Students

Your team’s coach should be the primary source of information about WACFL rules and tournaments. Coaches have access to more information than is provided on this website. But here are answers to some of the most common questions students ask about WACFL.

How do I qualify for MetroFinals?

The WACFL Metropolitan Championship (MetroFinal) Tournament is held after the five preliminary tournaments. MetroFinals are held in late February /early March and determine which students will advance to the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament, held over Memorial Day weekend. Only students competing in Varsity in Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas and Policy debate can qualify for the NCFL Grand National Tournament. For Speech and Student Congress, students at MetroFinals will compete together, regardless of experience levels.

Students qualify for MetroFinals based on their success at the preliminary tournaments. Full qualification criteria are outlined in the WACFL bylaws.

Here is a summary of how students can qualify to compete at MetroFinals.

Should I be competing in the Novice, Junior-Varsity or Varsity division?

In general, Novice is for 1st year debaters, Junior-Varsity for 2nd year and Varsity for 3rd year debaters. Some coaches choose to start all debaters in JV, feeling they will learn faster. Most students should stay in Novice for only a few tournaments before advancing to JV. At MetroFinals, there is no Novice division - only JV and Varsity. Only students competing in Varsity can qualify for the NCFL Grand National Tournament. Here are the WACFL guidelines on when students are required to advance to higher divisions.

Speech and Student Congress do not split students according to experience. All students in these events compete together.

How should I dress for a tournament?

WACFL does not have a dress code, but when competing at a tournament, students tend to dress professionally. The objective is to project a serious and respectful image. Avoid casual clothing like jeans, fleece, flannel, or t-shirts. Wear shoes that are comfortable. You will be standing during your speaking time and walking much of the school to get to competition rooms. Make sure shoes are clean and polished. Avoid wearing flip-flops, sandals, or sneakers.

How do I create a Tabroom account?

Creating an account is quite easy and a one-time process. Even if you change schools, you'll keep the same Tabroom account. Go to www.tabroom.com and click on Sign Up at the top right of the home screen. Follow all the steps to completion. When the tournament is over, Tabroom is where you will see your ballots and read your judges' comments.

Here’s some tips to ensure that the Tabroom account creation process goes smoothly

  • Be sure you use a personal (non-school) email address. Some school systems block external emails. On tournament day, Tabroom will email you details for each of your competition rounds.
  • Entering your cell phone number isn’t required, but is a good idea. Tabroom will text you with important notifications, but not send you spam messages.
  • The last step in the process is to push the button that says Link your Account. This is what connects you to a particular school. If you are unable to link your account, be sure your coach knows your email address. They can complete the linking process.