IDEA has created DebateTracker to allow students, coaches, judges and trainers to track their achievements in speech, debate and community service. DebateTracker will also allow clubs and debate associations to track their members. As individuals and organizations accumulate more points they become eligible for seals of excellence and certificates which can be printed directly from your computer. DebateTracker's also has a function called ideaFinder also allows you to see where you or your club stands in the global debate community.

I. How do you get started in DebateTracker?

Step 1: Create a login
Under the Log In button, click Register Now and fill out the form. Note, we are asking for your date of birth so that we can distinguish between under 18 year old students and over 18 as well as identify you in the event that you forget your password and or login.

Step 2: Check your email
You will be sent an email with a link in it, follow this link to set up your account. You will be asked questions at this point but don't worry, you can always change your answers later.

Step 3: Login in to DebateTracker
Log into your account! If you have signed up as a coach, judge or a trainer you will need to be approved the association that you are a member of (or by IDEA if you registered as unaffiliated).

* If you are a coach who wants to enter in a club you may do so as soon as your coach status is approved.

DebateTracker is intended to grow with students throughout their debate career. A student may start as a high school debater, then move onto University debate and then become a coach. It is possible for one person to maintain many roles within the system ­ for example, someone can be a student, coach, judge and trainer all at the same time. It is also possible for a coach to coach more than one team.

II. How do DebateTracker points work?

Points are assigned to students when they debate, participate in speech events or do community service. Coaches receive points based on the number of points their students get. Clubs receive points based on the number of points their coaches get. Judges receive points based on the number of rounds they judge and trainers receive points based on the number of hours they train. Clubs receive points from their affiliated coaches and judges. Associations receive points from their affiliated clubs and trainers.

When students participate in an event they will go on-line, login to DebateTracker and enter their points and information about the event. Once they submit their points they will get a message that says: "Your new points will show up once they are approved by your coach." The next time the coach logs onto DebateTracker there will be a section that says "Students Awaiting Approval" - they will click on each student, review their points and approve or reject. If the student has made a mistake and coach chooses to reject their points, the coach will have an opportunity to write them a message explaining why they were rejected.

Judges and Trainers receive points instantly when they enter in the amount of rounds they judged our hours they trained. Coaches receive points

Seals of Excellence

Students can receive points from participating in judged events (that includes sanctioned events and non-sanctioned events) and community service. To have an event sanctioned, go to the Events section of the website and submit your event - your event will be reviewed by IDEA and will either be approved for sanctioning or not sanctioned. You should enter ALL events into the events calendar whether or not you choose to apply for sanctioning.

To receive a seal of excellence, students must secure points in both categories of judged events and community service - a seal of excellence can only be awarded if no more than 60% of the DebateTracker points come from judged events. Thus for the 100 points required for a bronze seal of excellence at least 40 should be from community service.

Community service is voluntary (unpaid) work or services that benefit a school, club or wider community. The purpose of community service is two fold: to widen perspectives and knowledge and to provide stronger ties with the environment in which the debate club is functioning as well as in society at large. Community service that is mandated (by the school, for example) is not considered community service is DebateTracker. Community service can include: working for the school, working for the club, participating in non-competitive and public speech and debate events that occur outside tournaments and working in the community by volunteering with community organizations or other institutions. Students get 3 points per hour of community service. Students may input up to 300 community service hours a year (which would be 900 points).

The breakdown of the three types of activities is as follows:

3. For Community Service, 3 points will be awarded per hour of activity.

Seals of Excellence (for students, coaches, judges, trainers, clubs and associations)

100 points = bronze seal
250 points = silver seal
500 points = gold seal
1,000 points = double gold seal
1,500 points = triple gold seal

III. Affiliation

Anyone can create a login on DebateTracker however to receive points for your activity you must be affiliated or request to be unaffiliated. IDEA staff will enter in all Associations - both voting, non voting and other debate associations that are not members of IDEA. Coaches will enter in their club and request to affiliate with an Association. The Association will then get a message to approve the club as a member of its Association. Finally, debaters enter in their own information and request to become members of a club. Coaches will then get a message to approve the debater in their club.

Unaffiliated Clubs and Students
IDEA recognizes that there may be clubs in countries that do not have Associations. Coaches of these clubs should enter in their information and request to become a club that is not affiliated with any Association. Points for these clubs will be reviewed by IDEA. Students can also request to join as an unaffiliated student however it is not possible for these students to receive points.

Affiliating with several organizations
Clubs may affiliate with more than one organization though must select one organization as their primary affiliation. The primary affiliation is the only organization that will get points based on that club.