email : Webview : Online Nationals FAQ + Weekly Roundup

Check out new resources this week, Coach!

Read the 2020 Nationals FAQ

We know you have questions about how an online National Tournament will work! Check out answers to some of the most frequently asked questions here and stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Planning a Virtual Team Banquet

Looking for a way to wrap up your season online and celebrate your seniors? Check out our guide to virtual banquets including templates for team superlative certificates, gifts for seniors, and more here.

United States Extemp Final Round Breakdown

In these new videos, two-time national champion Jacqueline Wei breaks down her 2019 USX final round performance. She explains how she selected her attention grabbers, how she narrowed the focus of the question, linking humorous transitions to tags, retaining time, tightening structure, using casual vs. formal tone, making in-the-moment decisions, and more. Breakdowns are available for both beginner-level and advanced students.

National Tournament Hotel Room Cancellations

As the National Tournament moves online, all hotel reservations in the National Tournament hotel block have been cancelled by Catch Des Moines. As this was done prior to the April 22 deposit deadline, there will be no charges to method of payment on file. If you booked outside of the block, cancellation is your responsibility.

Final Round Watch Parties Continue

NSDA coach Renea L. Moss invites you and your students to join her weekly virtual NSDA Final Round Watch Parties. Students have the chance to learn directly from expert finalists by asking them questions.

Duo: Wednesday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. ET
POI: Thursday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. ET
Public Forum: Tuesday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. ET
Lincoln-Douglas: Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. ET

Advanced Public Speaking Activities

Students can improve their skills for public speaking events from home with this collection of activities and suggestions for classroom assessment. Check out two excerpts below!

Create a word bank of all of the emotions you want your audience to feel after your performance. This can also be words you want your audience to learn. Every day, take one of those words and highlight in your script where you think you are creating those emotions or that knowledge.
Go to a news source (online or in print) and find the article that least interests you or that you know the least about. Read it only once. Then, speak directly about it for 1-5 minutes counting your filler words. Work to reduce that number daily. Try recording your performance to gauge progress over time.

Access More Activities

Webinar: Creating a Library for Program Oral Interpretation

Get ahead for next year with the webinar on Creating a Library for Program Oral Interpretation. Learn strategies and suggestions for how to find and organize material that could be used in a program.

Now Open: Board of Directors and Hall of Fame Voting

Board of Directors » Help select the leaders of our organization! Each school shall vote for up to four candidates in our biennial Board of Directors election through the NSDA Voting section of an NSDA Account. Voting concludes May 1 and elected representatives shall serve from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2024. Read the statements from our seven candidates here. Your participation is important!

Hall of Fame » Current Hall of Fame members and active coaches with three or more diamonds may vote online to select this year's inductees to the Hall of Fame. To vote, log in to your Account and select NSDA Voting from the left side menu. Voting closes April 24.

April is Celebrate Diversity Month!

As you make plans to celebrate now or in the future, visit www.speechanddebate.org/inclusion to find all of our diversity and inclusion focused Extemp questions, Impromptu prompts, and Congress legislation. These resources are sourced from a variety of perspectives and are ever-evolving.

We continue to highlight the diversity of our membership with our monthly celebration series. Check out our latest collection for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May!

“Debate not only provided me the knowledge, skills, and guidance to question myself and the world around me, but also a community that I will cherish forever.” Ishan Bhatt St. Andrew's Episcopal School, MS – Class of 2019 2018 Lincoln-Douglas Debate champion

"In a world where women are told to be silent, speech and debate taught me to be unafraid of speaking up.” Jacqueline Wei Plano West Sr. High School, TX – Class of 2019 2018 and 2019 United States Extemp national champion

Recognition Rundown: District "of the Year" Award Nominations

Your district can name local winners for the awards below. When your chair submits the winners via this form, they are entered into the running for the national awards. Local deadlines vary, but chairs must report winners to us by May 1.

District High School Coach of the Year Award »
District New Coach of the Year Award »
District Assistant Coach of the Year Award »
District High School Administrator of the Year Award »
District Student of the Year Award »

Show Your Achievement. Celebrate All of Your Students' Accomplishments with Honor Society Insignia!

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