League Policies

1. A. General Debate Rules

   Updated August 4, 2026. See a summary of rule changes here. All rules will be finalized by the end of October for the 2026-27 competition season.

   1. Mission Alignment. Speeches must be in alignment with the NCFCA mission statement. Any speech content that advocates a position counter to the Foundational Beliefs of the league will not be allowed in competition.
      1. Content. All content (including rhetoric and evidence) must be free from vulgar, heinous, sexually explicit, obscene, profane, or inappropriate material. This includes explicit and implied language or gestures.
      2. Disclaimer. Any debate speech that will contain potentially intense or sensitive themes or examples must be preceded by this disclaimer: “The debate content in the next speech contains potentially intense or sensitive material.”  The speaker should then allow any time necessary for audience members to exit the room if they choose.
      3. Style. Delivery should be civil and comprehensible.
   2. Visual Aids. Exhibits or visual aids are not permitted.
   3. Interaction.
      1. With opposing team. Debaters may not interact with the opposing team while a speaker is presenting except for evidence exchange initiated by the speaker.
      2. With judges. Debaters may not discuss the substance of the round with the judge(s) outside of their own assigned speaking times in the round.
      3. With other individuals. Debaters may not request verbal or physical participation from audience members during the round. Individuals not debating in the round may not attempt to communicate with the debaters during the round or influence the outcome of a round in any way.
      4. With partner. Debaters may not communicate with their partner in any way while the partner is presenting.
   4. Electronic Devices. Debaters may use electronic devices during the round but may not use them to research or to request, send, or receive information during the debate round with the exception of evidence exchange and communication between partners during online tournaments as permitted by the rules.

   B. Academic Integrity 

   1. PRESENT IN THE ROUND. Evidence referenced in the round must be present in the round as either a cut and formatted evidence card or as part of a complete print source and be available by opponents and/or the judge(s).
      1. Cut and formatted evidence card. (See examples)
         1. Prior preparation. Evidence presented in the round must be compiled, cut, and formatted prior to the start of the round.
         2. Original wording. Words may not be added to or subtracted from an author’s sentence.
         3. Context.
            1. Present. Evidence must contain enough context to verify its adherence to the author’s intent.
            2. Readable. If evidence includes words that are formatted to indicate that they are not intended to be read aloud in the round, those words must remain easily readable.
      2. Evidence from a complete print source.
         1. Complete. Evidence presented directly from a print source must be present in its entirety with the debater during the round.
         2. Marked. Pages containing the cited segment must be bookmarked. The cited segment must be marked with pen, pencil, highlighter, and/or adhesive labels.
         3. Readable. The marked segment must be clearly readable.
   2. CITATIONS. Evidence referenced in the round must contain a full citation, including source and date. (Common knowledge known to most people does not need to be cited in any way.)
      1. Printed citation.
         1. Source. The printed source citation requires the following items: title of publication or website, URL (or page number for a printed source), article title if applicable, and author (or publisher if there is no author).
         2. Date. The date includes the date first published if available, the date updated if applicable, and the date accessed if a publication date is not available.
      2. Verbal citation. Sources for evidence presented in the round must be verbally mentioned in the delivery of the speech.
      3. Verifiability. Sources for evidence must be verifiable via public means.
   3. CONTENT. Evidence distortion and/or fabrication is prohibited.

   C. Team Policy Evidence Exchange 

   1. Evidence and plan sharing. Debaters may request any evidence and the policy plan presented in the round from the opposing team, and judges may request these from either team.
   2. Debater requests.
      1. Timing. Debaters must only request the material during their own speech, cross-examination, or prep time.
      2. Manner. Requests must be verbal.
      3. Type. At in-person tournaments, a hard copy must be provided. In online tournaments, the online evidence exchange rules must be followed.
   3. Judge requests. Judges may only request the material after the conclusion of the round by following the Evidence Review Guidelines for Judges.
   4. Evidence and plan provision.
      1. To opponents. The requested material must be promptly provided at the first opportunity to the opposing team.
      2. To judges.
         1. Each team must provide its own material to the judge when requested.
         2. Each team may only share material presented in the round.
         3. Competitors must avoid prolonged conversation and politely refer the judges to go through Tournament Administration if there is any confusion or the judge requests more than 2 pieces of evidence.
      3. Academic integrity. Evidence provided must fully adhere to all NCFCA Debate Academic Integrity Rules (see Section B above).

   D. Timekeeping and Speaker Order 

   1. ROUND. Debaters must be present and ready to begin promptly for each round. Debaters arriving 15 minutes late risk forfeiture of the round.
   2. TIMEPIECE. Speakers must provide their own timepieces. The timepiece must count down and have an audible alarm.
   3. TIMEKEEPER.
      1. For speeches. Speakers who are presenting will time their own speeches.
      2. For cross-examination. The speaker asking questions will time cross-examination.
      3. For prep time. Teams will track their own prep time and must report their remaining prep time to the judge(s) and opposing team at the conclusion of each prep time.
   4. SPEAKER ORDER & TIMES. The speaking order, assigned speakers, and times must be observed.
      1. Order. Switching the speaking order between partners (in-and-out speaking) is not permitted.
      2. Cross-examination. Speakers must each participate in their assigned cross-examination roles.
      3. Prep time. Up to five minutes of preparation time may be used by each team throughout the round prior to their constructive and rebuttal speeches. Prep time may not be used immediately before cross-examination.
      4. Speaking Time. Speakers may not turn off the alarm and continue speaking.

   E. Online General Rules (see below or https://ncfca.org/rules/debate-online-tournament-rules)

   F. Online Rules for Evidence (see below or https://ncfca.org/rules/debate-online-tournament-rules)

   Click here for the full list of definitions used in the debate rules. https://ncfca.org/compete/debate/definitions/#definitions

   Share This Page