Speech and Debate Team Starter Kit: Coach Handbook, Meeting Agendas & More
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Quick overview
### About the Resource
The **Speech & Debate Team Starter Kit** is a comprehensive **Grades 9–12 Speech & Debate coaching resource** designed to help coaches establish, organize, and manage a successful high school forensics program.
The toolkit supports **team organization, event selection, weekly practice planning, speech and debate skill development, tournament preparation, judging training, recruitment, budgeting, and season-long program management**.
Product description
Start your speech and debate season with confidence! This comprehensive Speech and Debate Team Starter Kit provides new and seasoned coaches with everything needed to build, manage, and grow a successful high school forensics program. Forget spending months compiling forms and handbooks—this premium, print-and-go resource has it all.
``` Designed specifically for high school speech and debate coaches and advisors, this mega-resource includes a fully editable team handbook, 36 weeks of structured meeting agendas, 20 skill-building practice drills, a budget request template, tournament checklists, a judging training guide, and so much more. 📋 WHAT’S INCLUDED (100+ Pages of Premium Content): 1. Team Handbook (20+ Pages) A complete, customizable handbook covering team mission, code of conduct, speech & debate event overviews (PF, LD, Policy, Congress, OO, DI, HI, etc.), attendance policies, academic eligibility, dress code, parent communication guidelines, a comprehensive glossary, FAQ, and a signature acknowledgment page. 2. 36 Meeting Agenda Templates An entire season of structured 90-minute practice plans (Weeks 1–36)! Each agenda includes a weekly theme, objectives, group instruction topics, breakout session activities, and coach notes sections. Progresses logically from kickoff and event selection to championship prep and end-of-year wrap-up. 3. Event Calendar Planner A season-overview matrix, a blank monthly planning calendar, and a tournament date tracker to keep your team's schedule organized and communicate key dates to families. 4. 20 Practice Drill Library Targeted, skill-specific drills covering vocal delivery (One-Breath, Pen-in-Mouth), physical performance (Character Walk, Pop & Freeze), debate strategy (4-Step Refutation, Impact Calculus, Rapid-Fire CX), and extemporaneous speaking. Each drill includes an objective, time estimate, materials needed, step-by-step instructions, and a Coach's Pro-Tip. 5. Student Recruitment Flyer A premium, ready-to-print recruitment poster. Simply customize the bracketed placeholders with your school's info and post it in hallways to recruit your next team members! 6. Budget Request Template A detailed, line-item budget spreadsheet (pre-filled with common speech and debate expenses like NSDA memberships, tournament fees, and travel) and a justification narrative guide to help you secure funding from administration. 7. Tournament Preparation Checklist Never miss a detail with four comprehensive checklists: 2 Weeks Out, 1 Week Out, Day of the Tournament, and Post-Tournament. 8. Judging Training Guide A complete workshop for parent and community judges. Covers judging philosophy, speech vs. debate event criteria, speaker points rubric (1-30 scale), ballot writing do's and don'ts, and two practice scoring exercises to train your judges with confidence. 🎯 SKILLS COVERED: Public Speaking & Stage Presence Argumentation & Logical Reasoning (Claim-Warrant-Impact) Cross-Examination Techniques Research & Evidence Evaluation Extemporaneous Speaking Prep Interpretation & Character Development Refutation & Clash Time Management & Organization 🛠️ HOW TO USE: This resource is designed to be customized. Simply print the PDF and write in your specific details, or use a PDF editor (like Adobe Acrobat) or the Kami extension to type your school's name, dates, and coach information directly into the bracketed placeholders. Print the drills, agendas, and checklists as needed for each practice! 🎓 GRADE SUITABILITY: Specifically designed for Grades 9–12 (High School). The content, event overviews, and glossary terms align directly with NSDA (National Speech & Debate Association) high school competition rules and expectations. ```
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade levels is this Speech and Debate Team Starter Kit designed for?
It is specifically designed for high school students in Grades 9–12 and is intended for high school speech and debate coaches and advisors.
What is included in the Speech and Debate Team Starter Kit?
The 100+ page resource includes a 20+ page Team Handbook, 36 Meeting Agenda Templates, an Event Calendar Planner, 20 Practice Drills, a Student Recruitment Flyer, a Budget Request Template, Tournament Preparation Checklists, and a Judging Training Guide.
What does the Team Handbook cover?
The handbook includes the team mission, code of conduct, speech and debate event overviews, attendance policies, academic eligibility, dress code, parent communication guidelines, a glossary, FAQ, and signature acknowledgment page.
How many meeting agendas are included?
The kit includes 36 structured 90-minute meeting agendas covering a full season from kickoff and event selection through championship preparation and end-of-year wrap-up.
What types of practice drills are included?
The 20 drills cover vocal delivery, physical performance, debate strategy, and extemporaneous speaking. Examples include One-Breath, Pen-in-Mouth, Character Walk, Pop & Freeze, 4-Step Refutation, Impact Calculus, and Rapid-Fire CX.
What speech and debate events are addressed in the handbook?
The event overviews include PF, LD, Policy, Congress, OO, DI, HI, and other speech and debate events listed in the resource.
Does the kit include tournament-planning materials?
Yes. The Tournament Preparation Checklist includes checklists for 2 Weeks Out, 1 Week Out, Day of the Tournament, and Post-Tournament.
Does the resource include judging training materials?
Yes. The Judging Training Guide covers judging philosophy, speech versus debate criteria, a 1–30 speaker points rubric, ballot-writing guidance, and two practice scoring exercises.
Can the materials be customized?
Yes. The resource is designed to be customized using the bracketed placeholders. The description also states that a PDF editor such as Adobe Acrobat or the Kami extension can be used to enter school-specific details.
What skills are covered?
Students develop public speaking and stage presence, argumentation and logical reasoning, cross-examination, research and evidence evaluation, extemporaneous speaking, interpretation and character development, refutation and clash, and time management and organization.
Can the kit support both new and experienced coaches?
Yes. The resource is explicitly described as being designed for both new and seasoned high school speech and debate coaches and advisors.
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