2015-2016 Argument Limits by Division
Middle Schools
Division
Argument Limits
Novice

JV


Division
Novice
JV
Varsity
Championship
One Aff Case – Immigration
(switch to Drones January)
Two Aff Cases – Immigration
and Drones
Four DAs – two general used for
both cases, one Immigration,
one Drones
High Schools
Argument Limits

One Aff Case – Immigration
(switch to Drones January)
 Two Aff Cases – Immigration
and Drones
 Four DAs – two general used for
both cases, one Immigration,
one Drones
 Four Aff Cases – Immigration,
Drones, War on Drug, NSA
PRISM (unhighlighted)
 Any DA – Research Encouraged!
 5 Counterplans – one specific to
each case and one general
Referendum CP used for all
cases
 1 Critique – Foucault K
 No Topicality
No limits, though all arguments
should be comprehensible to lay
judges.
* Elimination rounds count double
Suggested Guidelines
for Debater Promotion
 Top 10 team
N/A
Suggested Guidelines
for Debater Promotion
(Coach discretion
rules)
 Quarterfinals




N/A
Semifinals twice
or
Finals once
Semifinals twice
or
Finals once
Points for
debates*
2- loss
4- win
3-loss
5-win
Points for
preliminary
debates*
Research Allowed
None
No new research
allowed, except for the
city championship
Research Allowed
2- loss
4- win
3-loss
5-win
None
4-loss
6-win
Original research
encouraged on allowed
arguments, but no new
positions except for
DAs
5- loss
7- win
No limits, though all
research should result
in arguments that are
comprehensible to lay
judges
No new research
allowed, except for the
city championship
2015-2016 Argument Limits by Division
Argument Limit Violations
If someone believes an argument limit violation has occurred then DO NOT STOP DEBATING. CONTINUE THE DEBATE,
reference the argument violation during the round and then politely tell your judge as soon as the debate is over.
Afterwards tell the tournament director or have your coach tell the tournament director of the incident. The
tournament director will investigate the incident and make the final call. If it is found that the violation was done
intentionally or repeatedly then this will result in a loss for the team that violates the argument limit.
Research




Novice debaters may not alter or update the Immigration Surveillance Affirmative (or the Drone Surveillance
Affirmative in the Winter Season).
JV debaters are not allowed to do research except for city championship. For the City Championship students will be
able to update a card’s text but not its taglines.
Varsity debaters can cut their own DAs and do original research on all of the available arguments. They may not
change the plan text or the basic argument of the cases/negative arguments.
The championship division has no research limitations, but all research should result in the creation of arguments
that are comprehensible to lay judges.
Electronics Policy

No electronic devices may be used during the round for any purposes, including but not limited to laptops and cell
phones. Any student who uses these devices must forfeit the round. In a family emergency families should contact
the tournament director.
Tournament Division: Understandings

New debaters are expected to move out of the novice division, whether or not they make the quarterfinals, after
two tournaments. However, coaches have ultimate discretion and may keep a student in the novice division for
more than two tournaments if they believe it would be necessary.
Awards
Debaters will be given medals/awards for their first time debating in each division to encourage them to move up.
 Points will be used to determine:
o The Tournament Championship
o End of Year Awards
 Top speakers and teams in each division
 Up to 2 teams represent the Boston Debate League at NAUDL Nationals:
o 1st Team – Winner of the City Championship in the Championship Division
o 2nd Team – Championship Debate Team with the Most Cumulative Points who is from a different debate
squad then the 1st team (e.g. if the 1st team is from X High School, then the 2nd team cannot be from X high
school as well).
ASDL Staff, Tournament Directors:
Lynne Reznick, Program Director – 857-239-9552
Anna Rodriguez, Program Manager – 857-350-3127
Kristen Bonstein, Program Manager – 857-277-1836
Roger Nix, Program Manager – 508-395-7228