How

To Calculate Points

The National Speech & Debate Associations honor society (the National Forensic League for high school and National Junior
Forensic League for middle school) recognizes students and coaches for competitive accomplishments, service, public
presentations, and sustained participation. The Association awards points in various forms, which leads to advanced
recognition within the honor society. There are a variety of levels that students and coaches may attain, which are known as
degrees.

High School

Student Points
Points are awarded in the following areas for competitive speaking and debating.

Main Events of the National Speech & Debate Association earn the most points within the honor society.

Main Debate Events Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, and Policy Debate award students 6 points for a win and 3 points
for a loss. There is one score, per round, even if there are multiple judges.

In Congressional Debate, competitors earn between 1-6 points for speech or hour of serving as a Presiding Officer.
There is one score, per round, even if there are multiple judges. There is a limit of 24 points per day.

Main Speech Events Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Original Oratory,
Extemporaneous Speaking (United States, International, or Mixed) receive points based upon the ranking the judge
assigns at the conclusion of a speech round. If a student receives the rank of 1, they earn 6 points for that round; if they
receive a rank of 2, they earn 5 points for that round; if they receive a rank of 3, they earn 4 points for that round; if
they receive a rank of 4, they earn 3 points for that round; if they receive a rank lower than 4, they earn 2 points for
that round. There is one score, per round, even if there are multiple judges.

Non-Main Event Competitive Events
Debate competitors receive 4 points for a win and 2 points for a loss in any given round. There is one score, per round, even
if there are multiple judges.

Speech competitors receive points based upon the ranking the judge assigns at the conclusion of a speech round, similar to
main event points. However, if a student is ranked 1 in a round, s/he earns 5 points; if a student is ranked 2 in a round, s/he

earns 4 points; if a student is ranked 3 in a round, s/he earns 3 points; if a student is ranked 4 in a round, s/he earns 2
points; if a student is ranked lower than 4 in a round, s/he earns 1 point. There is one score, per round, even if there are
multiple judges.

Non-Competitive Speaking/Service Activities recognize the value of public speaking and/or performances, as well as service
to community. Points can be earned in a number of ways.

Audience Speaking Engagements
If a student delivers a 4-minute or longer speech to an audience of at least 25 adults beyond high school age, that
student may receive 5 points, per speech. There is a limit of 4 speeches per day. For each speech of at least 4 minutes
given to an audience of at least 25 adults beyond high school age: 5 points, limit of four speeches per day.

Judging
If a student judges at a novice or middle school contest, s/he will earn 2 points per hour judged. There is a limit of 4
rounds a day.

Middle School Coaching
High school students who coach during middle school practices (tournament coaching does not apply) may earn 2
points per hour. A maximum of 50 points per year may be recorded for coaching.

Theatrical Performances
Students may earn points for acting/theatrical performances and/or theatre/festival competition. Each performance in
front of an audience permits an individual to receive 5 points. There is a maximum of 20 points that may be earned for
any given play, competitive readers theatre selection, one act team, ensemble, choral reading group, etc. Note: Mime
and non-speaking roles may not earn points.

Non-Competitive Speaking/Service Activities have limits to the number of points that may be earned in any given year. A
student may earn up to 200 service points per year, and can be retroactively recorded only for the current and immediate
past school years. Students may not earn competitive points and service points at the same time. Additionally, students
may be recognized for outstanding service. For every 100 service points, a student earns a Student Service Citation. For
more information, please refer to the High School Chapter Manual.

Coach Points
Coaches earn 10% of the points recorded for their students, recognizing the time, effort, and expertise they lend their
students. This can help in professional development documentation, as well as with earning recognition by school
administrators. When recording student results, only one coach may be identified for the points recorded. Additionally,
coaches may also awarded 10% of their own previous competitive points if they were a student within the Associations
honor society.

High School Degrees and Strength

Points lead to advanced degrees, commemorated by special seals to add to ones membership certificate. Additionally,
schools earn recognition within the honor society for the combined totals of their active students and coaches points. For
every degree that is attained, it adds to the strength of the school within the organization. An increased strength of the
school has benefits within the association when it comes to voting for local and national offices. The total strength of a
team within the Association is calculated by adding up the number of new degrees a team has earned for the current year,
plus the past two seasons. For the 2014-2015 season, a team's strength will add the degrees earned from the 2012-2013,
2013-2014, and 2014-2015 school years.

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 Levels of Membership for Both Students and Coaches:

Degree

Points

Seal

Gem

Merit

25

White

None

Honor

75

Bronze

Emerald

Excellence

150

Silver on White

Blue Sapphire

Distinction

250

Metallic Gold on Gold

Ruby

Special Distinction

500

Silver on Pink

Double Ruby

Superior Distinction

750

Silver on Blue

Triple Ruby

Outstanding Distinction

1,000

Silver on Violet

Quadruple Ruby

Degree

Points

Seal

Gem

Premier Distinction

1,500 +

Silver on Black

Quintuple Ruby

Level of Membership for Students Only:

Levels of Membership for Coaches Only:
Coaches earn degrees at the same milestones as students until they earn 1,000 points, which leads to being recognized as
the recipient of the Donus Roberts Quad Ruby Coach Award. Once a coach earns 1,500 points and has been coaching for 5
years, they are then awarded their first diamond. A coach is recognized as coaching from the date of their first students
points entered under their name within the Association. Five years must pass between the award dates for each diamond,
and the coach must reach specific benchmarks of points earned. A coach cannot earn a subsequent diamond sooner than
five years after their last.

Degree

Points

Years

Donus D. Roberts Quad Ruby Award

1,000

n/a

First Diamond

1,500

+ 5 years

Second Diamond

3,000

+ 5 years

Third Diamond

6,000

+ 5 years

Fourth Diamond

10,000

+ 5 years

Fifth Diamond

13,000

+ 5 years

Sixth Diamond

16,000

+ 5 years

Seventh Diamond

19,000

+ 5 years

Eighth Diamond

22,000

+ 5 years

Ninth Diamond

25,000

+ 5 years

Tenth Diamond

28,000

+ 5 years
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Middle School

Student Points

Points are awarded in the following areas for middle school speech and debate.

Debate
Students who compete in debate tournaments will earn 4 points for a win, and 2 points for a loss.

Speech
Speech competitors receive points based upon the ranking the judge assigns at the conclusion of a speech round, similar to
main event points. However, if a student is ranked 1 in a round, s/he earns 5 points; if a student is ranked 2 in a round, s/he

earns 4 points; if a student is ranked 3 in a round, s/he earns 3 points; if a student is ranked 4 in a round, s/he earns 2
points; if a student is ranked lower than 4 in a round, s/he earns 1 point. There is one score, per round, even if there are
multiple judges. If students perform at speech contests without rankings, the Association will recognize the participation
through an internal conversion to points.

Classroom Presentations
Students earn 1 point per in-class presentation, as long as each presentation is at least 3 minutes long. Students can earn no
more than 2 points per day.

Community Speaking Engagements
Students earn 2 points for each speaking engagement, as long as their speech is at least 4 minutes long. Students can earn
no more than 4 points per day.

Transferring Points to the National Forensic League

A total of 10% of middle school (National Junior Forensic League) merit points, up to 150, may be transferred to high school
(National Forensic League) records, for a maximum of 15 merit points.

Coach Points
Coaches earn 10% of the points recorded for their students, recognizing the time, effort, and expertise they lend their
students. This can help in professional development documentation, as well as with earning recognition by school
administrators. When recording student results, only one coach may be identified for the points recorded.

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Middle School Degrees

Points lead to advanced degrees, commemorated by special seals to add to ones membership certificate. Additionally,
schools earn recognition within the honor society for the combined totals of their active students and coaches points. For
every degree that is attained, it adds to the strength of the school within the organization. Individuals with fewer than ten
points are considered members, but degrees begin to accumulate at 10 points. An increased strength of the school has
benefits within the association when it comes to voting for local and national offices. Coaches earn degrees at the same
milestones as students.

Degree

Points

Seal

Participation

10-49

White on Orange

Recognition

50-99

White on Yellow

Accomplishment

100-199

White on Green

Achievement

200-399

Silver on Black

Outstanding Achievement

400-649

Black on Silver

Distinguished Achievement

650-999

Silver on Metallic Red

Superior Achievement

1,000 +

Gold on Metallic Blue

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