Catholic Forensic League

The National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) is a speech and debate league that was formed in 1951. It is organized into regions that correspond to Roman Catholic dioceses. Member schools include both public and parochial high schools. The NCFL recruits member schools in both the United States and Canada. As of January, 2011, there were 65 active dioceses with NCFL leagues. The IRS recognizes the NCFL as an organization eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable donations.

The NCFL sponsors the Grand National Speech and Debate Tournament held each year over Memorial Day weekend. It offers an array of events similar, but not identical, to those of the National Speech and Debate Association.

2020's NCFL Tournament

Due to the Coronavirus Epidemic, the NCFL Tournament for 2020 has been cancelled. The organization still plans on holding their national event in 2021.

Events

* Dramatic Performance – A ten-minute memorized performance of a dramatic or humorous selection of literature.
* Duo Interpretation of Literature – A ten-minute memorized performance of a dialogue, story, or script by two performers, who are required to maintain off-stage focus and to not look at or touch each other.
* Oral Interpretation of Literature – A ten-minute reading event, alternating between Prose and Poetry each round.
* Extemporaneous Speaking – A seven-minute analytical / persuasive speech on a question of current events, given with only 30 minutes' prior notice.
* Oratorical Declamation – A ten-minute memorized performance of a historical speech, commencement address or former competition speech to be delivered as if it were the speaker's own address. Limited to freshmen and sophomores.
* Original Oratory – A ten-minute memorized original speech delivered to inspire or persuade the audience.
* Lincoln-Douglas Debate – 1v1 Value debate on a topic chosen by the NCFL specifically for the Grand National Tournament. Four Minutes of preparation time is allotted to each debater per debate. The focus of the debate is on the philosophical ramifications of affirming or negating the resolution.
* Policy Debate – Two-person, switch-side, cross-examination debate, with five minutes of preparation time per team, on the national topic.
* Public Forum Debate – A team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. The focus of the debate is a clash of ideas in a persuasive manner that can be understood by a "lay" judge. Side and speaking order are assigned to each team every round in order to ensure students have the opportunity to debate both sides of a topic.
* Student Congress – Mock legislative sessions where students debate bills and resolutions submitted by schools from participating dioceses.

National tournament sites

* 1952 Brooklyn, New York
* 1953 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* 1954 Cleveland, Ohio
* 1955 Brooklyn, New York
* 1956 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* 1957 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* 1958 Chicago, Illinois
* 1959 Washington, District of Columbia
* 1960 New York, New York
* 1961 Baltimore, Maryland
* 1962 Miami, Florida
* 1963 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* 1964 Denver, Colorado
* 1965 Brooklyn, New York
* 1966 Miami, Florida
* 1967 Camden, New Jersey
* 1968 Chicago, Illinois
* 1969 Washington, District of Columbia
* 1970 Miami, Florida
* 1971 New Orleans