Check out what's new this week, Coach!

Congratulations to Our Keith West Memorial Fund Grant Recipients

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Keith West Memorial Fund School Grants!

Congratulations to these teams—we can't wait to learn about the impact they make this year in speech and debate.

Read the Competition Rules Board Meeting Minutes

The Competition Rules Board of Directors met on November 13. Decisions included:

• Reaffirmation of existing rules regarding World Schools Invitational advancement procedures and the NSDA Online Schools District.
• The September/October topic release date for Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas will be moved to August 1, 2024. Voting will occur July 25-31.
• A plan to survey and pilot allowing students to use a notecard while speaking in Limited Preparation events in 2024-2025.
• Endorsement to explore an additional online qualification opportunity in 2024-2025 to supplement district tournaments and the Last-Chance Qualifier.

Six Tips for Effective Crossfire from a Public Forum Champion 

In this short video, national champion Cornelia Fraser takes beginner students through her six tips for an effective crossfire. Share the video with your students or incorporate it into your lesson plans! This video is included in Lesson 5 of Start Here: Teaching Middle School Public Forum. 

Have Your Students Contribute to our MLK Day Video

Encourage your students to join us in commemorating MLK Day on January 15 by lending their voices to a unique project. They can record a section of his iconic speech, "What is your life's blueprint?" and be a crucial part of a collective tribute honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. All students are welcome to participate! Share the script and guidelines with them, and make sure their videos are uploaded by December 8 »

Prepare Your Pitch for an Assistant Coach

If you're running your team on your own and in need of support, our new NSDA Learn course can help you make the pitch for an assistant coach! Explore how to use the length of your season, the size of your program, parity with other activities, and your achievements to craft your ask. Enroll today for free or bookmark it to revisit ahead of the next budgeting season! 

Submit Nominations for Coach, Admin, and Student Awards

Middle School (National) » Recognize a coach or administrator who champions speech and debate! Nominations for these national-level awards are due May 1.

Middle School Coach of the Year Award »

Middle School Administrator of the Year Award »

High School (District to National) » Each winner of the following district awards is automatically entered into the running for the national-level award when reported by your district chair. This is a special way to recognize excellence, offer a boost to new or rarely celebrated members, and uplift the members of your community who make speech and debate great. 

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 »

District deadlines vary, so be sure to check with your local leadership about when nominations are due. District chairs must report district winners to us by April 16 for national award consideration!

Prepare to Engage and Mentor Your Students

Enroll in free, self-paced online courses and prepare to engage and mentor LGBTQ+ students, Black/African American students, and students with disabilities, as well as build a team that prevents bullying and harassment. Use these tools to provide a safe, welcoming, and educational environment for your students! 

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

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