USA FORENSICS OLYMPIAD GLOBAL SPRING CUP

    20-22 March 2026

    DEADLINE
    14 Mar 2026
    NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE
    ELIGIBILITY
    Open to middle and high school students
    PLATFORM
    Online through NSDA Campus

    Information

    Dear Forensics Coaches and Competitors,

    On behalf of the United States of America Forensics Olympiad (USAFO), we are delighted to invite you to the USA Forensics Olympiad 2025-26 season. Now featuring a globally compatible schedule & events.

    ​As we progress forward into our third season in running, we would like to acknowledge the roots and reasons behind the becoming of this program. Below is an excerpt from our inaugural invitation:
    ​
    “Before going any further, we'd like to take a moment to introduce ourselves, USAFO. With a background in speech and debate ourselves, we firmly believe in the power of forensics participation. 
    Increased involvement not only translates to heightened competitiveness, fostering greater growth for everyone. However, most notably, speech and debate endows numerous lifelong abilities and advantages upon those who participate.
    But unlike other activities, we’ve firsthand experienced the lack of a comprehensive national system that connects the USA to the international debate community. At present, the void in this aspect is denying us profoundly substantial chances for progress. Here’s how we’re changing this:
    1. Accessible, consistent year-round programs and tournaments
    2. Partnerships with schools and learning providers across the US
    3. A rewarding qualification/bid-based, cash-prize system
    4. Invitational high-quality events to foster top talent
    With this program, our aim is not only to address the deficiencies and gaps of quality debate exposure nationwide, but also elevate the caliber of discourse in our country to standards that compete on the global stage."

    This competition cycle takes accessibility one step further: all our open-entry events are now adopting a new globally compatible schedule. Due to more participation in USAFO in comparison to IOFR, international competitors may now compete through USAFO to earn National Championship Bids and qualify to their country’s IOF team. Competitors from different countries will, however, receive country-specific recognition as well.

    We can’t wait to see this season’s top competitors represent our nation at the 2026 International Olympiad in Forensics.

    Thanks are due to all the competitors and coaches who have stuck with us up until today. And for those who are new here, we can’t wait for you to join us. But regardless of when you’re hopping aboard, it’s because of debaters like you who make our ambitions possible.

    Looking forward to seeing everyone in round!

    ​
    Events & Formats

    ​Events & Formats
    Qualification [ALL EVENTS]: 
    USA Forensics Olympiad Open events and the USAFO Championship Open division welcomes all students 18 & under. No citizenship or location requirements apply.

    Debate Events
    ALL debate events will be held online synchronously.
    If a division has < 3 entries, it will be held asynchronously.

    Public Forum
    Sub-Events: High School Open, Middle School Open, Elementary School
    Vital Stats:
    • 5 Preliminary Rounds
    • >= 3 Elimination Rounds(based on entries)
    Prep Time: 3 min / team

    Lincoln-Douglas
    Vital Stats:
    • 5 Preliminary Rounds
    • >= 3 Elimination Rounds(based on entries)
    Prep Time: 5 min / debater

    Speech Events
    ALL speech events will be held online synchronously.
    If a division has < 3 entries, it will be held asynchronously.

    Vital Stats [ALL SPEECH EVENTS]:
    • All Divisions: 5 Preliminary Rounds
    • >= 3 Elimination Rounds(based on entries)

    Extemp (National Extemp)
    • Event Guidelines: The speaker who completed preparations 30 minutes beforehand will present a speech lasting a maximum of 7 minutes, on a current topic following NSDA rules.
    Dramatic Interpretation
    • Event Guidelines: An interpretation of a singular dramatic piece lasting a maximum of 10 minutes, adhering to NSDA rules.
    Original Oratory
    • Event Guidelines: A persuasive speech with a duration not exceeding 10 minutes, adhering to NSDA rules.
    Informative Speaking
    • Event Guidelines: A persuasive speech with a duration not exceeding 10 minutes, adhering to NSDA rules.
    Duo Interpretation
    • Event Guidelines: Two people performing an interpretation that lasts a maximum of 10 minutes, following NSDA rules.
    Humorous Interpretation
    • Event Guidelines: An interpretation of a singular humorous piece lasting a maximum of 10 minutes, adhering to NSDA rules.
    Impromptu Speaking
    • Event Guidelines: The speaker will be given 2 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to speak on an assigned topic following CHSAA rules.
    Program of Oral Interpretation
    • Event Guidelines: An interpretation of a singular piece consisting of multiple literary excerpts(2 or more) lasting a maximum of 10 minutes, adhering to NSDA rules.
    ​​
    ​
    USAFO Championship & The Road to the IOF Team
    The USA Forensics Olympiad Championship is limited to US Citizens or residents(who have resided in the US for at least 6 months prior to the Championship event) only.
    • The Tabroom.com website for the 2025-26 USAFO Championship will be released in late August - early September.
    • The USA Forensics Olympiad hosts a championship tournament every year in April. Each speech/debate event at the USAFO Championship will feature three divisions: the Open Division, Silver Division, and Gold Division.
    • The Championship Gold and Silver divisions require a minimum number of bids(what are bids/bid cutoffs?) in order to compete. The Championship Open Division requires no bids. 
    • However, primarily competitors in the Gold/Silver divisions will compete for spots on the US IOF (International Olympiad in Forensics) team.
    • Top competitors in the USAFO Championship will be invited to compete at the 2026 International Olympiad in Forensics.


    Awards & Prizes
    For all competitors qualifying for awards & prizes, expect your institution to receive an email within 1 month regarding cash prizes, certificates, and awards.
    • What are bids/bid cutoffs? Competitors who perform well throughout the USAFO Open season will receive ‘bids’, or qualification points for the Gold and Silver divisions(see USAFO Championship & The Road to the IOF Team) of the USA Forensics Olympiad Championship in April.
    • Note: effective starting this season, international competitors will also receive bids.
    • Champion earns 0.5 bids | Finalist earns 0.4 bids | Semifinalist earns 0.3 bids | Quarterfinalist earns 0.2 bids | 2025-2026 Bid Leaderboard
    • All bids can be found on ioforensics.org.
    • ​Awards Summary & Claim Guidelines

    Cash Prize Info
    All Events
    • Champions in each division - $100 USD
    • Finalists in each division - $50 USD

    USAFO will send digital payment to the parent or legal guardian of each designated winning debater. 
    US eligible only. 

    For competitors in states such as Oregon or Ohio who have relevant bylaws, you are allowed to decline the payment, and we can issue an email stating as such so that you have a copy!

    **A new team is defined to be an entry consisting of all members who have not participated in any USAFO event during the current USAFO season. Prizes are not totaled(for example, if you are a new team and champion your division, you would receive ( max($100 Championship prize, $50 Top new team prize) = )$100 total).

    ​​
    Judging
    • As a judge, you automatically abide by the Judge Policies & Procedures.
    • All judges must be available for all preliminary rounds, the first elimination round, and one round beyond the elimination of the last contestant from their representing school.
    • A minimum qualification for judges is a high school diploma.
    • If your judge count falls short of their obligation, a fee will be assessed to cover the cost of hiring additional judges.
    ​
    ​
    General Tournament Rules
    Updated general tournament rules can be found on this document.

    ​Entry Price

    PF and parent is judging $90
    PF and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $190

    LD and parent is judging $115
    LD and parent is OPTING OUT of judging $240

    Each person in a PF team would be responsible of providing their own judge, so one PF team would need to either provide two judges, both pay the judge fee, or one of each option.
    ​
    Registration will not be complete until payment is received.
     
    NOTE: We will charge set up fees if we have to create tabroom.com accounts for judges. It is recommended you do so on your own.

    Schedule

    Click below to see the schedule:
    ​Globally Compatible Schedule - PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME ZONES!

    ​Although the tentative schedule lists the start and end times, please keep in mind that there are various factors that may arise during a tournament that can cause rounds to be delayed. Therefore, if you are signing up for this tournament, please make sure you do not double book yourselves on these dates. Keep your schedule open and DO NOT leave the tournament without notifying the GSA chaperones first.

    Drop Fee

    Drop fees will be the same amounts as the entry fee PLUS any fees the tournament charges us for late drops. Drop requests should be made to Victor and Nadia.

    Please do not drop out last minute to avoid being charged these fees.

    Contact Info

    Victor Rivas Umana
    Contact email:  [email protected]
    Nadia Budiman 
    Contact email: [email protected]
    Or [email protected]

    Registration Form

    STUDENT INFORMATION
    If this is your first time competing, make sure to first create a Tabroom account here: https://www.tabroom.com/user/login/new_user.mhtml
    It's super simple and quick (<1 minute), but follow the guidelines here in case anything is confusing: ​https://docs.tabroom.com/Sign_Up
    PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
    Your email address will be the one included when we send the logistics email.
    EVENT SELECTION
    ​    Got any questions? Please email [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    Make sure you understand that this online tournament is live and takes place in Eastern Time.
    ​JUDGE PROVISION

    ​Click here to complete the highly recommended Cultural Competency judge training course

    Signing up a judge without having a Tabroom account will result in us charging you for the set up fee.
    ​You can do this easily on your own by going to tabroom.com. It literally takes less than a minute.

    First time judging?
    This is a great collection of short videos that one of the leagues have put together to learn each event: click here.
    ​There are also these training cards available that include a summary of each event's rules and comments.​
    ​Click here to find other training and official certification resources. Or watch our Youtube playlist here.
    ​
    ​Tournaments encourage judges to have a paradigm on their Tabroom account, which can be a few sentences on your preferences of debating styles, etc. See here for example. It doesn't need to be this long, but make sure to add something before you sign up. For example: "I am a parent, please speak clearly and slowly and avoid technical jargon".​

    ​    More tournament resources can be found here.
    TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.
Check our home page for the schedule!

School year Hours

M-F: 3:45 pm - 8:30 pm 
Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Telephone

510-270-8480
510-470-0531

Email (preferred)

For more info email us at: [email protected]

Locations

Fremont: 200 Brown Rd #201, Fremont, CA 94539

Cupertino: 20432 Silverado Avenue Suite 211, Cupertino, CA 95014

Aborn Institute: 2804 Riedel Road, San Jose, CA 95135 

​​​​Dublin: Loving Tree Academy, 6693 Owens Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588​​