Nationals Newsletter - May 11, 2021
Nationals Newsletter - May 11, 2021

Check out what's new, Coach!

REMINDER: Registration Deadline This Saturday

All registration materials, including entries, judges, Policy and LD judge paradigms, payment, tentative script info, and T-shirt orders are due in Tabroom.com this Saturday, May 15. Please double check your registration! Issues will be flagged with a red X in the Status column on the General tab.
Please note, our office closes at 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, so if you need assistance, please be sure to reach out before then! Learn more about how to complete the registration process via these instructions or this step-by-step webinar.

QUICK LINKS
Tournament procedures
Check your registration
Link students on Tabroom

Preparing for the National Congress

Students can prepare to compete at the 2021 National Congress with the newly released docket! Students may also download our editable Congress placard for use in session. Competitors may choose Senator or Representative, add their last name, and enter their pronouns, if desired.

Meet Our High School Coach of the Year

The 2021 NSDA High School Coach of the Year is Victoria Freeman from Lincoln High School in Nebraska! As the winner of the Nebraska South District award, Victoria was selected by a panel of esteemed coaches from our pool of district winners as the national recipient. She was recognized for her outstanding local and national leadership, along with her dedication to improving our community's awareness of and willingness to honor the accommodation needs of people with disabilities.
Congratulations! High School Coach of the Year: Victoria Freeman, Lincoln High School, Nebraska South District
You'll have a chance to learn more about Victoria as part of our Opening Ceremony for the National Tournament at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 13. Join us in congratulating Victoria! 

Detailed Competition Schedules

Round start times are now available in the Nationals Procedures. Students and judges will join their rooms on competition.speechanddebate.org 30 minutes before round start time to resolve any technical issues.

Save the Date: Registration on June 13 

An adult representative from each school participating in the National Tournament should plan to attend tournament registration on Sunday, June 13. Each state has an assigned registration time. If you can't make it during your assigned time, please join us for Late Registration from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. CT.

Practice Accessing Competition Spaces

Coaches, students, and judges with Tabroom.com accounts linked to the tournament can increase their comfort levels prior to Nationals by practicing locating competition spaces. To get started, visit competition.speechanddebate.org, use the Rooms menu to find the Practice Rooms, and click to enter the Demo room. Then you'll be prompted to log in with your Tabroom.com account info.
Unlike during the tournament week, when you click to join via app or join via browser in the room you'll be directed to a Zoom test site. Teams cannot yet access competition rooms, but they will function just like regular Zoom rooms. Each participant that enters the demo room will be taken to their own, separate Zoom test site. You will not be able to practice in the demo room with multiple people. To practice as a team in one Zoom room, go to Zoom.us and sign up for a free account! A few reminders: 
  • We highly recommend using Google Chrome as your browser to access the site. 
  • If your students are having trouble accessing the competition site, double check that their Tabroom.com account is linked to their entry, that they don't have multiple accounts (many students do!), or have them reset their password.
  • Find troubleshooting tips in the guide below. 

Share Our Online Competition Tips

We want all students to maximize their skills and create the best performance they can! We've put together some general tips to set your team up for success including quick fixes for common issues, internet advice, equipment options, recording tips for speech events, guidance on framing and lighting, and more. 

Turn-In Requirements for Nationals Scripts

As part of National Tournament registration, competitors in DI, HI, DUO, POI, INF, and OO are required to upload a working copy of their speech/script by May 15 through the Tabroom.com registration system. Competitors can continue to make edits and changes until Saturday, June 13, but something must be in the system by May 15. Click the star button to favorite the script turn-in requirements page and save the info for later via your NSDA Account or visit the Nationals Procedures to access details again. 

Apply for Financial Support on Behalf of Your Students

We've pledged to give $100,000 in financial assistance to teams and students to create a more equitable experience at the 2021 National Tournament. If your team needs to purchase technology, pay for internet access, rent appropriate competition space, or acquire other resources that will allow students to compete online, apply for the William Woods Tate, Jr., Memorial Fund.
We've put together a three question Competitor Resource Assessment you can use independently to evaluate potential challenges your students have and ways that the Tate fund may be able to support them. We will award the first round of grants in early May, so please apply early as we anticipate funding will go quickly. 
Thank you to our sponsors!
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