Any NFL school that has access to a computer modem can receive updated information from the NFL computer.
The NFL modem number is (414) 748-9393. You may call this number 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you cannot access the computer it is because we are working in the system or doing a download of new information.
We also ask that you do not abuse the modem system. You only have a 10 minute time limit. If you hit the 10 minute limit the system will log you off and you have to call again. You can only look at information in the system; no changes can be made to any of the records. The NFL modem system has an anti virus program that will tell us who has attempted changes. Then all the programs will be dumped and reloaded with new information. The modem system is not hooked to the mainframe computer system so the permanent records are secure and inaccessible.
The NFL recommends the following things when calling the modem system: Your computer is better off it you are using a baud rate of 2400 or 1200. Using anything less will be very slow in getting information. Any other computers with baud rates different than we are recommending might not connect with our computer. Your computer should also be set to Parity None, Data Bite 8, and Stop Bites 1. Not using these settings might prevent connection with NFL.
When you first call the system please read the screens and type the information needed to access the system. Once you have entered you will see Screen One-(1)-Announcement Messages, Logoff. The Announcement Messages gives all important NFL news, like the LD topic and any other important messages. The Scoreboard program lets you into the menu options for - (1)Lookup Individual Student Points, (2)Lookup School Points, (3)Lookup Individual Coach Points, (4)Lookup District Records, (5)Exit. When using the different menu options you will need to have some important numbers. For student points you must have the 6 digit student membership number which is printed on all membership cards. School points demand the school number, the 4 digit number starting with an (A) or (C). Coach points asks for 1-4 digit number that is printed on the coaching cards next to the coaches name.
We are encouraging all members and schools to use the modem for information. It is faster and easier than calling the office. If you have any suggestions or problems with the NFL Modem System please write or call the NFL office. The NFL modem system can be informational and fun for coach and student alike.
For Students and Coaches
The NFL office would like to clarify how student and coach points are recorded after the district tournament.
Only when a district has held every event: Debate, I.E., and Congress is a tournament report sent to the NFL office which lists: Students' names, the categories in which they participated, ranks or win/loss for each round, and the name of their school. (It is very important that participating students' names be the same as listed on the students' membership cards so the computer will recognize them. And please print or type the names so that the students may be correctly identified.) As we receive each tournament report, points are counted and then entered into our computer. A report is then sent to each school.
Coaches receive coaching credit points (1/10 of points earned by their students participating in a district tournament). When schools have more than one coach: the coach with the most coaching points receives credit for all student district points. If schools which carry more than one coach on record wish a certain person to receive the credit points for certain students, NFL must be notified prior to the district tournament which coach should be assigned points for which student. (Please note: The person written in green at the bottom of the district report, is the coach who received the coaching points for the district tournament.)
We do not record the district points until all Debate, I.E., and Congress events have been completed and we have received the tournament reports. We also do not send back the school report until all three (Debate, I.E., and Congress) have been recorded on the computer. If your district does not hold a congress, reports are sent after Debate and I.E.)
NFL credit point sheets no longer have the section *NFL District or National Tournament Debates ... Contests ... Congress ... listed on the bottom of the credit point sheets. Once each school has received the district tournament report add those points to the student totals. (Do not record district points on the credit point sheets since NFL has already added them to the students record.) When the district and national points are added into the student computer file it automatically updates the student points to include the district points, or national points The district tournament report is the only thing that you will receive from the NFL office indicating the district points students have earned.
The national points are recorded in the same way as the district points. NFL should be notified of split coaching points. If there is an error on the district or national tournament reports send us a letter indicating the error and enclose the district tournament report sheet for correction. If the wrong coach receives credit on the district tournament report, please return the district report noting which coach is to receive credit for which students.
We, at the National office, want everyone who participates in the district and national tournament to receive their correct points. Following the instructions above will insure your points are correct.
