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Read the Latest Rostrum

The latest issue of Rostrum shares stories about speech and debate at every age, from middle school to retirement communities! In the coach profile Answering the Call, NSDA coach Ethan Gambriel shares some of his games for engaging middle school students. 

Statues in the Garden

What it builds: Physicality, commitment, nonverbal storytelling

How to play:

1. Call out a prompt (fear, victory, jealousy, pride, embarrassment).
2. Students freeze into a statue showing that idea.
3. Walk around the room like a museum curator.
4. Tap a few students on the shoulder and ask them to come to life for five seconds with sound or movement.
5. Reset and repeat.

Telley Changer

What it builds: Character creation, physical awareness, improv skills

How to play:

1. Put students in small groups (3-6).
2. Two students start by acting out a scene. The audience gives them the first genre: cooking show, telenovela, Olympics, a documentary, reality television, etc.
3. One student is the “changer” and gets to say “SWITCH!” when they want to change the channel. 
4. Groups act a new scene in the new genre!

Check out the full issue for more games, as well as resources, spotlights, and more. 

Meet the 2026-2027 Student Leadership Council

We're excited to announce the 26 students who will serve on the Student Leadership Council next year! These students were nominated by their districts and selected by the NSDA team to develop resources, support student access, create content, and provide feedback throughout the year to improve the student experience. 

NEW: Intro to Tournaments Course

This course introduces new coaches to what to expect at speech and debate tournaments, from practicing calculating their entry fees and reading sample schematics to how elimination rounds may work. Take the free course or share it with an assistant coach who may benefit as they learn the ropes! Stay tuned for more resources like this for new coaches this summer. 

Policy Debate Champion Q&A

Join us April 27 at 8:00 p.m. CT for a special Champion Q&A featuring the 2025 Policy Debate national champions! In this session, Jordan Yao and Dylan Liu will share insights into their journey to the national title, what it takes to succeed in Policy, and advice for competitors looking to adapt at Nationals. Share this session with your Policy students!

Submitting Accommodation Requests for Nationals

We’re committed to making the National Tournament accessible for all participants. If you anticipate needing ADA accommodations, we encourage you to submit your request as soon as possible—early notice makes a big difference. 

Last Chance: Apply for Team Support to Attend Nationals

Is your team planning to attend Nationals and in need of support to make it happen? Apply for a grant from the Road to Nationals Fund by tomorrow, April 22!

These grants support high school teams who need financial assistance and can be used for food, travel, and lodging expenses. Grants range from $100 to $1,000, with average grants of $500. 

Prepay for Your 2026-2027 NSDA Membership

You can now prepay for next year's membership! With the new flat fee membership model, your $349 membership includes unlimited student and coach membership and all NSDA materials—no Resource Package needed! When you prepay, your account will be credited and you can apply it beginning in August. To generate an invoice to prepay: 

1. Log in to your Account.
2. Visit the School Purchases tab.
3. Toggle on Prepaid school membership dues for next year. 
4. Select Create Invoice and Proceed to Checkout. 
5. Pay the invoice by credit card, ACH payment, purchase order, or check. Please note: Prepaid memberships are not refundable or transferable. The credits must be used for the type of membership indicated at checkout, not other team expenses. 

Share Your Plans for Next Year

Are you retiring? Leaving coaching? Changing schools? If you're making a change for the 2026-2027 school year, share the details with us! That way we can continue to support your speech and debate program by advocating for or onboarding your replacement. 

Questions? We're here to help! Email info@speechanddebate.org or call (920) 748-6206.