Warm-Up

PSCFA Warm-Ups – 2026

Download the PSCFA Warm-Up Invite 2026 DOC

 

Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association
September 1, 2026

Dear PSCFA Community,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 forensics season! It is time to get the competition year started at the PSCFA Warm-Up at El Camino College on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th. The tournament will be headquartered out of the Social Science building instead of the Music building this year. Parking permits have been reinstated for $3 per day, paid in cash at kiosks, but you may park in staff lots.

There are numerous reasons why your team should choose the Warm-Up to start off the competitive year. First, the Warm-Up is a great way to introduce students who are new to competitive collegiate forensics to the activity in a relaxed environment. It also allows returning students to ease into the new year. Second, it is a wonderful way to catch up with all of your forensics colleagues and meet coaches who are new to our region. Finally, it provides the opportunity to try out new topics and approaches to our activity.

Be sure to double-check the invite AFTER the Coaches Conference for potential rule changes.

Key Points

  • Registration: Entries are due by Tuesday, September 22nd at 6:00 PM on the Forensics Tournament website.
  • Judging: Each school must cover its judging commitment (uncovered slots require prior tournament approval). All judges must read and sign the PSCFA Judge’s Handbook and complete the F.R.E.D. Certification each year. Any judges you wish to pay through the tournament must be designated as ICC judges when you enter them.
  • Location: El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506. Tournament headquarters and registration will be in the Social Science building.
  • Parking: Park in Lots J or K (closest to the Music and Social Science buildings). Permits are $3 per day, paid in cash at kiosks. Staff lots are permitted on weekends.
  • Tournament Schedule: On Saturday, September 26th, we will offer four rounds of Open, Junior, and Novice NFA-LD, NPDA, and IPDA debate. On Sunday, September 27th, we will offer two rounds of all PSCFA individual events for Open, Junior, and Novice competitors. Divisions may be collapsed due to lack of entries.

New Rules and Policies

From the 2025 Coaches Conference and 2026 Cool-Off Business Meeting. Additional rules may be added after the 2026 Coaches Conference.

We have returned to previous wording for the definitions of Novice and Junior, which are explained in the sections below.

Division Definitions – Novice and Junior
  • Novice Debate: A team comprised of debaters, neither of whom has participated in more than two semesters of debate and/or participated in elimination rounds at three or more debate tournaments, or won any medal at CCCFA or Phi Rho Pi, or won an elimination round award at the NPDA, CEDA, or NDT National Championship Tournaments or any national championship tournament.
  • Novice Individual Event: A student who has not won a trophy (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) in an event in which a final round occurs, or a Gold/Silver/Bronze at CCCFA or Phi Rho Pi. (Readers Theatre and Oral Interpretation shall be considered similar events.)
  • Junior Debate: A team comprised of debaters neither of whom has participated in more than four semesters of NDT/CEDA or Parliamentary debate and/or who has not participated in elimination rounds of a Junior or Open division of three CEDA and/or NDT and/or Parliamentary tournaments. A gold or silver medal at CCCFA or Phi Rho Pi, or winning an elimination round award at the NPDA, CEDA, or NDT National Championship Tournaments or any national championship tournament, shall count as a final round.
  • Junior Individual Events: A student who is in their first or second year of intercollegiate competition and/or who has not placed twice in the top three in an event in which a final round occurs. Winning a Gold/Silver/Bronze at CCCFA or Phi Rho Pi shall count as a final round.
Code of Conduct and Debate Policies
  • Code of Conduct: Judges are expected to respect students’ identities, including their preferred pronouns, and to require students in their rounds to do the same. Intentional or repeated violations may result in removal of the judge from the judging pool and/or forfeiture of the round where the violation occurs.
  • Debate Speed Policy: The rate of speed in debate rounds should not have a detrimental impact on other students’ and/or judges’ ability to engage in the activity. Violations may result in the loss of the round in which the violation occurs.
  • Coach of the Day Sign-In: Each attending school must designate a “Coach of the Day.” A sign-in sheet will be located at the judges’ table where coaches will list their name and contact information.
Fee Policies
  • Nuisance Fee: A $50 nuisance fee will be added to a school’s tournament invoice if the school does not meet with the treasurer in-person prior to awards on the school’s last competition day to: (1) obtain an invoice, and (2) confirm the anticipated method and timing of payment for fees and/or notify the treasurer that fees have been paid electronically. Ballots will not be made available to a school until these conditions are met.
  • Wellness Fee: $6.00 per student, per day.

We look forward to seeing you at PSCFA Warm-Up!

For questions, please contact:

Katya Azzam, Cerritos College
Email: Kazzam@cerritos.edu | Phone/Text: (915) 497-9819

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