National Forensic Association

NFA is unique in its NFA-LD Policy format. High school debate is primarily divided into individual debaters engaged in values-oriented competition or teams of debaters in rapid-paced evidence-based policy analysis. Instead of choosing one of these formats, NFA offers evidence-based policy analysis in one-on-one competition.

At the beginning of each year a topic area and corresponding resolution is voted upon and subject to the entire season's debate. Each round competitors find themselves assigned to affirm or negate the resolution. Rather than affirm general ideas or values, affirmative competitors propose a particular policy to adopt as a representation of the resolution. Negative competitors will generally attempt to either demonstrate a lack of need for that policy or argue that said policy's disadvantages outweigh its benefits.

The first affirmative and negative speeches are constructive speeches, intended to put forth the arguments which will comprise the issues in dispute. A cross-examination period of three minutes follows each of these speeches in order to clarify arguments and gain information relevant to each competitor's position. Each competitor is then given a six-minute rebuttal in which their responses and development of the arguments are finalized. At the end of the round, the affirmative is given one final three-minute speech to review why their plan ought to be passed in support of the resolution. An assigned judge will then cast a ballot to affirm or negate the resolution.[http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/comm/nfa/nfa-ld.html cas.bethel.edu]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament was canceled, resulting in no sweepstakes winners. However, the NFA permitted competitors in their senior year to submit recordings of their speeches for an asynchronous competition. The top performing student in each category was ranked as the Performance of Highest Distinction. Finalists in each category were not publicly ranked but were announced as Performances of Distinction.{{Cite web |title=Texas Speech: Individual National Champions |url=https://commstudies.utexas.edu/forensics/texas-speech/individual-national-champions |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=commstudies.utexas.edu}} The Pentathlon award was replaced with the Performer of Highest Distinction award, which Saeed Malami won from Lafayette College.{{Cite web |title=2024 NFA Booklet |url=https://nationalforensicassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024_nfa_booklet_online_rev-1.pdf |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=nationalforensicassociation.org}}

No team sweepstakes champion was crowned during the 2020 National Championship Tournament. However, The 2020 Performance of Highest Distinction in Lincoln-Douglas Debate was Alex Rivera from Western Kentucky University.

• [http://www.nationalforensicassociation.org/ Official website]

Category:Educational organizations based in the United States