2025 Piney Woods Derby

• 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.

Mandy and I wanted to address the issue of content in speeches and debate cases at the Piney Woods Derby.

By registering, parents and club leaders who attend the Piney Woods Derby agree that they will abide by the Content Policy of the tournament, and will accept the decision of tournament leadership regarding any question of content in and speech or debate case presented during the tournament.

We do not expect any issues. In the eleven years we have been doing speech and debate, I can count on one hand the number of times speech or case content was an issue. However, if any issues come up, this is how we will address them.

When creating this policy, Mandy and I considered these factors:

1. Participation in Stoa activities and competition should be, as much as possible, as open as possible. Generally any content that follows the rules and is appropriate for the venue should be allowed.
2. The Piney Woods Derby follows the minimum standards for Stoa tournaments. While the minimum standards speaks to the role of local tournament leadership, it does not specifically address who has the authority over content at a local tournament.
3. While we all stand on a Christian foundation, perspectives on what is acceptable within a local community may differ from family to family, region to region. East Texas is a conservative region.
4. Local Tournament Directors bear both the responsibility for and authority over content presented at their local tournaments. The Stoa Board of Directors has agreed that while they hope it would never be necessary, the local TD has the authority to make decisions about content presented at their local tournaments.
5. Participation in Stoa tournaments is a community activity. Cases and speeches are not presented in a vacuum, but as part of a community context. Every local community is different. Local TDs bear the responsibility for protecting relationships within our Stoa families and clubs, with the venue and the local community in the area.
6. Participation in a Stoa tournament is a family activity. Not only do we have competitors from age 12 to 18, but we routinely encourage younger children to attend speech and debate rounds. As a community, we encourage students to compete as soon as they turn 12, in both speech and debate events.
7. Parents have the right to decide when and how sensitive topics are presented to their children. No parent, coach or competitor should force a child to learn about sensitive topics without a parent's permission.

Therefore, the Piney Woods Derby will adhere to the following guidelines should an issue with content arise during our tournament:

1. As stated in some Speech event rules, gratuitous vulgarity is strictly prohibited. For the Piney Woods Derby, this extends to all speech and debate events. Vulgarity includes, but is not limited to: profanity, pornographic descriptions, detailed descriptions or portrayals of violence, and other similar behaviors.
2. Some topics are sensitive, and presenting information about them with younger students or competitors in the room would violate the standards of our local community context. Steps will be taken to restrict this content. Steps could include, but are not limited to: asking young children to leave the room before a round or speech, requesting competitors use a different case when facing younger debaters, or complete restriction of the speech or debate case from competition. The Tournament Directors have the final authority in these matters.

How do you know if content violates the local community context?

Follow this rule of thumb:
If you delivered the speech or debate content to a group of 5th and 6th grade homeschool kids, would you be certain that there would be no complaints or concerns from parents?

If there is any question that even one parent might be alarmed by your content being presented to their child, reach out to Piney Woods Derby leadership to discuss you case or speech. We will do our best to find a way for you to compete in a way that does not harm relationships in the process. If you are concerned that your debate case may violate this policy, reach out to us, and prepare a 2nd case to use if needed.

We do not expect any issues. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.

Longview has many hotels near the tournament location. Some of those include:

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Longview North
908 E Hawkins Pkwy, Longview, 75605, TX

Comfort Suites Longview North
3307 N 4th St, Longview, 75605, TX

Tru by Hilton Longview
3037 N. Eastman Rd., Longview, 75605, TX

Courtyard by Marriott Longview North
1125 E Hawkins Pkwy, Longview, 75605, TX

Hilton Garden Inn Longview
905 East Hawkins Parkway, Longview, 75605, TX

Hampton Inn & Suites Longview North
3044 Eastman Road, Longview, 75605, TX

These hotels, and more, are located near the tournament venue.

Rules

We recommend each team carry a copy of the 2025/2026 Parli Rules

Please also be familiar with the Stoa Evidence Philosophy and Standards. 

Mandatory Parli Meeting

Thursday @ 7:30 a.m.

Resolution Announcement

You must be in the Parli announcement room 5 minutes before the scheduled start time for each round. 

We are striking resolutions. 3 resolutions will be read. Gov. has up to 1 minute to strike one, Opp. has up to 30 seconds to strike one. The resolution left is the resolution for the round.

Timing

Parli Debate will be self-timed, so please bring a working timepiece. Make sure the timer has an audible countdown alarm.

Internet

The church has some limited WIFI access. It is not speedy or robust. Should there be any unforeseen issues with the internet, you will have to rely on your own cellular connection and your own minds. You are free to bring Extemp boxes or hard copies of magazines to use in prep.

The Piney Woods Derby will adhere to the Stoa USA Transparent Tabulation Process. 

• It may be necessary to employ a bye due to an odd number of competitors in a debate event. The bye will be randomly assigned for the first 2 rounds and will be assigned to the low seed for the remaining preliminary rounds.

• For Parli, the first 3 rounds will be randomly paired employing club protect if possible. However, due to disproportionate club size, club protect may not be achievable. Rounds 4-6 will be power matched, depending on number of competitors.

• For TP/LD: Preliminary rounds 1 and 2 will be randomly paired employing club protect if possible. However, due to disproportionate club size, club protect may not be achievable. Rounds 3 through 6 will be power matched.

• Stoa USA NITOC tie breakers will be used to rank teams through preliminary progression.

Dress Code

During competition, students must dress in professional business attire.

Gentlemen: Suits or slacks and a sports coat; shirt and tie; dress shoes.

Ladies: Skirt or pant suits; slacks, skirts or dresses with jackets; dress shoes. Hemlines are to be at least just above the knee.

Awards Ceremony: Students must attend the awards ceremony in full competition attire.

Violations: If the competitor's attire at any time during the tournament is deemed a violation of the dress code, the competitor will be asked to come into compliance before being allowed to participate.

Code of Conduct

Members will exhibit kind, polite, and respectful attitudes to each other and behave in a manner that brings honor to God.

Members will adhere to the Peacemaker’s Pledge as in Matthew 5:23-25, 18:15-17. This principle dictates that if an offense occurs, the offended should go directly to the offender to resolve the issue. No gossiping or discussing with another person. Rather, we seek to restore relationships. A third party may be necessary to resolve issues.

2024 Piney Woods Derby Apol and Mars Hill Topics

APOL:
Categories 1, 3, 5 and 6

Mars Hill:
Current Film & Television
Current Music
Classic Media
Cultural Voices

Internet Access

The church has some limited WIFI access. It is not speedy or robust.

For Parli and Extemporaneous competitors: Should there be any unforeseen issues with the internet, you will have to rely on your own cellular connection and your own minds. You are free to bring Extemp boxes or hard copies of magazines to use in prep.

We understand that family and friends may wish to video record during some rounds of speech and debate. We ask that before you video record any student, you would obtain permission from the parent of the competitor in question, or parents of competitors in a debate round.

All live video streaming of any event during the tournament is prohibited.

We may be capturing photos/video for promotional use by Stoa. By completing your Piney Woods Derby registration, you are indicating agreement to the terms of this document.

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 therewith 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 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.