Several properties are at or near capacity. However, the following hotels still have space available!

The Westin Indianapolis
Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites
Omni Severin Hotel

All hotel properties on the list are easily accessible and are within 15-20 minutes by interstate or surface streets of every competition venue. For prompt and accurate service, mention the "NFL / National Forensic League block" when booking your rooms to receive the posted rate. Please do not stay outside the block. Hotels that are not on the NFL list have no contractual obligation to the NFL and therefore, we cannot provide any level of reservation protection at those properties.

Flights

You should plan to arrive by late afternoon on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, and depart on Saturday, June 16.  We recommend flying into the Indianapolis International Airport, about 25 minutes from downtown.

This year, the NFL has negotiated 10% discounts with United and Delta airlines (some restrictions may apply). 

	Code: 590KX			Code: NM8ND
For United flights, you must call (800) 633-8825. Discounts will not be honored if you book online.

Hotels

All hotel properties on the list are easily accessible and are within 15-20 minutes by interstate or surface streets of every competition venue. We recommend coaches visit hotel websites to determine which lodging options fit the needs of their program.  All hotels listed are conveniently located near restaurants, the Friday venue (Indiana Convention Center), and the downtown Indianapolis Zoo.  Coaches are encouraged to book early as hotel blocks fill up rather quickly.

• Click here for an interactive map of competition and hotel sites.
•  2012 Nationals Hotels - Map and Information (1.29 MB)

Please look at a map!  Before reserving rooms, coaches should look at a road atlas and an enlargement of the Indianapolis area to get a better perspective on travel logistics. Also, look at the maps above.  The key to a less stressful tournament is to consider following these lodging suggestions.

All schools should stay at one of the NFL recommended hotels in downtown Indianapolis. The lowest rates have been negotiated for our schools. Please do not stay outside the block. Properties that do not appear on this list, especially those closer to the Ben Davis competition venue, are likely inconvenient for participation in the tournament, including lack of safety, amenities, and proximity to restaurants. Morning and afternoon traffic could add substantial time to your commute if you are located outside the block. In addition, hotels not on the list have no contractual obligation to the NFL and therefore, we cannot provide any level of reservation protection at these properties.

Ground Transportation

Coaches will need to arrange their own rental vehicle(s)/bus(es).  We are in the process of compiling a list of bus companies from our local host committee.

The NFL has an agreement with Hertz for a "CV" discount code. To reserve with this special rate, provide the CV number to your travel agent, or when making reservations online or at 800-564-2240 (in the US or Canada), or 1-405-749-4434 (other).  For more details, please download this document:  2012 Airfare and Car Rental Discounts (609.61 kB)

More information will be posted in February and March, including our T-Shirt design and ordering information!

1. Eligibility - students must have been in the sixth, seventh or eighth grade during the 2011-2012 school year, or graduated from the fifth grade by June 10, 2012.  There is no qualification process; this tournament is an open invitational.
2. A school or club may not enter more than eight (8) entries in any event.
   1. Students can enter one of three Pattern A debate events (Public Forum, Policy, Lincoln Douglas).
   2. In speech events, students can enter two events per pattern (A or B).
   3. Any student entered in Pattern A Debate also can enter in either Congressional Debate or Extemp. or two events in Speech Pattern B.
   4. Any student entered in Congress or Extemp also can enter in either one Pattern A Debate event or two Pattern A speech events.
   5. A coach may pre-enter up to 8 individuals, pairs or 3-student teams in the exhibition event TV Commercial; students must be pre-registered in order to participate and not still competing in an elimination round held at the same time TV Commercial rounds are held.Pre-registered entries are not required, however, to participate at the tournament.
3. We wish to encourage only those who are genuinely interested in evaluating students to provide an educational experience to judge at this tournament. All judges are committed through the end of the tournament, and are expected to judge any round assigned within their event group. The NJFL Web site features instructional guides for judging; coaches are expected to share these materials with judges they bring to the tournament.
4. Fees
   1. School Fee: $125 - covers annual membership dues. In the event that a school or club is already a member in good standing, dues may be deducted from the school fee (for example if a school is a paid member of NJFL that school can deduct the $35 NJFL membership fee from their school fee). Tournament staff will check on registration each weekday, and automatically reverse fees to account for dues already paid.If you do not see the dues reversed within one business day, please contact our office.
   2. Per Student Entry Fee: $30- covers student entry in up to two events, and lifetime membership in the NJFL, if the student was not previously a member.
      1. Each additional event entry/slot is $20.
      2. Pre-registering for the exhibition event of TV Commercial is $5 per entry.
   3. A judge bond of $200 is assessed to ensure schools’ judges complete their judging obligation. This bond is in addition to entry fees and judge fees. If all judges from a school complete all rounds to which they were assigned, the $200 will be returned at the end of the tournament. Bonds are redeemable by cash, check, or can be applied to dues.Judge bonds must be redeemed by October 1, 2012, and it is the coach’s responsibility to contact the national office prior to that date.
   4. Schools must provide judges as follows, or pay a $100 fee for each uncovered judge:
      Event Group - One judge required for:
      Speech - every 5 entries or fraction thereof*
      Policy Debate - every 2 teams or fraction thereof*
      LD Debate - every 3 entries or fraction thereof*
      PF Debate - every 3 entries or fraction thereof*
      Congress - every 8 entries (maximum/limit)
      * e.g., 6 speech entries = 2 judges
   5. All fees are non-refundable after May 30, 2012.
5. Deadlines
   1. Entries must be made online by May 18, 2012.
   2. E-mail Congressional Debate legislation by May 1 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
   3. E-mail orations by May 30 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; each oration should identify quoted material, state the number of quoted words, and by virtue of submitting the script, the orator and the coach attest that the oration is the original work of the contestant.
   4. We require a  Media Release Form (111.42 kB) to be signed by each student’s parent/guardian, since we will have photographers and video crews on hand.These must be submitted with fees by May 30, 2012.
   5. All teams with Policy Debate entries must submit Affirmative Plan texts by May 30, 2012.
   6. All fees, including judge bond, must be received by the national office by May 30, 2012.
      NJFL/NFL National Office 
      PO Box 38, 125 Watson St
      Ripon, WI  54971-0038 
   7. A school/club risks forfeiting participation if fees and media release forms are not received on time; a late fee of $200 will be assessed for fees and forms received after May 30.

2012 Itinerary

2012 Events

For 2012, we've changed our speech event patterns to reflect entry trends the past several years; please note changes.  Jan. 26 update: re-alignment of pattern A and B speech events allows for more speech events during pattern A. Please disregard the February issue of Rostrum.  All patterns listed are final.

This tournament is an open invitational; there is no qualifying process; a school may bring as many students as it wishes, but each event/category below has a limit of 8 students per school or club.

Event Pattern Rationale:  Entry trends over the past few years necessitated a change to balance room usage better. We also heeded recommendations to separate Extemp and Impromptu (but to keep Extemp opposite the debate pattern).  We also balanced public speaking with interpretive events within each pattern. Finally, several coaches suggested limiting cross-entry for extempers in pattern B, to allow ample time for extempers competing in a pattern A event to draw and speak during pattern B.

Exhibition Event:  TV Commercial (individuals, or groups of up to three students can pre-register for this event, and will compete in one round, where the top ranked contestants will earn prizes). This round will be held during elimination rounds for students who have not advanced in their main events by the time the exhibition event begins.

Changes/Reminders:

• Policy Debate is no longer using topic limitations (new for 2012); we will be requiring affirmative case disclosure.  More details will be posted here in February.
• Students competing in Extemp during Pattern B may no longer cross-enter during Pattern B, but may enter one debate event in Pattern A, or one or two speech events.
• Drawing of impromptu topics happens in each section/room, rather than in a separate prep room.  Prep and speaking time will total 8 minutes.
• Clubs/cooperatives (non-school entities) are held to the same entry limits as schools. Alternatively, clubs can enroll as the separate schools their students represent.
• All judges are committed through the end of the tournament, and a $200 judge bond ensures judges maintain their commitment.
• Allowance for electronic devices in the four debate events and Extemporaneous Speaking, as provided for in NFL rules.

2012 Tournament Manual

 2012 National Tournament Manual (664.21 kB)

Instructional Guides for Judges

Visit the Event Overview/Judging Guides.

2012 Topics

• Policy Debate - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.
• Public Forum - see below
• Lincoln Douglas Debate - see below
• Congressional Debate Legislation -  2012 NJFL National Legislation Docket (1.3 MB)
• Storytelling - Heroism
• Extemporaneous Speaking Topics:
  • Round 1: United States Political Issues
  • Round 2: Science, Health & Technology News
  • Round 3: Energy & Environment Issues
  • First Elim. Round: International News
  • Second Elim. Round: Business News
  • Third Elim. (if needed): varied, from above