Highlighting Our High School Academic Team Achievements | TFS Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Speech and Debate

Competitions

National Catholic Forensics League (NCFL)

The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) is a civics-based speech and debate series designed for middle and high school students. It focuses on debate formats, persuasive speaking, and civic issues, encouraging students to analyze policies and engage in meaningful discussions. Students can participate both individually and as teams in a series of events that progress from fall invitationals and regionals to the FCDI State Championship in the spring. While regionals and national tournaments like the National Civic Debate Championship (NCDC) do not require qualification, entry to the state tournament depends on factors such as regional attendance and placement. The season runs from fall through spring, with preparation opportunities including workshops, classroom coaching, and local tournaments. Students have the chance to earn statewide honors and invitations to national debate competitions. Overall, FCDI promotes civic engagement, persuasive communication, and student advocacy by equipping young people with the skills to participate actively in democracy.

Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI)

The National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) is a speech and debate competition open to middle and high school students, focusing on various debate styles including Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Congressional debate, as well as speech and interpretation events. Students participate individually or in pairs, with entries submitted through diocesan-level qualifiers. The competition season runs from fall through May, featuring fall invitationals, spring qualifiers, and culminating in the Grand Nationals held over Memorial Day weekend. While middle school students can compete in invitationals and qualifiers, they are not eligible to attend the national tournament. Preparation opportunities include league events and NSDA-style practice rounds to help students hone their skills. Participants can earn national titles, team awards, and gain National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) points. The NCFL provides an inclusive national platform that supports high-level speech and debate competition for students from all school types.

Florida Forensics League (FFL)

The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) is the country’s largest national speech and debate circuit, welcoming middle and high school students to compete in various formats including Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional debate, speech, interpretation, and extemporaneous speaking. Participants enter as individuals or partners, with their progress tracked through a points system earned at local and regional tournaments, leading to a District Qualifier and the NSDA National Tournament held each June. Unlike some leagues, middle school students can compete at the national level without needing to qualify. The competition season runs from fall through summer, offering extensive preparation opportunities such as weekly coaching, invitational tournaments, and national camps. Students can earn national titles, honor society rankings, and speaker awards. The NSDA aims to develop public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership skills through a comprehensive and supportive competitive environment.

National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA)

The Florida Forensic League (FFL) is a statewide speech and debate competition open to both middle and high school students, covering all events recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), including debate, speech, and interpretation. Students participate individually or as teams through their schools, competing in spring Novice, Middle, and Varsity State Championships. While middle school students can attend all three championships, it is recommended they focus on the novice and middle school levels, whereas high school students compete primarily in novice and varsity leagues. The FFL does not require qualification for participation and does not host regional or national tournaments. The competition season runs from fall through spring, with preparation through FFL invitationals, NSDA-affiliated events, and club practices. Students can earn state championship titles and accumulate points that contribute to NSDA and NCFL qualifications. The FFL serves as Florida’s core competitive speech and debate organization, offering students a solid foundation and clear pathways toward national-level competition and success.

Interested? Join our channel on Microsoft Teams!

What We Do

Speech and debate offers countless opportunities for middle and high school participants to grow as public speakers, debaters, and critical thinkers. It also opens doors to scholarships, academic recognition, and a nationwide community of peers and mentors.