FAQ
What are the advantages of Speech and Debate?
Competitive high school speech and debate programs offer students a remarkable opportunity to improve and develop their oral and written language skills in a competitive, but fun environment.
Student FAQ
What do students learn in Speech?
Speech students discuss a wide range of topics ranging from current political events to popular culture. Speech events offer a variety of opportunities for students to be creative, dramatic, humorous or serious.
How many league Speech tournaments are there each year and what types of Speech are offered?
CBSR holds three IE (Individual Events) tournaments each year in addition to the Speech Championship tournament. The events are run in two patterns:
Pattern A Events
LD - Lincoln-Douglas Debate
HI - Humorous Interpretation
IMP - Impromptu Speaking
OO - Original Oratory
OPP - Original Prose/Poetry
POI - Program of Oral Interpretation
Pattern B Events
DI - Dramatic Interpretation
DUO - Duo Interpretation
Extemp - Extemporaneous Speaking
INF - Informative Speaking
OA - Original Advocacy
OI - Oratorical Interpretation
What do students learn in Debate?
Debate students delve into politics, current events, and philosophy while learning the real-world skills of critical thinking, organization and effective presentation.
How many league Debate tournaments are held each year and what types of Debate are offered?
CBSR holds three Debate tournaments each year in addition to the Congress Championship and the Debate Championships tournaments. LD competes at regular IE tournaments and at the Debate Championships. Policy is only held at the Debate Champs.
Debate Events
CD - Congressional Debate
(& PO - Presiding Officer)
CX - Policy Debate
LD - Lincoln-Douglas Debate
PD or Parli - Parliamentary Debate
PF - Public Forum
Parent FAQ
What do all of those acronyms mean?
What do I need to know about tournaments?
All CBSR tournaments are hosted by member schools.
Unless otherwise noted, all tournament begin at 8 a.m. with registration, and first round begins at 9.
For IE tournaments we have two patterns of events (A & B). Students may enter in one event per pattern.
We routinely have three rounds for each pattern in an IE tournament and four rounds for a debate tournament.
The awards ceremony takes place immediately after the final rounds are tallied and the winners have been determined.
Your student needs to either bring food or money to buy snacks and lunch for the day.
Judge FAQ
How do I judge the different Speech and Debate events?
Click on any of the judging instruction links below. Also, judging instructions are always given at league tourneys so be sure to arrive in time to get clarification that you need.
CBSR Debate Judging Instructions
CBSR Presiding Officer Judging Instructions
CBSR Speech Judging Instructions
How do I become a judge?
CBSR uses tabroom.com for tournament registration and for running the tournament tabulation.
Tabroom.com Judge Sign-up Instructions
CBSR does not allow you to judge your own student so after you have made your own tabroom.com account, please create a standing conflict with your student.
Tabroom.com Standing Conflict Instructions
Is there anything else I need to know about judging?
Please bring a timing device, pen and paper.
Registration usually begins at 8 a.m.
Snacks and lunches are provided for judges.
The day ends after all of the awards are announced ... usually by 7 p.m.
Volunteer to judge as often as you can - most coaches are always looking for judges.
Have fun!