ALPHABET OF DEBATE
The competitions our team attends fall under the governance of four organizations: the NFL, TFA, UIL, and TOC.
NATIONAL FORENSIC LEAGUE (NFL)
The NFL is one of the oldest national honor societies in America. When students earn their membership, they join former presidents, successful lawyers and judges, celebrities (such as Oprah Winfrey), journalists, business pioneers, and many others who have excelled in professional life. The NFL awards points to students who compete in tournaments and gives degrees as they acquire new levels of status in their debate careers. (See the enclosed flyer for more details as to how NFL points are earned.) Students earn points every time they compete, win or lose, because the organization believes in rewarding participation and effort. The NFL sponsors a novice tournament in the fall and holds district tournaments throughout the United States in April, winners of which advance to the NFL National Championship in June. This organization determines debate topics and sets the rules for competition.
TEXAS FORENSIC ASSSOCIATION (TFA)
TFA tournaments are hosted across the state from August through February. These tournaments follow NFL rules and use NFL debate topics. When students advance past preliminary rounds at these tournaments they earn points to qualify for the TFA State Championship in March. To qualify for State, a student must accumulate a total of eight TFA points in varsity divisions. (See the enclosed flyer for more details as to how TFA points are earned.) Nearly all tournaments attended by Austin High are governed by the TFA. Qualifying for TFA State should be a goal for all students.
UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE (UIL)
Founded at the University of Texas, the UIL oversees high school athletic and academic competitions across the state. This is the organization with which most parents and administrators are familiar; however, in Texas debate circles, the TFA State Championship is more sought after. The UIL hosts a district meet each spring, and the top three students in each event advance to the regional tournament. The top three at regionals then advance to the UIL State Meet held at UT-Austin in May. The UIL does not follow the same rules/style or use the same topics as any other competition we go to throughout the year. Students are required to adjust to a different format than what they are used to and must prepare separate materials. Our students, though, adapt well. Students who qualify for UIL State may be eligible for several scholarships to Texas colleges.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (TOC)
This is the most sought after accomplishment in debate. The TOC for LD & CX is held in early May in Kentucky, and the TOC for extemp is held in late May in Chicago. This championship brings together the most elite debaters on the national circuit to compete against each other. Along with NFL Nationals, this tournament determines who’s who in debate. To qualify, students must earn two “bids” at select tournaments. Bids are earned by making it to designated elimination rounds, such as octofinals at Greenhill, St. Mark’s, Glenbrooks, or Berkeley; semifinals at Grapevine or UT-Austin; and finals at Colleyville or Churchill. Tournaments designated as TOC qualifiers are considered to be the most challenging offered during the debate season due to the high level of talent they attract and their expert judging pools.
NATIONAL FORENSIC LEAGUE (NFL)
The NFL is one of the oldest national honor societies in America. When students earn their membership, they join former presidents, successful lawyers and judges, celebrities (such as Oprah Winfrey), journalists, business pioneers, and many others who have excelled in professional life. The NFL awards points to students who compete in tournaments and gives degrees as they acquire new levels of status in their debate careers. (See the enclosed flyer for more details as to how NFL points are earned.) Students earn points every time they compete, win or lose, because the organization believes in rewarding participation and effort. The NFL sponsors a novice tournament in the fall and holds district tournaments throughout the United States in April, winners of which advance to the NFL National Championship in June. This organization determines debate topics and sets the rules for competition.
TEXAS FORENSIC ASSSOCIATION (TFA)
TFA tournaments are hosted across the state from August through February. These tournaments follow NFL rules and use NFL debate topics. When students advance past preliminary rounds at these tournaments they earn points to qualify for the TFA State Championship in March. To qualify for State, a student must accumulate a total of eight TFA points in varsity divisions. (See the enclosed flyer for more details as to how TFA points are earned.) Nearly all tournaments attended by Austin High are governed by the TFA. Qualifying for TFA State should be a goal for all students.
UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE (UIL)
Founded at the University of Texas, the UIL oversees high school athletic and academic competitions across the state. This is the organization with which most parents and administrators are familiar; however, in Texas debate circles, the TFA State Championship is more sought after. The UIL hosts a district meet each spring, and the top three students in each event advance to the regional tournament. The top three at regionals then advance to the UIL State Meet held at UT-Austin in May. The UIL does not follow the same rules/style or use the same topics as any other competition we go to throughout the year. Students are required to adjust to a different format than what they are used to and must prepare separate materials. Our students, though, adapt well. Students who qualify for UIL State may be eligible for several scholarships to Texas colleges.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (TOC)
This is the most sought after accomplishment in debate. The TOC for LD & CX is held in early May in Kentucky, and the TOC for extemp is held in late May in Chicago. This championship brings together the most elite debaters on the national circuit to compete against each other. Along with NFL Nationals, this tournament determines who’s who in debate. To qualify, students must earn two “bids” at select tournaments. Bids are earned by making it to designated elimination rounds, such as octofinals at Greenhill, St. Mark’s, Glenbrooks, or Berkeley; semifinals at Grapevine or UT-Austin; and finals at Colleyville or Churchill. Tournaments designated as TOC qualifiers are considered to be the most challenging offered during the debate season due to the high level of talent they attract and their expert judging pools.