What you get

Learn

Move at your own pace: Monday lessons, Wednesday scrims, steady feedback.

Mentorship Case-building Rebuttal craft

Compete

Most weekends on the East Coast. We cover registration, travel, and lodging.

APDA Novice friendly Break rounds

Belong

We debate ideas, not identities. Equity-first culture on and off the circuit.

CWs & opt-outs Accessibility Community
Read our Equity policy →

$0 to compete

What PDU covers

  • Registration fees
  • Transportation
  • Lodging

What you bring

  • Curiosity and a willingness to practice
  • Two evenings a week (when you can make it)
  • A notebook or laptop if you like - nothing special required
How joining works →

What a tournament weekend looks like

Friday evening
Travel + early rounds. Get settled with your partner and judge.
Saturday
Prelim rounds with feedback between speeches. Novices are supported the whole way.
Breaks
Top teams advance to elimination rounds. Everyone sticks around to watch and learn.
Back to NYC
Bus/train home with new cases, new friends, and notes to bring back to practice.
See tournament recaps → Interested in judging? →

Skills you’ll actually use

Clear thinking

Claim, warrant, impact - make your case and make it stick.

Fast analysis

Prioritize what matters: magnitude, probability, timeframe, reversibility.

Speaking under pressure

Structured delivery, calm pacing, and persuasive framing.

Teaming

Divide roles, manage prep, and build trust over a season.

Analysis Communication Leadership

Selection & partners (transparent)

We try to take everyone who’s ready. When spots are tight, recent participation helps us prioritize fairly. Partners are requested or assigned in person on a per-tournament basis - flexible and no hard commitments.

Attendance guidelines → How partners work →

Where we go

East Coast staples, especially great for first-timers:

Yale Princeton Harvard Columbia Boston College Rutgers UPenn

Leadership & mentorship

Board-run, student-led. You’ll get feedback every step - from case ideas to round tapes.

Meet the board → Contact us →

FAQs

Do I need experience?

No. Start with Monday lessons, try Wednesday scrims when you’re ready.

How much time does this take?

Two evenings a week, 7–9 PM. Travel is optional.

How do partners work?

Requested or assigned in person for each tournament - flexible and normal to switch.

Is judging an option?

Yes. It’s a huge help to the team and a great way to learn. Learn to judge →