Invitation

The current invite can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QC7RbQ12-WGGtrSvK6QhPpPja4YU19twZSTJWO9FWV8/edit?tab=t.0

2026 WSDT Invitation

Date and Location: January 17-18, 2026 (Saturday and Sunday). The tournament will take place in person at West Bend East and West High Schools, 1305 E. Decorah Rd. West Bend, WI 53095

Tournament Website: wsdt.tabroom.com. Updates and additional information will be posted there.

Divisions:

• Junior Varsity PF, Junior Varsity LD, Varsity PF, Varsity LD, Novice Policy, and Varsity Policy.

• A JV debater is competing in their first or second season. A novice debater is in their first year of competition. Violations will result in a disqualification. Changing styles of debate does not reset years of competition.

• In the event low registration numbers make division impossible to operate under the standing rules, the WDCA Executive Committee may vote to make alterations to the procedures found in the standing rules. Should that decision be made, it will be announced at the earliest possible time via email as well as posted on the tournament website.

Rounds:

Each division will have 6 preliminary rounds. Only teams with winning records will advance to the elimination rounds. This will likely mean that the first elimination round will be a partial elimination round, with some teams advancing without debating from that round into the next elimination round. (Think the bye in the NFL or MLB Playoffs). We do not fill an incomplete bracket in the first elimination round. Elimination rounds are single elimination.

Qualification:

School: A school must have competed 3 times in WDCA sanctioned tournaments and must be a paid member of the WDCA.

Student: A student must have earned a winning record 2 times in WDCA sanctioned tournaments in the style of debate they are registered in and meet the definition of a debater in that event or be debating up a level. Schools that do not have anyone qualified in a division may enter 2 unqualified entries in that division provided the student(s) have competed in 3 WDCA sanctioned tournaments. Coaches will complete this spreadsheet and upload it to this form identifying the qualifying tournaments for each of their students.

Fees and Obligations:

1. Fees are $75 in Policy and PF and $65 in LD.

2. Coaches must also upload a copy of their PO/Check request to this form by Thursday, January 16th, 2026 or confirm that the check is in the possession of Dan Hansen, WDCA Treasurer.

Judge Requirements: In all divisions 1 judge for 2 entries or fraction thereof. Separate judge pools will be used for each division. Obligations, then, are by division, not style of debate, as they are during most tournaments..

Judges in policy must have 3 rounds of judging policy debate in WDCA tournaments

Judges in PF must have 5 rounds of judging PF in WDCA tournaments

Judges in LD must have 5 rounds of judging LD in WDCA tournaments.

Judges are obligated 2 full elimination (not partial) rounds beyond their school’s elimination from that division. For example, if the school’s last team is eliminated in the quarterfinals, judges are obligated to the Semi AND Final rounds. A partial elimination round does not count toward the 2 round obligation as it is impossible to determine how many debates will be held in a partial round.

If you are hiring a judge you believe to be unaffiliated to your school (neutral/clean), please contact John Knetzger who will determine their status.

Paradigms: Judges are required to have a paradigm specific to the division they are judging in order to be considered registered. Additionally, paradigms should reflect the professional role of the judge. Sample templates can be found on wdca.org. Judges whose paradigm requires edits will not be considered registered until the paradigm is complete. Incomplete paradigms may also prevent the hiring school from entering their preferences until the paradigm is complete.

Judge Certification: Any judge with less than 2 years of combined experience judging, coaching, and/or debating in the style of debate they are judging must be certified. Training and certification materials are available at wdca.org. Judges who are certified are encouraged to review those materials as well. Judge certification materials are available on WDCA.org

Preferencing

Preferencing will open as soon as possible after the registration deadlines, likely Thursday. It will close at 7 AM on Saturday. After preferencing closes, coaches will not be able to enter or change preferences for their teams. Specific instructions will be emailed to coaches before preferences open. Schools not meeting their judging obligations by the registration deadline may be prohibited from entering preferences until their obligations are met.

Deadlines

Entries are due by Sunday January 11th at 8 PM. After the registration deadline, a single substitute is allowed in team divisions, provided they meet the definition of a debater in that division. New entries will not be allowed after this deadline. Judges must be entered by 8 PM on Tuesday, January 13th. All judges must have a linked tabroom account and a paradigm posted by the judge registration deadline. Judge changes after the registration deadlines are subject to a $35 fine.

Equity Advocates

The WSDT will employ independent equity advocates. The job of these advocates ranges from being a supportive, listening ear, to an educator of equity issues, to implementing consequences for teams that do not conform to proper equity standards.

We are utilizing many of the procedures in place by the NSDA. You can find information about the process at: https://www.speechanddebate.org/bis/. If you have state-specific questions, you can reach out to the Belonging committee at: BIS@WDCA.org.

Mandatory Check In

On Saturday, January 17th, between 3:00AM and 7:30 AM, teams must confirm their entries and judges online. Failure to register during this window will incur a $35 fine.

Schedule

A detailed schedule is posted on the tournament site. Rounds on Saturday will begin between 8:30 and 9 AM.

Prelim rounds will conclude on Sunday morning with awards at noon, followed by elimination rounds.

Concessions

Lunch tickets must be purchased in advance via the tournament website. The WDCA is not able to provide lunches for judges this year. Coaches should order lunches for their students, judges, and coaches. Given the tight schedule, leaving the building is not recommended. Other concessions will be available, but not meals. No tickets will be available for purchase during the tournament.

Saturday features a box lunch from Subway that will include a sandwich, chips, chocolate chip cookie, and a bottle of water.

Sunday features 2 slices of pizza, chips, and a bottle of water.

Additional Questions:

Please email admin@wdca.org.