Debate Competition Rules
Team Eligibility
The teams admissible for the debate are those teams that have registered their school
with the 2006 MBA Games Committee. Only one team per school is admissible for the
debate competition.
Participant Eligibility
Participants must be pre-registered with their respective schools and all of the
information requested on the registration form for participants must be completed.
Persons not registered with the 2006 MBA Games Committee are in-eligible to compete
in any events.
Competition Schedule
The schedule for the debating competition will be provided to each individual upon
arrival to the 2006 National MBA Games. The schedule will also be posted on the 2006
National MBA Games website after November 15, 2005.
Debate Team Structure
Each team will be made up of three students. The same three students must participate
in all debates. Each team will participate in a minimum of three debates.
Debate Structure
Two teams will participate in each debate. Statements to be debated will not be
released prior to the scheduled debating time.
The structure of the debate will be as follows:
Judges will introduce themselves to the competing teams.
One judge will announce the debate statement to the competing teams.
Teams will be assigned to defend or oppose the statement based on the flip of a
coin.
Teams will be given ten minutes to prepare their argument.
Beginning with the defending team, each team will have five minutes to present
their position.
Beginning with the defending team, each team will have five minutes to rebut the
argument of the other team.
Beginning with the opposing team, each team will have three minutes to
conclude their position. No new information can be introduced during the
conclusion. Any team that introduces new information (information that was not
discussed in either the argument or the rebuttal) will be penalized by the judges.
Example Structure (Defending team Odette vs. Opposing team Laval)
9:00 am Judges introduce themselves and explain rules to both teams
9:10 am One judge gives both teams the statement to debated
9:20 am Odette has 5 minutes to state their opening argument
9:25 am Laval has 5 minutes to state their opening argument
9:30 am Odette has 5 minutes to rebut Lavals opening argument
9:35 am Laval has 5 minutes to rebut Odettes opening argument
9:40 am Laval has 3 minutes to conclude their argument
9:43 am Odette has 3 minutes to conclude their argument
9:47 am Debate ends. Judges are given ten minutes to make their decision and
announce it to the competing teams.
Judging
Two judges will be present at each debate. All concerns must be addressed to the
judges. They have the responsibility to judge each debate in a fair and ethical manner.
The decisions made by the judges are final.
Each team will be judged equally on the quality of their argument and their ability to
refute the arguments of the opposing team.
Judges will award a total of 100 points per debate. 50 points divided between the two
teams for the strength of the argument, and 50 points divided between the two teams
for the strength of the rebuttal. (Please see the debate score sheet for a further
breakdown of the debate scoring system).
Progressing to the Debate Finals
During the first round of the debate competition, each team will debate three times. The
eight teams with the most points from the first three debates will progress to the second
round of the debate competition.
All subsequent rounds will be single elimination. Teams will be eliminated until two
teams are left for the finals. The team that wins the final debate wins the debate
competition. (Please see the debate schedule for more details).
Sample Debate Statements
Black and white photos do a better job of capturing emotion than colour photos.
Coke has better advertising campaigns then Pepsi.
The Canadian government should raise the minimum wage.
