Volunteer Judging with NOF
NOF volunteer judges support online speech and debate tournaments by evaluating rounds and providing written feedback. If you’re new to judging, we’ll walk you through what to do. If you’re experienced, you can jump in quickly.
What does judging involve?
You’ll watch rounds and submit a written ballot that helps competitors improve. You can volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows.
Questions? E-mail Anika: anika@nationalonlineforensics.org
Volunteer Judge FAQ
Quick answers about judging with NOF—time commitment, training, requirements, and what to expect.
Who can volunteer as a judge?
Anyone can judge, regardless of experience or age. Judges can be as young as 12 (with appropriate division assignments). Our pool includes parents, college students,
coaches, and middle/high school students.
Do I need prior experience to judge?
No. We provide training, certification, and clear resources so judges can feel confident during the tournament.
How long is a judging shift?
A round is typically 60–90 minutes, including submitting feedback.
Judges usually cover 1–5 rounds per tournament; more is optional depending on availability.
Can I judge if I’m a student?
Yes. Student judges are assigned to competitors below their grade level (ex: middle school judges elementary;
high school judges elementary/middle).
Can my school or organization contact NOF to verify community service hours? ?
Yes. If you need hour verification, email
anika@nationalonlineforensics.org.
Is this fully online?
Yes—tournaments are fully online. You can judge from anywhere, as long as you’re in a distraction-free environment.
Do I need to be on camera?
For live (synchronous) tournaments, judges are required to keep cameras on. If you prefer not to be on camera, you can judge
our asynchronous tournaments. The competitors submit video performances for you to evaluate.