Judges
 

• Check Tabroom for Judge Paradigms
   

  • Before your round, look up your judge on Tabroom (if available) to see their paradigms and preferences.
     

  • Note whether they tend to prioritize Value, Contention, or both in evaluating a round.
     

  • Pay attention to whether they are more focused on evidence-based arguments, regardless of their holding in the real world, (tech) or truth/logic of arguments (truth).
     

• Read the Paradigms Carefully
   

  • Some judges include notes on what they dislike or prefer. For example, one of my judges explicitly mentioned they do not like when debaters ask if everyone is ready before the round, because, in their words,  "the judge is always ready."
     

  • These small annoyances, if repeated across rounds, can add up and hurt your performance, even if you have strong arguments.
     

• Don’t Assume Bias
   

  • Never assume a judge is biased, as it can affect your confidence and delivery.
     

  • Your goal is always to convince the judge, not your opponent.
     

• Take Ballots Seriously
   

  • Ballots give you a third-person perspective on how your round was received.
     

  • Take the advice seriously — it’s a valuable tool to improve your strategy and delivery for future rounds.
     

• Be Respectful and Thank the Judge
   

  • Always thank your judge for their time at the end of the round.
     

  • Use crystallization to clearly summarize your arguments and why your side wins, making it easy for the judge to follow your reasoning.
     

• Minor Habits Matter
   

  • Small things like pacing, clarity, and awareness of judge preferences can make a big difference in perception.
     

**For example, when I have an elder judge judging, I always make sure to speak slightly louder. When judges are seated closely, do not raise your tone of voice dramatically. Believe me, the little things matter!