Judges can use Cullen 120 to judge online debates.

Online Map of Competition Rooms:https://americandebateassociation.com/ada-houston-map/

Full Invitation --->

The ADA welcomes you to the ADA National Tournament hosted in person at the University of Houston and online from March 8-10, 2025!

Some ADA Nationals Specific Rules To Note:

**Judges must have at least 10 rounds of judging on the 2024/25 debate topic prior to ADA Nationals to count toward your team's judging commitment. Otherwise they will be a free strike.

**Judges must be in for at least 2 debates.

**Hybrids are welcome to debate, but cannot make elimination rounds unless they have debated at 3 ADA tournaments as a team prior to ADA Nationals.

**To participate, each school must be a patron member of the ADA. You can pay for membership when you pay your entry fees or you can pay now.

Schedule:

The tentative schedule is available here: 2025 ADA Nationals Schedule

Saturday: 4 Prelims

Sunday: 2 Prelims + 1st Elim + Awards Banquet

Monday: Rest of Elims

Information:

The tournament will run Saturday, March 8 to Monday, March 10 and will be hybrid through Zoom.

There will be 6 rounds of preliminary debates in Novice, JV, and Varsity divisions, followed by an appropriate number of elimination debates, not to exceed double octafinals.

Hybrid entries are welcome, but see above for the ADA specific rules on eligibility to clear to elimination rounds as a hybrid team.

Nick Ryan will tab the tournament.

Payment & Fees:

Fees for online teams: $25.00 per participant (debater/judge) covering tabbing expenses, trophies, and staffing.

Fees for in-person teams: $25.00 per participant (debater/judge), covering the above costs in addition to food and cleaning expenses.

ADA membership: In order to participate at ADA Nationals, each institution must be a member of the ADA for 2024-25. Dues are $100.

You can pay fees & dues at this link: https://americandebateassociation.com/ada-nationals/ada-nats-fees/

New, emerging programs, or anyone else that does not have a budget and would otherwise have to pay out of pocket please contact the ADA President, Patrick Waldinger (contact info is on the right hand side of this page).

Fees will be locked on Tuesday, March 4.

Hotel:

There is no official hotel block for this ADA Nationals. Everything in person will take place on the University of Houston's campus, including the awards ceremony and elimination rounds.

There is a Hilton on campus, which is convenient but more costly. There are some more cost-effective options near the William P. Hobby Airport.