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Be Ready for Your First Tournament!

Tournaments represent a big investment of time and preparation, and we want it to be a great experience for you. Please make sure you’re ready by learning about the required preparation steps.

Get Started

  • Step 1: Account Setup

    Participating in tournaments starts with making sure that your family is affiliated with NCFCA for the current season and that you have set up account information and profiles for each family member who will participate. Click the button below for instructions. 

    Advance to Step 2 to learn how to request registration for a tournament.

    Account Setup InstructionsAffiliate for the season

  • Step 2: Registration

    Families must request registration for each tournament they plan to attend. Pay close attention to the deadlines in the information tabs of your dashboard and in our weekly emails. 

    You will not be asked to pay until your registration is confirmed at the end of the registration window, approximately four weeks prior to the start of the tournament. Click the button below for instructions. 

    Advance to Step 3 to learn how the payment process works.

    Registration InstructionsRegistration Fees & Policies

  • Step 3: Payment

    Once your registration is confirmed, you will have a short window of time to log in to your dashboard shopping cart and pay the registration fees. You will also have the opportunity to purchase meals for your family.

    Be sure to check your dashboard for reminders and watch for text and email communications so that you don’t miss the payment window! Click the button below for instructions. 

    Advance to Step 4 to learn about the required check-in process shortly before each tournament.

    Payment Instructions

  • Step 4: Check-in

    A few days prior to the tournament, you will be asked to check in, as you would for an airline flight. This process is essential for a smooth start. 

    WARNING: Failure to check in will result in cancellation of your registration, so don’t miss the window! Click the button below for instructions. 

    Check-in Process Instructions

Important Resources & Tools

Here are some links that will help you find additional information you may want before you arrive.

Full Resource ListNeed help? See who to contact.

Tournament Prep FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about competing in tournaments.

  • What are Regions?

    Regions are assigned by the geographical location of the billing address used at the time of affiliation. Once affiliated, if you would like to reassign to a region other than the one prescribed, please email gro.ACFCNobfsctd-539058@eciffO.

    Reassignment must be processed prior to November 1 or prior to registering for any qualifying competition. Reassignment after initial qualifying competition will not be approved.

  • What are the different kinds of tournaments?

    NCFCA offers a number of tournament opportunities for students to hone their analytical and oratorical skills both online and onsite. Dates, locations, and events offered for each tournament will be posted on the NCFCA website this fall.

    Regional or District Qualifying Tournament

    A regional or district qualifying tournament is a multi-day event open to eligible competitors within their region or district and offers six preliminary rounds of debate, three preliminary rounds of speech, and elimination rounds for both speech and debate. Students advancing to elimination rounds earn an invitation to the Regional Championship.

    National Qualifying Tournament

    A national qualifying tournament is a multi-day event open to eligible competitors from all regions that may include any combination of events, any of which will offer full preliminary (six debate/three speech) and elimination rounds. Students advancing to elimination rounds earn an invitation to their Regional Championship and top competitors in each event earn an invitation directly to the National Championship.

    Regional Championship

    A Regional Championship is a multi-day event open to competitors within a region who have earned an invitation through a qualifying tournament. Top competitors in each event earn an invitation to the National Championship.

    National Championship

    The National Championship is open to competitors who have received invitations through a national qualifying tournament, Regional Championship, or the National At-Large System.