Welcome

Welcome to the Citron Online Speech Series Tournament

Thank you for joining the Citron Online District! Our monthly online Speech Series tournaments welcome competitors from across the United States and around the world. All competition is conducted live online via Zoom or asynchronously via Tabroom and our website, allowing students to compete from home without travel or a weekend commitment.

We are excited to provide a high-quality competitive experience while making speech competition more accessible to students everywhere.

**NEW** ASYNC SPEECH RECORDER
Students need to submit performances through the Citron Async Speech Recorder Beta via the following link: https://citrononline.org/speech-submit-beta
Please pay careful attention to detail. You need to make sure your submission matches your Tabroom registration information. Pay special attention to selecting the correct Tournament.

Why Citron Uses This Model
Citron's asynchronous format differs from many existing tournaments by requiring a new performance for every round rather than allowing the same recording to be reused throughout the season. We believe this better reflects the educational and competitive standards of traditional tournaments by encouraging continual preparation, authentic competition, and meaningful growth while preserving the integrity of Speech and Debate.

Tournament Check-In

Mandatory Tournament Meeting: 6:15 PM Eastern Time

Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82719822951?pwd=mbyhRjs9QwaLbklYtn6X3RebBaxAAM.1

Tournament Schedule

6:00 PM ET

• United States & International Extemporaneous Speaking Topic Draw

6:30 PM ET

• Round 1 begins for all events

Additional rounds (Round 2 and Round 3) will begin as soon as ballots are completed to ensure the tournament concludes as efficiently as possible.

Extemporaneous Debate

• 5:30 PM ET – Topic Release

• 6:30 PM ET – Round 1

• 7:00 PM ET – Round 2

• 7:30 PM ET – Round 3

• 8:00 PM ET – Round 4

• 8:30 PM ET – Semifinals

• 9:00 PM ET – Finals

Events Offered

Extemporaneous Debate

1. Judge Buyouts: Increased to $75, with no exceptions. Schools are expected to recruit and provide judges to avoid this unnecessary fee.
2. Late drop fees: Increased to $75, with minor, documented exceptions such as a doctors note for illness. Students are expected to fulfill their commitments and Coaches are expected to enforce this expectation.
3. Artificial Intelligence: Coaches must reinforce and enforce the prohibition on AI-generated arguments and speeches during competition.
4. Outstanding Invoices: Schools with unpaid invoices 24 hours before a tournament will have their EXD entries dropped. No exceptions.

Interpretation (Dramatic & Humorous)

Competitors may perform either a Dramatic Interpretation or Humorous Interpretation selection. All current NSDA rules governing Interpretation events apply.

Program Oral Interpretation

Program Oral Interpretation follows all current NSDA rules, including manuscript and source requirements.

Original Oratory

Original Oratory will be conducted under all current NSDA rules.

Informative Speaking

Informative Speaking will be conducted under all current NSDA rules.

United States & International Extemporaneous Speaking

United States and International Extemporaneous Speaking competitors will compete in a combined division.

• Two preliminary rounds followed by one Final Round.

• Competitors should report to the virtual Prep Room by 6:00 PM ET.

• Topics will be assigned by the tournament proctor.

• Competitors receive 30 minutes of preparation time before each round.

• All current NSDA United States Extemporaneous Speaking rules regarding preparation, notes, and delivery apply.

Impromptu Speaking

• Three rounds.

• Competitors receive three randomly selected topics.

• Seven (7) minutes total preparation and speaking time.

• Speeches must be at least 3:00 minutes in length (30-second grace period).

• Topics are generally creative or lighthearted rather than political.

Radio Broadcasting

Three rounds of competition.

Competitors will present a five-minute live radio broadcast with cameras turned off to simulate a traditional radio environment. Broadcasts exceeding the five-minute time limit by more than five seconds may receive significant penalties.

Each broadcast should include:

• Station introduction and call letters

• International news

• National news

• Local or regional news appropriate to the competitor's location

• Commercial

• Weather

• Sports

• Closing

News stories should generally be drawn from events occurring within the previous 48 hours.

Tournament Policies

Nuisance Fees

To help tournaments run efficiently and on schedule, Citron assesses a $50 nuisance fee per infraction for:

• Late registration

• No-show competitors without prior notice

• Failure to provide required judges

• Failure to purchase required judge buyouts

Nuisance fees are not assessed when a competitor is withdrawn before 12:00pm (Noon) ET on the day of the tournament.

These policies help ensure a smooth experience for all competitors, judges, and coaches.

Judge Applications

Interested in judging for Citron?

Please email admin@citrononline.org with:

• Your Speech and Debate experience

• The events you are qualified to judge

• A sample Reason for Decision (RFD)

Applicants must have graduated from high school and possess prior competitive Speech and Debate experience.

Important Resources

Please review the following before competing:

• Citron Artificial Intelligence Policy

• NSDA High School Unified Manual (official event rules)

Stay Connected

Instagram: @nsdacitron

Facebook: NSDA Citron League

We are excited to announce our partnership with Ascend Speech and Debate! Summer 2027 Ascend Camp Auction: open to everyone!

Bid on one of 9 donated Ascend Speech & Debate seats (Online, Florida, California). Every winning bid supports Citron. Bid here

Not bidding? New Ascend families save $100 with code CITRON100 at ascendspeech.org/ascend-store.

Citron receives a commission when CITRON100 is used on a qualifying enrollment.

Tournament Payments

Tournament entry fees and judge buyouts may be paid online at:

https://citrononline.org/fees