Middle School Open League
The New York City Middle School Debate League is the largest middle school debate league in the nation. We have also built several other local and regional parliamentary debate leagues. We offer the nation’s two largest debate formats of public forum debate and parliamentary debate. Each month we host a parliamentary and a public forum debate tournament.
Saturday Debate Tournaments
The New York City Middle School Debate League offers online middle school debate tournaments every month to league member schools.There are three rounds of debate for each student. We hope to return live as soon as possible.
NYC Middle School Debate League – Public Forum and Parliamentary Debate Tournaments
Typical Tournament Schedule
8:00am – 9:00am – Registration
9:30–Round 1
11:15 – Round 2
1:30 — Round 3
3pm — Awards
Public Forum Debate Division
Public Forum Debate is one of our newest debate formats and now one of our largest debate formats in the NYC Middle School Debate League. Each month a topic is voted on by coaches across the country. Students devote a month to study, research and write on that topic. The focus is more on persuading your audience – rather than the heavy evidence focus of policy debate. Public Forum Debate is also unique in that it was founded to be easily accessible for the “public” so that any one can serve as a “citizen judge” and any student can be a debater. The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Middle School National Championship includes the event of Public Forum Debate.
Parliamentary Debate
Parliamentary Debate is the largest and most popular debate format in the world as well as at the American collegiate level. Students learn more debate topics than any other debate format and unlike other debate formats – topics are determined by teachers and students. Parliamentary emphasizes extemporaneous and impromptu debate skills with limited preparation times and having to “think on your feet.” The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Middle School National Championship includes the event of World Schools.
Upcoming Tournaments
2024-2025 season will be announced in September!
Past Tournaments
April 13th Championship Tournament:
Location: Midwood High School
PF League Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
National Topic: Resolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.
March 2nd Tournament:
Location: Midwood High School
PF Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
Parli Topic: This House believes that graphic depictions of violence in media are wrong.
February 3rd Tournament:
Location: Online
PF Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should adopt a carbon tax.
Parli Topic Area: Employment. The full topic will be revealed the day of the tournament.
January 6th Tournament:
Location: Online
PF Topic: Resolved: New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
Parli Topic: Topic concentration: Consumerism. (Exact wording to be released on the day of the tournament)
December 2nd Tournament:
Location: Simon Baruch Middle School
PF Topic: Resolved: New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
Parli Topic: This House believes New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
November 4th Tournament:
Location: In-Tech Academy
PF Topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a universal mandatory national service program.
Parli Topic: This House would establish a mandatory national service program in the United States.
December 2nd Tournament:
Location: Simon Baruch Middle School
PF Topic: Resolved: New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.
Parli Topic: This House believes New York City should stop implementation of the Subway Safety Plan.