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Modified Open NDT Proposal (fwd)

	I asked Bob's permission to repost this for two reasons.  First, 
the experience of CEDA with an open national tournament might lead to 
input which would be useful to the NDT community.  Second, those keeping 
up with the relative diffences and similarities between NDT and CEDA at 
an organizational level would find this proposal interesting.

	Please send replies to NDT-L or to Bob at the address below, not 
to me personally.  I'm just relaying for Bob.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 1995 12:53:55 -0800
From: Bob Gass <RGASS@CCVAX.FULLERTON.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list NDT-L <NDT-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Modified Open NDT Proposal

Hi folks,

I trust everyone has recuperated from NDT?  I'm on a subcommittee
of the NDT Committee which is assigned the task of exploring possibilities
for a "modified open" NDT.  That phrase, however, means different things
to different people.  To some, it means every school could bring a team or
two.  To others it means every school could bring a third or Nth team.
Some like the idea of an "open" format, providing there are some minimum
qualification criteria (for example, the tournament is open to any and all
teams with a 50% or better preliminary round win-loss record.)  Others
envision a truly open tournament, with no minimum qualifications
whatsoever.

Our subcommittee (Gass, Muir, O'Donnell, Patterson, Pickering, Sternhagen,
Strange) met during the NDT and did some brainstorming.  Before
proceeding to the outcome of our brainstorming, let me identify some of the considerations that have to be taken into account if the number of teams
or qualification procedures change.

1. What effect would a modified open tournament have on the ability to find
hosts for the NDT?  Would hosts be able to come up with the classrooms,
hotel rooms, and money for banquets, receptions, etc. if the tournament
increased in size?

2. What effect would a modified open NDT have on the ability to find
qualified judges?  Would we be able to stay with three judges per round if
the tournament's size increased?

3. What effect would a modified open tournament have on first rounds,
second rounds, and other district qualification procedures?  Would there
still be a top 16 ranking for prestige purposes?

4. What effect would a modified open tournament have on the prestige
associated with qualifying for the NDT?  Would attending the NDT still mean
something if there were no qualification process?

5. What changes would be required in the AFA Charter if the format of the
tournament is modified?

After some discussion, we floated the following trial balloon for
consideration.  I'm putting this on the NDT-List both to let folks know
what is being discussed, and to solicit input on what folks on the net
think.  Please note, our discussions are very preliminary.  Everything is
tentative.  Nothing has been decided.

Plan: 1. every school gets to bring 1 team, with no qualification procedure
whatsoever.  2. schools can bring as many additional teams as they wish,
providing the teams have a 50% prelim. W/L record in at least 24 senior
rounds of debate, either as a team, or with other partners.  3. The NDT
Committee would still designate the top 16 teams in the nation. 4. teams
would still have to be ranked by districts or by some other procedure to
pair the first two rounds.

This way, smaller programs would benefit by getting to bring a team,
without the fear of being shut out entirely, or the expense of a qualifier.
Larger programs would benefit by getting to bring their 2nd, 3rd, or Nth
teams.

Barb Pickering is the chair of the subcommittee, if you'd like to address
your comments to her.  Or you can send them to me, and I'll compile them
for our next subcommittee meeting.  You can also provide open-ended feedback 
on the net, so everyone can read your suggestions if that's your
druthers.

Your pal,

Bob Gass
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