[eDebate] a more minor proposal?

[Sarah Gragert]

I really haven't thought this through, but an idea did come to me.  What if
more of these big national tournaments provided an entry system like Wake is
doing this year with restrictions on third and fourth teams?  I noticed from
reading some of the other posts that it sounds like some schools are now
sending additional teams to other tournaments that otherwise would have gone
to Wake.  So benefits:

 

1.	It strengthens regional tournaments by sending teams that would
otherwise go to the big tournaments to the smaller ones.
2.	It still allows the hosts of those big schools to still use the
tournaments as a fundraiser because they don't have to take as drastic of an
action as making it a district only tournament-they would still have a lot
of schools go, but just not quite as many.
3.	It's a boost to small programs-if only two teams or so from each
school are allowed to go to the top tournaments, there's an incentive for
recruits to choose smaller schools where they'll be able to go to those
tournaments starting their freshman year.
4.	Evens out the bracket a bit-won't have a bunch of teams from the
same school that are protected from hitting each other.
5.	it might make it so that people don't put such disproportionate
weight on the NDT as the mark of a successful career if other tournaments
are limited to stronger competition.
6.	Lightens traveling expenses-if you're not taking every team across
the country, its cheaper.  (I'll admit, I don't know how strong this
argument is, but its possible).

 

Some possible disadvantages:

1. means more tournaments overall for schools, which can be hard for
coaching staff.  

2. Reduced education for the younger teams who don't get as good of rounds
(but this is inevitable with many of the proposals to switch to more
regional debate)

 

I dunno.  I'm not by any means wedded to this idea.  Just thought I would
throw it out there as maybe a less drastic revamping of the system.  I'm
probably even more intrigued by the conference idea.  

 

sg

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