WELCOME! THANK YOU FOR COMING!
Frequently asked Questions about Debate:
1. What is BUDL? BUDL is short for the Baltimore Urban Debate League. The Baltimore Urban
Debate League is a non profit organization serving Baltimore City kids from 4th to 12th grade.
BUDL exists to create opportunities for learning, growth and positive change for young people
through the powerful activity of debate. We at BUDL love watching kids grow and change their
points of you, expand their knowledge of the world, grow their self confidence and develop new
ideas of who they are and what they can become. By getting young people engaged in a powerful,
intellectual, mind stretching activity like debate we are investing in the healthy futures of our kids
and the healthy future of our community.
2. Who is competing today? Our tournaments are City wide events, meaning that children from
schools all across the City come together once a month on Saturdays to compete against their peers
from other schools. Each school has a debate squad made up of several debate teams of two
people. The squad is coached by a teacher or other adult and prepares in class or after school for
weeks in advance of each tournament.
3. What happens at a tournament? At the tournament there are three rounds of debate, each lasting
about an hour. The kids will have to debate on both sides of every issue, one round they will
defend the affirmative position, the next the negative etc. The outcome of every round of debate is
determined by a judge who renders a decision. The outcome of the debate will not be shared at the
end of the round, but students will receive oral feedback and will learn how they did in each round
at the end of the day. Every Baltimore Urban Debate League tournament ends with a big
celebration at an awards ceremony where kids receive recognition for their success.
4. Why does it take so long to get things started in the morning? What are all the delays? Our
goal is allow as many students as possible to compete and reap the benefits of debate at every
tournament. Debate tournaments, like most very large events with a lot of people have many
moving parts. There is a computer system that keeps track of all of the students who are debating
and records their wins/losses and points earned in rounds. Each student at the tournament and all
of the judges need to be accurately entered in this computer. We enter students in advance based
on who the teachers tell us will be attending the tournaments, but on tournament day there are
many changes. Some students don’t show up and others who were not expected are present.
When every school has changes it takes time to get the information in the computer right so that
we can accurately determine the results of the day. As you are waiting we are working hard
behind the scenes to get it right. The fewer changes to be made the faster we can move.
5. Am I allowed to watch my child? How do I find their debate room? Yes! We are so happy to
have parents, grandparents, friends and relatives come to our tournaments to support their kids.
Please find a BUDL staff member who is working at the tournament and they will be able to help
you find your child?
6. How do I read the pairing that is posted? Students are paired against kids from other schools
and a pairing sheet is posted on the wall before each round. The pairing will show the room
where the debate will take place. they are to report to is listed on a paper we post before each
round. Students are identified by the first letter of their last name and the first letter of their debate
partners last name and are listed with the name of their school. So Matthew Smith and Tonya
Harris from Mt. Royal Middle will be listed as SH or HS and with the school name. It will help
you find them if you know whether they are a middle school or elementary school debater. If they
debate in middle school you also need to know if they are debating novice (beginner) or varsity
(more experienced). Ask us if you need help.
7. Can parents and guests eat with the kids? Yes, you are welcome to enjoy our breakfast and
lunch.
8. Why is there a delay at the end of the day before awars? Why is there a talent show at a
debate tournament? At the end of the last round our staff is working hard to enter the outcome
of the last debate round into the computer which tabulates the results and determines the top
speakers and teams of the day. We need time to get the results organized so that kids receive the
credit they deserve. This can take 30 minutes or so from the time the last ballot gets turned back
in to the tabulation room. We keep the students occupied through a talent show or speak out in
the auditorium. We are very aware that the tournament day is a long day and we are trying to get
everyone home as fast as we can.
9. How Can I help the Baltimore Urban Debate League?
There are many ways to help BUDL:

Help ensure that your child attends our tournaments and does not let their team mates
down by not showing up.

Come out and support the kids by watching their rounds.

Ask your child’s debate coach how you can support the team with snacks, rides, etc.

Volunteer to judge. We are always in need of judges for our debate rounds. Having
enough judges means all of the kids who have worked hard have a chance to compete.
Come to a judge training during round 1 of the tournament and let us know you can
judge.

Make a monetary donation. BUDL is a non profit organization that prides ourselves
on being available to every child by not charging our families to participate. We raise
money all year long to be able to give as many kids as possible this opportunity.
Consider making a donation to the League or simply donate your time by judging at
our tournaments.

Let us know what other ideas you. Share your talents, skills and interests with us, we
are eager to have you help in a manner that is meaningful to you.

Spread the word about BUDL’s work to friends, principals, potential supporters. The
more people hear about us the more students we will be able to touch!!