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Beginning 8/26, team meetings are Tuesdays from 3:45-4:45 in W129.
Our Goals for Participants
To become confident, eloquent, and informed public speakers
To improve critical thinking and civil discourse skills
To engage in higher level thinking through learning philosophy, recognizing fallacies, etc.
To attend regular practices and compete in tournaments when possible
To ensure FUN for all through the development of good relationships with teammates and debate communities both locally and nationally
To promote cooperative work habits
To build tolerance for various viewpoints and learn to disagree respectfully
What to Expect
What happens at tournaments:
Leaving/Returning- A typical high school-sponsored tournament begins after school. The debate team usually travels to other schools and, depending upon the location, usually leaves around 1:30pm for area competitions. Students must submit a signed permission slip in order to leave school. We usually do not return until near midnight. We will typically leave again around 6:30am the following Saturday morning and return around 4:00pm. These times will vary for each individual tournaments.
Divisions- Students debate in different divisions. First-year debate students start in the “novice” division. Tournaments also may include Junior Varsity and Varsity divisions. The number of debaters who may compete in Varsity Debate is limited and the coach may determine attendance.
Rounds- At most tournaments, students debate at least four rounds. Students who “break”, or make it into final rounds, will debate additional rounds. Those who don’t break should stay and support teammates who do. Although rounds are supposed to end by 10pm, this is often not the case. Rounds often run late on Friday night, start again by 8am Saturday, and continue through Saturday night’s award ceremony that follows the end of rounds. For local tournaments, the team travels back and forth each day. For out of town tournaments, students stay overnight, in hotels with chaperones.
Food- Students are responsible for their own food and should be provided with money or food for each tournament. Tournaments are very demanding and food (especially healthy food) is often not available. Parent volunteers for assistance with food at tournaments are greatly appreciated!
The Typical Debate Year
For most varsity participants, the debate season begins in the summer when they attend various debate camps around the country. As soon as school convenes in August, debaters meet to share their evidence, build cases, and attend after school practices once a week.
The tournament season for LISD usually begins in September. There are on average 8-12 tournaments, usually once or twice a month ending in February. The debate season may be longer for the team’s top competitors who may attend at least one national tournament and, if they qualify, the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Tournament, the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament (Nationals) and/or the Tournament of Champions (TOC).
To qualify for the TFA State Tournament, most debaters must win “state points” at tournaments throughout the season.
To qualify for Nationals, debaters must win a “berth” at the National qualifying tournament. The coach can select only 4 debaters from the school to compete.
To qualify for TOC, debaters must win two “TOC bids”, which are given out at certain tournaments to debaters who reach a specified level.
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