November 7, 2026 Novice Scrimmage & Open Tournament

Novice Level Scrimmage, Open Level Tournament, Saturday, November 7, 2026, 8:00 – 4:30

Smith Middle School, 216 Addison Rd, Glastonbury, CT 06033

Sponsored by the English Speaking Union, Greenwich Branch

On behalf of Smith Middle School and Coach John Rook, The Connecticut Middle School Debate League invites you to our season-opening Novice Level Scrimmage and Open Level Tournament.

Novice and Open Level debaters will debate on both sides of the prep-ahead motion during Rounds 1 & 2: This House would make National Service compulsory in the United States. (Background info here and here.)

For Round 3, Open Level debaters will debate a different motion extemporaneously, as explained in the Handbook on page 4. Novice debaters will attend a workshop on extemporaneous debating to prepare them to debate extemp at the December 14 tournament.

Please review the CTMSDL Handbook for information on the format and rules.  It is up to coaches to decide which category (Novice or Open) is appropriate for each of their teams (see page 5 of the Handbook). 

Coaches should register on Tabroom.com for the event CTMSDLNov7. Find Tabroom instructions here. There is no cap on the number of teams a school may enter. DEADLINE TO ENTER TEAMS & JUDGES IS 12 AM OCTOBER 31!

Coaches should register one judge per every 2 teams entered.  Coaches should make sure their judges understand the information on the Judging Resources section of our website and our Handbook prior to the event.  Observers are welcome.

Schedule

Arrival, check-in, lunch ticket sales – lobby  cafeteria & auditorium

8:00 – 9:00

Welcome & Debater Q&A —auditorium

9:00 – 9:30

Demo debate — auditorium / Judge workshop -- location TBD

9:30 – 10:45

Round 1 (prep ahead) – rooms announced right before round

11:00 – 12:00

Lunch  —cafeteria

12:00 – 12:45

Round 2 (prep ahead) – rooms announced right before round

1:00 —2:00

Round 3 (Open extemp) / Novice workshop -- auditorium

2:15 – 3:30

Games  — auditorium

3:30

Open Awards & Announcement of Dec 19 Motion

4:00

Debaters may pack their lunches or buy tickets for pizza and a drink when they arrive. Pizza is $2 per slice and drinks are $1. BYO water bottles. Coffee & donuts and pizza & a drink will be provided for judges. Questions or comments? Please email Jen Posner at pres@ctmsdebate.org.