• 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.

We are very excited to be offering a Juniors Tournament. This will be for students ages 10-11 only as of October 1, 2024.

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

Events Offered:

Junior Apologetics

Junior Platform (Original Oratory, Persuasive, and Expository)

Junior Storytelling

Misc. Notes:

Juniors Apologetic Questions

• What does it mean that God is immutable? Why is this important?
• What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the Messiah? Why is this important?
• Why is it important that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man?
• What does it mean for man to repent from his sins? Why is this important?
• What does it mean to forgive? Why is this important?
• What does the inspiration of Scripture mean? Why is this important?
• Is the Bible historically reliable? Why is this important?
• What does it mean to be holy? Why is this important?
• How can God be both merciful and just?
• Can a person do enough good in their life to get into heaven?

Junior Storytelling Information

Rules:

Time Limits:

• Apologetics is four minutes (no penalty for going over) with three minutes of prep
• Platform is five minutes
• Story Telling is five minutes

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, or 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.

We are offering a new Novice event this year! Only Students who have not competed in Apologetics in a previous competition year are eligible for this event.

Event details

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 12 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

3. What is the grace of God? Why is it important?
4. What is the importance of the resurrection of Jesus?

Category 3: Scripture

5. What does the inspiration of Scripture mean? Why is it important?
6. Is the Bible historically reliable? Why is this important?

Category 4: God and Man

7. Can morality exist without God?
8. Can a person do enough good in their life to go to heaven?

Category 5: Christian Worldview Application

9. Compare and contrast the world’s view of identity with God’s view of identity.
10.Is all human life valuable, and if so, why?

Category 6: Christianity Compared

11. Is karma a biblical concept?
12.What are the unique features of Christianity that set it apart from all other
religions of the world?

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.

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 2023-2024 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

Extemp Prep Room Protocol

Parliamentary (Parli) Debate

There will be 6 preliminary rounds, semi finals, and Finals.

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

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 18 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

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.

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.