World Schools Debating League - Round 1
WHAT IS WSDL?
The World Schools Debating League is the largest and most diverse debating league in the world. In total, 80+ schools from 14 countries and territories, from Pakistan to Japan, have participated in WSDL over the last five years.
WSDL Asia is held online and open to high school students from 21 countries and territories around Asia. Preliminary rounds take place on selected Sundays with the top teams invited to Finals Day near the end of the school year.
Winners of the Finals Day will be crowned World Schools Debating League Champions.
FORMAT
World Schools Debate Format: 8 minute speeches, 30 minutes prep time.
All rounds are impromptu.
Teams of 3-7 debaters per school with 3 debaters participating in any given round; maximum 2 teams per school.
4 Qualification Days of 3 Rounds Per Day - 15 total rounds are scheduled across 4 days between November - April, allowing schools to account for holidays and other tournaments and events.
Scoring - One (1) point is awarded to a team after each win. Top qualifying teams will proceed to Finals Day in April, 2025. The higher your team's point total, the better your seed in the Finals Day knock-out tournament will be.
Finals Day will feature Open and Junior (15 and under) breaks.
JUDGES
World Schools Debating League's CAP (Chief Adjudicator's Panel) is staffed by some of the world's most decorated and experienced debaters, including former Asian and Australasian champions.
After each round, students get results and individual feedback from some of Asia's most experienced debate judges.
SCHEDULING
If teams cannot make a certain day, due to scheduling conflicts or school holiday, etc. they simply elect not to participate in that day's qualifying rounds and miss the opportunity to gain three valuable points.
However, attending each Qualification Day is not necessary. Schools may elect to attend 2 or 3 out of the 4 possible days.
Tip: the more Qualification Days your team attends, the more points you are likely to accumulate.
ROUND 1: Sunday, November 17th
ROUND 2: Sunday January 5th
ROUND 3: Sunday, February 9th
ROUND 4: Sunday, March 9th
FINALS DAY: Sunday, April 27th
FINALS DAY
Finals Day is a knockout style tournament for the top 16 Qualifying Teams. Teams will be seeded 1 - 16, based on preliminary round team points and speaker points.
Finals Day is free of charge to all qualifying teams.
PRIZES
The entire registered team who wins the World School Debating League Championships on Finals Day will receive:
Scholarships towards future debate training worth $6,588 USD.
$3,588 towards Elite-level training at LearningLeaders.
$2,500 towards attending Debate Camp Cambridge in July, 2025.
Two 1-on-1 training sessions with an Elite-level LearningLeaders Coach (value: $500)
All Finals Day-qualifying teams will receive:
Scholarships towards future debate training worth $1,897 USD.
$897 towards Elite-level training at LearningLeaders.
$750 towards attending Debate Camp Cambridge in July, 2025.
One 1-on-1 training session with an Elite-level LearningLeaders Coach (value: $250)
QUESTIONS?
Email us at hello@learningleaders.com
Learn more about Debate Camp Cambridge at www.debatecampcambridge.com
Learn more about Cambridge Asia British Parliamentary Debate Championships at www.cabpdebate.com
Learn more about LearningLeaders at www.learningleaders.com