Adjudication

Adjudicator Certification

YODL strives to offer the highest-quality adjudication for their events.  To that end, we require all Adjudicators participating in YODL events to have completed YODL Adjudicator Certification.

The certification process is grounded in the YODL Adjudication Guide and is completed by successfully passing a quiz on the basics of British Parliamentary debate, management of a debate round and the YODL-recommended approach to determining the outcome of the debate.  Once the basic certification is achieved, individuals may opt to apply for Chair status by submitting a summary of their experience and accomplishments.

Adjudication Certification Policies

1. All adjudicators participating at a YODL event must be certified.

2. Certification is defined as achieving a score of 85% (30 of 35 questions answered correctly) on the certification test.

3. In the event that a judge doesn’t successfully pass the certification quiz, the quiz may be repeated until the adjudicator passes the test.

4. “Chair” designation may be granted to certified adjudicators based on an assessment of qualifying material, including but not limited to experience, education, previous advancement to Chair-level judging, etc.  Such material may be submitted simultaneously with the completion of the certification quiz or any time after.

5. Certification is indefinite and needn’t be renewed except as may be determined by the YODL director.

6. Certification and/or Chair designation does not guarantee that any adjudicator will be utilized in a YODL competition.

7. The YODL director reserves the following rights:

   1. To revoke certification for an adjudicator at any time;

   2. To revoke and/or designate particular adjudicators as “Chair”-level adjudicators;

   3. To modify the certification quiz and require previously-certified judges to complete the test again;

   4. To grant exemptions to any of these policies.