01 - At-Large Application Information

Coaches must submit an application for an at-large entry to the 2026 Tournament of Champions. Applications not completed by a coach of record will be ignored. Each event has a separate form. Each application is permitted one optional coach letter of support, not to exceed one page in length. It may include any relevant information, beyond competition results, for the TOC advisory committee to take into account when evaluating your submission.

An extremely limited number of at-large bids will be granted, with submissions evaluated by the respective TOC advisory committees. Accepted at-large entries will be announced by Monday, March 23, 2026, along with a waitlist. Wait-listed applicants will be contacted, in order of precedence, if/when space allows.

There is a non-refundable $75 fee for each at-large application, which must be paid in order for the TOC advisory committee to consider a submission. Submit the at-large application fee only. You may submit the remaining invoice balance if/when you are notified that the at-large entry is accepted. Refunds will not be granted in cases where this guideline is not followed.

Eligible At-Large Entry Requirements for all events except World Schools

• Earn 1 bid in the designated competition event during the 2025-2026 season
• 2 PF-Silver bids do not count as 1 PF-Gold bid
• A coach of record must complete and submit the at-large application by March 9, 2026 by 11:59pm Eastern
• Pay the $75 at-large application fee by March 9, 2026 by 11:59pm Eastern
• This fee will be applied to the school’s invoice if the at-large entry is accepted.
• Register as an at-large entry on Tabroom by March 9, 2026 by 11:59pm Eastern

Eligible At-Large Entry Requirements for World Schools Debate

• World Schools Debate teams may apply for at-large bid consideration if they meet the criteria for an intact entry. An intact entry consists of a team of three to five students, at least two of whom meet one of the following criteria:
• Earned one bid together as part of the same team during the 2025–2026 season; or
• Competed together as part of the same team and demonstrated competitiveness at two or more Worlds TOC Bid Tournaments during the 2025–2026 season.
• To attend the TOC, all domestic members of a World Schools Debate team must attend the same degree-granting school. Team USA is exempt from this requirement.
• International teams may be composed of members who attend the same national team, school, club, academy, or enrichment program. TOC-eligible national teams are those recognized by the World Schools Debate Championships. National teams are auto-qualified and do not need to apply at-large; just register on Tabroom.
• A coach of record must complete and submit the at-large application by March 9, 2026 by 11:59pm Eastern.
• Pay the $75 at-large application fee by March 9, 2026 by 11:59pm Eastern; this fee will be applied to the school’s invoice if the at-large entry is accepted.
• Register as an at-large entry on Tabroom by March 9, 2026 by 11:59pm Eastern

Payment Directions

• At-large applications and fees must be received by Monday, March 9 at 11:59pm Eastern.
• Share these directions with anyone making an at-large application payment. Oftentimes a student’s parent or guardian is making the payment and they fail to include all necessary information for us to keep payments and applications together.
• Pay each individual at-large application separately using our credit card link.
• Include the school, student’s name, and event under the “School Name on Tabroom Registration” section (Example: Lexington High School, Jane Doe, LD)
• Choose “At-Large TOC Application” under the tournament drop-down menu.

At-Large Application Links

Hyperlinks will be available and open around February 1, 2026.

• Congressional Debate Application Link
• Lincoln Douglas Application Link
• Policy Application Link
• Public Forum Gold Application Link
• Public Forum Silver Application Link
• Speech/IEs Application Link
• Please fill out a separate application for each speech event (only one $75 application fee needs to be paid, though)
• World Schools Application Link

At-Large Preview Links

To aid in the at-large application process, a PDF version of each application is available for download. This will allow you to see all the questions so you have materials, data, and responses ready before opening the actual application link (above).

The PDF file will be several pages long because all that event's bid tournaments are listed as a question.

• Congressional Debate Preview Link
• Lincoln Douglas Preview Link
• Policy Preview Link
• Public Forum Gold Preview Link
• Public Forum Silver Preview Link
• Speech/IEs Preview Link
• World Schools Preview Link