Eligibility FAQs

The purpose of our tournament is to provide first- and second-year high school debaters with a national championship event. In order to make this championship as fair as possible, we have designed specific eligibility restrictions. We understand that different regions of the country have different definitions of novice and JV debate. We also understand that the quantity and quality of middle school debate varies widely from region-to-region. We have developed our eligibility restrictions over the course of many years in an attempt to make our tournament as appealing as possible to as many schools as possible. We know that these restrictions do not please everyone and welcome feedback about how they might be changed in future years. However, we ask that coaches please diligently comply with these restrictions when entering students for this year's tournament:

1. A first year debater is defined as a debater in their first year of high school debate competition. If they debated at a high school tournament prior to the 2020-2021 season, they are no longer first year debaters.  A ninth grader with three years of high school debate is not eligible simply because they are in ninth grade.

2. A second year debater is defined as a debater in their second year of high school debate competition. If they debated at a high school tournament prior to the 2019-2020 season, they are not eligible for the second year division. A tenth grader in their third or fourth year of high school debate is not a second year debater.

We will strictly enforce these eligibility standards. A team entered in the wrong division will be removed from the tournament. Please ask us if you have any questions or need to check on a specific scenario. We’d be much happier to discuss a specific situation in advance than to have to remove your competitor(s) from the tournament. The following are some questions we have received in the past.

What if my debater competed in a previous year in a different event than the one in which they are entering?

They are eligible to debate in the second year division only.

Example: Armaan is a 10th grader. He debated in LD as a 9th grader and switched to policy as a 10th grader. He can enter the Second Year National Championships but not the First Year, as he is not a first-year debater.

Clarification: "Event" for our purposes is a debate event—Policy Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, Congressional Debate, or any other event classified as "Debate" by the NSDA. Individual Events (Duo Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking, etc.) do not affect students' eligibility for our Debate tournament.

What if my debater competed for two or more years in a different event than the one in which they are entering?

They are not eligible to debate at the First and Second Year National Championships.

Example: Sachi is an 11th grader. She debated in policy as a 9th and 10th grader and then switched to LD as an 11th grader. She cannot enter the First and Second Year National Championships because she is not a first- or second-year debater.

What if my debater is an 11th grader but started debating as a sophomore?

They are eligible to debate in the Second Year National Championships.

Example: Utkarsh started debate as a 10th grader. He is now in his second year of high school debate as a junior. He can debate in the Second Year National Championships.

What if my debater attended middle school debate tournaments? Does this impact eligibility for your tournament?

No. Participation in middle school debate tournaments does not impact eligibility for the First and Second Year National Championships.

Example: Mona debated in 7th and 8th grade in a division only open to middle school debaters. She is now debating in her first year of high school debate as a 9th grader. She is eligible to debate in the First Year division.

What if my debater attended high school tournaments as a middle school student? Does this impact eligibility for your tournament?

Yes. Participation in high school debate tournaments limits eligibility no matter the age of the student at the time of participation.

Example: Jay debated in 7th grade at middle school tournaments. He then debated in 8th grade at high school tournaments. He is now a 9th grader. He is eligible to debate in the Second Year division only, as this is his second year of high school debate competition.

Example: Callie debated in 7th and 8th grade at high school tournaments. She is now a 9th grader. She is not eligible to debate in either the First or Second Year division, as this is her third year of high school debate competition.

What if my debater only attended one high school tournament in a previous year?

Your debater is eligible to debate in the Second Year division, as it is his/her second year of debate competition.

Example: Ashna attended one tournament in her 9th grade year. She is now a sophomore. She is eligible to debate in the Second Year division only, as this is her second year of high school debate competition.

What if my debater went to a middle school debate camp? Does that impact eligibility?

No. Participation in middle school debate institutes does not impact eligibility for the First and Second Year National Championships.

What if my debater went to a high school camp before their first year in high school debate competition? Does that impact eligibility?

No. Participation in high school debate institutes does not impact eligibility for the First and Second Year National Championships.

What if my debater is in his/her second year of high school competition but attended the Second Year National Championship last year as a first year debater? Can he/she still compete in Second Year again this year?

Yes. As long as your student is in his/her second year of high school debate, previous attendance at the Second Year National Championship does not impact eligibility.

What if my debater is in his/her first year of high school competition but is debating with a second year debater? Can they debate in the First Year division?

No, they can debate in the Second Year division only, as one of the two debaters is only eligible for Second Year. However, as explained above, the first year partner may also debate in the Second Year division again next year.