Directing Spring Fling: A Guide

Overview

This guide provides a flexible timeline and action steps for directing the NCFA Spring Fling Rookie Tournament. It ensures ample time for coordinating with the host and tournament staff, while allowing participating schools to manage travel requests, transportation, and budgets efficiently.

Between September-November

• Ensure the host school is identified and the tournament dates are established. This information should be documented in the meeting minutes from the Coaches Conference. Contact the Executive Committee with questions.

• Establish contact with the host school.

By December

• Have a discussion with the NCFA Treasurer about appropriate tournament fees and trophy budget.

By January 15

• Prepare the Spring Fling invitation. The 2024 Spring Fling invitation can be viewed here. An invitation template can be viewed here. (Select “File” and “Make a Copy” to create an editable version). You may want to indicate if Lunch is provided by the tournament or not, which should be discussed with the tournament host.

• Set up the tournament page on Forensicstournament.net (FTN).

• Post the tournament invitation to FTN, the NCFA Listserv, the NCFA Facebook page, and the California Intercollegiate 4N6 Coaches Discord channel.

• Identify the Tabroom staff who will work at Spring Fling.

• Coordinate with the tournament host about the number of rooms needed. Looking at the previous year’s numbers is a good guideline. In 2024, 18 schools participated in Spring Fling with 72 entries in Individual Events and 28 entries in debate. Booking 30 rooms is appropriate for this size tournament and includes the Tabroom and a Hospitality room.

Week after the NCFA Championship Tournament

• Open registration for the Spring Fling tournament on FTN.

• Order trophies / medals. Plan on ordering 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place and 4 Finalist awards for each Individual Event. Plan on ordering approximately 6 Gold awards and 6 Silver awards for each debate event (at Spring Fling, we cume Preliminary Rounds to determine rankings and do not advance to Elimination Rounds).

By April 1

• Select topic committees for IPDA debate, Parliamentary debate, Extemporaneous speaking, and Impromptu speaking. Set a deadline for committees to submit topics (typically 1 week prior to the tournament, especially for Extemp and Debate topics).

One to Two Weeks Before Spring Fling

• Identify who will run Extemp Prep.

• Identify who will run IPDA Topic Strike.

• Confirm End-of-Season awards are being prepared.

• Prepare the Student Judging Orientation. A Guide to Judging at Spring Fling can be found here.

• Review Impromptu, Extemporaneous, and Debate topics. Eliminate duplicates. In debate, check for parity in AFF/NEG ground.

Day Before Spring Fling

• Print any tournament signage (for example, signs directing competitors to IPDA Topic Strike or Extemp Prep).

• Send a Welcome email to participating schools. Communicate details about where to park, the location of Tabroom / Registration, and how to connect to Wi-Fi.

Additional Resources

• NCFA Executive Committee members

• Prior tournament director Kim Yee (kim.yee@sjsu.edu)

Last updated July, 2024

Prepared by Taure Shimp (Modesto Junior College: shimpt@yosemite.edu)