Print Article
The 2005 National Debate Coaches Association was a notable success. The convention was held on April 1, in conjunction with Woodward Academy’s Junior Varsity and Novice National Championships in Atlanta, GA.
A range of panels were offered to students and coaches, including one on the 2005-2006 Civil Rights topic. Several of the panel discussions focused on critical arguments in both policy and Lincoln-Douglas. Students were offered panels on debating in college and how to judge novice debates. Attendance at the convention set record numbers – over 130 students and coaches participated. I want to extend a special thank you to our convention host, Frank Seaver, and to the individuals that served as panel discussants.
One of the primary purposes of the National Debate Coaches Association is to provide avenues for encouraging participation in debate. The mission of the organization when it was originally founded was to promote coach retention and education. That mission continues today – it is evident in our drive for teacher scholarships to attend institutes, our judge philosophy database, and our programs to further professional development. The NDCA is an outstanding resource for coaches, at any experience level, to gain further knowledge about coaching debate and maintaining a program, regardless of debate style or competitive level.
The NDCA Convention strives to fulfill the organization’s dual mission by providing panels that assist coaches in furthering their education about high school debate. The Convention is also a template to facilitate regional conventions to assist educating coaches on a local level. These forums can be especially valuable since they target the diverse needs of the various regions of debate. Local conventions are nearly a necessity for new coaches as they try to carve out a place in this activity and to keep their specific programs going.
We participate in the greatest extra-curricular activity for high school students in America. As coaches, we understand the important skills that students develop when they participate in forensics. As active participants in this community, our education should continue as our activity continues to evolve. We can continually learn and grow from others. The NDCA urges its members to create regional conventions to serve that purpose. Panels on debate theory, such as topic discussions or the evolving nature of specific types of debate arguments, can be employed. Having a forum for discussion about formulating and understanding specific rules and procedures about debate in your area can translate into healthier competitions. Workshops for young coaches are a necessity. Providing information about professional resources and organizations that are available to them as well as advice on how to manage a program are invaluable.
The NDCA is committed to providing an organization on a national level to make these missions a reality. However, our vision does not end there. We hope that individuals in attendance at the convention gained an understanding of the importance of these types of workshops and took home ideas of how to create forums for discussion in their own areas.
The 2006 NDCA Convention will be held on March 30 in conjunction with the Woodward Academy Junior Varsity and Novice National Championships in Atlanta, GA. Individuals that have panel ideas or that are interested in being a discussant on a panel should email Tara Tate at ttate@glenbrook.k12.il.us. Individuals that have questions or would like suggestions about how to create a workshop or convention in their area should contact Tara Tate or any member of the NDCA Executive Board.
The NDCA is committed to making our vision for this profession become a reality. We derive strength and influence from numbers. To become a member of the NDCA, please visit our website at www.thendca.com.
(Tara Tate, director of debate at Glenbrook South HS (IL). Tara serves on the Executive Board of the National Debate Coaches Association and serves as the coordinator of the NDCA Convention.)
