Team Composition
1. Each team shall consist of three speakers.
2. Each team may use no more than five students throughout the tournament. Students may not debate for more than one NSSD team without the permission of the NSSD convener.
3. The order of speakers shall be first affirmative, first negative, second affirmative, second negative, third affirmative, third negative, reply by negative, reply by affirmative. Either the first or second speakers may give the reply speeches.
4. Senior teams shall consist of Year 13 students (or younger). Intermediate teams shall consist of Year 11 and 12 students (or younger). Junior teams shall consist of Year 9 and 10 students (or younger).
5. Schools may normally enter as many teams as they would like in to any of the grades. However, the convener may impose a cap on the number of teams per school should the draw become to large.
6. Teams may be composed of students from different schools at the discretion of the convenor, coaches should discuss this in advance.
Speaking Times and Points of Information
6. Speaking times shall be:
(a) Senior - eight minutes for each speaker with a four minute right of reply
(b) Intermediate - six minutes for each speaker with a three minute right of reply
(c) Junior - five minutes for each speaker with a two and half minute right of reply
7. There shall be a warning bell one minute before the end of the substantive and reply speeches and two bells at the end of time for all speeches. In the Senior level there will also be one bell at one minute, to signal that points of information (POIs) can be offered. In the Intermediate level there will also be one bell at one minute, to signal that POIs can be offered, only if both teams have agreed to allow POIs.
8. In Senior level debates, POIs are permitted and may occur between the one and seven minute bells. In Intermediate level debates, POIs are permitted only if both teams agree and may occur between the one and five minute bells.
Conduct
9. There shall be no interjections, heckling or points of order at any level.
10. Teams shall not be assisted by anyone during a debate. However, time signals may be given from the floor.
11. Fair play and courtesy are expected.
(a) Arguments must be directed towards the moot and not the individual.
(b) Personal abuse, audible comments, derisive laughter, offensive body language and loud complaints or grumbling about a decision are all unacceptable.
(c) Fair play also includes avoiding truisms and squirreling. A truism is when a moot (topic/motion) is interpreted in a way which is literally true. Squirreling is defining the moot in an unreasonable manner outside the spirit of the motion. Topics set will be set and unambiguous leaving no room for confusion as to the issue for debate. Squirreling should not arise in this competition.
Impromptu Debates
12. Moots will be announced one hour before the debate commences.
13. No cell phones or laptops are permitted in the preparation room. Teams may, however, take in printed or written material.
14. The only people allowed in to the preparation room are the three speakers in the team who will be speaking in the debate. Reserve speakers, coaches and parents are not permitted in preparation room unless permission is obtained by the convener.
15. All other rules that apply to prepared debating applies in this instance.
Defaults
16. Teams are expected to participate in all of the preliminary rounds and any subsequent final rounds should they qualify.
17. Teams may be defaulted if they have not arrived after 15 minutes past the start time of the debate. Such defaults will be at the discretion of the convener. Teams are expected to contact the convener by cellphone if they are running late. Contact numbers will be published on the website with the moots and draw.
18. Points System: Teams will be awarded five points for a win, three points for a loss, and no points if they default.
19. Suspension: If a team defaults more than once in the year, the NSSD convener will consider reducing the number of teams the defaulting school may enter in next year’s competition, or suspending the school from the competition entirely.
Communication Policy
20. NSSD communicates with schools via the website (http://www.nssd.hosthere.co.nz), and by emailing school coordinators at their nominated email address which is published on the website. Any information sent to school coordinators will be published on the website, and any significant announcement made on the website will also be emailed to coordinators. It is the responsibility of coordinators to ensure that coaches and debaters are made aware of this information.
General Information
21. The adjudicator shall generally act as the chairperson in the debate. NSSD will provide bells. A member of the audience will normally be asked to act as a timekeeper.
22. The adjudicator’s decision is final. Coaches may wish to discuss concerns about a decision with the convener.
23. Team members may wear either uniform or mufti according to the dress code of their school. Either all team members must be in uniform or all team members in mufti. Dress should be neat and tidy.
24. Entry fees are $70 for a Senior team, $70 for a Middle team and $30 for a Junior team. Teams can only debate once payment has been received in full. Refunds will not be offered if a team is withdrawn from the competition after the deadline for entries.