Coaching by occasionAges 12–19
Speech & Debate Competition Prep
Walk into the round with a plan, not just nerves
A first tournament, or a big one, changes what a student needs: not general confidence work but event-specific preparation. What does this event reward, what will the judges be listening for, and is the material drilled deeply enough to survive nerves? Our coaches have competed and adjudicated at national and international level, and competition prep runs the way they prepared themselves: build and polish the material, then run judged practice rounds until the real one feels familiar. This page is for a specific competition date; students who want to compete season-round should look at the Competitive Speaker & Debate program.
- When families come
- 2–8 weeks before the tournament
- Usual format
- 1-on-1 or small group
- Ages
- Ages 12–19
- Cost to start
- Free consultation
What the coaching works on
What actually decides it
Event strategy
What this event and its judges actually reward, from a coach who has competed or adjudicated in it
Material to standard
The prepared speech or case built, cut to time, and polished until it competes, rather than merely finishes
Impromptu and extemp method
A repeatable prep routine for limited-preparation events, so an unseen prompt is a process instead of a panic
Judged practice rounds
Full rounds under tournament conditions with real adjudication, because the tenth run-through is where composure comes from
The plan
How we use the time
First session
Scout the event
Coach and student map the event, the field, and the judging standard, then set the prep plan backward from the tournament date.
Middle weeks
Build and drill
Material is written, cut, and drilled; limited-prep students run their method on fresh prompts every session.
Final week
Full dress rounds
Complete rounds at tournament pace with judge feedback, plus the day-of routine: warm-up, nerves, and what to do between rounds.
Where it lives
The programs that fit
Competitive Speaker & Debate
Ages 14–18The season-round home for competitors: weekly rounds, event craft, and a rising standard between tournaments.
Explore Competitive Speaker1-on-1 Private Coaching
Ages 11–19For a near-term tournament date, focused 1-on-1 prep is the fastest way to get material and method ready.
Explore 1-on-1 CoachingStart tonight, free
Guides and printables for this
Good to know
Parents ask us
Which competitions do you prepare students for?
Prepared speech events like original oratory and informative, limited-prep events like impromptu and extemp, and debate formats. Tell us the tournament and event in the consultation and we will match a coach who knows it.
My child has never competed. Is a tournament realistic?
Often more realistic than families expect, especially at local and novice tournaments built for first-timers. Part of what we do is help choose an event and a tournament where a first outing goes well enough to want a second.
What is the difference between this and the Competitive Speaker program?
This is preparation aimed at a specific competition date, usually 1-on-1. Competitive Speaker & Debate is the weekly season-round class where students train, run rounds, and improve between tournaments. Many students use both.
Tell us the date. We will map the rest.
A free consultation covers the goal, the timeline, and the honest answer on what fits before the day.