Main Page & Invitation

Welcome to the FREE YDRC NOVEMBER ONLINE DEBATE INVITATIONAL!

On behalf of the Youth Development Resource Center (YDRC), a California-based youth organization dedicated to empowering debaters and lifelong learners, we are thrilled to once again invite you to the free YDRC November Debate Invitational on Sunday, November 29, 2026.

As the November/December topics begin, this tournament is the perfect opportunity to get a few rounds in on the new topics, refine the arguments you've built this season, and carry that momentum into the future.

As we all know, finding high-quality tournaments isn't always easy, and even when you do, registration fees can quickly add up over the course of a season. That's why we're committed to providing a completely free, accessible, and professionally run tournament that gives every student the opportunity to compete without financial barriers. There are no entry fees and no judge fees for this tournament.

Now, as we're a smaller tournament, competitors can expect a more personalized experience while still facing debaters such as yourself from across the national circuit. Whether you're looking for first rounds on the new topics, polishing your cases, or simply seeking quality competition, the YDRC November Invitational is certainly designed to help you grow as a competitor.

We're also seeking dedicated judges who share our passion for debate education. So, if you're interested in joining our judging staff, we'd love to have you help advance our mission of making competitive debate more accessible to students everywhere! Please feel free to register with us!

Feel free to visit our website, https://ydrcdebate.org/, for news about our upcoming tournaments. Having said this, see you on Sunday, November 29, 2026!

Provided Divisions & Rules

This time, we will only provide two divisions: LD and PF. So, unfortunately, there will be no Congress division this time around. The topics used will be the November/December 2026 topics according to the NSDA rules: for Public Forum, Resolved: European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; for Lincoln-Douglas, Resolved: De-extinction is unethical.

In LD, please follow the rules from the NSDA including their times (6-3-7-3-4-6-3). There will only be four minutes of preparation time!

In PF, please follow the rules from the NSDA including their times (4-4-3-3-3-3-2-2). Keep in mind there will be four minutes of preparation time for this specific tournament!

Tentative Schedule

The following schedule applies to all rounds in all debate divisions (with their times all being provided in Pacific Time). Pairings and ballots are released automatically during the ballot-blast window before each round:

Ballot Blast 10:30 AM PST - 11:00 AM PST

Round 1 11:00 AM PST - 12:00 PM PST

Ballot Blast 12:00 PM PST - 12:30 PM PST

Round 2 12:30 PM PST - 1:30 PM PST

Ballot Blast 1:30 PM PST - 2:00 PM PST

Round 3 2:00 PM PST - 3:00 PM PST

Entries, Confirmation, and Drops

Entries close November 29, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PST. Coaches must confirm their entries on Tabroom by November 29, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PST. Judge information is due November 29, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PST. Entries that are not confirmed by that time will be dropped before Round 1 is paired. Tab may admit waitlisted entries up to the confirmation deadline to fill the field. Drops after the entries deadline should be emailed to tab as early as possible. A team that no-shows a round forfeits that round. This tournament is free: there are no entry fees, no judge fees, no deposits, and no fines.

For more information, including contacts, please refer to the Postings and Schedule page specifically.