
Coaches: learn more about earning professional development credit at Nationals. Attending the national tournament is an opportunity for newer coaches to see the best of the best in competition and learn through both observation and networking with other coaches. For veteran coaches, it represents an opportunity to observe trends of performance styles and to share thoughts on best practices. Whether or not a coach’s students qualified to nationals, he or she can take advantage of this opportunity. Coaches of qualifiers can still make their judging obligation in rotation with attending clinics.

The National Forensic League has run the National Speech Tournament continuously since 1931 (except for the World War II years) and the National Student Congress since 1938. Events and rules have changed with the growth of the NFL, but the league's commitment to providing exciting competition has remained constant.
Six main speech events, four types of debate competition, two consolation speech events and four supplemental speech events produce national champions at the end of an action-packed week of competition. Winning students are rewarded with outstanding trophies and over $130,000 in college scholarships.
Qualifying for the NFL National Tournament happens at the district level. Visit the District Information page to receive information about tournaments in your area.
Pictured is Vijay Sridharan from Bellarmine College Prep, CA. Vijay is the 2009 Phyllis Flory Barton Top Debate Speaker.