Announcing Ziggy Playoffs

      Ever since 2011, when we launched Ziggy Online Debate, it’s been about empowering debaters—no matter where they live—to be able to hone their skills, engage in high quality competition, and learn to excel. We believe the best way to do that is to provide students with the maximum number of opportunities to debate (by offering 8 to 10 rounds instead of just the normal 6), and by allowing all students an equal chance to compete in as many of those rounds as they want in our main Season Tournaments.

     Our mission, and our Season Tournaments, are not changing.

     That being said, we know that one of the most exciting aspects about debate tournaments is the opportunity to not just put your skills to the test against other competitors, but to challenge—and be challenged—in head-to-head elimination rounds where you can (potentially) battle your way to the very top of the bracket, culminating in an exciting and intense Final Round.

     Our solution, for those who wish to participate, is Ziggy Playoffs.

     Ziggy Playoffs will build on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from prior “fast paced” tournaments. Ziggy Playoffs is a 100% optional tournament that takes place concurrently with Ziggy’s Season Tournaments. It will start during the last half of a Ziggy Season Tournament and will be based on debaters’ performance in the Ziggy Season Tournament itself—so it’s exclusively for current Ziggy competitors.

QUALIFICATIONS
     Ziggy Playoffs will have up to four (4) elimination rounds—octafinals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals—for each style of debate (depending on the numbers). Any team that has completed at least four (4) rounds in the current Season Tournament and has a winning record at the time of registration qualifies for Ziggy Playoffs.

We will start with octafinals—which means each style of debate (NCFCA LD, Stoa LD, NCFCA TP, Stoa TP, and Parli) will be limited to sixteen (16) teams each, on a first come, first serve signup basis.

BRACKETS AND JUDGES
     Ziggy Playoffs will use a traditional transparent bracket system (highest seed vs lowest seed, etc.) that will be published on the Ziggy Members page. For semis and finals, debaters can request three (3) judges per round, although if both teams agree they can waive this and have only one (1) judge, if it will help reduce logistical/scheduling complexity.

BALLOTS
     Ziggy’s famous Instant Ballot feature will remain 100% on for Ziggy Playoffs—you’ll get your ballots as soon as the judges submit them.