Virtual Forensic Guidelines

 Virtual NCASB Forensic Conference

It is up to the host school to decided if their will be one virtual round or all three are in person.

Platform and Controls

• It will take place via Zoom.
• Zoom Controls
  • Learn commands for the operating system you are using Zoom, please visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/205683899-Hot-keys-and-keyboard-shortcuts
    • Windows: Mute/Unmute: Alt + A; Start/Stop Video: Alt + V
    • Apple: Mute/Unmute: Command + Shift +A; Start/Stop Video: Command + Shift + V

Presentations

• Rounds will adhere to NCASB Forensic Rules 2025

Judges and Timers

• Will be taught how to spotlight a student
• Instead of a physical bell we will use a verbal prompt of “Ding”, “Ding, Ding” or “Stop.”
• The host school will e-mail the judges will the judging information, the timing information and the judging sheets as early as possible
• Each team will provide a judge and timer for the virtual round.

Speakers will be spotlighted for all to view.

• Judges will need to know how to do this
• Speaker should be visible from the waist up.
• Students should learn how to position their device, so they are in the viewing frame with appropriate lighting.
• Be sure to have a quiet location free of disruptions and distractions.
• Make sure Zoom names are the students correct name. not nick names or screen names and category. If doubling put the student doubling first.
• Be sure there are no school or state identifiable memorabilia is visible in zoom background.
• Participants should have their video turned off and audio muted while listening.
• While on camera refrain from eating. We understand that individuals are across different time zones and may need to eat during competition.

In the case that a participant’s internet fails and is dropped from the Zoom meeting:

• Participants should attempt to rejoin and let the keeper of Zoom know what happened
• Notify their coaches and/or athletic director.
• If not able to rejoin in time for their spot they would be able to present last in their category
• Should the student not be able to rejoin they will present in the next round both at the beginning of the round and at the end with a different judge the next round. All attempts will be made to get the same judge as the round before.

The Keeper of Zoom

• The keeper of ZOOM will put the participants and audience member in the breakout rooms.
• No spectators will be let into a virtual room once the round has begun, the exception will be coaches
  • If a student loses internet while presenting and they made it passed the first bell their presentation is considered completed.
  • If under the first bell they may begin from the location, they stopped performing or restart their speech.

Students who are absent due to sickness

• Should the student be sick on the day of the virtual round, they will present in the next round both at the beginning of the round and at the end with a different judge the next round. All attempts will be made to get the same judge as the round before.

Impromptu

• There will be a spread sheet with all the topics on it. This will be sent to all the schools, so there is not an unfair advantage of only one school knowing the topics.
• The students will request a number and that will be the “card” choose
• That number will be highlighted and pulled from the boxes so they can’t be used again
• There will be a breakout room for impromptu with a monitor.