Individual tournament hosts have the final say on the operation of their tournaments. They select topics, judging requirements, and may even adjust the format of debates. We encourage tournament hosts to communicate clearly in their invitations. While not officially incorporated into the UDCA, you may also find guidance on more technical issues by consulting the NSDA.
Elementary & Middle School Events
Rules/Times
Middle School Policy
Middle School Policy (CX) Speech Times
- First Affirmative Constructive (1AC) – 5 min
- Cross-Examination (CX) – 2 min
- First Negative Constructive (1NC) – 5 min
- Cross-Examination (CX) – 2 min
- Second Affirmative Constructive (2AC) – 5 min
- Cross-Examination (CX) – 2 min
- Second Negative Constructive (2NC) – 5 min
- Cross-Examination (CX) – 2 min
- First Negative Rebuttal (1NR) – 3 min
- First Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR) – 3 min
- Second Negative Rebuttal (2NR) – 3 min
- Second Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR) – 3 min
3 minutes of prep per team to use as they like.
Middle School LD
- Affirmative Constructive – 4 min
- CX – 2 min
- Negative Constructive – 5 min
- CX – 2 min
- First Affirmative Rebuttal – 2 min
- Negative Rebuttal – 3 min
- Second Affirmative Rebuttal – 2 min
3 minutes of prep per student to use as they like.
Elementary School PF
- First Pro Speaker (Case) – 3 min
- First Con Speaker (Case) – 3 min
- Second Pro Speaker (Response) – 3 min
- Second Con Speaker (Response) – 3 min
- First Con Speaker (Summary) – 2 min
- First Pro Speaker (Summary) – 2 min
- Second Con Speaker (Final Focus) – 2 min
- Second Pro Speaker (Final Focus) – 2 min
2 minutes of prep per team to use as they like.
Speech Events
Original Oratory (OO)
Original oratory would be a 6-8 minute memorized speech for middle school and a 4-minute memorized speech for elementary of original content that is intended to persuade (i.e., you should recycle more).
Informative Speaking (IS)
Informative speaking for elementary is a 4-minute memorized speech for elementary of original content that is intended to inform (i.e., this is what happens during the recycling process).
Extemporaneous Speaking (EX)
Extemporaneous Speaking, typically called “extemp,” is a speech on current events with limited preparation time and is currently only offered in middle school. Students are presented with a choice of three questions related to national and international current events. The student has 20 minutes to prepare a 4-minute speech answering the selected question. Students may consult articles and evidence they gather prior to the contest, but may not use the Internet during preparation.