Other Logistics

All rules are per the MFA By-laws and Maine State Championship Handbook, which are subject to change by majority vote of member schools. The information below is based on the 2019 invitation.

Food

Competitors will be able to purchase light breakfast items, lunch, snacks, dinner and water. Competitors not wishing to purchase or with dietary restrictions beyond vegetarian should bring their own food.

Judges and coaches will be provided with complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Schedule

The State Tournament includes additional rules that extend the day beyond the normal tournament schedule. All participants should anticipate a flexible schedule based on the (tentative) schedule below:

8:00-8:30Tournament check-in
8:45Welcomes and briefings
Extemp draw (extempers report to prep room)
9:00Start all events (Morning session includes two rounds of Speech, three rounds of Debate, and Session I of Congressional Debate.)
11:30Lunch
12:30Resume all events (Afternoon session includes two more rounds of Speech (prelim and final), three rounds of Debate (fourth prelim, semifinals, and finals), and Congressional Debate session 2.)
6:00Dinner
7:00
(approximately)		Awards Ceremony in auditorium

Please plan on staying through the entire ceremony, weather permitting.

Accommodations

We aim to make competition accessible and welcoming to all who wish to participate. Tournament participants can find gender-neutral accommodations throughout the school based on signage.

Coaches or students should reach out to the tournament host to request ADA accommodations.

Weather

The MFA Executive Committee will make any decisions about postponing the State Tournament no later than 9 p.m. Friday, January 25 and notify teams via the MFA email list, the MFA website, and if so late as to make necessary, by phone call to coaches.

The State Tournament snow date is Saturday, February 2. For Public Forum, we will maintain the January topic.

Directions

Please plan accordingly to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. at Thornton Academy 438 Main St, Saco, ME 04072.

Tournament Media Promotion

News coverage is some of the best peer pressure to increase school, district and community support for forensics! The MFA may distribute press releases to newspapers, TV stations, the MPA, and other interested parties. In the event that any guests show up, Vice President D’Arcy Robinson will act as liaison/point of contact. It is the affirmative duty for each coach to inform the Executive Committee of any student who is not to be filmed, photographed or interviewed by the media. Please check your team records and discuss with all team members today!

Information will be distributed as it becomes available.

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