Club Policies

Policies will be on our website for easy reference. Policy changes or updates may be enacted mid-year at IF Leadership discretion. All mid-year policy changes will be communicated membership.

Membership

• Members of Invictus Fides will compete under the Invictus Fides club name for both speech and debate.
• Families who choose IF membership may not enroll one or more of their children as members in other Stoa speech and debate clubs or compete as independent.
• Dual league membership is permissible.

Communication

• All parents and students must attend the Invictus Fides Family Orientation, which will be scheduled as the Invictus Fides first club meeting, to receive important information for starting the year.
• Parents and students are responsible for information announced during the IF Moment and during classes.
• All students and parents must read the emails from each class in which the student is enrolled.

Club expectations and protocols

• Every time a student attends club, a parent must also attend club.
• Club attendance is restricted to families registered with Invictus Fides who have completed all club documentation. Visitors and guests may attend only upon leadership approval.
• Parents are expected to engage in the following activities:
  • Learn with kids, attend lectures and take notes with your student.
  • Watch speeches and give feedback.
  • Judge debate.
  • Pick an event and become knowledgeable in that area.
  • Help maintain the facility.
  • Attend the IF Moment.
  • Junior parents: read all emails, oversee assignments, and assist the junior coach as necessary.

Tournament expectations

• Families are expected to compete in a minimum of 3 tournaments per year.
• Families are expected to recruit community judges to all tournaments hosted by Invictus Fides.
• Parents are expected to attend tournaments with their students and to judge as many rounds as possible.
• The script submission process must be supervised by a parent.

Coach approval

• All partnerships, temporary and permanent, are subject to coach approval.
• Every speech script and debate case is subject to coach and parent approval.

Partnerships

Partnership commitments are year-long. Students must have the approval from the event coach for all partnerships. Members of partnered events should exhibit a willingness to seek and cultivate partnerships within the club.

• Temporary partnerships, in-club: temporary partnerships should be rare and require coach approval on a case by case basis. Coach approval for a temporary partnership is for one tournament.
• Temporary partnerships, out-of-club: the ability to partner outside of club will be granted only in extremely rare instances. Coach approval for a temporary out-of-club partnership is for one tournament.

Mentorships

Mentoring is when an older student shares their knowledge, skills, experience, and encouragement with a younger student over time with the intention of helping them progress.

• All students are expected to receive mentoring from more experienced students within club as part of their ongoing speech and debate training.
• All students second year and beyond are expected to show a willingness to mentor and help younger students and participate in club mentorship.
• As members of Invictus Fides, students may not serve as ongoing mentors or coaches to students outside of Invictus Fides.
• Invictus Fides alumni are considered independent and not bound to Invictus Fides with regards to coaching and mentoring students.

Technology policy

Students are permitted to bring personal electronic devices (such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones) to club meetings or workshops. However, devices must remain stowed away at all times unless a coach specifically instructs students to take them out for practice, research, or debate activities.

General safety protocols

Health policy

We are resolute to look after the safety and well-being of all participants over and above all other concerns. All club meetings are subject to modification and cancellation should concern arise for the safety of your student or our volunteer coaches and parents.

In order to keep our club members safe and prevent the spread of illness, please stay home from club if you or your children are experiencing the following:

• Cough
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever

When making decisions about the health of your student and whether to stay home from a club meeting, please exercise caution and consider the health of our other club families.

Three-deep policy

In order to prioritize the safety of all club members, IF policy is to never have fewer than three persons in any room. This policy is for the safety of both minors and adults.

For the protection and safety of both students and volunteers, we ask that doors stay open whenever feasible.

MinistrySafe background checks and ongoing training

Invictus Fides uses Ministry Safe, a comprehensive child safety system designed specifically for ministry and faith-based organizations. We require all parents to complete a Ministry Safe background check and any subsequent training sessions requested by the Invictus Fides Board or Club Director.

Code of Conduct

In order to foster a healthy, scripturally-based atmosphere, Invictus Fides has established this Code of Conduct. This code of conduct applies to all Invictus Fides and Stoa-related activities.

I agree for Invictus Fides and Stoa-related activities I will:

• Respect and obey Invictus Fides coaches and/or persons in authority.
• Agree to abide by the Peacemaker’s Pledge (see Conflict Resolution).
• Not harass or bully others.
• Not gossip about or slander students, coaches, or parents.
• Not engage in any illegal or immoral offense.
• Not possess, view, or distribute pictures, text messages, e-mails, or other material of a sexual nature in any media format.
• Agree to keep all my communication, including verbal, written, and all forms of digital, above reproach.
• Not engage in romantic or physical contact.
• Not be in possession of a weapon.

I agree to report any awareness, whether by personal observation or received as a disclosure, of any behavior that may cause any form of harm to self or others. I also agree to report any awareness of any behavior that may cause injury to the reputation of Invictus Fides or its members.

Dress code

All club meetings and non-tournament activities. Standards for all members:

• Clothing must be modest at all times.
• Clothing must be size-appropriate and not excessively baggy, tight, or form fitting.
• Sleepwear is not allowed.
• Skirts and dresses must not be shorter than 3″ above the knee.
• Shorts are allowed, but must have at least a 5″ inseam.
• Tops must fully cover the torso. When sitting, bending or lifting arms, the midriff or torso must not be visible.
• Off-the-shoulder and see-through tops are not permitted.
• Spaghetti string tanks are not allowed.
• Tattoos must be covered by clothing and not visible.

IF reserves the right to make the final decision regarding dress code and the appropriateness of a student’s apparel.