Judging with the Yosemite Forensic League

February 27, 2026 - 12:00pm to February 28, 2026 - 12:00pm

Support your local speech and debate league!

Empower young people to research, discuss, and deliberate over important and timely issues. Anyone can judge, so whether or not you have done speech and debate, competitors are looking for your opinions and feedback.

Sign Up and Info Below

What is Speech and Debate?

According to the National Speech and Debate Association, "speech and debate is a co-curricular activity that empowers young people to research, discuss, and deliberate over important and timely issues. At every tournament, students present their ideas before judges, ranging from parents and community leaders to alumni and educators, and strive to persuade through logic, evidence and style."

Find out more about the National Speech and Debate Association →

Event Details

Where and When?

Location:

Turlock High School

Dates:

Friday, February 27, 2026
Saturday, February 28, 2026

Lunch will be provided both days!

Who Are We Looking For?

Anyone can judge! Whether or not you have done speech and debate, competitors are looking for your opinions and feedback. The CEC is able to host informational trainings to have you tournament ready.

Not required but preferred:

Previous speech and debate familiarity
Proficiency in English
Willingness to learn

What Will You Be Doing?

All participants grow by doing speech and debate. Students and adults alike will be exposed to new ideas, speaking styles, and develop critical thinking skills in fast paced environments.

All high school extra curriculars, both athletic and academic, thrive on volunteer support. By volunteering your time and education, you may provide higher quality experiences that can enable competitors to compete farther.

During tournaments, volunteer judges will:

Spend the day attending rounds
Efficiently rank competitors
Write feedback for students to receive after the tournament

Don't worry! Students are highly self-sufficient and typically ready for judges with any level of familiarity with speech and debate. They are competing to be the best most consistently, so don't worry too much about being an outlier in your judging. They will be able to run their own rounds with little to no help. It is only up to you to provide your rankings. Regardless, we will make sure you are ready to help the tournament run smoothly.

Informational Trainings

You may ask for an informational training on Thursday from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM. If this time does not work for you, we can find another!

Judge Resources:

Access our comprehensive judge training guide:

View Judge Resources

Note: You do not need to become an expert with all the provided resources before the tournament. The most important materials will be covered in informational trainings. You may always refer back to this guide during the tournament.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Join us in supporting the next generation of critical thinkers and effective communicators. Your feedback and time will help students grow and compete farther.

Sign Up to Judge Visit the CEC