Resources

Governance and Financial Documents

TFA Constitution

The TFA Constitution provides historical context of the organization, as well as the procedures for hosting a TFA State Qualifying Invitational Tournament, the TFA State Tournament, and the rules for each event offered by the Texas Forensic Association. You will find this here

TFA Business Minutes

The EC meets monthly to discuss business for the Texas Forensic Association such as the future of the organization and planning for the state tournament. Meeting Minutes can be found by clicking the button below. 

2022-2023 Minutes

2023-2024 Minutes

2024 TFA Business Meeting- Amarillo

TFA Finance Portal

Payment Link: Use this link to conveniently pay hosting fees for an IQT tournament and submit state fees via credit card. Click Here

TFA IQT Invoice

25-26 Hosting Season Invoice can be found here. Click Here

TFA IQT Checklist

25-26 Hosting Season Check-list can be found here. Click Here

TFA IQT P&L Statement

Per the TFA Constitution, 

“Fees collected for judging must be used for payment of judges and not for tournament profit.”

&

“Tournaments that do not submit their profit/loss statement by May 1 shall be sanctioned from hosting the following year. This shall be submitted with the application for the new tournament season.” 

2024-2025 TFA IQT P&L Statement

General Vendor Packet

Vendor Packet: This packet includes essential documents for TFA vendors: a W-9 form, Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, Felony Conviction Notice, Certification on Lower Tier Covered Transactions, and Certification Regarding Terrorist Organizations and Boycott of Israel compliance. Here

TFA IQT Late Fee: Invoice

You will find the official invoice here.

TFA State Fee Reduction Request

In October 2024, at convention, the body voted to adopt the evaluation method of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which is determined by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

You can access the link to view your school’s status here and to submit your request for fee reduction see click here.

Scholarship Application

The Texas Forensic Association will award four scholarships at the state tournament in March. Applications MUST be received by February 1 2025.

Applications will be rated on honors/achievements, financial need, academics and service to the speech & debate community; all elements are weighted equally.

Scholarship Claim Process

If you have won a $1000 State Scholarship, you will need to submit a receipt from your college registration or a class schedule with your name and ID printed on it. You will then need to fill out the rest of the required information. If you would like your money deposited into your account via your school’s finance office, please provide that information when submitting. 

If you are claiming a $500 Event Champion Scholarship, you will have 2 options: wait until your senior year and take the money as prescribed above, or use the $500 as a scholarship for camp. The second option must be a reputable camp and the money must be sent to the camp directly.

Help! I’m a new coach!

New Coach Packet

We get it. Being a new coach can feel overwhelming. Building a team, managing a team, teaching, coaching…where do you even begin!?

We have created a new coach’s packet to help guide you through the process. Here

How do I register for a tournament?

This document will walk you through the registration process for the tournament, providing step-by-step instructions to ensure a smooth and successful registration experience. Here

Classroom Resources:

This document provides a variety of classroom resources specifically designed for speech and debate educators. It includes instructional materials, lesson plans, and tools for developing student skills in public speaking and argumentation.

The guide also offers strategies for fostering student engagement and enhancing classroom dynamics, ensuring educators have the necessary support to effectively teach and inspire their students in the realm of speech and debate. Click Here

Coaching from Day 1: Check list

This document is designed to support new coaches with essential strategies and resources. It covers key areas such as building a professional community, managing administrative and organizational tasks, assessing student skills and leadership, effective team communication and scheduling, fostering a positive team culture, curriculum planning, and answers to common questions. This guide aims to help new coaches establish a strong foundation for team success and growth.

Click Here

Tournament Best Practices

This document will guide you through Tournament Best Practices, offering essential tips and strategies to ensure a successful and efficient tournament experience for all participants and organizers.
Here