Our Mission
The purpose of the New Jersey Speech & Debate League (NJSDL) is threefold:
- To promote interest in all forms of public speech
- To encourage a spirit of fellowship
- To confer upon deserving candidates recognition of their achievements
Try Speech & Debate!
Curious about what we do? Take a look at this video, developed by Iden Li of Phillipsburg High School, for a succinct explanation of our activity:
About the League
The New Jersey Speech and Debate League is a volunteer, member-led, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that exists to promote the arts of effective communication among students in public and independent schools in New Jersey. The League is registered as an incorporated non-profit entity with the State of New Jersey.
The League is also affiliated with the National Speech and Debate Association, and works in conjunction with the New Jersey District Committee as the governing body for NSDA activity in the state. For more information about the NSDA and membership, please click here. Most NJSDL members are also NSDA members, and only NSDA members are permitted to compete at the NJ District Qualifying Tournament for the NSDA National Tournament.
What We Do
The League’s primary function is to organize, sponsor, and manage high school speech and debate tournaments in the State of New Jersey. This includes providing guidance, support, and rule for invitational tournaments throughout they school year, as well as directly sponsoring three special tournaments each year – the Borelli Memorial, the NJSDL State Championships, and the NJ District Qualifying Tournament.
Additionally, the League provides scholarships to State Champions, professional development funding and opportunities to member coaches, free trainings for judges throughout the state, and other logistical and coordinating functions for teams in the League. For more information, attend one of the two annual League meetings, held each September and May.