Skip to main content
How It Works hero
In Person · Online · Championships

From Club Nightto Championship

In person or online. Build arguments under pressure. Get scored on the merits.

THE PROCESS

No experience needed. Watch one round. Train. Compete.

01

FIND AN EVENT

Browse what's coming up — in person or online. Pick one. Show up or join via video.

Browse Events
02

SIGN UP AND TRAIN

Thirty seconds to register. Training tools sharpen your reasoning before you go live.

Debater's Guide
03

WATCH OR COMPETE

Watch first if you want. When you debate, you're scored on the merits — not the applause.

How Scoring Works
04

STAY FOR THE PEOPLE

The people you train with become the people you know. Start a club, join one, or keep showing up.

Start a Club

YOUR FIRST CLUB MEETING

What happens in the first hour.

0:00Arrive and introductions
0:05Format walkthrough for newcomers
0:10Topic announced (or voted on)
0:15Debaters assigned (1v1 to 5v5)
0:20Prep time — debaters strategize, audience reviews the topic
0:30Debate round — speeches, questions, rebuttals
0:50Feedback — what worked, what to fix
0:55Second round if time allows, then open discussion

WHAT YOU'LL DEBATE

Some topics are announced ahead, some voted on by the room, some assigned on the spot. You might argue for something you believe — or against it.

COMMON QUESTIONS

First-timers always ask these. Here are the honest answers.

More questions? Visit the full FAQ

WHAT A DEBATE LOOKS LIKE

A standard round runs about 28 minutes. Organizers shape it — speech times, rounds, team sizes — to fit the night.

Phase
Who
Time

Opening Speech

Side A
5 min

Cross-Examination

Side B
3 min

Opening Speech

Side B
5 min

Cross-Examination

Side A
3 min

Rebuttal

Side A
3 min

Rebuttal

Side B
3 min

Closing Statement

Side A
3 min

Closing Statement

Side B
3 min
One common setup. Speech times, rounds, and team sizes flex to fit the event.~28 min

FOUR KNOBS ORGANIZERS TURN

Team Size

Solo debates, 2v2, 3v3, or any combination. No limit, asymmetric teams welcome.

Speech Length

2 to 10 minutes per speech. Short for casual rounds, long for championship depth.

Round Structure

Add or skip rounds to fit your event. Drop cross-examination for speed, add extra rebuttals for rigor.

Total Duration

15 minutes for a quick round. 60+ for a deep dive. The format scales to fit.

Want the full speech-by-speech breakdown with scoring criteria?

View Full Format Guide

WHERE IT GOES

Clubs are the starting line, not the finish.

CLUB NIGHTS

Weekly sessions in your city. Show up, debate, get better. This is where everyone starts.

CITY TOURNAMENTS

Compete against other clubs in your city. Cash prizes, live audiences, real stakes. Winners advance.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Regional and national stages, streamed with professional production. The best debaters in the country, competing for titles.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Find an event, start training, or build your own club.

New to debate? Read the Debater's Guide

How It Works | Super Debate Club