NCFA Spring Fling Tournament

One Day, Novice Only

Saturday May 2nd, 2026

Hosted by

Ohlone College, Fremont, California

On behalf of the Northern California Forensics Association and the Ohlone College Forensics Team, you are cordially invited to attend the 2026 Spring Fling Tournament, taking place Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 . This is an in-person tournament. Please note this is a rookie/novice-only tournament and coaches should use discretion when selecting students who are beginners in a given event. 

The tournament offers two patterns with platform events, limited preparation events, interpretation events, and debate. 

Pattern A (After Dinner Speaking, Impromptu, Informative, Programmed Oral Interp, Prose, IPDA, and Lincoln-Douglas Debate) 

Pattern B (Dramatic Interp, Duo, Poetry, Persuasive, CA, Extemporaneous, and Parliamentary Debate).

Double entry is permitted in both patterns with the exception of LD and Parli. Students may compete in no more than 2 events per pattern. 

We look forward to seeing you on the Ohlone College campus soon. 

Registration 

You can register your students to compete in these events at ForensicsTournament.net. All entries and drops must be submitted by Thursday, April 30th at 5:00pm (PT). For additions, changes, and drops after Thursday, April 30th at 5:00pm (PT), email Tournament Director Lindsay Walsh (lindsay.walsh@sjsu.edu). 

Event Rules

The tournament will follow the bylaws of national organizations for the event in question (NFA, NIET, NPDA, IPDA...) unless specified here or in the case that a practice or rule has been established as a regional norm. If you have questions about rules and procedures, please contact the tournament prior to the event to clarify. Concerns brought forward during the event shall be left up to the Tournament Director to adjudicate. Note: Parli will use flex time in round (which is a regional norm at this point).

Novice Eligibility

Competing at this tournament shall be open only to those students meeting the following NCFA Eligibility Requirements. (NOTE: NCFA Novice Eligibility is stricter than national organization rules and will be adhered to.) 

• High school experience in debate and Individual Events--if a student has competed in high school for two semesters, the student is not eligible to compete at this tournament.

• College experience in debate--If a student has advanced beyond the first elimination round at two tournaments, or if the student has competed in the final round at three tournaments in any debate format (team or Lincoln-Douglas) then they are not eligible to compete in this event at this tournament. 

• College experience in Individual Events--If a student places (first, second, third) in an event, or like event type (i.e.-interpretation, limited prep, group event, and platform speeches), twice, they are not eligible to compete in this event at this tournament.

Awards Showcase

Prior to the start of the award ceremony, the NCFA would like to host an honorary showcase in which up to four open competitors from the region present award-winning speeches to the novice competitors. If you would like to nominate a student to be considered for the showcase, please email Lindsay Walsh (lindsay.walsh@sjsu.edu) and Shannan Troxel-Andreas (troxelsh@butte.edu). 

We will also be recognizing the winners of the 2026 NCFA year-end awards. Please make sure that you get your nominations in and vote for the candidates in each category. NCFA President Shannan Troxel-Andreas (troxelsh@butte.edu) will be sending out the email for the nominations and the voting to all coaches in the area. 

Fees 

At the beginning of the tournament, you will confirm your entries but all fees will be assessed at the end of the tournament. You are encouraged to pay electronically via Square. Paper checks will need to be made payable to NCFA.

Any school can apply for a fee waiver or reduction. Contact the tournament director to discuss details.

Event Fees: 

School fee: $25.00 

Individual event slot: $5.00 

NFA-LD teams are $10.00 / debater 

IPDA Debate teams are $10.00 / debater 

Parli Debate teams are $10.00 / team 

Uncovered individual event slot: $25.00 (+ slot fee) 

Uncovered debate slot: $50.00 (+ slot fee) 

Each drop after 5:00 pm (PT) April 30th is $6.00 for IE, $10.00 for LD and $15.00 for Debate.  

Judging

Coaches and former competitors will contribute to a quality judging pool, ensuring students who are being exposed to the activity for the first time have a positive experience. Experienced, open competitors are also invited to judge. Student judges not only contribute to the growth of others as supportive listeners and critics, but may also benefit from experiencing forensics from the other side of the table. ALL STUDENT JUDGES MUST ATTEND AN ORIENTATION AT 8:30am. If you know a qualified judge who is not affiliated with your school and would be interested in judging, please contact the tournament director: Lindsay Walsh (lindsay.walsh@sjsu.edu) as soon as possible to see about having that judge hired into the judging pool. 

Note on round coverage: One judge will cover 6 slots per pattern in IEs and up to two debate teams. As NFA-LD rounds conflict with Pattern A events, NFA-LD judges will not be able to cover Pattern A IE events. As Parli rounds conflict with Pattern B events, Parli judges will not be able to cover Pattern B IE events. If your judges fail to meet the obligations that you assign to them, your institution will be charged the hired judging fees.

NCFA Spring Fling Schedule

Saturday May 2nd, 2026 

Note on draw times: All topic draws (including Extemp) will occur at the posted start time of the round.