15 Minute Prep Time

1) 15 Minute Prep Time: Who is responsible for time signals?
Some judges have been generous during prep time- telling teams every 2-5 minutes how much time they have left, others don't. What is the policy?

Actually, judges MAY be generous and give signals, but they are NOT OBLIGATED to do this. Sometimes a judge is filling out previous ballots, taking a personal break, asking questions of me, etc., during that time and simply cannot offer signals. So, debaters are responsible for knowing. I encourage debaters to bring a watch or stop watch and keep track of their own time. The judge is responsible for telling both teams when the 15 minutes are over and the round should start.

If a parent or sibling of one of the teams is an "observer" they may generously offer to fill the time-keeper role... JUDGES LOVE THIS!!! This way, everyone should be on the same track.