Online debate tournament registration form

This page contains policies for Ready Set Debate online tournaments, which are hosted via video calls.

Our tournaments are open, meaning that competitors from outside of Ready Set Debate are welcome to enter and compete in them. Competitors must be aged 10-17 at the time of the tournament. Younger competitors may be admitted if they are a current or former Ready Set Debate club member. Younger competitors may be admitted. Younger students will be considered on a case-by-case basis; please contact us for more information.

Registration fee

The registration fee for our online tournaments is $35 USD per debater, which covers a minimum of three preliminary debates, plus any other preliminary debates we add to the schedule, and any elimination debates the debater advances to.

Registering as a multi-person team

You can arrange with other people who meet the tournament eligibility guidelines (including those from other clubs) to be teammates, or ask for assistance from your coaches in finding a teammate. If you do request your coach’s teaming assistance, please list all members you would willing to partner with. Teammates may register and pay separately; simply make a note of who your teammate(s) are on the registration form.

Judging requirements

Each team is required to provide one volunteer judge who can commit to judge up to two debates during the tournament, or purchase a judging waiver, which will enable us to hire a judge for two debates. If your volunteer judge does not show up, you will be charged the judging waiver fee plus a $25 penalty. Judging waivers can be purchased for $35 USD per debater on a single-person team, and $17.50 USD per debater on a two-person team.

Judges must be fluent in English and be a high school graduate or beyond, and/or a current or former Ready Set Debate club member. They do not need to have expertise in debate or in the subject being debated. All judges are provided with our judge orientation packet prior to the tournament. For finding volunteer judges, we suggest asking a parent or other adult family member or family friend. You can forward our Judge Orientation Packet to your potential volunteers, to help them understand the expectations. We think they will enjoy the experience!

Registration deadline

The early registration deadline for each Ready Set Debate tournament is 11:59pm Central Time on the Tuesday prior to the tournament. Registrations after this deadline may be granted at the tournament director’s discretion. Please contact us for more information.

Video call sign-in information

Sign-in information for the tournament video call will be shared with tournament attendees via email in the days leading up to the tournament. Attendees must not share the video call information in any public way. If the tournament video call is shut down for any reason, new sign-in links will be distributed via email.

Tournament schedule and postings

The tournament schedule and postings will be distributed via email in the days leading up to the tournament. Below is a sample schedule, and may differ from the actual tournament schedule. All times are in Central Time.

Prelim 1 – 9am

Prelim 2 – 10am

Prelim 3 – 11am

Prelim 4 (if needed) – 12pm

Elim 1 – 12:30pm or 1:30pm

Elim 2 – 1:30pm or 2:30pm

Elim 3 (if needed) – 2:30pm or 3:30pm

Elim 4 (if needed) – 3:30pm or 4:30pm

Refund policy

Ready Set Debate will provide a full refund for tournament registration fees and judging waiver fees until 7 days before the tournament start time, and a half refund until 72 hours before the tournament start time. Within 72 hours of the tournament start time, no refunds will be offered.

Spectator policy

Identified spectators are welcome to observe the tournament at no cost. We ask that spectators arrive five minutes early for the debate(s) they want to watch, keep their cameras off, and remain muted, except in limited circumstances such as when requesting recording privileges (see next policy). Spectators should rename themselves to something like “Tim’s mom” or “Jayel’s guest” prior to joining the video call, so we know who they are and which debate room to add them to. Unidentified and/or disruptive spectators will not be permitted to enter or remain on the video call. Please contact us if you are interested in observing a tournament.

Recording policy

Tournament hosts may or may not be able to create and distribute recordings of some or all of the debates that occur at the tournament. Tournament attendees (debaters, judges, identified spectators, etc.) are permitted to make their own recordings. Attendees who wish to record should request that they be granted recording privileges. It is best to make a verbal request for these privileges prior to the debate begins. Attendees who choose to record are requested to refrain from stopping and starting their recordings during the debate.

FAQs

How are tournament resolutions decided?

Tournament resolutions are determined by a vote of current Ready Set Debate club members, choosing from a list of resolutions set by Ready Set Debate coaches. Typically, members will practice with the tournament resolution for the two club meetings leading up to the tournament.

How should I ask someone to be a volunteer judge?

Hopefully it’s as simple as, “I need to provide a judge for my next debate tournament on Saturday, April 10th. Would you be willing to consider being the judge I provide? The judges don’t need to have any prior experience with academic debate, and everything is explained in the judge’s orientation packet you’ll get. You wouldn’t actually judge any of my debates. You would be judging other students – one or two debates total. You can choose any two 1-hour time slots between 9am and 4pm Central. The debates are only about 35 minutes. The extra time is so you can complete a ballot with your decision of the winner.”

I have experience in another format(s) of debate. How should I approach this tournament?

You will need to follow the Ready Set Debate format, but you are otherwise free to bring in your own debating style.

How can my team manage communication during the debate?

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Online debate tournament registration form

Register for a Ready Set Debate tournament

Your information

Team and judging details

Payment and wrap-up