The STL Postseason Debate League is an open, accessible opportunity for students across the St. Louis area, welcoming both middle and high school participants regardless of prior debate experience or team affiliation. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or trying debate for the first time, the league is designed to help you build core skills in argumentation, critical thinking, and public speaking in a low-barrier, practical environment.
The league will offer the three primary debate formats (Public Forum, Lincoln Douglas, and Policy), adjusting based on participation to ensure consistent, competitive rounds. If event sizes are too small to sustain separate divisions, a flexible combined format will be used—adaptable to either individual or partner-based competition depending on attendance. This ensures that tournaments remain functional and engaging rather than being canceled due to low turnout.
All tournaments will be hosted at the Clayton Center, providing a stable and accessible venue for participants. Overall, the STL Postseason Debate League prioritizes inclusivity, skill development, and adaptability, making it a straightforward way for students to continue debating and improving outside the regular season.
Purpose and Philosophy
The STL Postseason Debate League is designed to extend meaningful competitive debate opportunities beyond the traditional school calendar while broadening access to students who want to develop their reasoning and speaking abilities in a structured environment. It prioritizes sustained engagement with argumentation as a practical skill—one that is built through repetition, exposure to diverse viewpoints, and disciplined practice under competitive conditions.
Our Events and Resolutions
Lincoln Douglas
Public Forum
Policy
Speech Events
Sign Up
Sign-ups for the league are completed individually rather than by teams. If you are signing up with the intent to compete in either Public Forum or Policy, please indicate the name and email of your intended partner and have them complete the form separately. If you wish to compete in these categories but do not yet have a partner, you may indicate that you do not have one. We will attempt to match you with another student in the same situation, although this is not guaranteed.