Forfeits

Forfeited debates will result in an automatic win for the opposition team, and the awarding of zero (0) points to the forfeiting team. Late forfeits incur a minus one (−1) point penalty. To forfeit a debate, the forfeiting team must:

  1. notify the opposition school so that opposition debaters can stop preparing and not have to travel to the venue unnecessarily;
  2. notify the TDU, by faxing or emailing a completed forfeit/postponement form, so that the adjudicator does not need to travel to the venue unnecessarily; and
  3. notify the host school (optional).

The forfeit/postponement form must be lodged with the TDU before 12 noon on the rostered date for the debate, to avoid further penalty for late forfeit of the debate. The forfeit/postponement form cannot be completed without specifying how and when the opposing team was notified of the forfeit.

If the need for a forfeit is only discovered after 12 noon on the rostered date, a forfeit/postponement form should still be lodged.

Postponements

To postpone a debate, the postponing team must, not later than 48 hours prior to the rostered starting time for the debate:

  1. notify the opposition school;
  2. notify the TDU, by faxing or emailing a completed forfeit/postponement form; and
  3. notify the host school (optional).

The opposition school may not object to a request for a debate postponement made more than 48 hours prior to a debate. However, the opposition team may make all reasonable requirements about the rescheduled debate such as, for example, requiring it to be held in school time at their own school, should they wish. A debate cannot be postponed within 48 hours of the rostered time for the debate, unless the opposition school agrees.

Once the debate has been postponed, it is the postponing team's responsibility to:

  1. organise the rescheduled debate in conjunction with the opposition school, any hosting school (if not the postponing or opposition school) and the TDU;
  2. notify the opposition school of the rescheduled time and place for the debate, once it has been finalised;
  3. notify the TDU of the rescheduled time and place for the debate so that an Adjudicator can be arranged;
  4. pay the postponement fee.

Notification to Opposition schools

Some schools internal messaging systems work quickest and most reliably with email, some with faxes and some with telephone messages. The relevant debating coordinator may be absent from school, and therefore her or his email may not be read until the subsequent day. Alternatively, some school offices merely put phone and fax messages in the coordinator's pigeon hole and the message may not be read until the end of the teaching day.

To avoid inconvenience to opposition schools, it is best if:

  1. an urgent telephone message;
  2. an urgent fax message; and
  3. a high priority email

are all sent if the forfeit, postponement or withdrawal is being notified on the day of the debate.