International Debating Championship

International Debating Championship (IDC)

International Debating Championships (or IDC) is designed to provide quality debating training and tournaments for Australian and International schools. With a goal to develop students’ public speaking skills, analytical ability, and general knowledge. The tournament will be conducted online via Zoom, on Friday nights during term 4 of NSW school term each year. IDC is adjudicated by qualified and experienced university debating adjudicators.

It is open to students from year 5 to year 10 across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The tournament is divided into three divisions: Primary (year 5-6), Junior (year 7-8), and Senior (Year 9-10). Each school can register multiple teams per division.

IDC Highlights

In IDC 2020, the champions are Leaders Academic, Knox Grammar School and Reddam House in primary, junior and senior division respectively. In IDC 2021, the champion of the primary division is Kambala School and Nanyang Girls’ High School is the champion of both Junior and Senior division.

Debating format, preparation and speaking time

IDC tournaments use the Australian-Asian debating format. Each debate comprises six speeches delivered by two teams of three members, representing the affirmative and negative sides. Preparation time for Primary division is one hour; 45 minutes for Junior and Senior division. Each speech duration differs according to the division.

Division	Preparation time	Speaking time
Primary (year 5-6)	1 hour	2-4 minutes
Junior (year 7-8)	45 minutes	3-5 minutes
Senior (year 9-10)	45 minutes	4-6 minutes

Role of each speaker

• First speaker of the affirmative team

The role of the first speaker is to open the case of the affirmative. In other words, provide a model or definition to present and support the motion of their side.

• First speaker of the negative team

Their duty is to rebut the arguments given by the affirmative, to show why it isn’t or can’t be true what the other side has claimed. They can either give a counter-case regarding that motion or try to argue against the motion.

• Second speakers of both teams (affirmative or negative)

Their role is to rebut the arguments given by the other side, and defend your first speaker's case, as well as making new arguments.

• Third speakers of both teams (affirmative or negative)

The third speakers must identify clashes or themes of the debate. As this position is also called the “rebuttal-speaker”, their main objective is to prove false of the other team. They should summarise and defend their team’s case.

Information on preparation

1. Both the affirmative and negative teams will be placed into breakout rooms for preparation. Participants will remain on mute with their cameras OFF for the entire duration of preparation and must not contact the opposing team.
2. Teams may only have their three speakers, optional silent fourth speaker acting as team advisor present during the preparation in their designated breakout room. The adjudicator and other authorised spectators will then be added to the room when preparation time has elapsed, and the debate will then take place.
3. If all team members are not located physically in the same place, teams are encouraged to use an alternate means of communication such as a group video call on a device outside of Zoom during the preparation. Teams are also permitted to use online collaboration documents such as Google Docs to construct their case.
4. Any use of external materials, any of the online resources about the topic is prohibited. Any contact with anyone outside the participant’s team, this includes teachers and coaches is not allowed. Cheating will not be tolerated.

Composition of teams, rules and regulations

Each team must have a minimum of three members with a maximum of five. Students may only debate once in each round, failure to comply will result in a forfeit. Students must debate in the same team and in the same division for the entire competition. Only students registered and listed on the draw can compete.

Before each round of the tournament

The draw with the finalised team matchups will be available at 9:00am (AEDT) on the Monday of the week of each round. Adjudicator allocation will be finalised closer to time of each debate.

Debate rules and regulations

1. During the debate, cameras must remain ON and microphones are OFF for all participants. The adjudicator will instruct you to unmute yourself prior to your speech delivery.
2. You can continue using your group video call or any alternate communication platform to discuss with your teammates during the debate.
3. The adjudicator will act as a chairperson and timekeeper for the round. Speakers are also allowed to time their own speech with a stop-watch.

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