Judging Debate

There are 4 main types of debate. Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, and Congress. This pages houses videos to assist in understanding The basics and how to judge each style. This videos were collected from a number of sources and resources and may prove valuable to new judges and returning judges alike.

General Resources

How to Flow

This video (20 min) details one way to take notes while watching a debate. It discusses how to flow LD, PF, and Policy Debate

Using tabroom to Judge

This video (7 mins) describes how to access and use the online Ballots from tabroom.com

Judging Debate- In general

This 11 minute overview was created by Marcy Curr, Head Coach at Pocatello High School



Lincoln Douglas Debate

Judging Lincoln Douglas Debate

This video (7 min) introduces the basics for judging Lincoln Douglas Debate. It includes basic structure of the debate and the judges responsibilities.

NSDA Judge Training- LD

This video (7 mins) presented by the National Speech and Debate Association details the structure of an LD debate and how to evaluate a round.

A More In Depth Look at Lincoln Douglas

This video (17 mins) Presents an in depth look at Lincoln Douglas Debate

Flowing a Debate Round in Real Time

This video (55 mins) demonstrates how to flow a debate round and gives an real time example.

Intro to LD Judging

An in depth look at the process of judging Debate.



Public Forum

Judging Public Forum

This video (7 min) introduces the basics for judging Public Forum Debate. It includes basic structure of the debate and the judges responsibilities.


NSDA Judge Training- PF

This video (7 mins) presented by the National Speech and Debate Association details the structure of an PF debate and how to evaluate a round.


PF Demo Debate

This is an example demonstration debate using the February 2021 topic.

Intro to Judging PF in Idaho

A detailed introduction to the process of judging Public Forum Debate in Idaho





Policy Debate

What is Policy Debate

This brief video (4 min) explains the basics of Policy Debate

Structure of a Policy Debate

This video (7 min) details the structure of a policy debate

Topic Analysis

This video (45 min) is an overview of this years Policy Topic given by Local Coach, Jett Smith.

Judging Policy Debate

This video (22 min) introduces the basics for judging Policy Debate. It includes basic structure of the debate and the judges responsibilities.


NSDA Judge Training

This video (7 mins) presented by the National Speech and Debate Association details the structure of Policy debate and how to evaluate a round.


Demonstration Policy Debate

This video (20 mins) is an abbreviated Policy Debate

Congressional Debate

How to Judge Congressional Debate

This short video (5 min) describes the basics of judging Congressional Debate.

Judging Congressional Debate

This is a very complete examination of judging congressional debate. While it is 70 minutes in length is covers a lot of information

Judging Student Congress

This overview was created and provided by Marcy Curr, Head Coach at Pocatello High School