Image Caption: The map shows the allocation of policy debate bids to the Tournament of Champions by state, illustrating the regional distribution of competitive high school debate programs.

Many consider the Tournament of Champions (TOC) to be the pinnacle of high school debate competitions in the United States. A bid to the TOC is a prestigious achievement that signifies a debater’s exceptional skill and success throughout the season. To qualify for this elite tournament, debaters must earn bids by excelling in designated national circuit tournaments, which are recognized for their high level of competition and rigorous standards.

Bids are allocated to tournaments differently across states, reflecting the varying levels of participation and competition. The distribution of policy debate bids by state highlights the regions with the most active and competitive debate scenes. Below, you can see each of the bid tournaments organized by state.

Samford University Bishop Guild InvitationalSamford UniversityAlabamaSemis
Arizona State HDSHC InvitationalArizona State UniversityArizonaQuarters
Cal Invitational UC BerkeleyUC BerkeleyCaliforniaOctas
Damus Hollywood InvitationalNotre Dame HSCaliforniaQuarters
Jack Howe Memorial TournamentCSU Long BeachCaliforniaQuarters
Peninsula InvitationalPeninsula HSCaliforniaQuarters
Stanford InvitationalStanford UniversityCaliforniaSemis
La Costa Canyon Winter ClassicLa Costa CanyonCaliforniaFinals
SunviteNSU University SchoolFloridaFinals
Barkley Forum for High SchoolsEmory UniversityGeorgiaOctas
University of Georgia HS Bulldog DebatesUniversity of GeorgiaGeorgiaSemis
WestminsterWestminsterGeorgiaSemis
Marist Ivy Street InvitationalMarist SchoolGeorgiaFinals
Glenbrooks Speech & Debate TournamentGlenbrook High SchoolsIllinoisOctas
Spartan Green and GoldGlenbrook NorthIllinoisQuarters
Trevian InvitationalNew Trier Township HSIllinoisQuarters
Niles Township InvitationalNiles WestIllinoisSemis
Maine East RegattaMaine East HSIllinoisFinals
The Paradigm at Dowling CatholicDowling CatholicIowaQuarters
Iowa Caucus DebatesCedar Rapids Washington HSIowaSemis
Mid America CupWest Des Moines Valley HSIowaSemis
Iowa City Cross River ClassicIowa City West, Liberty, & City High SchoolsIowaFinals
KCKCC Policy Debate TOC QualifierKansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansasSemis
Washburn Rural Debate InvitationalWashburn Rural HSKansasSemis
Blue Valley SouthwestBlue Valley Southwest HSKansasFinals
National Speech & Debate Season OpenerUniversity of KentuckyKentuckyQuarters
TOC Digital Speech and Debate Series #2 (Online)University of KentuckyKentuckyQuarters
TOC Digital Speech and Debate Series #3 (Online)University of KentuckyKentuckyQuarters
TOC Digital Speech and Debate Series #1 (Online)University of KentuckyKentuckySemis
Delores Taylor Arthur School Debate & Speech InvitationalDelores Taylor Arthur School for Young MenLouisianaFinals
Isidore NewmanIsidore NewmanLouisianaFinals
Harvard National Speech and Debate TournamentHarvard Debate CouncilMassachusettsQuarters
Lexington Winter InvitationalLexington HSMassachusettsQuarters
University of Michigan HS Debate TournamentUniversity of MichiganMichiganOctas
John Edie Holiday DebatesBlakeMinnesotaOctas
Omaha Westside Warrior InvitationalOmaha Westside HSNebraskaFinals
Golden Desert Debate TournamentUNLVNevadaQuarters
Meadows School TournamentMeadows SchoolNevadaQuarters
NY Fall Faceoff at Mamaroneck High SchoolMamaroneck HSNew YorkQuarters
Lakeland Westchester ClassicLakeland HSNew YorkSemis
New York City Invitational Debate and Speech TournamentBronx High School of ScienceNew York StateQuarters
JW Patterson Debates at Heritage HallHeritage Hall SchoolOklahomaSemis
Jean Ward InvitationalLewis & Clark CollegeOregonFinals
Pennsbury Falcon InvitationalPennsburyPennsylvaniaSemis
Taiwan Speech & Debate InvitationalTaipei American SchoolTaipeiFinals
Billy Tate Southern Bell ForumMontgomery Bell AcademyTennesseeOctas
Greenhill Fall ClassicGreenhill SchoolTexasOctas
Heart of Texas InvitationalSt. Mark’s SchoolTexasOctas
Grapevine ClassicGrapevineTexasQuarters
Longhorn ClassicUniversity of Texas-AustinTexasQuarters
University of Houston Cougar ClassicUniversity of HoustonTexasSemis
Jasper HowlJasper HSTexasFinals
Alta Silver & BlackAlta HSUtahQuarters
Bingham PF Policy InvitationalBingham HSUtahFinals
Gonzaga University Conway Winter ClassicGonzaga UniversityWashingtonSemis
Mount Vernon InvitationalMount VernonWashingtonFinals
Georgetown Day SchoolGeorgetown Day SchoolWashington D.C.Semis
Urban Debate Dragon InvitationalWashington Urban Debate LeagueWashington D.C.Semis

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