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Thanks for agreeing to serve as a judge for our debate tournaments! Before you get started, here is a quick guide on what you need to do prior to the competition, and what you will do during the competition.
Thanks for agreeing to serve as a judge for our debate tournaments! Before you get started, here is a quick guide on what you need to do prior to the competition, and what you will do during the competition.
Before the Competition
Before the Competition
If you would like additional training in judging specific speech and debate events, consider:
If you would like additional training in judging specific speech and debate events, consider:
Level 2 Judge Accreditation for specific events at https://www.speechanddebate.org/learn/judge-accreditation/
An extensive 2 hour long course on adjudicating speech and debate at https://nfhslearn.com/courses/adjudicating-speech-and-debate
During the Competition
During the Competition
Where to Go:
Where to Go:
At every debate tournament there is a centrally located Ballot Table (sometimes called a Judge Table, Info Table or Registration Table) where all judges check in, confirm details, and obtain maps or schedules. Once you arrive at your venue, look for signs (or ask the kids in suits) and locate this table. If you arrive early, you may wait in the Hospitality Room where food and drinks are often provided.
What to Bring:
What to Bring:
A timer or a phone with a timer
Pens (two different colors if you are judging debate)
Paper or a notebook
A laptop or tablet
Water bottle, but often tournaments provide hospitality for judges
What to Wear:
What to Wear:
Casual and comfortable clothing is the norm for most judges. Many are college students with jeans and t-shirts, some are debate coaches dressed for a long weekend. Debate Tournaments are a reversal of typical roles where the students are dressed professionally, and most adults are dressed casually.
Judging Your Events
Judging Your Events
Advice For Judging
Advice For Judging
Be gentle in your critiques. Please remember that when you sit in the judge's seat, you are an educator and your primary goal is to encourage learners. You are often an ambassador of this activity for new speakers and debaters; make them feel welcome.
Remember, your decision is based upon "who did the better job speaking/debating" not who changed your mind or agreed with your opinion. Seek to remove your personal bias. In our community, we hope judges will reward skills.
Please don't make any comment or engage in any practice that would make students feel unwelcome in our community. We all tend to identify with those students who might remind us of ourselves, but a judge's comments regarding race, ethnicity, gender, physical challenges, socio-economic status and other elements beyond a student's control should be avoided.
As a judge, seek to have a balance of positive comments and constructive critique. Each student should read your ballot and feel that they were judged fairly and encouraged to learn more.
Be aware of your non-verbal signals. Seek to give each student a smile and avoid any imbalance in attention among the competitors. Treat all with respect and positive regard. In an intense competition, even the appearance of bias can be destructive.
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