Starting a High School Debate Team: A Comprehensive Guide
Starting a high school debate team can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. It combines the thrill of competition, the development of real-world skills, and the sheer enjoyment of debating. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting your debate team up and running.
Permission and Sponsorship
The first step is to seek permission from the principal and find a group sponsor. Ideally, this would be an English teacher who has prior experience in debate. Having a faculty sponsor ensures that you have someone to turn to for advice and to help navigate any challenges that arise.
Recruitment and Membership
Next, recruit members who are interested in joining your debate team. Engage your peers by talking to your counselor and sharing your vision for the team. You can also ask students in your school if they are interested in starting a debate club. Once you have a core group, you can hold open meetings to attract more participants.
Practice and Competing
Ensure that you practice debating at your meetings. This will help you and your team members develop your argumentation skills and build confidence. Additionally, seek out opportunities to debate with other schools. This will not only enhance your skills but also introduce you to a broader network of debaters.
Registration and Associations
To compete with other schools, you'll need to register with a debate association. For the United States, the National Speech and Debate Association is the largest option. You can also look into county or state debate leagues and tournaments. In Michigan, the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association is a great starting point. This will provide structure and guidelines for your team's participation in regional and national competitions.
Ground Rules and Leadership
Establish clear ground rules for your team, including meeting times and frequencies, travel arrangements, and member fees. Appoint officers such as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer to help manage the team's operations. Regular meetings should be productive to maintain the team's seriousness and commitment. For example, instead of lengthy meetings that only passively convey information, use shorter, more focused sessions to discuss important matters like upcoming deadlines and schedules.
Commitment and Attendance
Commitment is key to the success of a debate team. While not every member will be consistently engaged, defining attendance expectations from the beginning can help maintain the team's quality. For instance, last year, your school's team was more lenient about attendance, which led to a decline in participation and a drop in the school's ranking. This year, implementing a membership application process is crucial to ensure that members are committed and that the team grows in quality rather than quantity.
Remember, a debate team requires hard work and dedication, but the rewards are immense. With the right preparation and commitment, your team can thrive and achieve great success. Good luck!