TEAM POLICIES

BROKEN ARROW SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM POLICIES

Joining the Team

All students at Broken Arrow High School, BAFA, and the Broken Arrow Academy are eligible to participate on the speech & debate team.

You can participate by 1) being a member of the class (tournament attendance is mandatory for grades) or 2) participating as a "club" member.

To officially become a team member, you need to do the following:

Pay your Forensics Activity Fee: $300 for team members; $200 club members and 8th grade academy members.
Give Walters your Activity Participation form and your Student Contact form.

The total activity fee is due ($75 for team/ $50 for club & 8th grade academy members) in installments on the following dates:

Sept 1st -- $75 team/ $50 club, 8th grade academy members

October 1st -- $75/ $50 club, 8th grade academy members

November 1st -- $75/ $50 club, 8th grade academy members

December 1st -- $75/ $50 club, 8th grade academy members

The activity fee pays some of the cost of entry fees, transportation costs, National Speech and Debate Association memberships, fees associated with running our annual tournament, etc.

Students who have not paid their fees by November 1st will be ineligible for competition until fees are paid. We never want the activity fee to be a barrier to participation. If this may be the case for you, please e-mail Walters and we’ll work something out. While we collect activity fees, fundraisers are still required to defray team expenses. All students are expected to do their part to help with fundraisers. For larger out-of-state tournaments, students may still be expected to defray trip costs.

Costs & Supplies

In addition to your participation fee, there are other costs that you may encounter over the course of the season. All of these costs are possible depending upon your involvement:

Meals and overnight tournaments: Occasionally the team will stay overnight at a hotel the students are also responsible for buying their own meals at tournaments. Concessions like pizza or hotdogs are usually available. Breakfasts are normally served continental style and are covered by the hotel. After the tournament, the team will usually have a sit down dinner at a restaurant, so please plan accordingly. If your student has any special dietary demands, please inform Mr. Walters.

Clothing: Students are asked to dress professionally at tournaments (see ATTIRE

section for more detail). For some students, this means purchasing new/newer clothes.

NSDA Membership: Most students will become members of the National Speech and Debate Association. This is a nationally recognized debate and speech organization. Cost for joining is included in your initial activity fee.

Supplies: Debaters/Comp speakers will need to furnish a few supplies. A good supply kit includes:

Fine or very fine point pens (some red, some black or blue)

Yellow/white legal pads

Black construction paper

Scotch tape

Scissors

Stapler

One 7 x 9 inch three ring black binder (one inch in width)

Time Commitment & Scheduling

The amount of time a student spends on debate is largely up to that individual. All team members are strongly encouraged to attend at least two practices per week. Mr. Walters will be flexible in accommodating students involved in other activities (Fall & Winter sports, band, choir, theater, etc.). However, students who do the best typically compete and practice on a regular basis.

TOURNAMENTS

Signing Up

Tournament registrations are normally due a week in advance (the Friday before the tournament). That means that Mr. Walters needs to know whether or not you are planning on attending upcoming tournaments. Please sign up on the appropriate sheet on the debate white board (inside room B130) at least one week in advance. If you would like to attend but your partner can’t, please talk to Mr. Walters. If you are unsure for some reason, please talk to Mr. Walters. Early and clear communication is vital. If you are unclear as to your intentions, you may be accessed a fee for dropping from the tournament.

Limitations

Tournament competition is a privilege, not a right. You earn the right to compete by practicing regularly, representing the team well, and being a good BA student and citizen. Mr. Walters takes this point with extreme seriousness. Some tournaments will have limited space. Please see “Coaches Decisions” for more information.

Departure & Transportation

For each tournament, a departure time will be posted on the debate whiteboard. For Saturday tournaments, you should meet the bus at the bus loop in front of the B wing of BAHS. This is the front student lot closest to the stadium. On Fridays, if you don’t have a class or are in the debate class, you will be expected to meet in the debate room 5 minutes prior to departure time. We usually take a bus or suburban to tournaments.

Return Times

On Friday nights, we usually return to the high school by 11:00. Please remember that this is a tentative return time. Late running tournaments could always push back return times. Students will always be urged to call their parents when we are departing from the tournament. Parents are urged to be on time picking their students up.

Canceling, Tournament Etiquette & Attire

Occasionally, you will need to cancel your commitment to a tournament. If you need to cancel, take your name off of the list AND speak to Mr. Walters about it. If you need to cancel the morning of the tournament, you must call Mr. Walters’s voice mail 918-200-3820. Students who fail to notify Mr. Walters before the date of the tournament will be assessed a registration drop and/or judging fees. These range from $25-$50. This money must be paid to Mr. Walters by the following Friday. If the money goes unpaid, your grades will not be released to you at the end of the marking period.

Students are ALWAYS expected to be polite, respectful, professional, and courteous at tournaments. All tournament conduct (from the time you get off the bus until you leave) is a reflection on our team. While we hope it will never be the case, your conduct outside of the round may very well color how a judge views your in-round performance. Professional conduct is a must. Students failing to conduct themselves according to policy will be warned. If it consists, they will be dismissed from the team.

Students are asked to dress professionally at debate tournaments. Generally this means:

Boys: A dress shirt & tie, and dress pants (Dockers etc. are fine) for competitive speakers. Sport coat/suit are optional, but highly recommended for debaters.

Girls: A suit, nice blouse/sweater & knee length or longer-skirt/dress slacks, or professional dress are all appropriate. Please ask if you have any questions.

TEAM POLICIES & RULES

General Policies

1) All school rules are in effect during debate practice and competition.

2) Treat all teammates and coaches with respect.

3) Treat school, team, and individual property with respect.

4) Be responsible…fulfill your commitments and take responsibility for your actions.

5) During practice, you should be focused on debate. Please do your relaxing and socializing in the student commons.

6) In case disciplinary action is necessary, students may be sent home from practice or suspended from competition. Dismissing a student from the team is at the coach’s discretion. Other school-sanctioned actions may be taken by school administration.

7) Do NOT take food or beverages near the class computers or laptops. Please shut down the computers at the end of your class or practice session. (Or log off if it’s early in the afternoon). Please do not play games on the computers during class/practice time. The Debate room is not a public computer lab. Do not take up a computer doing work for another class. Debate work takes precedence.

Eligibility Policy

In order to REMAIN as team member, you must do the following:

Maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.5, and
Consistently follow all BAHS school rules and debate team policies, and
Maintain a POSITIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE attitude.

Two consecutive semesters with a GPA below 2.5 will result in being put on probation.

In order to be eligible for tournament competition, students must maintain above a “D” in their classes. Mr. Walters is serious on this point. Your performance in the classroom comes before your tournament performance.

Practices

Team practices will happen Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday until from 2:50-4:30. These are expected to be a time of productivity not a time to just hang out. Mr. Walters will maintain an after school practice board in his room. If the day of practice no one has signed up, practice will be canceled. Students may also video tape performances for later feedback if they cannot stay to practice. Students in the comp speech/debate class are expected to get in 2 practices per week, either in the actual classroom or via video.

Selection for the District team

Selection for the District team is an honor. The team represents the best debaters/performers we think have the best shot at reaching and excelling at the National Tournament. We will select up to four students or teams in each event. It is also a difficult decision for coaches. The Broken Arrow debate coaches will select a section/district team based on which debaters will best represent Broken Arrow High School (competitively and professionally). There are several factors that we consider:

· Positive Attitude (a belief that you can and want to do well and can-do attitude at all times. the secret rule of coaches is that if your coach can’t stand the idea of spending a week with you at Nationals, they will not be excited about recommending your for the district squad)

· Willingness to prepare (a commitment in both time and in favorably reacting to coaching)

· Demonstration of debate skill (both throughout the season and at practice)

· Demonstration of professionalism (you help build Broken Arrow’s positive image)

· On-task, non-distracting practice habits (how well is time used?)

· Auditions and/or interviews may be held to help coaches make their decisions.

Public Communications

When you communicate via public discussion groups on the web, you represent Broken Arrow Debate. Please do not criticize or evaluate others, discuss any Broken Arrow team strategies or arguments, or get involved with debate “politics.” If you choose to participate in the discussions, please be positive and respectful of others.

Coaches Decisions

Coaches will make decisions on the following matters:

1) What level you will compete at (Novice, Varsity). Who your debate/duet partner is. You will have input in these decisions, but ultimately it is Mr. Walters decision.

2) Who will represent Broken Arrow at any given tournament. Space, registration limits, class requirements, and team finances may limit the number of competitors we can bring to any given tournament. Mr. Walters will make these decisions based on performance, professionalism, effort, potential, preparation and team contributions.

3) Coaches have the right to review the arguments you will present. You will be asked to not use arguments deemed inappropriate or offensive.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS

· Use your time efficiently

· Communicate well with your coaches

· Practice, practice, practice (well)

· Build your knowledge through reading

· Don’t play the blame game—focus on what you have control of

· Have fun & stay healthy

SIGN PAGE

Please sign to indicate that you have read and accept all of the above stated team policies.

_____________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE

______________________________________________________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE