National Speech and Debate Tournament
Encyclopedia
The National Speech and Debate Tournament is a week-long high school championship forensics competition hosted by the National Forensic League
(NFL). It is held annually in early June, and is hosted in a different part of the United States
every year, although it tends to be hosted in cities that are amenable to the large influx of students and coaches, and have reasonably-priced accommodations.
Also called "Nationals" by many forensic competitors, the National Tournament involves competition between NFL competitors across the United States; thousands of competitors from across the country attend each year. The 2009 tournament was held in Birmingham, Alabama
. The 2010 tournament took place in Kansas City, Missouri
. The 2011 tournament took place in Dallas, Texas
. A list of all the participants in the latest tournament (as well as several past tournaments), including the unofficial results, is available.
. The number of competitors in each event in each district determines the number of competitors that will qualify to the National Tournament from that event. For example, smaller districts of 200 competitors may only be able to send the top one or two teams from each event, while larger districts may be able to send up to four. Those who qualify at the district level then move on to participate in the National Tournament.
In most districts, there are two qualifying tournaments. For example, some districts may opt to split the qualifying competition for Student Congress
from the remaining events, or hold separate tournaments for Individual Events and Debate
. Additionally, some districts allow competitors to "double enter". This means that rather than entering in a single event at a district qualifying competition, a competitor enters in two events. A competitor competing in multiple events must sign a letter of intent beforehand, stating which event they choose to go in if they qualify for nationals in both events. If they register in a team event, that event takes precedence over an individual event.
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
(NFL). It is held annually in early June, and is hosted in a different part of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
every year, although it tends to be hosted in cities that are amenable to the large influx of students and coaches, and have reasonably-priced accommodations.
Also called "Nationals" by many forensic competitors, the National Tournament involves competition between NFL competitors across the United States; thousands of competitors from across the country attend each year. The 2009 tournament was held in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The 2010 tournament took place in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The 2011 tournament took place in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. A list of all the participants in the latest tournament (as well as several past tournaments), including the unofficial results, is available.
Qualifying at the District Level
Competitors qualify to the National Tournament by placing in the top spots at District TournamentsNFL District Tournament
NFL District Tournaments are held each year by the National Forensic League to determine the qualifiers to the National Speech and Debate Tournament in speech, debate, and Student Congress...
. The number of competitors in each event in each district determines the number of competitors that will qualify to the National Tournament from that event. For example, smaller districts of 200 competitors may only be able to send the top one or two teams from each event, while larger districts may be able to send up to four. Those who qualify at the district level then move on to participate in the National Tournament.
In most districts, there are two qualifying tournaments. For example, some districts may opt to split the qualifying competition for Student Congress
Student Congress
Congressional Debate is a form of high school debate in the United States and Pakistan. The National Forensic League , National Catholic Forensic League , many national debate tournaments, State Forensic Associations, and the IEEE Pakistan Student Congress all offer Congressional Debate as an event...
from the remaining events, or hold separate tournaments for Individual Events and Debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
. Additionally, some districts allow competitors to "double enter". This means that rather than entering in a single event at a district qualifying competition, a competitor enters in two events. A competitor competing in multiple events must sign a letter of intent beforehand, stating which event they choose to go in if they qualify for nationals in both events. If they register in a team event, that event takes precedence over an individual event.
Competition at the National Tournament
After a competitor gets eliminated from a qualifying event, they may move on to a supplemental event. If the competitor is eliminated later in the competition in a qualifying event, or is eliminated from all of their supplemental events, they may compete in a consolation event. A competitor may register to compete in two supplemental events and one consolation event, but these registrations must be filed by the coach before the tournament begins.Qualifying Events
- Domestic Extemporaneous SpeakingDomestic Extemporaneous SpeakingDomestic Extemporaneous Speaking Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking (also called United States Extemporaneous Speaking or National Extemporaneous Speaking, and variously contracted to Domestic Extemp, National Extemp, U.S...
- Duo InterpretationDuo InterpretationDuo Interpretation, or often simply called Duo Interp, or just Duo, is an official speech event of the National Forensic League, the National Catholic Forensics League, National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, American Forensics Association, and the National Forensics Association...
- Foreign Extemporaneous SpeakingForeign Extemporaneous SpeakingInternational Extemporaneous Speaking is a style of competitive speaking sponsored by the National Forensic League. It is identical in structure to U.S...
- Humorous InterpretationHumorous InterpretationHumorous Interpretation is an event in competitive high school forensics leagues such as the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association and the National Forensic League...
- Dramatic InterpretationDramatic InterpretationDramatic Interpretation is an event in National Forensic League high school forensics competitions...
- Lincoln-Douglas DebateLincoln-Douglas debateLincoln–Douglas debate is sometimes also called values debate because it traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values, and philosophy...
- Original OratoryOriginal OratoryOriginal Oratory is a competitive event in the National Forensic League, National Catholic Forensic League, and other high school forensic competitions in which competitors deliver an original speech on a subject of their choosing, though the speech must be factual....
- Policy DebatePolicy debatePolicy debate is a form of speech competition in which teams of two advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States federal government or security discourse...
- Public Forum DebatePublic forum debatePublic forum debate, also known as crossfire debate, PFD , is a style of debate practiced in National Forensic League, Texas Forensics Association, and National Catholic Forensic League competitions....
- Congressional Debate
Supplemental Events
- Extemporaneous CommentaryExtemporaneous CommentaryExtemporaneous commentary is a branch of normal extemporaneous speaking, an area of competition in high school forensics. Students participating in extemporaneous commentary are given 25 minutes to prepare a five minute speech on a topic relevant to modern politics...
- Expository SpeakingExpository AddressExpository address is an event in the National Forensic League. It is a supplemental event at the National Tournament. Expository speeches are original compositions of the contestant. The expository speech is a speech to inform, not a performance. It should describe, clarify, illustrate or define...
- Prose InterpretationProse InterpretationProse interpretation is a non-memorized event in which competitors choose a published piece of work that is not poetry or drama. The piece should be cut to no more than 10 minutes...
- Poetry Interpretation
- Supplemental Debate
Consolation Events
- Impromptu SpeakingImpromptu speakingImpromptu speaking is a speech and debate consolation event that involves an eight minute speech, with up to three of these eight minutes available for use as preparation time ....
- Storytelling