Like major international tournaments such as worlds, we will be requiring all of our judges to take a judge test before round one. The test involves watching a debate as an online video and then rendering a decision as well as answering some questions about the format.

We urge all judges to review the judge briefing materials (we are glad to be using the excellent judge briefing document used for Botswana worlds, by permission) BEFORE they take the test. The judge briefing can be found at:
http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/BW2011JudgeBriefing.pdf

After that, judges should go to the JUDGE TEST at the USU 2011 website and watch the debate.
http://debate.uvm.edu/debateblog/usu2011/Judge_Test.html

After watching the debate, go to our automated form and fill out your decision and also answer a few questions. Then, submit the form and the CA and DCAs will receive it and review it.

http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/jLeK0X9Buxe93Q2oska8r8


We will then use this data in judge assignment at the tournament, and will supplement it with feedback gathered from debaters and judges during the tournament.

If you are the contact person for your institution you need to inform all of your judges of this requirement and make sure that they complete the judge test. It is your responsibility to do this. If your judges fail to take the online test they may not cover your commitment at the tournament and you WILL BE CHARGED A HIRED JUDGE FEE at registration to cover your teams.

Many of the best debaters in America and the world will be at the tournament. They deserve competent judging and this is our attempt to make sure they get it. We appreciate your cooperation.

Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you in Burlington in two weeks.

Tuna
Convener 
-- 
Alfred C. Snider aka Tuna
Edwin Lawrence Professor of Forensics, University of Vermont
Huber House, 475 Main Street, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405 USA
Lawrence Debate Union http://debate.uvm.edu/debateblog/LDU/ 
Global Debate Blog http://globaldebateblog.blogspot.com 
Debate Central http://debate.uvm.edu; http://edebating.com 
802-656-0097 office; 802-238-8345 mobile;802-656-4275 fax