Live from the WDCA Spring Coaches Meeting
May 9, 2009 – 9:16 am by: Bill BattermanThe Wisconsin Debate Coaches’ Association is holding its Spring Meeting today at the Ripon Public Library. Eighteen schools are represented and will be discussing a wide range of issues including the novice evidence packet, the WSDT, next year’s tournament calendar, etc. A running log of the meeting (live from the President’s table) is below the fold.
Bill Batterman convened the meeting at 9:30AM. His President’s report including a discussion of the novice packet. The following text was unanimously added to the Standing Rules:
Section VII. Novice Policy Debate Argument Limits
Until a date determined by the Executive Committee, arguments in the novice division are restricted to those contained in the official novice evidence packet. Following that date, packet restrictions are removed but affirmatives remain limited to the plan texts specified in the novice evidence packet. In the event that an argument is presented from outside the novice evidence packet, the judge should not consider that argument in their decision regardless of whether the issue is raised in the debate. If the affirmative team presents a plan that is not found in the novice evidence packet, they should receive a loss. Tournament directors should enforce these novice evidence packet restrictions.
The other officers presented their reports and we have now moved on to the Committee reports.
Update 10:41AM
The WDCA has just passed four changes.
1. The evidence standards now require debaters to only verbally cite the AUTHOR and DATE of the evidence, not the source. This is consistent with current practices.
2. The clause in the adjudicator guidelines that prevents judges from asking or seeking information as to the identity of the schools participating in a round has been eliminated.
3. The clause in the adjudicator guidelines about evidence reading by judges has been amended:
The review of evidence by a judge is not allowed unless there is a dispute by the opposition regarding the meaning, context, or validity of the evidence or a suspicion of falsification.
4. The clause in the adjudicator guidelines about “tag teaming” has been eliminated.
We are not discussing proposals about the Judging Ethics and Grievances procedures.
Update: 10:55AM
Clarifications to the ethics/grievance procedures and the electronic communication restriction were passed unanimously.
Update: 12:07PM
A lengthy discussion of the WSDT is underway. We have decided to move to a Saturday/Sunday event in 2009 while maintaining the three-round format in JV/novice/MS (pending additional actions yet to be discussed).
We are now discussing Tim Scheffler’s proposal to reform the WSDT qualification procedures.
Update: 12:58PM
The Scheffler reform to the WSDT qualification procedure passed.
The JV division has been eliminated from the WSDT.
The discussion continues.
Update: 1:34PM
The meeting adjourned at 1:34PM. Things that haven’t been covered yet:
1. Steve Finch of Bradley Tech was elected President. Brian Devine of Janesville Parker was elected Secretary.
2. The PF judge ratio at the WSDT was reduced.
Several other things were also discussed, but I think this summarizes most of the legislative changes. The minutes will be available before the fall meeting from our outgoing Secretary, Kristi Plamann.
A huge thank you to Kristi for her service these past four years as Secretary. She has volunteered countless hours to the organization above and beyond hosting the WSDT over-and-over again.
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