OSDA FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Ohio Speech and Debate Association? 

A: It is a non-profit organization of high schools in Ohio which field a competitive forensic program. Public, private and parochial high schools are eligible to join. Junior high schools may join if ninth grade is "housed" in the junior high, but only ninth graders may compete. 

Q: Who runs the Association? 

A: A Board of Directors of twelve active coaches is elected by the head coaches of the member schools; this is a voluntary position with a term of office of three years. There is a part-time Executive Director who runs the day-to-day operation of the Association; the Executive Director is reimbursed for his/her expenses. 

Q: What is a forensic program? 

A: This activity involves four types of debate and nine types of speech events in competition among schools. Each coach determines for himself/herself what events he wants to coach; some schools just compete in debate, some just in speech events. 

Q: What are these events? 

A: The four types of debate are 2-Person Policy Debate; Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Public Forum Debate; and Congressional Debate. The nine types of Speech Events are International Extemporaneous Speaking; U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking; Original Oratory; Declamation; Informative Speaking; Duo Interpretation; Humorous Interpretation; Dramatic Interpretation; and Program Oral Interpretation. 

Q: Where can I find information about these events? 

A. Our Web site (under "Manuals") contains the OSDA Tournament Events Manual with descriptions of these categories and information on how to coach and judge these categories. Judge Ballots and Critique Sheets can be found under "Judging". The Association has a good network of coaches helping beginning coaches. The Association hosts an annual one-day coaches' workshop in the fall and, periodically, a longer summer workshop. 

Q: What costs are involved for the schools? 

A: Membership in the OSDA has an annual fee of $125, due by November 1 or before a team competes at its first OSDA tournament.  Each tournament requires a participation fee for each student; the tournament host sets those fees, anywhere from $3 per student at the beginning of the season to $17 for State Tournament. Coaches may have to pay their judges, either a negotiated flat fee or a per-round fee. Coaches may have to purchase materials for their teams or pay transportation costs to tournaments. These are the minimum expenses. (Note: Because of the OSDA Endowment Fund, it may be possible to waive the membership fees for the first year for a new school program.) 

Q: What kind of monetary support does the OSDA have? 

A: Membership fees provide the bulk of the budget for OSDA. There are also fees for the State Tournament. Individual donations can be made to the Endowment Fund, which was created to provide security for the Association, help new programs by paying their membership fees the first year, help existing programs that may have problems, and provide $100-scholarships to seniors at the State Tournament. 

Q: How does a school join the OSDA? 

A: Once the school board and principal give permission for a school to have a forensic program and select a coach, the coach can then go to the "Member Schools" link to learn more about applying for OSDA Membership through SpeechWire. There is also information regarding the OSDA New Program Grant on that page. 

Q: Where can I get more information? 

A: Contact Alan Bates, OSDA Board Chair. You may also contact any of the members of the Board of Directors listed on the "Leadership" page.