BUDL Eligibility Rules

Students may continue to compete in the novice division if they can meet ALL of the following criteria:

• I have not been ranked among the top three teams at any previous novice tournament (speaker awards do not effect eligibility)
• I competed in the novice division at four or fewer tournaments.
• My partner also meets the above criteria.

If one debater on a team is ineligible for novice division, the entire team may not compete in that division. Individual coaches are responsible for registering their teams in the proper divisions. JV debaters are people who: are novices ready to move up a division, have already debated at four tournaments (the upcoming tournament will be their fifth), have gotten 3rd place or better at a tournament, OR are competing with someone who is no longer eligible for novice.

Students who wish to compete at a higher level are free to do so--if a first year debater is ready for varsity competition, they may register in that division.