• 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.

Help us spread the word!

Do you know someone who would be interested in judging with us at the SoCal Classic? Download the printable flier and share! No experience is necessary, must be 18 years old and not a current competitor, all training and materials will be provided.

SoCal Classic Community Judge Flyer -- Click here for linked/printable PDF to share! 

Welcome Community Judges, Parent Judges, and Alumni Judges!

We are grateful for your help in making our tournament run smoothly.

Community Judges

Judge Registration: Complete a short registration and select a time that works best for you to judge. 

Total Tournament Time Commitment - Approximately 4 hours. Please arrive one hour prior to the round you signed up to judge. This will allow you to:

• Attend orientation
• Receive your ballot
• Arrive at the room assignment on time

Additionally, please allow one hour following the round to complete your ballots. Students look forward to reading your helpful feedback!

Community Judge Check-in: For a detailed and annotated map of campus, see Facility tab. After check-in, you will be offered a Judge Orientation session before your round assignment, followed by assistance to your competition room. After the round you will be able to return to the judge's lounge to fill out your ballot and enjoy refreshments. Due to time constraints, it is typically not feasible to judge two rounds consecutively. Judging every other round is easily done and appreciated!

Judge Orientation: Orientation sessions for speech events and for debate events will be conducted during each tournament day (Tournament Schedule). Attending Judge Orientation is encouraged annually for all judges. During orientation you will be provided with an overview of the events you will be judging and all training and materials you will need to prepare you for the round. If you would like judging and event information ahead of time, or to learn more about the Stoa league and competitions, see links at the bottom of this page. Our facilitators will be available for any questions you may have.

If you are not attending an orientation session, please assist us by checking in at the Ballot Push table 45 minutes before the next competition round. The volunteers there will be glad to see you!

Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be provided throughout the day for judges in our judges lounge.

Additional Information -

Competitor Invitation: If you have been invited by a competitor to judge, please indicate their name in the conflict box in order to avoid a conflict of interest in the judging assignments.

Parking: Special parking areas are reserved for community judges. Please click on the Facility Information tab to find out where!

Physical Accommodations: Please notify the volunteer during judge orientation if you have physical limitations that prevent you from managing stairs or walking longer distances; we will make every effort to provide a room that is convenient.

Parent and Alumni Judges:

Parents of competitors are expected to provide a judge for 2 rounds per registered event, and be available to judge throughout each day of the tournament.

Alumni judges will not be permitted to judge the rounds of students with whom they have been previous competitors within the past two years.

Judge Orientation attendance is an annual requirement. If you have not attended an orientation session this year, it is highly recommended that you do so at this tournament. There have been several changes to ballots recently, and we want you to have the most up-to-date information as you judge!

Thank you for sharing your time to help our students, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Know someone who would like to volunteer? Help us recruit community judges! Community judges provide a rich environment for our students by bringing diverse and unbiased assessment to the competition rounds. We will provide the training and materials necessary for 1st-time judges to be comfortable and capable of giving good feedback to the students on their ballots. We welcome new faces and would love to help introduce them to Stoa speech and debate.

Useful links:

Judge Training Video Link

Judge Recruitment Promo!

https://stoausa.org/

Welcome, parents!

Your presence on campus and participation with judging are crucial to the success of this tournament.

Parents are expected to judge for 2 rounds per registered event, and be available for each day of the tournament.

Please check with Ballot Push 30 minutes before rounds to receive ballots.

Judge Orientation attendance is an annual requirement. If you have not attended an orientation session this year, it is highly recommended that you do so at this tournament. There have been several changes to ballots recently, and we want you to have the most up-to-date information as you judge!

Local families, would you like to help us recruit community judges? Community judges bring a fresh perspective to the work our children have accomplished! We will provide the training and materials necessary for judges to be comfortable and capable. Judges must be 18 years of age and not a competitor.

Tournament Etiquette:

Protocol

It is our goal for the Southern California Classic and Stoa Competitive Speech and Debate to be above reproach in integrity, professionalism, and Christ-like stewardship. Students and guests are asked to conduct themselves appropriately both on and off the competition floor, and to respect the local community and campus.

Students will be held to the Stoa NITOC dress code standard of professional business attire. If in violation, students will be asked to come into compliance before being allowed to compete.

In each speech room, there will be a head judge. The head judge is responsible for supervising the time, managing the room, and, in some limited-prep events, distributing the topics.

Speech Overtime Penalty - There will be a large red timer in each speech room which will be turned toward the competitor during the speech. With the ability to see the timepiece when speaking, the competitor will now receive a 1 rank penalty if his/her speech is overtime by 15 seconds or more. This overtime penalty is for EVERY speech event. All debate rounds will be self-timed and debaters must provide own timers.

Video/audio or other recording will not be allowed of any individual or team without the express consent of all competing members. Tournament staff reserves the right to record debate and speech events for the purpose of adjudication and/or promotion.

Stoa Competitors must be ages 12 to 18 as of October 1st of the current season, privately home-educated, members of Stoa, and parent members must be in agreement with Stoa Statement of Faith (see competitor eligibility requirements) to be tournament eligible. Junior competitors are those under 12 as of October 1st.

Adjudication

The tournament adjudication team reserves the right to review and/or disqualify any team or individual on the basis of the appearance of ethics violations inconsistent with Stoa competition guidelines. Evidence ethics will be followed as set forth in Stoa Evidence and Philosophy Standards.

Any allegation of impropriety should be brought to the attention of the Tournament Director promptly following the completion of the round in dispute. The allegation must articulate the specific Stoa rule that is being challenged. A coach or parent representative must be present with the written complaint. The adjudication committee will then meet with all parties involved and come to a decision.

Tabulation

As per Stoa Minimum Tournament Standards, representation from at least two clubs must staff the tournament tabulation room. Southern California Classic will adhere to Stoa Tournament Tabulation Standards for tabulation procedures.

Liability

Individuals shall assume responsibility for the safety and security of personal possessions, to include electronic devices, for the duration of the tournament. Tournament staff are not responsible for personal items. All personal belongings should be labeled with participant's name and contact information in case of lost or misplaced items.

By registering for and/or attending the Southern California Classic, you knowingly assume the risks of contracting COVID-19 at this tournament and agree to hold the Southern California Classic staff, Ex Nihilo Speech & Debate, Stoa, and Concordia University harmless for those risks. Parents, by sending your student to the Southern California Classic Tournament each day, you are acknowledging that your student is healthy and not exhibiting any signs of sickness.

The SoCal Classic is proud to partner with Concordia University Irvine for our SoCal Classic at Concordia 2025 event. We are thankful to be guests on their beautiful and central campus, and know you will enjoy the generous amenities affording us this opportuity to bring competitors together from near and far. 

Directions to Concordia University Irvine: 
1530 Concordia, Irvine, CA 92612

RV overnight parking is not available on site, but may be availalbe through local hosts. Email tournament@nihilo.club for details.

We are happy to include use of Concordia University's cafeteria for your tournament meal planning! The cafeteria will be available for both students and adults. 

Cafeteria meals at the campus Student Union are available for pre-purchase at a very slight discount ($.50 deduction), and are also available for purchase at the door. Pre-purchased meals will have paper meal tickets given Thursday morning at family check-in.

Cafeteria hours: Breakfast 8:00-9:30am; Lunch 11:00am-2:00pm; Dinner 5:00-7:00pm.

Cafeteria Pricing at the door: Breakfast $10; Lunch $11; Dinner $12.

Pre-purchased meals through tournament website: Breakfast $9.50; Lunch $10.50; Dinner $11.50.

Meals are available for pre-purchase through Thursday, February 20th, 11:59pm.

Policy for Submitting Scripts to the SoCal Classic Speech & Debate Tournament

Welcome to the script submission page for the SoCal Classic Speech & Debate Tournament, hosted by Ex Nihilo Speech & Debate as part of the STOA Speech & Debate League. Please read the following policies carefully before submitting your scripts, as our script policy has been updated from traditional submission procedures.

Script Submission will be open as of 8am on Feb 11th, and will close firmly at 11:59pm on Feb 18th. Please be aware that late scripts will not be accepted.

Junior speech events do not require script submission. 

Submission Guidelines:

1. Online Submission Only:

   • All scripts must be submitted via the online form provided on this page. Each script must be uploaded individually—one script per form.

2. Spot-Check Review:

   • Unlike prior tournaments, submitted scripts will not undergo a comprehensive review process. Instead, tournament officials will conduct spot checks for compliance.

3. Required Documentation:

   • Each script must be accompanied by a signed Script Submission Form, available for download on this page.
   • The form must include signatures from each of the following:
     • The student submitting the script.
     • A parent or legal guardian.
     • An authorized leader or coach of the student's speech and debate club, other than the parent. Club leadership may be contacted, and the student my be disqualified from the event if the signature is not authorized by club leadership.
   • Incomplete or unsigned forms will result in disqualification from competition.

4. Printed Copies for Competition:

   • Students are required to bring a printed copy of their script to each round of the tournament. Tournament officials may request to review the printed copy during a round if needed.

5. Responsibilities:

   • It is the responsibility of the student, parent, and club leader to ensure that the script complies with STOA rules and regulations.

During the Tournament:

• Addressing Concerns:
  • If any question or concern about a script arises during the competition, tournament officials may request a meeting with the student, parent, or club leader to discuss the review and approval process of the submitted script.

How to Submit:

1. Download and Complete the Submission Form:

   • Download the Script Submission Form:

     • Duo Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

     • Dramatic Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

     • Humorous Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

     • Open Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

     • Platform Script Submission 2024-2025

     • Slam Poetry Submission 2024-2025

2. Fill Out the Online Submission Form:

   • Complete the online submission form and upload your script along with the completed and signed submission form. Script Submission Access Link

3. One Form Per Script:

   • Remember to submit one form for each script you are entering into the tournament.

Important Reminder:

Failure to bring a printed copy of the script to any round may result in disqualification or penalties.

If you have questions about the submission process, please contact the tournament team at tournament@nihilo.club.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to seeing you at the SoCal Classic!

Your SoCal Classic 2025 Apologetics competition will only use Apologetics categories 1, 2, 4, and 6.

Stoa Apologetics questions can be found here: Apologetics Question List.

Your SoCal Classic 2025 Mars Hill competition will only use the following categories: 
Literature, Current Film & Television, Classic Music, & Classic Film and Television.

Stoa Mars Hill topics can be found here: Mars Hill Topics

Extemp Notes:

Prior to the tournament, please make sure student cell number and/or email are correct in your registration in case of event updates.

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. If you are late to the prep room, your prep time is shortened. Speaker positions cannot be switched or changed.

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.

Junior Competitors ages 6-11 will be able to compete in Platform, Interp (including Duo), and Apologetics. There will be no Junior Script Submission, and no Junior speech length requirements. Juniors may wait to check-in atour Info Table on Friday, prior to their rounds. 

While our schedule is subject to change, we anticipate Junior rounds held on Friday afternoon and evening. Junior Ballots for each event are linked below. Stoa competitors interested in judging? Yes, current Stoa competitors are welcome to judge if their competition schedule allows, AND if they have received one or more Stoa Checkmark(s) in any event in any competition year. Junior Awards will be given at completion of the tournament during Saturday's awards ceremony. 

Attire for Junior Tournament: Sunday best!

Junior Apologetics will use the following questons:

Round 1: The Character and Nature of God