Pre-Round Routine
What a team does in the minutes before a round starts can meaningfully affect performance. You will be able to describe a practical pre-round checklist.
Logistics Check
Before the round, confirm the room number, verify which side you'll debate if already assigned, check that all technology (laptops, timers, evidence files) is charged and accessible, and confirm both partners agree on which case variant they're running if multiple versions exist. Simple logistical failures, like a dead laptop battery, cause entirely avoidable losses.
Mental Preparation and Judge Read
In the final minutes before the round, briefly reviewing the case's core contentions and weighing lines refreshes memory better than last-minute panic research. Politely asking the judge about their background and paradigm preferences (some judges fill out a judge philosophy in advance) helps calibrate pacing and jargon use before the round even starts.
A team arrives at their assigned room 10 minutes before a round.
One partner checks the laptop battery and pulls up the correct case file while the other briefly asks the judge, 'Is this your first time judging PF, or do you have experience with the format?' The judge says she's judged for two seasons but prefers minimal jargon. The team adjusts their planned pacing and vocabulary accordingly before the round even begins.
1. Why is it useful to ask a judge about their background before the round?
Answer all 1 to check.
Handle logistics, review your case briefly, and read the judge before the round even starts.