How to Become a High School Debate Coach

High school debate is an exciting way to learn about public policy.

Being a high school debate coach is a rewarding way to help students learn about public speaking, politics, policy and current events. A high school debate coach not only helps students learn the rules of debate, but teaches them how to find resources about the topics debated and guides them in speaking clearly and concisely to judges. Although it is helpful to have a background in debate to coach it, it is not necessary.

Instructions

1. Learn about the rules and regulations of high school debate. Most public high school debate teams belong to the National Forensic League (NFL) which establishes the rules and topics for high school debating.

2. Take education classes through the National Forensics League or through a number of debate coach camps available. Camps or workshops are available during the summer and other selected times of the year. The workshops can get a new coach familiar with policy and parliamentary debate as well as Lincoln-Douglas and other popular formats.

3. Find a high school that does not have a debate team and ask to start one or look for a school that needs a debate coach. Starting a debate team requires not only administrative time to get a team admitted to the National Forensics League and on the calendar of events, but also time to recruit new debaters to the team.

4. Become a member of the National Forensics League. If you were a member of the league as a student yourself, then you still have a membership, even if you haven't done anything with it in many years. Contact the National Forensics League and ask to reactivate your membership as a coach. The league will send you the paperwork necessary to become an active coach. If you are starting a new team or have never coached before, you will need to begin accumulating points. You need 25 points to start your membership. Coaches earn 1/10 of a student's earned points. You must also pay a one-time fee of $15, as of August 2011.

References

• National Forensic League: NFL Membership Levels
• International Debate Education Association: About
• National Forensic League: Coach Workshops