Judging Congressional Debate - Resources

Please note that our 2026 Scottsdale Prep tournament will be utilizingPAPER ballots this year. Those judging Congressional Debate should plan to bring a pen for filling out paper ballots for each competitor who speaks and/or presides. We will briefly go over this guide with judges the morning of the tournament (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jduOEzI1zi6i6GUTpp0DhZAnJseuXafS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105808035006820376077&rtpof=true&sd=true), but judges are encouraged to look over other training resources below and/or be trained by their coach to more thoroughly prepare.

CongressionalDebate.org and the NSDA offer many wonderfuljudge training resources:

https://www.congressionaldebate.org/resources/judging

Judges can orient themselves by looking over these blank ballots. Note: It is vital for you to write down each speaker's (or PO's) school code on the ballot, so we can sort ballots back to those schools/students at the end of the tournament.

Blank Congress Scorer Ballot:https://www.speechanddebate.org/wp-content/uploads/Sample-Congressional-Debate-Ballots-Invitational.pdf

Parliamentarians: We appreciate at least one judge from each school taking the time to prepare themselves for the role of Parliamentarian and be prepared to run (and supervise a PO running) a chamber.

• This guide outlines some of the Parliamantarian's duties:https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSK8826lnl_GFMRYPX1dTVP4NIgdMCDXQWsXmtxQOyAUf5Bn2tJvCVpUFgRyHAS3Fi-Uk7EuMGFIIFb/pub
• Training:https://www.speechanddebate.org/how-to-serve-as-a-parliamentarian-in-congressional-debate/