 per event.

Events Offered:

• Junior Apologetics
• Junior Storytelling
• Junior Impromtu 

Judges: Our elder competitors will be serving as judges for the Junior's Tournament. In order to judge Juniors, competitors must be 14 years or older, and have one or more prior years of competition experience.

Script Submission: While no script submission is required, junior competitors are still required to cite authors, sources, and copyright dates in their pieces.

Attire: Tournament attire is Sunday best.

Awards: All competitors will be acknowledged at the award ceremony! Remember to be dressed in your Sunday best.

Event Details: Junior Impromptu

Time Limits: Impromptu is five minutes (no penalty for going over).

Impromtu prompts that will be used at the tournament

     Round 1

1. What is your favorite fall family tradition?
2. Do you prefer apple picking or pumpkin patch visits?
3. What’s the best fall festival or harvest celebration you’ve ever attended?
4. Do you have a favorite fall beverage drink? Apple cider or hot chocolate?
5. Do you prefer apple pie or pumpkin pie?

     Round 2

• Park
• Zoo
• Theme Park
• Beach
• Campground

Event Details: Juniors Apologetic 

Time Limits: Apologetics is five minutes (no penalty for going over) with three minutes of prep.

• Story Telling is five minutes
• Impromptu is five minutes

Questions

• Is there more than one way to heaven?
• What is the importance of prayer
• What does it mean that God is immutable? Why is this important?
• What does the inspiration of Scripture mean? Why is this important?
• What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the Messiah?  Why is this important?

Event Details: Junior Storytelling

Time Limits: Story Telling is five minutes (no penalty for going over).

Rules:

1. Students must bring and use their own children's storybook in this event. 
2. Students will bring the book and characters to life. 
3. Students will introduce the Title and Author before beginning to read.
4. Students will hold the book as they read.
5. Students may skip pages, paragraphs, etc. to trim a story down to the five-minute time limit.
6. Students should NOT memorize the piece but are encouraged to practice expressive reading, using their voice and face to convey the message.
7. Students may sit or stand to deliver their story.
8. Does not need to be a picture book, although picture books are highly recommended.

Storytelling Ballot Items: 

Introduction

•  Captures your attention; teasers permitted
•  Cites title and author of piece
•  Establishes context/background of piece

Literary Selection/Analysis

•  Quality literature with universal appeal
•  Selects literature that merits performance and entertains or delights
•  Interpretation honors author’s intent
•  If applicable, transitions clearly between scenes and characters

Physical Delivery

•  Uses appropriate eye contact and facial expressions
•  Exhibits appropriate energy, passion, and posture relative to the story being read

Vocal Delivery

•  Utilizes variety of pitch, rate, volume, rhythm and inflection
•  Has clear enunciation and accurate pronunciation
•  Portrays well-defined, vocally distinct character(s) and narrator
•  Speaks conversationally, sincerely, and with confidence

Overall Effective Reading:

•  Brings literature to life
•  Captures, engages and draws you into the story and/or establishes connection with characters
•  Entertains and/or delights

The leadership of this tournament recognizes the many benefits of competitive speech and debate. Public speaking, critical thinking, research skills, writing skills, and community service top the list, and the impact of these things toward the growth and training of young minds is undeniable.

However, we also recognize the temptations that a competitive environment can create. Without a Christian focus, competition often breeds prideful arrogance that can result in a competitor's willingness to "bend the rules" for competitive advantage. The Stoa League believes that written rules should be kept to a minimum to avoid an overly legalistic approach. We agree with Stoa’s position but this tournament also recognizes the need to support and uphold Christian integrity in this competitive environment.

We therefore ask all competitors to carefully review and consider the content of their speeches and debate cases well in advance. Ask yourselves if your content is above reproach. If you find any part of your speech or debate case might be seen as grounds for adjudication then it is probably not above reproach and should be corrected. To be “above reproach” your speeches and cases should avoid any appearance of an intent to bend or break the rules for competitive advantage.

The adjudication team at this tournament has the authority to disqualify any individual or team not only due to rule violations, but also based on the appearance of a lack of integrity. The adjudication team is committed to using this authority with great restraint and considerable prayer, but our greatest prayer is that it will not be needed at all because students, parents and coaches will apply the following Bible verses to their speeches and cases well in advance of the tournament:

Proverbs 12:22
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

Proverbs 21:3
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Psalm 41:12
Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Photo/Video Social Media Release

The Stoa Marketing Committee would like to feature our tournament on social media in a short video reel. We will have a photographer onsite taking short video clips to use in our reel. This will be a fun way to remember Cactus Clash and to attract new families to Stoa. If you would like to opt out of the videos, please email the tournament director.

Adult/Minor Modeling Participant Release

In consideration of my membership in Stoa, which includes the membership of all my dependent minor children, I hereby grant to Stoa and to its sponsors, and those acting with Stoa’s authority and permission, the irrevocable and unrestricted right and permission to take, use, reuse, publish, and republish photographic portraits or pictures, videos or recordings of me or of my minor children, or in which I or my minor children may be included, in whole or in part, made through any and all media now or hereafter known. I also consent to the use of any printed matter in conjunction there with or the use of my name and/or the name(s) of my minor children, in connection therewith if Stoa so decides.

I consent to the use of my name or the name(s) of my minor children for the purposes of posting tournament results and point accrual to a Stoa designated online database. I understand that I/they may opt out at any time, after the fact, via a mechanism on the website, but that this will irrevocably remove my/their name(s) from consideration for an invitation to the Stoa National Invitational Tournament of Champions for the current and future seasons.

I hereby waive any right that I or my minor children may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products.

I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless Stoa and its sponsors and all persons acting under its permission or authority from any liability including any claims for libel or invasion of privacy, rights of publicity, copyright or otherwise. I hereby warrant that I am a legal competent adult and that I have every right to contract for myself and/or the minor in the above regard. I state further that I have read the above authorization, release, and agreement, prior to its execution, and that I am fully familiar with the contents of it.

Please come and join Mars Hill Club in a time of fellowship, food and music.

Location: Cornerstone Family Church - Student area

Time: After clean up and award ceremony

Food: ??? stay tuned for more information