Dragons, Elephants and Eagles #1

March 14 to 15/16, 2025
Online Tournament via Tabroom.com
NSDA February Topic
Hosted by the Global Debate League

We are excited to invite debaters from around the world to compete in the most popular global debate format, Public Forum Debate. This event will feature the NSDA February topic and will be conducted online via Tabroom.com. Teams will participate in Public Forum Debate (PFD), and we are pleased to offer five divisions for debaters of all levels:

• Middle School Novice

• Middle School Rising Stars

• High School Rising Stars

• Novice

• Varsity

The results from this tournament will help determine eligibility for the Global Debate Championship.

Dates:
March 14-15/16, 2025

Topic:
NSDA February Topic (Topic details will be provided by the NSDA closer to the event date)

Tournament Format:

• Session 1 (Friday, March 14): 3 rounds (Preset pairings)

• Session 2 (Saturday, March 15/16): 3 Rounds (2 Prelims - 1 Elim)

Registration Information:

• Registration Opens: December 16, 2024

• Registration Deadline: March 10, 2025

• Where to Register: All teams must register on Tabroom.com

• Registration Link: Tabroom.com - Global Debate League

• Team Size: 2 debaters per team (no more, no less)

Divisions:

This tournament will feature four divisions based on experience level:

• Middle School Divisions: Open to students in grades 6-8

• Middle School Novice - First year in competitive debate.

• Middle School Rising Stars - All experience levels.

• High School Rising Stars: Open to students with less than two years of competitive debate experience or who are in middle school and want to debate in a High School division.

• Novice Division: Open to students in their first year of debate (no previous tournament experience)

• Varsity Division: Open to experienced debaters with at least two years of competitive debate experience

Registration Fees:

• Standard Registration Fee: $50 USD per team

• Scholarships: Scholarships are available for students from low-income backgrounds. Please contact the tournament organizer for more information.

General Tournament Information:

1. Debate Format:

• Public Forum Debate (PFD) based on the NSDA February Topic

• All rounds will be conducted via Tabroom.com, with judges providing feedback on each round.

2. Team Composition:

• Teams must consist of two debaters. Each team member will present arguments, participate in crossfire, and respond to the opposing team’s arguments.

• UDL Teams “DO NOT” have to have the two students attending the same school, but we would prefer they were in the same league.

3. Tournament Platform:

• The tournament will be administered online through Tabroom.com, where teams will find their pairings, results, and access to judge feedback.

4. Judging:

• Experienced debate judges will be assigned to each round. Judges will evaluate based on content, delivery, strategy, and teamwork.

• Please ensure that your team members are familiar with the Public Forum Debate format, as it will be central to the event.

• A single judge can serve to cover the commitment of two teams. If there is only one team, then there are 3 rounds of commitment for judging.

• Judges can be hired by accompanying the following fee:

1. ½ Commitment - 3 rounds = 100.00 (covers 1 team)

2. Full Commitment - 6 rounds = 200.00 (cover 2 teams)

• Camera Mandate for All Judges! Judges who do not turn their camera on will be removed from the pool and the team they represent will be charged a judging fee of $200.00 USD.

• Judges must provide a “VERBAL” but brief reason for decision to the debaters after the debate. Students will be encouraged not to argue with the decision.

Important Notes:

• Time Zone Considerations:

• Many time zones are listed. Please convert these times into your local time zone, especially for participants joining from different regions, including Shanghai.

• We encourage all participants to adjust their schedules ahead of time to ensure that they are available for all rounds.

• Tech Requirements:

• Participants must have a stable internet connection to compete effectively in the online format. We recommend using Zoom for video calls and Tabroom.com for registration and results.

• Code of Conduct:

• All participants must adhere to the Global Debate League Code of Conduct, which emphasizes respect, fairness, and sportsmanship.

Contact Information:

For any questions or concerns about registration, the schedule, or technical issues, please reach out to the Tournament Director at:

• Email: info@globaldebateportal.com

• Phone: (702) 907- 0221

We look forward to your participation in this exciting global event and wish you the best of luck in your preparation!

Tournament Schedule