The 2027 Handbook

Inside the book

Everything a season needs, in order.

The Handbook follows the arc of a real debating season — from eligibility and team composition, through nine rounds of competition, to the final and the presentation of the trophy. Here is what each part covers, and what you will take away from it.

  1. The Competition

    How a local, scaffolded competition is set up: which schools take part, who is eligible, and how teams are composed — three speakers plus a support member, with squads that can rotate students between debates.

    Takeaway: how to structure teams so beginners get court time without sinking the case.

  2. Preparation & Format

    The rhythm of a debate week: topics released Monday morning for Wednesday’s debate, two clear school days of coached preparation, and the hard rule that once a speaker begins, their team may not assist them. Speaking order, four-minute speeches, the three-bell timing system, and the roles of chairperson and timekeeper.

    Takeaway: a preparation routine you can run every single week.

  3. The Draw

    A complete nine-round round-robin in which every school debates every other school exactly once — reproduced in full as a worked example of how to schedule a season across ten teams without a single repeat or bye.

    Takeaway: a draw template you can adapt to your own competition.

  4. Adjudication

    The three judging categories — Matter (the content and quality of arguments and evidence), Manner (how persuasively and clearly a speech is delivered) and Method (how well the speech and team case are structured). Plus the fairness machinery: adjudicators cross-assigned each round, never judging a debate involving their own school.

    Takeaway: exactly what the scoresheet rewards — so you can train for it.

  5. Disputes & Cancellations

    How scheduling disagreements get resolved between coordinators, when matters escalate, and what happens when a team withdraws at short notice. Small print that saves whole afternoons.

    Takeaway: a dispute ladder that keeps debates about the topic, not the calendar.

  6. Key Dates & the Finals

    A full season calendar — round dates, topic-release dates, a short-preparation round worked around a public holiday, then semi-finals (first plays fourth, second plays third), the final, and the presentation of certificates and the trophy.

    Takeaway: what a whole term of debating looks like on one page.

Buy the Handbook — $30 AUD