Debate Information

1. There will be a single division of parliamentary debate, which shall follow the times limits and rules established under the National Parliamentary Debate Association. We will use flex time, with two (2) minutes after the first proposition speech and first opposition speech and one (1) minute after the second proposition speech and opposition rebuttal.

2. There will be a common announce within the Yaatly platform. Teams will have twenty minutes of prep time.

3. Maverick and three-person teams are not allowed.

4. We plan to offer six (6) preliminary rounds and the appropriate number of elimination rounds, but we reserve the right to reduce the tournament to four (4) preliminary rounds if we receive insufficient entries.

5. For the purposes of elimination round seeding and speaker awards, adjusted speaker points (total minus high-low) will be considered first, then total speaker points. However, if less than six (6) rounds are offered, we will first consider total speaker points, then adjusted points.

Click here for the debate schedule.

1. There will be a single division of team IPDA, which shall follow the time limits and rules established by the International Public Debate Association.

2. For teams members who are participating in a socially distanced capacity during debate, they will be allowed to communicate with each other via text and/or chat. Otherwise, the use of electronic devices during the round (beyond accessing the Yaatly platform or ballots) is prohibited.

3. We will offer four (4) preliminary rounds and three (3) elimination rounds. We will not offer a partial elimination round, but if we have more than thirty-one (31) teams, we will add a fourth elimination round, to take place Saturday evening after individual IPDA rounds have concluded.

4. For purposes of elimination round seeding and speaker awards, we will consider total speaker points first, then adjusted speaker points (total minus high-low).

Click here for the debate schedule.

1. We will offer novice, junior varsity, varsity, and professional divisions, which all shall follow the time limits and rules established by the International Public Debate Association.

2. While any competitor may enter the professional division, only registered undergraduate students will be considered for sweepstakes calculations. (All professional competitors, however, are eligible for their respective state's championship.)

3. We will offer (6) preliminary rounds and an appropriate number of elimination rounds. At this time, we do not plan to offer partial elimination rounds.

4. Four the purposes of elimination round seeding and speaker awards, we will consider adjusted speaker points (total minus high-low), then total speaker points.

Click here for the debate schedule.

1. When conducting draw in IPDA and Team IPDA, we recommend having a record of the striking process in the chat. Once the strike is complete, the final topic selected should be confirmed in chat. If there is a dispute over what topic is selected and the competitors cannot resolve it among themselves within five minutes of the scheduled start of the round, the round will be recorded as a double forfeit. If this occurs in an elimination round, the tab room will flip a coin to determine who “advances”; however, that competitor will forfeit the following round.

2. Updated (1/19): For Team IPDA and NPDA, teams have the option of competing in the same room or in separate rooms.

3. Tab will send ballots soon after topics are posted. Judges should accept ballots as soon as they receive their email. (Do not wait until before the round starts--it makes us nervous.) We ask that judges submit their ballots no later than ten (10) minutes after the conclusion of the round.

4. If a competitor is more than five (5) minutes late to draw, their opponent will choose the topics. If a competitor is more than five (5) minutes late to the start of the round, the missing competitor will forfeit the round.

5. Competitors should mute their audio during opponent’s speeches; only during cross-examination or any points of information should both microphones be turned on. Competitors webcams must be on during the entire round. Judges should mute their microphones once the round has started.

6. Judge no-shows:

   • On the first no-show, the tournament director will inform the school's coach and give the judge a warning.

   • On the second no-show, the judge will be removed from the tournament. The coach of that school must replace that judge, even if this requires pulling a competitor out of competition.

7. Competitor technical difficulties:

   • If a competitor's connection drops mid-round, the judge should stop the timer, and the competitor will have five (5) minutes to re-enter the competition.

   • A competitor will forfeit the round if (1) they are unable to return within five minutes of a disconnection or (2) if they disconnect three times in a single round.

   • If the round is a forfeit, but the judge has heard enough of the round to assign speaker points, the judge may do so. Otherwise, the round will be scored as if the non-forfeited competitor received a bye. In either event, the judge should come to the tab room and report the forfeit immediately.

   • If a competitor forfeits three rounds due to connection issues, they will be removed from the tournament.

Click here for the debate schedule.