2026 Silicon Valley Spark

Event Details:

• Dates: Jan. 30-31, 2026.
  • To better support families who compete in only one area, debate and speech will be held on separate days.
  • Friday, Jan. 30: TP/LD debate
  • Saturday, Jan. 31: Speech
• Location: West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
• This is a qualifying Stoa speech tournament, hosted by Clash Debate Club and Legacy Speech Club. All competitors must meet Stoa Eligibility Rules and be members of Stoa.

Students will speak to Community and Alumni Judges:

We aim to recruit around 160 community judges so that students have the chance to make an impact on people outside of the Stoa community. We want the tournament to run on time so that these valued volunteers aren't waiting around for rounds to start.

Please invite anyone who can serve as a judge! We especially need judges for Sat 1/31, for Speech. Judges can sign up by clicking "Community and Alumni Judges" on this website or go here : https://bit.ly/SV-Spark-2026

Please help our tournament run on time!

Students

• Check in with a parent or responsible adult who will judge: 7-7:25 am. After 7:25 am, students risk forfeiting the first round. If you are going to be late or need to drop last minute, please text Sarah Hong at this number: (650) 996-8721‬
• Get to your rooms promptly to avoid delays and keep rounds running efficiently! Don't keep judges waiting.

Parents: 

• Come to Ballot Push 40 minutes before rounds start, and be ready to judge at least 3 rounds each day! Your availability will help us start rounds on time.
• Please wait at Ballot Push, because we will prioritize giving ballots to Community Judges first. We will especially need parents for the first round and final round, when there may be fewer community judges.
• Plan meals for every family member. The college has reconfigured, so the Judge Lounge will be in a different location than last year, in a large classroom. Hospitality offerings will be limited to snacks. For solid meals, please order a meal or bring your own food. We'd like everyone to stay on campus to keep the tournament rolling. Tasty meals are available to order from Lee's Sandwiches, Orange Square, and Chicken Meets Rice!

Debate: Friday, Jan. 30

• Team Policy Debate
• Lincoln Douglas Debate

Speech: Saturday, Jan. 31

• Students are responsible for getting to events on time. Judges will not wait more than 10 minutes for the last speech in the room. 
• The Patterns were updated 12/19/2025. Students can register for a max of 3 events per pattern.

Pattern A (updated 12/19/2025)

• Apologetics
• Expository
• Extemporaneous
• Humorous Interpretation
• Original Oratory
• Slam Poetry

Pattern B (updated 12/19/2025)

• Duo Interpretation
• Dramatic Interpretation
• Impromptu
• Mars Hill
• Original Interpretation
• Persuasive

Registration

Before registering, read info tabs on this website, including Script Submission.

• Opens: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, 9 am PT
• Closes: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, 9 pm PT
• Meal orders: due Wednesday Jan. 21, 9 pm.
• Read Tab on Script Submission for dates and late fees for Script Submission.
• Fees: $45 per debate event, $30 per speech event
• Beginning Monday Jan. 5, 3 pm
  • Unpaid registrations dropped
  • No refunds
  • Fee of $20 per dropped event

Waitlists

• If an event shows as waitlist-only, please register under the waitlist, and we will open spaces if possible.

Questions?

• Registration questions: legacyregistrar@gmail.com.
• Script submission questions: script.siliconvalley.spark@gmail.com
• Community judge questions: judges.sv@legacyspeechclub.com
• Other questions: svspark.tournament@gmail.com 
• For last minute drops or late arrivals, text Sarah Hong at (650) 996-8721‬

Thank you!
Silicon Valley Spark Tournament Team