Match Format – Essentials

1. Each match begins with a coin toss, either with a physical coin or the use of a coin flip application by the timekeeper. The team that wins the coin toss may elect to present first (designating them as Team A) or to have the other team present first (in which case the team winning the toss is designated as Team B).

2. The timekeeper will take control of the screen and display a case. Neither the judges nor team members will know in advance which case will be used.

3. The timekeeper will announce the case by its title and read out the questions that accompany the case as written in the case set

4. Team A has two minutes to confer. Either team may take notes, but Team B must remain silent.

5. Team A has up to six minutes to make its presentation. Any member(s) of the team can talk.

6. Team B has one minute to confer.

7. Team B has up to 3 minutes to comment on the presentation. Any member(s) may comment.

8. Team A has one minute to confer.

9. Team A has three minutes to respond to Team B. Any member(s) may respond.

10. Judges have 30 second to confer if they would like, and then ask questions of Team A. The dialogue will last for up to 10 minutes.  Judges’ questions should be brief and clear, and devoid of personal commentary.

11. Judges score Team A’s Presentation, Response and Dialogue, and Team B’s Commentary.

12. In the second half of the match, steps 2 through 11 are repeated with a new case. In this half Team B does the Presentation, Response and Dialogue while Team A does the Commentary.

13. At the end of the match, the timekeeper will ask the judges to announce their scores and votes and offer some brief feedback for the competing teams. After all the judges state their votes, the timekeeper will name the winning team (or announce a tie) and the number of judges’ votes for that team.