Auxiliary Competitions and Qualifying: Part 1
When you’re first getting into Speech and Debate, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of information you’re bombarded with. Like, what do you mean there are 50,000 different circuits that all have different ways of qualifying for their respective major tournaments? In the midst of all this confusion, it’s also easy to lose sight of the numerous systems put in place to help competitors succeed and gain experience in Speech and Debate. In fact, the majority of Speech and Debate participants still have no clue about these resources, even after being part of this program for years. But we’re here to help you! Here’s A Seat at the Table’s guide to lesser known opportunities to reach your most competitive self! This will be a two-part series in which we will discuss 1) extra opportunities to compete and 2) alternative methods to qualify for and attend tournaments.
The first lesser-known/taken-advantage-of opportunity for students to compete is the NSDA Online Springboard Series. This is a collection of virtual Speech and Debate tournaments, hosted by the NSDA itself, to offer students more opportunities to practice their skills through low-stakes tournaments throughout the competition season. These tournaments are basically scrimmages for speakers and debaters, allowing them accessible practice opportunities to receive feedback while getting used to the tournament atmosphere. Registration for each tournament is completely free-of-charge, and every tournament is hosted online, allowing students to expand their network outside of local bounds and experience Speech and Debate as it is across the nation. At the very end of the season, Springboard hosts the Last Chance Qualifier as the end to their series, which will be expanded upon in the sequel to this article. Regardless, the Springboard Series is an amazing way for novices and experienced competitors alike to gain more experience in Speech and Debate.
Another (more unconventional) way for students to hone their Speech and Debate skills is through external speaking and debating competitions. The type of competitions I am referring to operate outside of the typical circuits we imagine as members of the NSDA; now, I am referring to competitions that operate as independent entities that build communities on the basis of one tournament itself. Some examples of these declamation and debate competitions are the Coolidge Cup, the American Legion Oratorical Contest, and the NAACP ACT-SO Competition. Despite these competitions being noticeably different in nature and execution from our typical Speech and Debate tournaments, students are still encouraged to exercise and refine the same skills that are necessary within our classic circuit, offering them opportunities to practice and expand their skills in different areas while actually seeing the versatility of said skills in a variety of situations (while possibly earning scholarships and cash prizes from their participation in these competitions).
The last, but certainly not least, accessible opportunity for students to compete is the NSDA Digital Speech and Debate e-Championship. Despite only being in its second year of action, this new initiative—spearheaded by the NSDA and UKTOC—emphasizes both organizations’ dedication to equity. The Digital e-Championship is a cost-effective, virtual national tournament that allows underprivileged students the opportunity to compete on the national circuit and potentially win a national title. This competition allows underprivileged competitors an opportunity to circumvent the high bills that often accompany these national tournaments. Furthermore, the qualification method for this tournament is just as accessible; in order to qualify for the e-Championship, you can meet any of the following requirements: have one TOC bid, have 500 NSDA Honor Society Points, be an Urban Debate Nationals Qualifier, be an All-State/Festival Outstanding Performer, be an NSDA Tournament Qualifier, be an NCFL Tournament Qualifier, be a NIETOC Tournament Qualifier, or be a State Tournament Champion.
It is clear that 2+ years of online competition finally helped the Speech and Debate community realize the positive impact that accessibility has on the quality of this activity. So many of the most incredible competitors we have had in the past four years wouldn’t have been able to be a part of this amazing circuit if opportunities like online tournaments hadn’t been available to them, offering them opportunities to not only improve but to help their voices reach broader audiences. The only thing left is for us competitors to take advantage of these opportunities and use them to maximize the benefits we reap from Speech and Debate throughout and far beyond our careers!
