Every event, at a glance
Events & Rules
All high school events other than Novice Congressional Debate follow the rules of the Indiana Schools Speech and Debate Association (ISSDA). College Policy follows NDT/CEDA college rules — the leagues in which the IU Debate Team competes. The two novice-built events have their own full resource sites.
The summaries below are quick references for students, families, and judges. Where any detail here differs from the current ISSDA handbook (or, for College Policy, current NDT/CEDA practice), the official rules govern. Each two-team event debates a published resolution, announced on the event page before the tournament.
Public Forum Debate · HS Novice & Varsity · teams of 2 · flighted
Accessible, current-events team debate built for a citizen judge: two-person teams argue a resolution drawn from public policy, with short speeches and lively “crossfire” question periods. Four rounds, sides alternating or determined per ISSDA procedure.
| Speech | Time |
|---|---|
| Team A — Constructive (1st speaker) | 4 min |
| Team B — Constructive (1st speaker) | 4 min |
| Crossfire (1st speakers) | 3 min |
| Team A — Rebuttal (2nd speaker) | 4 min |
| Team B — Rebuttal (2nd speaker) | 4 min |
| Crossfire (2nd speakers) | 3 min |
| Team A — Summary | 3 min |
| Team B — Summary | 3 min |
| Grand Crossfire (all four) | 3 min |
| Team A — Final Focus | 2 min |
| Team B — Final Focus | 2 min |
| Preparation time | 3 min per team |
A round runs about 45 minutes, so PF is flighted: two debates share each round block and judge (see How flighting works).
Lincoln-Douglas Debate · HS Novice & Varsity · one-on-one · flighted
One-on-one values debate in the tradition of the 1858 Lincoln–Douglas contests: a resolution of principle, argued through a framework of values and criteria, with cross-examination.
| Speech | Time |
|---|---|
| Affirmative Constructive | 6 min |
| Cross-Examination (Neg asks) | 3 min |
| Negative Constructive | 7 min |
| Cross-Examination (Aff asks) | 3 min |
| First Affirmative Rebuttal | 4 min |
| Negative Rebuttal | 6 min |
| Second Affirmative Rebuttal | 3 min |
| Preparation time | 4 min per debater |
A round runs about 45 minutes, so LD is flighted alongside PF.
Policy Debate (High School) · HS Novice & Varsity · teams of 2
The deepest research event: two-person teams debate a single season-long policy resolution, with the affirmative proposing a specific plan and the negative testing it. Evidence-intensive and fast-developing — and the event with the longest rounds of the day.
| Speech | Time |
|---|---|
| First Affirmative Constructive (1AC) | 8 min |
| Cross-Examination | 3 min |
| First Negative Constructive (1NC) | 8 min |
| Cross-Examination | 3 min |
| Second Affirmative Constructive (2AC) | 8 min |
| Cross-Examination | 3 min |
| Second Negative Constructive (2NC) | 8 min |
| Cross-Examination | 3 min |
| First Negative Rebuttal (1NR) | 5 min |
| First Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR) | 5 min |
| Second Negative Rebuttal (2NR) | 5 min |
| Second Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR) | 5 min |
| Preparation time | 8 min per team |
Each team — Affirmative and Negative — has 8 minutes of preparation time to use across the round, and both teams may prepare whenever either team calls prep, so in practice a round can include up to 16 minutes of preparation. Policy fills its full round block, and rounds may occasionally run over; the schedule catches up at the next break. Laptops are permitted for evidence per ISSDA norms; internet use in rounds is governed by the current ISSDA handbook.
World Schools Debate · HS Novice & Varsity · teams of 3 speaking (squads up to 5)
The international format: three speakers a side debate motions of principle and policy in a conversational, audience-friendly style, with points of information — brief interjections the speaker may accept or decline — replacing separate cross-examination.
| Speech | Time |
|---|---|
| Proposition 1 · Opposition 1 · Proposition 2 · Opposition 2 · Proposition 3 · Opposition 3 | 8 min each |
| Opposition Reply | 4 min |
| Proposition Reply | 4 min |
| Points of information | Offered between the 1st and 7th minutes of main speeches; reply speeches are protected |
A round runs about an hour, one per round block. Motions for prepared rounds are announced in advance per ISSDA practice.
Policy Debate (College Novice) · teams of 2 · NDT/CEDA rules
College Policy follows the rules and norms of NDT/CEDA debate — the National Debate Tournament and Cross Examination Debate Association circuit in which the IU Debate Team competes. The structure mirrors high school Policy with longer speeches:
| Speech | Time |
|---|---|
| Constructives (1AC, 1NC, 2AC, 2NC) | 9 min each |
| Cross-Examination (after each constructive) | 3 min each |
| Rebuttals (1NR, 1AR, 2NR, 2AR) | 6 min each |
| Preparation time | 10 min per team |
The division is Novice, following CEDA’s novice-eligibility definitions (limited prior competitive debate experience); entrants debate the current NDT/CEDA intercollegiate resolution. Laptops and paperless evidence are standard per college norms. The division is primarily intended for IU Bloomington students and open to other college students case by case — contact [email protected] with eligibility questions.
The novice-built events
- Congressional Debate — Middle School Novice & High School Novice
- A simplified, welcoming version of Congress with three sessions, small chambers, and full free training resources: see the Congressional Debate site. (High School Varsity Congress follows standard ISSDA rules and procedures and runs in two extended sessions — see the Schedule.)
- Constitutional Convention Debate — College Novice
- A new event created for this tournament: delegates debate proposed constitutional amendments under convention procedure, with perfecting amendments and a two-thirds adoption rule. Full free resources at the Constitutional Convention site.
Judging notes for all events
- No debate background is needed to judge the novice divisions; experienced judges are placed where they help most. The judges’ meeting at 8:30 a.m. covers everything.
- Judge the arguing, not the position. In every event, students are assigned sides. Reward clear reasoning, accurate evidence, responsiveness, and courtesy.
- Ballots are electronic through SpeechWire, with a paper option from the tournament office. Submit your ballot as soon as possible after each round — late ballots delay the entire tournament. If you need more time for comments, submit the decision first, then return to edit comments.
- Flighted events: a PF or LD judge covers both flights of each round block — please start Flight B promptly.
- Disclosure and feedback practices follow ISSDA norms for high school events; the tab room can answer questions on the day.
Next: the Schedule shows how all of this fits into one day — and the Congressional Debate and Constitutional Convention sites have everything a first-timer needs.