Judging – PHSSL

JUDGING RESOURCES

This short video (linked above) from the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) should give all judges an overview of the general concept of judging. It mentions that various levels of judge accreditations can be earned and links to those levels can be found on the same page as the video.

Judging Speech and Congress at the State Tournament 2026 The linked PowerPoint reviews some of the items discussed at the opening meeting on March 20.

Judging Debate at the State Tournament 2026. The linked document contains information about all of the debates and includes background information for judging debate in general.

PHSSL requires its judges to earn the NSDA Accreditation Level 1: Impartial Judge Training before judging at PHSSL-sponsored tournaments. In addition, judges are required to take the training that is specific for their event (Individual Events, Debate, Congress.) Detailed directions can be found by following this link.

JUDGING INTERP EVENTS – While this video addresses judging for a different league, it can offer you some insights about what to expect if you are judging interpretation events.

JUDGING DEBATE EVENTS – The material in this video was created for a novice tournament in western Pennsylvania, but the information should be helpful for all individuals asked to judge debate at a tournament.

BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH TABROOM.COM – Although this video was originally produced for student judges for a novice tournament in western Pennsylvania, it gives a step by step procedure of how to judge on Tabroom.com that all judges will find useful.

JUDGE HANDBOOK – The attached file is used by coaches and judges in western Pennsylvania to help everyone understand what is necessary for judging at a tournament. Directions start with how to prepare for the day and walk a judge all the way through every aspect of a tournament (judges’ lounge, lunch, Tabroom.com, etc.)). The descriptions that are given of each event are general enough to cover all three of our competition leagues.

CREATING A JUDGE PARADIGM ON TABROOM.COM – The attached PDF offers a few screenshots of what you need to look for on Tabroom.com when writing up your judging paradigm.