The Essay, and Music events are scheduled to take place online on Feb. 9-10 (with practice sessions scheduled for Feb. 5-6). The remainder of the written tests will be administered in-person at Kennesaw State University on Friday afternoon, Feb 27. Speech, Interview, and Super Quiz will take place in-person at Kennesaw State University on Feb. 28.
2025-2026 Scores
Click here for Round 2 Scores
Click here for Round 1 Scores
2025-26 State Competition Registration Paperwork
(All of these documents have been updated.)
State Competition Team Memo – Please read this memo carefully and in its entirety before proceeding.
Code of Student Conduct, Dress Code, General Rules – pages 71-75 of State Competition section in Coaches Manual – Answers to many frequently asked questions can be found in these documents. Students will have to acknowledge that they’ve read these documents.
All of the forms that need to be returned are either online forms or have been uploaded as Word, .pdf or Excel documents. Save them to your computer, sign (e-signatures are allowed) and return them. Please type directly on the forms whenever possible.
These TWO documents are due by Jan. 28, 2026.
Team Registration – Online form
Team Roster – Excel spreadsheet with 2 tabs – This is NOT the same as the Round 1/2 spreadsheets. Save to your computer, then complete BOTH tabs, save again and email to State Director. Be sure to include the Head Coach cell phone number and pronunciation for any difficult names. You do not need to add pronunciation for commonly known names.
These linked documents are due by Feb. 2, 2026 or the date on the form.
State Coaches’ Agreement – Online form
USAD Coaches page - Scroll down to the GPA Calculation box on the right – (includes training, sample and the GPA Transcript Evaluation Worksheet).
GPA Transcript Evaluation Worksheet (You can download using this link or from the page referenced above) – transcripts/report cards MUST accompany these worksheets. Please send the actual spreadsheet and not a pdf of it. I have to verify them and having the actual spreadsheet makes it much easier!
Student Registration and Parent Permission Form - complete and return one for EVERY team member who will be participating in State Competition (even alternates if they will be traveling with your team)
Request for Special Needs/Consideration – pdf (only return this if applicable)
Request for Student Replacement – pdf (complete and this form if a student you listed on your Team Roster isn’t able to participate)
GAD Banquet Reservation Form - pdf. Form due by Feb 12. No tickets can be purchased/refunded after this date. See form for additional information.
T-shirt Orders - All teams receiving a State bid will be able to order up to 15 shirts at no cost. Additional shirts will be billed at $10 each. Orders must be placed by Feb 9.
Car Parking Instructions and KSU Bus Drop-off and Parking Instructions - pdf written directions and map
Embassy Suites Banquet Bus Parking Instructions - pdf written directions and map Buses cannot enter the Embassy Suites parking lot. There is overflow parking behind the hotel, across Town Park Ln. Buses will need to park in the overflow lot.
Hotel Accommodations: There is no specific hotel block this year. You may stay at any local hotel you wish.
State Competition Schedules - This info is in the process of being updated. Underlined links are current.
2026 State Competition Schedule - click to download - THIS IS CURRENT FOR 2026
2026 State teams with ID numbers and Division assignments - click to download
SAMPLE Speech and Interview 2025 Schedules - 2 separate documents, 1 for Speech, 1 for Interview - THESE ARE SAMPLE SCHEDULES FROM LAST YEAR
SAMPLE 2025 GAD Competition Handbook - you will receive copies of this for every member of the team in your check-in packet when you arrive on Friday. THIS IS A SAMPLE FROM LAST YEAR
Essay and Online Testing at State Competition
Essay, and Music practice login and testing takes place two or three weeks prior to competition. Coaches, be sure to read over ALL of the below instructions and everything we will email to you. Practice logins may take place any time from 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, through 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6. The Round 3/State Official Essay and Music test window will be open on Monday, Feb. 9, and Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. GAD recommends coaches plan to test on Monday in case there are any issues. The remainder of the Subject Area Tests will be completed at KSU on Friday, Feb 27. All students will need to bring their own device. Alternates may participate in the Essay, and Music tests. Only official team members will complete the remaining tests on site.
Instructions, logins and passwords will be emailed to District Coordinators and Coaches. District Coordinators and/or Coaches are responsible for making sure proctors and students have all of the necessary paperwork. Please give your IT department enough time to ensure that there will be no problems during testing.
A coach CANNOT proctor the Online portion of competition. A Coach may assist with the practice login and should be present as the students are arriving and logging in on competition day but must LEAVE the room prior to testing. Coaches should be available to the Proctor in case of any questions and to sign the Proctor Certification Form after testing is completed.
While the practice session can be done by decathletes at any point during the practice window, your ENTIRE team must take the Tests and write their Essays at the SAME time. There are no make-up dates for these tests. The Proctor should address any technical difficulties as soon as possible by calling one of the support numbers provided on the emailed instructions.
Division Assignments
All schools advancing to state competition will be divided into two groups based on scores in Round 2: Division I (higher), and Division II (lower). This division configuration mirrors how USAD will assign divisions at Nationals.
Following all competitive events at state competition, a championship team in each division will be identified. The division champion will be determined as the team with the highest total score for all ten events. The two team members having the highest score in each category (Honor, Scholastic, and Varsity) will be counted into the team’s total score for all 10 events.
The overall championship team is the team with the highest team score. This team will be crowned the State Champion and the recipient of the Howard Stroud trophy. They will earn the privilege of representing Georgia at the USAD National Finals. The team with the second highest score will also get a bid to go to Nationals. The next two highest scoring teams that are in a different USAD Size Division than our State Champ will ALSO get bids to go to face-to-face Nationals! All National teams will be placed in divisions based on their State scores. All teams at Nationals will be in the running for ALL overall awards.
State Champion schools advancing to national competition will be divided into five divisions based on their State scores: Division I (highest) through Division V (lowest). Team numbers and Division placement will be posted below after all teams have registered for Nationals.
Three additional teams will be tapped to represent Georgia in the USAD Online Large, Medium, and Small school Nationals. The highest scoring teams based on USAD sizes who haven't already gotten an invitation to face-to-face Nationals will get these bids.
Individuals will be invited to attend in-person Nationals from Georgia teams who did NOT qualify for a National competition. The number of people we can include will be determined by USAD. Invitations will be extended ASAP after State Competition.