What is Bid in debate?

The Tournament of Champions (TOC) at the University of Kentucky is the national championship of the competitive circuit, and to enter you need bids, earned by reaching designated elimination rounds at selective tournaments. Each tournament has a bid level (finals, semis, quarters, octas) that sets how deep you have to advance. Chasing bids shapes the national-circuit season, and two bids qualify a team. For most debaters it’s healthier to treat bids as something that follows skill: train, and qualification takes care of itself.