Weeknight Online Rounds of Debate 1
2026 — Online, WI/US
Main
** Results/Standings (to be populated after festival) **
Note for judges applying to be hired: WISDAA is only able to contract with individuals with a United States Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number (EIN). This includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or non-citizens with correct immigration status to work in the United States.
We are excited to invite middle + high schools (in Wisconsin or beyond) to participate in our WORD debate festival format.
What makes it a festival?
- No elimination rounds; contests emphasize participatory, learning mindsets
- Schools register debaters by round (see schedule) for maximum flexibility (including mixing/matching debate categories).
Categories & Fees
School Fees:
We will manually add a one-time season (school year) fee of $50 for non-WISDAA member schools.
Entry Fees:
All schools (including WISDAA member schools) pay entry fees for each round.
- Congressional Debate (1 student = an entry); $2/entry
- World Schools Debate (3-5 students* = an entry); $5/entry
* in a Worlds round, 3 students may speak
In Worlds, we do allow "hybrid" entries, consisting of students from multiple schools; each school will be assessed a prorated fee for participants.
Adjudicators
All schools are expected to provide adjudicators (judges) equivalent to the number of entries (or fraction thereof) participating during a given time slot. Those requirements are:
- Congressional: 1 adjudicator per 5 entries or fraction thereof
- Worlds: 1 adjudicator per 2 entries or fraction thereof
Uncovered adjudicator slots will be assessed a $50 fee per adjudicator per round not provided and/or for rounds assigned but not worked by registered adjudicators.
Topics
Congressional legislation (one bill per round) is posted to the right. The Worlds topics for this contest are:
- Impromptu topic area: Flock cameras
- Prepared motion: This house would provide free breakfast for students in all Wisconsin public schools.
World Schools Debate Rules for Evidence
- Teams may not bring nor utilize any handwritten, printed, or published materials with them into the room (or area) in which they connect for impromptu debates, with the exception of a published English language dictionary or a published bilingual dictionary and a published single-volume encyclopedia or almanac per team. No digital resources are permitted.
- With the exception of using electronic devices to connect to a videoconference platform for online debates, teams may not use any electronic storage and retrieval devices, including tablet or laptop computers or hand-held cellular telephones (except the use of cellular phones for timing) Notes should be in paper form.
Schedule (Central time/CDT)
| 3:45-3:50 PM | Tech Check |
| 3:59-4:59 PM | Worlds: Preparation for Impromptu round |
| 4:10-5:40 PM | Congressional Round 1 |
| 5:00-6:00 PM | Worlds Round 1 (Impromptu) |
| 5:55-7:25 PM | Congressional Round 2 |
| 6:20-7:20 PM | Worlds Round 2 (Prepared Motion) |
| 7:45 PM | Results Posted |