Our local circuit
WASDL brings area schools together for regular-season tournaments and Metro Finals. It gives Cooper debaters a consistent place to research, practice, compete, and grow with students from across the region.
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WASDL · NSDA
Calendar, volunteer judges, partner sign-ups, and everything families need to know
2026–2027 Season
WASDL season basics, Public Forum format, and tournament-day guidance for Cooper families.
New to the circuit?
Cooper competes in the Washington Area Speech and Debate League (WASDL), a regional, all-volunteer circuit where middle school students from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. debate current issues throughout the season.
WASDL brings area schools together for regular-season tournaments and Metro Finals. It gives Cooper debaters a consistent place to research, practice, compete, and grow with students from across the region.
Middle School Public Forum is a two-on-two format focused on current events and public policy. Teams prepare to argue both PRO and CON, using clear explanations, credible evidence, and persuasive reasoning.
Debate develops research, critical thinking, confident communication, teamwork, and the ability to explain a complex issue to a general audience.
A Public Forum round at a glance
A full round typically takes about 35 minutes, plus preparation time.
Plan the day
Students check in with their coaches. Parent volunteers meet with the judges.
Students participate in up to four Public Forum rounds, with lunch and breaks on-site. Judges receive lunch and coffee.
Awards begin at 5:30 PM, and the tournament typically wraps up by 6:00 PM.
Good to know: Tournament length may vary by event as WASDL continues to coordinate middle school sites and dates. It is a long day—but an energetic, inspiring, and memorable one.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
9:00–11:30 AM Check-in at 8:30 AM
A short training session for new and experienced coaches, parents, and other volunteers. Cooper volunteers will attend the Public Forum Debate Breakout Session.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
7:30–8:30 PM Online via Google Meet
This required—but short—meeting helps families understand how the season works and how to support their debater.
We need you
Each Cooper Debate Team member is expected to arrange for a parent, guardian, older sibling, or other family member to volunteer at least once during the WASDL season.
See volunteer options →2026–2027 Season
Applications for 2026–27 are closed. Applicants should review the tryout update. Families can still choose a debate partner.
Stats & Analytics
For detailed results of every tournament extracted from Tabroom.com — win/loss records, speaker points, pair performance, and full data analytics — visit the Stats page in the Member Portal.
Volunteers Make Tournament Days Possible
Choose a tournament and an open volunteer role.
Public: names, roles, and availability. Private: email, phone, and notes.
Fall 2026 Team Selection
Enter student details, choose a session, and rank up to four partner preferences.
For Families
Tournament-day essentials for Cooper families.
WASDL tournaments typically run from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Students should arrive 30 minutes early. Rounds run throughout the day with lunch breaks.
Business professional attire is required for all tournament participants. Boys: suit or dress pants/shirt/tie. Girls: professional suit, dress, or pantsuit.
Parents are responsible for transporting students to and from tournaments. Families may set up carpools, but arranging transportation is each family’s responsibility.
Families pay $20 per Cooper debater each year. This covers annual WASDL dues and five preliminary WASDL tournaments. Metro Finals or Nationals may add $15–$20 per student.
Coaches use Talking Points and Schoology for team communication and tournament updates—not the team app.
Check with the judge and the other debaters before watching a round. Once invited, remain silent and do not signal to debaters.
Judge Volunteer Signup
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