Join ICDA
We would love to have you and your school in ICDA! Everyone should have the power and the knowledge to raise their voices for justice.
When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.
- Malala Yousafzai
Learn how your school can get involved too:
Students
If your school is a member:
Contact your school's head coach and let them know that you're interested in joining ICDA. Unfortunately, we cannot include every coach's email, so if your school's head coach is not listed on the members page, try searching your school's faculty/activity listings to find them.
If your school is NOT a member:
Direct a teacher who is/would like to sponsor a congressional debate team to the second section of this page.
Coaches
If your school has a Congressional Debate team, get in touch with either Tim Waters (ICDA President) or Dustin Zubert (Membership/training commissioner) and let them know which school you are from. They can get in touch with your school's official representative (usually a principal or board member) and get the necessary details to prepare an application.
If your school does not have a Congressional Debate team, but you are interested in sponsoring one and participating in the ICDA circuit, we may be able to assist with the process. Contact either Mr. Waters or Mr. Zubert, and they may be able to assist you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to join ICDA?
Any public and non-public high school in the State of Illinois may become a member provided:
1. Application of membership is signed by the official representative of the high school; and
2. The school pays dues as required in the Constitution.
When must membership dues be paid by?
Membership dues can be paid starting July 1st (the start of the fiscal year). They must be paid on or before participation in that year’s ICDA tournaments.
Can new members participate in board and oversight elections?
Since elections occur starting April 1st, and membership dues cannot be paid until July 1st, new members cannot participate in elections.
How many debaters are needed to form a team?
Only one debater needs to be registered to participate. However, it will be next to impossible to win small-school sweepstakes without at least four debaters.
Is small/large school status determined at registration?
Whether your school is considered a small or a large one is determined on a per-meet basis. If less or more debaters participate (even if all were registered previously) at one meet than another, your school's status will be changed to reflect it.