FAQ
You have questions, we have answers.
Why should I (or my child) participate in Speech & Debate?
What is participation in Speech & Debate going to cost my family?
What is the time commitment?
As a parent, what is expected of me?
How do I access the online content on speechanddebate.org?
- Speech & Debate is one of the most challenging and rewarding activities you can participate in during your high school years. No matter the event a student is competing in, he or she will gain valuable skills that will serve him or her well beyond high school. Speech & Debate students develop strong communication skills (such as speaking and active listening), exercise critical thinking and problem solving skills, utilize deep analytic skills, and learn necessary organizational skills. Additionally, competitors learn and develop interpersonal skills through their membership in the team.
What is participation in Speech & Debate going to cost my family?
- The activity fee for 2014-2015 is TBD. For 2013-2014, it was $25/semester; however, this is likely to see an increase next year due to the increasing cost of tournament entry fees. However, your family's financial situation should not deter you from participating. If your family has concerns, please talk to Ms. M--we will find other options to help you out.
- New members are required to pay their $15 NFL membership fee once they earn their membership. This is a one time fee.
- There may be optional costs throughout the year for things such as team shirts. Ms. M does her best to shop around for the best price. If you sign up for one of the optional purchases, you will be expected to pay for it.
- Additionally, our team has a strict "drop" fee policy--if you sign up for a tournament, you are making a commitment to it and the team is paying your entry fee. If you must drop out from the tournament after the final drop deadline, you are responsible for paying the drop fee, which is usually double the cost of your entry. At the end of each semester, any unpaid fees will be turned over to the bookkeeper and placed on your student account.
What is the time commitment?
- You will get as much out of Speech & Debate as you put into it. There will be weekly team meetings in addition to after-school practice time. If you are competing at a tournament, you must practice with Ms. M at least once in the week leading up to the tournament. The more you practice, the better you become.
- Here's an outline of our competitive season:
August/September: Prepare for the season--pick events and prepare pieces/cases. Varsity members mentor Novice members.
October: Novice tournaments--Varsity competitors judge and mentor. Prepare for Varsity competitions.
November - February: Varsity tournaments--everyone is eligible for competition. Our team will attend two tournaments per month--you are not required to attend them all.
March: Regional & State Tournaments
April: National Qualifying Tournament
June: National Tournament - Tournaments are LONG days. You should plan on being at a tournament from 7 AM to 8 PM, though they typically run behind schedule. Bring homework and snacks--you'll have downtime.
As a parent, what is expected of me?
- Your support of your child's participation in Speech & Debate is vital for his or her success. We do not have a bus, so you are responsible for arranging your child's transportation to and from tournaments (Ms. M cannot drive students nor can she arrange carpools for them. However, you may make your arrangements with other parents as needed).
- Additionally, we can always use volunteers and judges at tournaments. Click here for ways you can help.
How do I access the online content on speechanddebate.org?
- Our team has purchased the Team Resource Package, which gives all students affiliated with our team access to all of the National Speech & Debate Association's online resources, ranging from videos of final rounds to extended topic analysis. Make sure you write down your username and password to log in in the future! If you haven't done so already, please follow the instructions below from the National Speech & Debate Association's FAQs:
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO WALKTHROUGH
To create a login as a student on the speechanddebate.org site:- Go to www.speechanddebate.org/aspx/my/signup.aspx to start the registration process.
- Select "Student" as your role in the dropdown
- A new drop-down will appear. Select your state/country.
- Choose high school or middle school
- Select your school
- Select your name (Note: You must already be affiliated with your school--see your coach if your name is not listed.)
- Fill out required fields and click continue
- Select desired membership type and click continue
- If the membership type selected requires a payment, please fill in required information to complete the transaction. If the membership does not require a payment click continue
- Double check that the entered information is correct and click continue.
- To activate your account please check your email for an activation email. (Note: If you do not receive the activation email, please check your spam folder. If you still do not see the email, please contact [email protected] for additional assistance).
