Points of InformationPOIs

Short questions or statements offered by the opposing team during the main constructive speeches.

• Duration & Timing: A POI may last up to 15 seconds. In WSDC, POIs may be offered between 1:00 and 7:00 of substantive speeches; in BP and AP, between 1:00 and 6:00. WSDC and AP reply speeches have no POIs.
• Purpose: Designed to force the speaker to respond to the idea presented.
• Expectations: The speaker decides which POIs to accept. In WSDC substantive speeches, accepting 1–2 POIs is generally expected. Under the WUDC 2027 Manual, each speaker must accept at least one POI when sufficient opportunities are offered; failure reduces credit for engagement but does not cause an automatic fourth (WUDC 2027 Manual, section 1.3). The UADC handbook recommends at least one per substantive speech; failure can reduce credit for engagement but does not automatically lose the round.
• Who may offer (AP): Government speakers offer POIs only to Opposition speakers and vice versa.
• Coded POIs (WUDC): a speaker must not reveal the content of a POI before it is accepted, apart from a point of clarification.