Getting Started in Public Forum Debate: Divisions, Partners, and Tournament Registration

How Do Different Debate “Divisions” Work?

Once your child is ready to begin competing in debate, one of the first things to understand is which division they belong in. Different divisions are designed to match students with others at a similar level of experience and skill.

Middle School Division: As the name suggests, this level is only for 6th-8th grade students. It focuses on foundational debate skills and concepts to prepare them for high school debate.

Novice Division: Designed for first-year high school students, usually freshmen or sophomores, the Novice Division often requires students to have competed in their first ever tournament that school year. Occasionally, middle schoolers can join the Novice division if the tournament lacks a middle school division.

Junior Varsity (JV): Second year debaters or advanced novices ready for more complex arguments can join JV, which has more strategic arguments and varied evidence. Competition and organization in this division requires students to spend more time preparing in advance to ensure better research and more adaptation.

Varsity (also called “Open”): The most experienced debaters. This division is for students who can handle high-level competition, complex evidence, multi-layered strategies, and even judge Novice/JV rounds to support their peers.

Once your child has identified the tournaments they want to attend and which division they belong in, your child and their partner can let the coach know that they want to register for Public Forum Debate.

Does My Child Need a Partner First Before They Can Register in Tournaments?

Simply put, yes, they will need to know who their partner is before they choose to register. While some debate styles can be done individually, such as Congressional Debate or Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum (PF) requires that a team of two students faces another team of two students.

Some tournaments require students to register and compete only with another student from their same school. Other tournaments allow for “independent” entries, which means that students request to compete without any affiliation to their school. Civic Debate Academy students who opt to join the travel team, called the National Debate Club, would be considered independent.

Finding a partner is not a decision to be made lightly. This other student is one that your child will spend days traveling with, spend hours preparing with, win and lose with, and connect their academic and personal development with. It is usually in the best interest of each student to find a partner at a similar skill level so they can grow together.

A small note: if your child’s partner gets sick or injured during a tournament, your child generally won’t be allowed to compete individually at that specific tournament. They also will not be allowed to find a new partner if the tournament has already started.