68 things to bring

What to Bring to a Debate Tournament

Pens, flow paper, a timer, your printed case and lunch: a competitor's bag for a long tournament day.

Pens in two colorsOne color for your side and one for theirs, so the flow reads at a glance.
Flow paperA fresh sheet for every round and more than you think you need.
Timer with a silent modeFor speeches and prep time. Check the rule on phones before you count on yours.
Printed copy of your casePaper does not run out of battery in the last round of the day.
Water bottleFor a sip between speeches, when your mouth has gone dry.
Spare pensThe one in your hand will die in the middle of a rebuttal.
Legal padFor notes that are not the flow: questions to ask, things to tell your partner.
Sticky notesFlag the evidence you mean to read next without leaving your seat.
HighlightersMark the lines you will read aloud before the round, not during it.
ClipboardA firm surface for flowing when the desk is small or missing.
WristwatchShows how long until the next round without a screen coming out.
Pencil and eraserFor the flow of a debater who changes their mind.

Next step Draw a topic to practice on Waiting? Pick a speech event to try

All 68 things to bring

For every round 12

Clipboard A firm surface for flowing when the desk is small or missing.
Flow paper A fresh sheet for every round and more than you think you need.
Highlighters Mark the lines you will read aloud before the round, not during it.
Legal pad For notes that are not the flow: questions to ask, things to tell your partner.
Pencil and eraser For the flow of a debater who changes their mind.
Pens in two colors One color for your side and one for theirs, so the flow reads at a glance.
Printed copy of your case Paper does not run out of battery in the last round of the day.
Spare pens The one in your hand will die in the middle of a rebuttal.
Sticky notes Flag the evidence you mean to read next without leaving your seat.
Timer with a silent mode For speeches and prep time. Check the rule on phones before you count on yours.
Water bottle For a sip between speeches, when your mouth has gone dry.
Wristwatch Shows how long until the next round without a screen coming out.

Case and evidence 11

Binder clips Keeps each argument's pages together when the file is tipped out.
Blank paper for last-minute blocks New arguments turn up in round two and need answering by round three.
Evidence, printed and in order Sorted the way you will reach for it, not the way you found it.
Expanding file with labeled tabs One pocket per argument, so nothing is hunted for on the clock.
Full source for every quotation Author, title and date, ready to show if anyone asks where a quote came from.
Index of your files One page that says which pocket holds what.
List of cross-examination questions Three good questions on paper beat ten half-remembered ones.
Prepared answers to common arguments Written at home, so the first time you hear an argument is not the first time you answer it.
Second copy of each speech One to read from and one to lend if a judge or opponent asks to see it.
The topic wording, printed Arguments about what a word means are settled by reading the wording aloud.
USB drive with a backup of everything For the morning the laptop will not start.

Laptop and power 9

Earbuds For practicing a speech aloud to yourself in a corner.
Extension cord or power strip The one outlet in the room is always on the far wall.
Files saved for offline use School Wi-Fi is not to be relied on, and some formats bar the internet in rounds.
Laptop charger Named on its own because it is the thing left plugged in at home.
Laptop, fully charged Check the invitation first: formats differ on computers in rounds.
Mouse Faster than a trackpad when you are pulling up files on the clock.
Phone charger A long day of checking pairings runs a battery down.
Portable battery pack For the phone that holds your schedule and your ride home.
Your login for the pairings page Written down or saved, so you can find your room the moment pairings are posted.

Food and water 11

Banana Quiet, fast and no crumbs on your flow.
Cash or a card for the snack table Many host schools sell food, and you will not know how they take payment until you get there.
Crackers Plain and quiet, for the hour before the first round when nothing else appeals.
Cut fruit in a tub Something fresh on a day of vending machines.
Flask of warm tea For a voice that has given six speeches by mid-afternoon.
Granola bars Eaten in the two minutes between getting a room and walking to it.
Mints For a dry mouth, and for the conversation after lunch.
Packed lunch Lunch breaks shrink when rounds run late, and the line at the snack table is long.
Sandwich that needs no fridge It will sit in a bag in a classroom until noon.
Second water bottle The first is empty by lunch and the fountain is a building away.
Trail mix A bag of it lasts all day and can be shared with a partner.

Clothes and comfort 12

Comfortable shoes for the ride home Dress shoes have done enough by the last round.
Deodorant A long day in a jacket, with nerves.
Hair ties or clips Hair out of your eyes is one less thing to think about at the podium.
Lint roller For the walk from the bus to the first round.
The outfit your coach asked for Teams and formats differ on dress, so follow your own team's word.
Safety pins For a hem or a button that gives up between rounds.
Shoes you can walk in all day Rooms can be a building apart and pairings give you minutes to get there.
Spare shirt or blouse Lunch happens, and so do leaking pens.
Stain remover pen Small enough for a pencil case.
Sweater or blazer One classroom is cold and the next is hot.
Tissues Schools in tournament season are short of them.
Umbrella Your printed case will not survive a wet walk between buildings.

Between rounds 13

Book or homework There is more waiting than debating on tournament day.
Deck of cards The traditional way to wait for pairings with your team.
Hoodie or small blanket For the wait in a cafeteria, worn over the outfit and taken off for the round.
Map of the school A photo of the one posted at the door will do.
Notebook for judges' feedback Write down what each judge tells you while you still remember it.
Pen kept only for forms Kept apart from the flow pens, so it is never the one that has run dry.
Permission slip and any forms Whatever your coach asked for, signed before the bus leaves.
Student ID In case check-in asks who you are. It does no harm in a pocket.
Tote bag you can carry one-handed You will move rooms every round with everything you own.
Tournament schedule Saved or printed, so you know when you can eat.
Travel pillow for the bus Away tournaments start with a ride that leaves before sunrise.
Your coach's phone number Saved in your phone and written on paper as well.
Zip pouch for phone, keys and money They go with you to every round and are never left in an empty classroom.

How it works

What should you bring to a debate tournament? Pens, flow paper, a timer, your case on paper and enough food for the day. These 68 things are sorted by when you reach for them, from the round itself to the wait between rounds.

Read the full guide

Read the invitation before you pack

Formats and hosts differ on laptops, phones, the internet in rounds and what to wear, and no list can settle that for you. The tournament's invitation or your coach can. Where a line here says to check, that is why.

If you bring only five things

Two pens, paper to flow on, a timer you are allowed to use, your case printed out and a water bottle. Those five make a round possible; the rest of the list makes a long day easier.

Pack for the waiting

Most of a tournament day is spent between rounds. Food that needs no fridge, a charger and something to read matter more than they sound.

Pack the night before and leave the bag by the door. Tournament mornings start early.
Put your name on your timer, charger and file. Rooms are cleared fast between rounds.

Questions and answers

What should I bring to my first debate tournament?

The round kit and lunch: pens in two colors, flow paper, a timer, your case printed twice, water and food you can eat fast. Add a sweater for a cold room, and ask a teammate what your format needs beyond that.

What do you bring to a speech and debate tournament?

Debaters bring the kit on this page. Speech competitors swap the flow paper and evidence for their script or piece, a binder if their event uses one, and a timer for practice runs in the hallway.

What should I wear to a debate tournament?

Whatever your coach or team asks for, since teams and formats differ. Bring shoes you can walk in all day, a layer for cold rooms and a spare shirt in case lunch goes wrong.

What food should I bring to a debate tournament?

Food that keeps without a fridge and eats fast: a sandwich, a banana, crackers, granola bars and trail mix, plus two water bottles. Breaks can be short and the line at the snack table long.