In order for the team to run smoothly, especially with so many dedicated competitors, students must commit to the rules of the team, and families must commit to supporting the team. In addition, as participants in the larger speech and debate tournament network, students must abide by National Forensics League (NFL) and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) rules. Please read this section carefully, and then indicate your agreement to abide by these Team and Family Expectations by signing and returning the team Participation Agreement/Contract.
Dues
Please review the Team Handbook for details on dues for Varisty and Novice (new to the Team for the current school year) team members. Please make dues checks out to George Washington Speech Parent Organization (GWSPO)
Judging
Feeding the Judges
Each year, the GW Speech and Debate team is responsible for “FEEDING THE JUDGES” at 3 local tournaments. We have a reputation for treating judges well and we are known for providing great food selections which attracts judges to our meets. The more judges we attract, the more efficient our meets run and the faster everyone gets to move through the events. As our team has grown, the demand for judges has grown as well. We appreciate your support of this important obligation in advance. There are two important ways you can help:
WHEN GW FEEDS the JUDGES – See the Varsity Tournament page for Dates:
Patriot Games Tournament @ George Washington High School
Denver Public Schools Tournament @ DSA (Denver School of the Arts)
HOST EVENTS
Welcome Picnic and Performance night
- Food Buyout of $60 per family
- You may elect to “opt out” of providing food and other related items for the required tournaments. If you elect to participate in the “food buyout” your donation will be used to offset the larger ticket items on our menus.
- If you elect to participate in the “food buyout” of $60, please make your check payable to “GWSPO” and indicate “FOOD BUYOUT” on the MEMO line. Please also include your STUDENT’s First and Last NAME.
- Donate Food and other Miscellaneous items for individual tournaments (Keep an eye out for our Jooner’s Sign Up emails):
- If you decided not to participate in the buyout we are always in need of families to donate food and drink items (such as making homemade soups/chili’s, provide veggies and dips, fruit, lemonade, cases of canned drinks, salad supplies, condiments, etc.).
- Provide much appreciated baked goods (muffins, loaves of bread, etc.).
- You will receive emails in the coming weeks, as we get closer to events, with “sign-up” opportunities.
WHEN GW FEEDS the JUDGES – See the Varsity Tournament page for Dates:
Patriot Games Tournament @ George Washington High School
Denver Public Schools Tournament @ DSA (Denver School of the Arts)
HOST EVENTS
Welcome Picnic and Performance night
Travel
The team has scheduled numerous out-of-state tournaments for the season. In addition, we expect some students will qualify for the Tournament of Champions (TOC) and Nationals. Students earn the right to travel by staying in good standing with the team and reaching a threshold of accumulated National Forensic League points. Therefore, all travel is undertaken with the consent of Coach Kohan. During travel tournaments, the team abides by DPS travel policies and procedures.
Plane tickets will not be purchased for students who have not turned in their deposits by the applicable deadline. Estimated Fees and Deposit/Final Payment Deadlines appear on the Calendar of Team Deadlines.
Competitors at out-of-state tournaments must have parents or guardians sign and have notarized a Power of Attorney and Release Agreement (copies will be available at the Welcome Picnic and on the Team Website).
- Chaperones: Each out-of-state tournament requires chaperones, who are drawn from among the coaches, assistant coaches, and GWHS staff. Chaperones judge, supervise, transport, and coordinate meals for the team. Chaperones are available to the team for the duration of the trip.
- Dates, Fees, and Forms: Please note that the fees listed for travel are estimates and are subject to change, depending on how expensive it is to arrange travel and how much support we get from DPS. Fees include airfare, hotel, buses, rental cars, tournament fees, and chaperone travel expenses. Food is typically not included and those expenses are funded individually. We do our best to keep all expenses low, including having the students share rooms. Room assignments are made by the coach with the security of the students in mind.
Plane tickets will not be purchased for students who have not turned in their deposits by the applicable deadline. Estimated Fees and Deposit/Final Payment Deadlines appear on the Calendar of Team Deadlines.
Competitors at out-of-state tournaments must have parents or guardians sign and have notarized a Power of Attorney and Release Agreement (copies will be available at the Welcome Picnic and on the Team Website).
- Scholarships: Students needing financial assistance with travel should speak with Ms. Kohan about scholarship availability.
Ethical Behavior
- Drug and Alcohol policy – As noted previously, irresponsible, dangerous, or illegal behavior, including possession of (sale of or distribution of) alcohol and/or drugs, will mean immediate expulsion from the tournament and possibly from the team. Such issues will be turned over to GWHS administration. If a member of the team is discovered to have participated in any of these activities they will be removed from their event and a parent/guardian will be notified to come to pick up their student immediately. If this occurs at a Travel tournament, the student’s family will be responsible for all expenses relating to sending the student home early. No refunds will be provided. Poor student conduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Students are expected to act respectfully toward all team members, coaches, and chaperones. Additionally, students must be responsible for their whereabouts at tournaments; this means, being accessible by cell phone when not in rounds, and informing coaches when leaving the tournament site.
- "Unfair" judging: Speech and debate events are judged by volunteers, and judging is by its nature subjective. Students who join the team must understand that events may not always be “fair"; there are occasional injustices or simply mistakes. Students must be prepared to be good sports and support each other over the outcome of all rounds. Coaches cannot advocate grievances during busy tournaments, and their decisions about what is a legitimate grievance must be respected. This is an important learning experience about handling disappointment and being gracious under pressure.
- Parent behavior: What happens at a tournament cannot be judged from outside of it. Parents must trust that coaches are doing what they think is right, and that an occasional injustice is part of speech and debate competition. Parents must accept the decisions made at tournaments and not expect that coaches can specially advocate for their child during the tournament or after. Again, it is an exercise in team spirit for the students to experience these moments and work through them together.
Also, coaches have many responsibilities during a tournament; they cannot be available for calls that are not emergencies. Coaches will meet with parents during school hours by appointment.
Coach Kohan, the assistant coaches, the team leadership, and the GWSPO are looking forward to another stellar season! Thank you for all that you do to help make it so.
