Speech and Debate
Take Your Talents to the Next Level
Welcome to the Professional Speech and Debate Association!
Our mission is to make speech and debate the most popular extra-curricular activity in the world.
If you're looking to improve your public speaking skills or become a top-notch debater, you've come to the right place. Our tournaments are held on Saturdays and Sundays and are designed to be easy to fit into your schedule, lasting just 8 hours or less.
Whether you're a seasoned debater or new to the scene, our tournaments offer a challenging and rewarding opportunity to hone your skills. Follow the link below to view our tournament invitation and sign up to participate in our next event. We welcome competitors of all ages and levels and can't wait to see you in action!
Next Tournament:
Saturday February 3rd, 2024 - Speech and SPAR
Sunday February 4th, 2024 - Debate and Congress
Become a Professional
Build Confidence
Speech anxiety is a common fear that can hold you back from reaching your full potential. By competing in PSDA tournaments, you'll have the opportunity to overcome that fear and earn rewards such as trophies, accolades, and cash prizes for your hard work.
Develop Skills
Whether you choose to work on your own or with a coach, PSDA tournaments provide a platform for you to identify specific skills such as delivery or argumentation and continuously refine them.
Earn Recognition
At the end of every tournament, you'll have the chance to earn accolades at an awards ceremony, which can be added to your personal resume as definitive proof of your competence as a communicator and critical thinker. Results from tournaments are also archived online for posterity, so you can always look back on your achievements.
The Professional Speech and Debate Association (PSDA) serves students of all ages, from 7 to 70. We believe that public speaking, performance, argumentation, and critical thinking skills are important at any age, and we strive to provide learning opportunities for people of all ages to develop these skills.
Whether you are an individual looking to test your skills against others or a public speaking coach seeking places for your students to compete, the PSDA can provide a unique platform for personal enrichment. We welcome adults and children alike to join us and take advantage of the many resources and opportunities we offer.
So if you're looking to develop your skills in public speaking and debate, or if you're a coach looking for a place for your students to compete, the PSDA is the place for you. Join us today and start on the path to personal enrichment and success!
Tournaments for All Ages
Why choose PSDA?
Large number of third-party judges: Our judges are carefully selected to provide fair evaluations and attendees have the option to buy out of their judging obligations or provide their own judges.
Separate days for speech and debate events: Students may enter up to three speech events (such as Original Oratory/Persuasive, Informative, Declamation, Impromptu, Duo Interpretation, Poetry, Storytelling, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Prose, Storytelling, Declamation, Expository, Impromptu, Informative, Original Oratory, and Extemporaneous) on Saturday and one debate event (such as Public Forum, SPAR, Congress, or Lincoln Douglas) on Sunday.
Drop lowest rank: Speech competitors will drop their lowest rank, giving them more flexibility and a better chance at success.
High quality feedback from professional judges: Our judges provide detailed and constructive feedback to help competitors improve their skills.
Cash prizes: The PSDA offers cash prizes for the professional division, giving the most experienced competitors an incentive to continue competing.
Never miss a tournament
Never miss a tournament
PSDA Sponsors
Hired Judge
As a key sponsor and founding partner of the Professional Speech and Debate Association (PSDA), Hired Judge is dedicated to providing top-quality adjudication solutions for all levels and forms of speech and debate. We are proud to be the exclusive source of judges for the PSDA, and with a pool of over 1700 judges across the world, we are confident that we can provide you with the best judges for your event.
Whether you're a tournament director in need of judges or a coach looking to hire judges, we've got you covered. And if you're a judge looking for opportunities, we've got you covered too! Simply register with us and begin receiving judging opportunities right away. There's no obligation to accept every job that comes your way - you can choose the ones that best fit your schedule and interests.
Thank you for considering Hired Judge for your judging needs. We look forward to working with you and helping you make your speech and debate event a success. Click the link below to learn more about our services and how we can help you.