Parent Info
Parents play a crucial role in the success of the tournament, particularly through their participation as judges. All students must have a parent or adult chaperone present and inside the building(s) during the entire tournament. If a parent cannot attend, prior approval and an alternative contribution must be arranged with the tournament director in order for the student to be allowed to participate.
Sign-Up and Commitment
- Parents are required to sign up for at least six rounds of judging (3 rounds of speech and 3 rounds of debate) during the registration process. It's essential to check these times both before and during the tournament to ensure availability.
- Chaperones must be 18 or older and have graduated from high school.
- Each judging parent may chaperone ONE additional student who is not their own if it is a debate or duo partner of their own child and may be required to judge additional rounds in place of the student’s parent if needed.
Check - In
- Parents or chaperones must accompany their student(s) to check-in at the tournament. Students without a parent or chaperone will not be allowed to compete.
Preparation and Training
- Parents must be trained and prepared to judge all types of events. This includes either attending another tournament's judge orientation or watching the online training videos before the tournament starts. While Judge Orientation Q & A sessions will be available at the tournament, the expectation is for parents to come prepared and already trained.
- Parents should come to the ballot push table early to both sign up for and claim their ballots. This helps efficiently match judges with events, especially as the tournament progresses and dynamics change. Every parent should come to the ballot table 30 minutes before each round to ensure sufficient judges are balloted. Although we ask you to sign up for a specific judging time slot when you register, please don't leave the balloting area until ALL the ballots have been distributed. You may be needed for a round outside of your scheduled time.
- Community judges will receive ballots first. If a parent does not receive a ballot for one round, they should not assume they won't be needed for subsequent rounds. The dynamics of ballot distribution can change, and patience is appreciated to keep the tournament running smoothly.
- Without parents being ready and willing to judge, the tournament cannot succeed. Their active participation is vital for the event's success.
- Students not fulfilling their judging obligations may be disqualified from the tournament. Thank you for your cooperation.
By following these guidelines, parents can ensure they contribute effectively to the tournament's smooth operation and success.
For questions please contact the Tournament Director: Mandy Finan - VerityColonialClassic@gmail.com