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Postponements and Forfiets
While it’s anticipated that teams will debate on the night they are scheduled, a postponement system is available where significant reasons other than lack of preparation do not allow a team to debate on the scheduled night.
Debates may only be postponed to the Catch-Up night scheduled for that round. The team requesting a postponement may approach the opposing team for a postponement, via a pro-forma postponement form.
The team MUST provide a reason for the postponement. When the postponement is accepted
If the accepting team agrees to postpone the debate, they must complete the form and return it to the applicant school.
The accepting school should ensure that its team will be available to debate on the Catch-Up Night PRIOR to accepting the postponement. Should the accepting school accept a postponement and then be unavailable to debate on the Catch-Up Night a forfeit will be awarded against that school.
The applicant school, upon receipt of the completed form, MUST also forward it to the SADA.
The debate is then rescheduled for the Catch-Up Night for that round. The schedule for the Catch-Up Night is faxed to schools on the Thursday prior to the night.
The SADA is unable to schedule a debate if it is unaware of the postponement. Schools must ensure the SADA is notified. Failure to notify the SADA may result in a forfeit.
When the postponement is declined
The opposing school, being asked to postpone, may decline and must inform the applicant school of this if they choose to do so. This does NOT automatically result in a forfeit by the applicant school. Indeed, the opposite is true; there is a presumption that the debate will go ahead on the original night.
The applicant school must decide to either forfeit or debate on the originally scheduled night. They must inform the opposing school of this decision as soon as possible.
In the event of a forfeit, the applicant school must notify the SADA.
Tips & Etiquette.
Timeliness is paramount in the postponement process. Schools should look to arrange postponements as early as possible. The only postponements arranged on the day or day prior to a debate should be those for illness. Similarly, schools should attempt to respond to requests as early as possible.
