League Affiliation Policies
These policies cover issues that relate to participation in NCFCA both at tournaments and outside of tournament spaces and times. By affiliating with our league, responsible adult(s) in each family agree to abide by these policies and direct their participating children to do the same.
League Affiliation Policies
Affiliation Types
Qualifying Affiliation
This affiliation type is required for families with competitors who plan to participate in qualifying or championship tournaments.
- Must include at least one parent or legal guardian.
- Must be renewed each season.
- Opens in early June and remains available until registration closes for the final qualifying tournament.
Non-Qualifying Affiliation
This affiliation type is available for coaches, alumni, junior-only families, and other adults or families who do not plan to have their children compete in qualifying tournaments this season.
- Available at a reduced fee.
- Must be renewed each season.
Please see our Fees and Payment Policies page for the price of each affiliation type.
Affiliation Requirements
During the affiliation process, an adult member of each family must affirm the following on behalf of the family.
- Agreement with our league’s Foundational Beliefs.
- Nicene Creed
- Scriptural Inerrancy
- Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
- Agreement to abide by the policies and procedures outlined in League Affiliation Policies.
- Understanding of the Parent Participation Requirements.
- Agreement with our Minor Model Release.
- Agreement to participate in Christian conciliation as outlined on Peacemaker.net in the unlikely event of a dispute that cannot be resolved internally.
- Agreement with our league’s Foundational Beliefs.
Parent Participation Requirements
Parent* involvement is required for league affiliation and for competitors to participate in tournaments.
- Parents are responsible for supervising the way their children interact with all league policies and rules.
- At least one parent for each affiliated family must be present and available to meet the tournament participation requirements for parents during the entire duration of any tournament in which their children compete, or they must appoint a qualified designated adult to substitute on their behalf.
*Legal guardians are treated as parents for the purposes of NCFCA policies.
Standards of Conduct and Communication
NCFCA affiliates are expected to behave and communicate in a way that supports the principles contained in our
- Mission Statement: to challenge and equip ambassadors for Christ to communicate truth with integrity and grace.
- Core Values
- Godly Wisdom
- Redeeming Truth
- Gracious Communication
- Enduring Excellence
- Constructive Community
- Foundational Beliefs
- Nicene Creed
- Scriptural Inerrancy
- Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
Conduct or communication that undermines these principles or that dishonors any other participants in the league may result in penalties up to and including disqualification from events or tournaments and/or exclusion from further participation in the league.
Compliance with Policies and Rules
Competitors and parents are responsible for making sure they understand and comply with all rules and policies that apply to their own participation in our league. We enforce all of our published policies and rules in accordance with stated penalties and our Compliance Policies. Any questions about rules or policies should be asked in advance through the appropriate point of contact.
Region Assignment
Affiliates will be assigned to a region, and in some cases a district, for competition. Regions and districts are geographically assigned based on the billing address used for affiliation. Families who wish to compete in a region different from the one they are assigned may email the NCFCA office (gro.ACFCN@eciffO) to request a region reassignment. Reassignment should be processed prior to registering for any Qualifying Tournament and cannot be changed once a competitor has participated in a Qualifying Tournament.
Outreach on Behalf of NCFCA
Affiliated families are expected to participate in the process of inviting potential community volunteers to serve as judges at tournaments. We also welcome families to participate in sharing information about the league with other families who may be interested in participating. Our Media page has resources to help.
Affiliates may share information about NCFCA events and tournaments with
- their own friends, family, and local acquaintances
- their own social media connections and groups to which they belong
- local organizations, churches, or social groups whose members are likely to support our mission
Affiliates may NOT arrange or pay for wider public advertising on behalf of the league without written permission from our Director of Outreach or her designee.
Photography and Photo Use
In accordance with our Minor Model Release Agreement, NCFCA reserves the right to have designated tournament photographers take or gather photos (both casual and in competition) during NCFCA events.
Archived photos taken by our tournament photographers are stored online as a benefit and courtesy to our families with links available through MyPlace.NCFCA.org. These photos are intended for personal use and normal sharing. They may not be manipulated in any way beyond minor quality editing and cropping. Questions about photo use should be directed to our office at gro.ACFCN@eciffO.
Recording, Livestreaming, and Video Use
Official Tournament Videography
In accordance with our Minor Model Release Agreement, NCFCA reserves the right to have designated tournament videographers gather videos (both casual and in competition) during NCFCA events. Individuals who volunteer to speak on-camera for interviews may be identified by first name in our published videos or in quotes from those videos.
Officially Livestreamed & Recorded Competition Rounds
NCFCA will livestream final rounds of competition from our National Championship and some of our National Opens. By competing in these rounds, students and their families acknowledge that we will not be able to maintain our normal protocols to obscure information that identifies students by name in the content of the video.
Personal Recordings and Video
NCFCA tournament competition may be recorded for personal, club, or classroom use provided that permission of all competitors is obtained prior to entering the competition room. The request for permission must be made prior to entering the competition room. Parents who do not wish for their student to be videotaped by other participating families should instruct their student to deny any request. Persons requesting permission must respect the wishes of the competitor(s) and refrain from attempting to negotiate further.
Other than the recording of one’s own child, no portion of NCFCA competition may be recorded, either by audio, video, or other means, for reproduction and distribution in any format without written permission from NCFCA. (gro.ACFCN@eciffO)
Minor Model Release Agreement
NCFCA takes special care to respect and protect the privacy of our affiliate families. It is our protocol to disconnect identifying information in every situation possible by blurring nametags, not including full names in captions with pictures or videos, and not listing geographical information. NCFCA also needs the ability to market the opportunities provided by the league by using images or recordings from our events. As such, NCFCA requires the parental release of permission to use these images or recordings of their minors at affiliation. If you have questions regarding our Minor Model Release, please email the NCFCA Office at gro.ACFCN@eciffO.
NCFCA Minor Model Release
For valuable consideration, you hereby confer on the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate) the right and permission with respect to the photographs, audio, or video recordings that NCFCA has taken of your minor child in which he/she may be included with others:- To copyright the same in NCFCA’s name;
- To use, re-use, publish and re-publish the same in whole or in part, separately or in conjunction with other photographs, videos, instructional materials, in any medium now or hereafter known, and for purposes that include: (but not by way of limitation) illustration, promotion, instruction, education, advertising and trade to further the cause of educational speech and debate, and;
You hereby release and discharge NCFCA from all and any claims and demands ensuing from or in connection with the use of the photographs, videos, instructional materials, including any and all claims for libel and invasion of privacy. This authorization and release shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives, licensees and assigns of photographer for NCFCA as well as the person(s) for whom he/she took the photographs/videos.