State Debate

• Sunday, January 25, 2025 (5:00 pm EST)

  •  Registration for entries closes. Please make sure entry names are correct.

  • Any blank entries will be deleted.

• Monday, January 26 (5:00 pm EST)

  • Judge Video is released. It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure each of their judges views it. Failure to watch the video does NOT constitute an excuse for not following state guidelines.

• Wednesday, January 28, 2025 (8:00 pm EST)

  •  Enter judge names, email addresses, and judging experience.

  • When entering judges, coaches should enter restrictions (availability; event blocks; etc.) in the notes section.

• Thursday, January 29, 2025 

  • Complete this FORM by 8:00 pm (EST) to confirm entry and judges.

• Friday, January 30, 2025

  • ​2:30 pm EST

    • ​Event Chairs arrive.

  • 3:00 pm EST

    • Final registration (collection of entry fees) begins.

  • 4:30 pm EST

    • Round 1 ballots are published and blasted to judges.

  • 5:15 pm EST

    • Round 1 CX, PF, WSD, Congress begins

    • Round 1 LD at 6:15 pm

• Saturday, January 31 

  • 7:30 am EST

    • Round 3 published and blasted to judges and students.

  • 8:00 am EST

    • Round 3 begins

The state series will use Speechwire for tournament management and e-balloting. All judges will need to bring a device in order to complete their ballots. Coaches are responsible for ensuring that their judges are supplied with an adequate device for judging. 

All students and judges will need to create an account with Speechwire.com.  For help on creating student accounts visit - https://youtu.be/dcGivaEKSuk

Congress - 

• State Debate Docket 2026 (coming soon!)

• Size of chambers will be determined by the number of registered entries.

• Presiding Officers will be elected within chambers. 

• Semi-Final Chambers will vote for their best P.O. who will receive the “Speaker of the House” Award.

• The Final Chamber will vote for their best P.O. who will receive the “President of the Senate” Award.

• NOTE: The use of “Direct Clash” to select questioners IS NOT an ISSDA rule.

WSD - Note: WSD changes were made to allow for an Octo-final round if needed. 

Schedule as follows:

PF - Resolved: 

LD - Resolved: 

Policy - Resolved: 

Each member school may enter - 

• a maximum of 4 Policy teams

• a maximum of 4 Public Forum teams

• a maximum of 4 Lincoln Douglas contestants

• a maximum of 4 Congressional debates

• a maximum of 2 World Schools Debate teams

Registration must be completed in Speechwire by Sunday, January 25 at 5:00pm EST. 

• Policy & PF - $20/team

•  LD - $10/entry

•  Congress - $10/student

•  World Schools - $10/student 

• Entry drop on the day of - $25

• Policy, PF and World Schools Debate - 1 judge per entry (1 team = 1 judge) 

• Lincoln Douglas - 1 judge for 1-2 entries, 2 judges for 3-4 entries

• Congress - 1 judge for 1-4 entries 

ONLINE REGISTRATION OF JUDGES:

• Judge Information Video

• Judges are required to watch the Judging video that will be sent to all coaches

• Coaches will register judges online with SpeechWire and ensure that all judges are able to access their Speechwire accounts

• Judge Qualification Information will be completed in Speechwire

• Judges will need to bring an effective laptop or tablet to use for e-balloting. 

• All judges should be in their rooms, ready to start round 1 by 5:00 pm 

• On Saturday all judges should be in their rooms ready to start round 3 by 8:00 am.

**The Board voted in Summer 2021 to eliminate the judge strike/scratch list**

Each year the ISSDA presents three scholarship awards to recognize outstanding student participants in our organization. These awards, presented at the state debate and speech tournaments, honor three legendary Indiana coaches of speech and debate: Jim Hawker, Bob Brittain, and Bill Hicks. Recipients demonstrate speech and debate acumen, but they also exhibit positive mental attitude and fine character. According to the ISSDA Tournament Manual, each school entered into the state speech and debate tournaments may nominate a senior member who participates in the state tournament to be considered for the award. 

Award Nominations are due by Monday, January 19 at 5:00pm EST.

• Robert Brittain Mental Attitude in Debate Award

• William S. Hicks Award for Congress

The 2026 State Debate Tournament will be held at Avon HS. 

• Please remember that supporting our host school is the only compensation they have for hosting our state tournament.

• PLEASE have your students purchase food from them and not have them use delivery services. 

• School Maps will be available at registration on Friday evening.