ABOUT NITOC
Judging at NITOC​
No experience is necessary! You are more than qualified to make this investment in the lives of students. Your feedback helps them learn and grow in their communication skills.
The Basics
Stoa uses the open and public National Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate Rankings (Speechranks) website to determine invitations to the National Invitational Tournament of Champions (NITOC) hosted by Stoa. Stoa tournaments must meet certain minimum criteria for rounds competed as specified on the Speechranks website. Results posted for Stoa tournaments through April 30 will be used for invitational purposes.
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Invitational Model
National Invitation Model: Two Green Checks
Two Green Check next to your name in a NITOC event means you will receive an invitation to NITOC in that event. Green checks are given only to those students achieving these levels at Stoa tournaments that have met our Stoa minimum tournament standards.
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Green Checks are defined as:
Speech
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For all speech events except Impromptu, students who rank in the top 40% at a tournament will receive a green check. For impromptu, students will need to rank in the top 25% to receive a green check.
Debate
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Students who rank in the top 38% of any debate field at a tournament will receive a green check.
NOTE: For Duo Interpretation, Team Policy, and Parliamentary Debate, only teams may be invited to NITOC. In other words, a student may not receive an invitation with one partner and then compete at NITOC with a different partner. If a student receives an invitation with two different partners in the same event, he/she must choose with which partner to compete.
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Debate at NITOC
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Round One will be randomly paired.
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Rounds Two through Six will employ standard Stoa Hi/Lo (within W/L brackets) Power Matching.
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There is no state protection.
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Club protection will be employed in Rounds One through Four.
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Speech Seeding at NITOC
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Speech events at NITOC will be seeded based on the rankings on the Speechranks website. Seeding is based on a student’s three best performances during the speech and debate season. This provides a motivation toward continued excellence throughout the year, as that excellence is rewarded at NITOC. Preliminary Rounds of speech will be “power protect” rounds.​
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In Speech Events, all preliminary rounds will spread the top-ranked students, one per classroom, equal to the number of classrooms per event. This has advantages for both the top-ranked students and those that are not highly ranked, as the competition is spread more evenly among the rooms.
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For the top students, this means they will not have to compete against the other top students in prelims. This should increase their chances of advancing to outrounds.
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For the lesser-ranked students, this means they will not have to endure a prelim round with all the top-ranked students in their room. This should also increase their chances of advancing to outrounds.
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Stoa desires to promote professionalism and modesty in behavior and dress. Therefore, we have developed the following dress code for NITOC:
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Competition
During competition and awards ceremony, students must dress in modest, professional business attire.
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Professional business attire for Gentlemen
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Suit or slacks and blazer jacket
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Collared shirt and tie
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Professional dress shoes and socks
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Professional business attire for Ladies
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Skirt or pantsuit
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Slacks, skirt, or dress with a blazer
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No leggings or tights as pants
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Hemlines and slits no higher than middle of the knee
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Hose optional
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Professional dress shoes
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Awards Ceremony
Students must attend the awards ceremony in full competition attire.
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Violations
If the competitor’s attire at any time during the tournament is deemed in violation of the dress code, the competitor will be asked to come into compliance with the dress code. A student will not be allowed to participate in competition or awards without compliance.
For additional guidance on dressing in a business professional manner, please view this article from Indeed.com or review the following:
What is business professional?
Business professional attire is a formal dress code common in more traditional workplace settings. Industries such as banking, accounting, government, finance and law typically require business professional dress in the workplace. Business professional clothing might also be appropriate for job fairs or networking events where you know the attire to be more formal.
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Business professional attire for women
Women following a business professional dress code should wear pressed slacks, skirts or dresses, sharp button-down shirts or tidy blouses and blazers. No matter the look, solid, neutral colors such as black, gray and navy are best. Keep any accessories minimal, avoiding items such as chunky jewelry or oversized belts.
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Depending on your outfit you might also decide to wear hose, especially if you’re wearing anything other than dress pants. You should also consider polished, closed-toe shoes with a maximum three-inch heel and a neat, professional hairstyle.
Here are several additional tips and options for women’s business professional attire:
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Skirt or pantsuits
A pantsuit is an excellent option for professional dress. Select a clean black or gray pantsuit or pencil skirt and blazer. The garments should be comfortable but fitted, with skirts falling just below the knee.
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Business professional shirts
Opt for a collared, button-down shirt with your pantsuit and blazer. Select a neutral color like white or blue. Button-down shirts always look professional but must be pressed. Wrinkle-free fabrics are a great option for a business professional office.
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Business professional shoes
Whether you prefer flats, pumps or heels, choose a shoe that has a heel less than three inches. Black patent pumps or loafers are an enduring option. Pair your shoes with hose close to your skin tone when wearing a dress or skirt.
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Professional women’s accessories
Select minimal jewelry such as stud earrings or a simple cuff. Ideally your belt should match your suit and blend in under your blazer.
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Business professional attire for men
Business professional styles should include subdued, solid colors. A good example of professional dress is a dark-colored suit and tie with a light blue or white button-down shirt. Match your belt to the color of your oxfords or loafers.
Choose a conservative tie by avoiding overly bright colors or busy patterns. You might also invest in a few pairs of dark socks and a tidy hairstyle.
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Here are several additional tips and options for men’s business professional attire:
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Business professional suits
The perfect business professional suit is solid or pinstriped with plain or cuffed bottoms and notched lapels. When in doubt, choose a black or dark gray suit for year-round wear and a medium gray or deep blue for the summer. Avoid light-colored suits, however, as they’re more appropriate for social events such as weddings.
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Business professional men’s shirts
Good shirt options include solid white or light-blue to medium-blue button-downs. Always consider your company’s dress code before trying to incorporate new elements you’re unsure about. No matter the shade, your business professional shirt should feature a French or barrel cuff to which you can add minimalist cuff links.
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Business professional ties and accessories
Keep your tie simple. Solids are a great starting point, but classic, conservative patterns and stripes are also appropriate. Business professional shoes include loafers, oxfords, monk straps or classic cap-toed shoes in black, brown or burgundy.
NITOC – The National Invitational Tournament of Champions
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NITOC is a true national speech and debate championship. This tournament is open to Stoa members who earn invitations based on their tournament results posted on the National Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate Rankings (Speechranks) website.
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NITOC is one of the largest high school forensics national championships in the country! Averaging over 500 competitors, this weeklong tournament boasts approximately 4,500 speeches. More than 330 debate teams compete in approximately 1,500 Lincoln Douglas, Team Policy, and Parliamentary debates.
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For a list of events that will be offered at NITOC, check the Event Descriptions page.