General Club:
Can my student participate in speech AND debate?
Yes! While many students enjoy and benefit from both, Speech and Debate are separate activities, so students can choose to participate in one or the other, or ideally, both.

Is the club a drop off event?
Parents are always welcome to join us for classes. There will be a few times when we’ll need to meet with you to go over important info—those dates will be shared on the club calendar well in advance. There will also be times when we’ll need your help, like listening to speeches, judging practice rounds, or helping out in other ways. We’ll work with each family to assign weeks to help out, and we’ll do our best to find a time that works well for you.

How much time will it take per week?
Speech and debate require more time than a typical school subject. Students attend weekly club meetings for instruction and practice, and invest additional time outside of meetings to research and prepare their speeches and debate cases. The time commitment is flexible, but, as with most things, results depend on the time and effort invested. For debate and team speech events, it’s important for partners and families to discuss commitment levels to ensure aligned expectations. (See Expectations tab)

How can I help my student if I’ve never done this?
To help your child with speech and debate, start by learning the basics from the website, attending parent orientations, and supporting them with research and practice. Give feedback on speeches, encourage communication with coaches, attend tournaments, and be patient and supportive throughout the process.

Does my student have to compete in tournaments? 
Each family can decide the degree to which they want to be involved (which is a nice feature of this activity). In general, parents drive their own children and supervise them at the tournament. Participation in the two local tournaments we host is expected. Competition provides students with a clear goal, fuels their enthusiasm, and offers valuable opportunities to practice and improve their speaking and critical thinking skills in a real-world setting. While we focus on growth over trophies, the tournament experience is an essential part of the learning process..  

How can I volunteer/get more involved as a parent?
Running the club and hosting local tournaments requires teamwork! There are tasks available before, during, and after tournaments, as well as throughout the year to support the club. We'll be sending out a "giftings" survey to parents to help match you with a role that fits your strengths and availability.

Where do you recommend purchasing business clothes for my student?
Consignment stores, department store sales (online typically carries husky or slim sizes), Kohl’s, Amazon, etc. We will have a clothes closet with a variety of gently used business clothes that families can pull from. There will be designated times available for you to access the closet, which will be listed on our club calendar. You will also be able to donate any of those items your child has outgrown!

Tournaments:
Does the student have to be there for the whole tournament?
A student must compete in all of the rounds for the event they are signed up for. For example, if there are 4 Public Forum rounds on Friday and 2 on Saturday of a tournament, a PF debater cannot intentionally skip the Saturday rounds. (If a competitor is sick during a tournament, the situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis.) We also encourage families to stay for the entire tournament—it’s a great opportunity for kids to build relationships and parents may be needed to judge events their child isn’t participating in.

What tournaments can our club attend?
It is up to each family to choose. Our club hosts 2 Stoa-qualifying tournaments and a one day novice tournament each year. You can check the tournament calendar on the Stoa website to see what is available. (Note: These tournaments generally run Thursday through Saturday, although some are shorter.)

Can I go to tournaments without a coach?
Yes! Having a coach on-site at a tournament is not required. Some families even turn speech and debate tournaments into family trips. Debate partners and duo speech families can coordinate logistics directly with one another.

What responsibilities do parents have for our local tournaments?
We need “all-hands-on-deck”! Tournaments are completely run by volunteer parents. At least one parent per family should plan to judge and/or work at the tournament during tournament hours. When necessary, parents who cannot commit to this can take pre-tournament jobs.

What responsibilities do parents have at away tournaments?
Parents are expected to remain at the tournaments and help with judging. Every tournament needs parents to judge in order to help the tournament run smoothly. As an added bonus—as you judge, you will gain an education in what it takes to be successful in speech and debate. That will help you help your student!

Will I be able to watch my child compete?
Yes! Parents are asked to plan on judging three rounds per day per family, which still allows plenty of opportunities to watch your child compete. This helps ensure all judging slots are filled, though there may be times when enough community judges are available and your help isn't needed for a particular round.

What if I don’t feel qualified to judge?
Judge orientation will be included in our club meetings, and you'll also have the opportunity to shadow an experienced judge during our novice tournament. In debate, it’s the debater’s job to clearly present their arguments, while the judge listens, takes notes, and evaluates both sides. Each speech event has specific guidelines and criteria, and judges use these to rank competitors and provide constructive feedback.

What can we expect on tournament day—for students, parents, and siblings?
Tournament days start early and can last into the evening, so come prepared for a full and rewarding day. Students won’t be in every round so they’ll have downtime to relax, watch peers compete, or connect with friends. Parents are encouraged to stay on-site, as judging needs may arise throughout the day. Many families bring siblings along—feel free to pack snacks, games, or quiet activities to help everyone enjoy the day. You’ll often find students and siblings gathered together playing board games, reading, or simply enjoying fellowship between rounds.

Can family and friends judge? Can they watch my child compete?
Absolutely! We welcome family and friends to serve as judges. They can choose the event and time that works best for them, and they’ll receive training at the tournament. Plus, they’re welcome to watch your child compete in any of their events.

What do the competitors wear?
During tournaments, students are expected to wear modest, professional business attire and remain in that attire for the entire duration of the event.
Professional business attire for Gentlemen
Suit or slacks and blazer jacket
Collared shirt and tie
Professional dress shoes and socks

Professional business attire for Ladies
Skirt or pantsuit
Slacks, skirt, or dress with a blazer
Professional dress shoes

What should parents wear?
Although there isn’t a formal dress code for parents, attire should be modest and appropriate. Many parents find that business casual strikes a good balance between comfort and professionalism for the tournament weekend.

What should I bring to a tournament? Anything else that’s helpful?
If you’re judging, bring a pen and notepad for taking notes during rounds. For the day overall, it’s a good idea to pack your favorite snacks, drinks, maybe some caffeine, and something to enjoy during breaks—like a book, journal, or portable hobby. Being prepared helps make the day more comfortable and enjoyable!

Do I have to order meals for parents or kids?
Ordering meals for parents or competitors is not required. Each tournament has its own guidelines regarding kitchen access—some may allow use of a microwave or crock pots, while others may not. Most tournaments offer some form of judge hospitality; in many cases, it's free and available to parents who are judging. Some events may only offer light snacks, so meals would need to be either purchased through the tournament or brought from home. It’s generally recommended to stay on campus throughout the tournament, as you may be called to judge at any time—and there may not be enough time between rounds to leave and return. Planning ahead and bringing everything you need for the day is key.

Where do we stay during out of town tournaments?
Families are responsible for arranging their own lodging for out-of-town tournaments, and there are several great options to consider.
*Hotels: Many tournaments provide a list of nearby hotels and occasionally offer discounted group rates. Staying at the same hotel as other Carolina Speech & Debate families is a popular choice—students often enjoy social time or optional evening briefings in the lobby. We recommend signing up for hotel loyalty programs to earn points and savings for future stays.

*Vacation Rentals (e.g., VRBO or Airbnb): These can be a convenient and cost-effective option, especially for families who want a full kitchen, space to spread out, or the option to share housing with another family. Booking early is recommended, as availability may be limited during tournament weekends.

*Host Housing: Some tournaments offer host housing, where local speech and debate families open their homes to traveling students and parents. If available, details—along with a host housing coordinator—are typically listed on the tournament’s website. Hosts generally provide a place to sleep, but not meals, as they are often busy volunteering and supporting their own students.
Wherever you choose to stay, we encourage planning ahead, as lodging near the tournament venue often fills up quickly

Can my competitor go with another family?
Each tournament has its own policies regarding parent attendance. Organizers must ensure that judging responsibilities are fully covered by attending parents, and some venues also require a parent or guardian to remain on site for safety and security reasons. These guidelines vary by tournament and are usually outlined in the parent section of the tournament website. While it's occasionally acceptable to send your competitor with another family, this should be the exception rather than the norm.

How can I help at tournaments?
Our local tournaments require many roles to be filled, and we’d love to find one that suits your strengths and interests. Opportunities range from assisting with ballot check and providing meals for judges to handling administrative tasks before or during the event. Your primary responsibility at out of town tournaments is judging. 

Can students receive coaching or feedback between rounds at tournaments?
Yes, students may receive coaching after they’ve completed a debate or speech round—from a coach, parent, or even another competitor. However, judges are not permitted to give feedback on any round they’ve judged, even if they believe it would benefit the student before the next round.

Do competitors get their ballots after each round?
No, ballots are submitted to Ballot Return, entered into the StoaHub system by Tab, then copied and placed in each student’s folder. Students can collect their folders at a designated location following the awards ceremony.

How many speech events can a student enter in one tournament?
Usually, tournaments allow students to register for up to 3 speech events per pattern. You can find the specific speech limits and details about each event on the tournament's website.

Do I have to judge the event my child is competing in?
No! In fact, it’s often easier for parents to judge events their child isn’t competing in, which helps avoid conflicts. Parents are encouraged to get training in all event types so they can be assigned where needed. We also understand judges have preferences and do our best to accommodate them whenever possible.

Why does a tournament need so many judges?
Each preliminary debate round needs one judge, while each speech round requires two judges. At our local tournaments, we typically hold 6 speech rounds, 6 preliminary debate rounds, and 2-3 debate outrounds. To accommodate all competitors and their rounds, more than 350 ballots must be completed! This large number of ballots is why we need so many judges—ever6y round for every competitor must be fairly and thoroughly evaluated, which requires a strong team of committed volunteers.

Do our club families have to recruit community judges?
Each family from our club will need to recruit community judges to help cover the tournament judging needs. We’ll go over the requirements and share practical ideas for how to recruit them during one of our parent/family meetings.

Clubs recruit community judges to give students real-world feedback, improve their adaptability, and help them learn to communicate with a broader audience. Community judges also help with the high judging demand, and promote Stoa’s mission to train speakers who can engage any audience effectively.

Debate:
How do you choose debate partners?
Early in the season, we talk with students about what makes a strong debate partnership—reminding them that it’s not always their best friend! After club starts, each student will take home a Partner Request Form to complete with a parent. This helps us understand which tournaments your family plans to attend and how far you're willing to travel. Students will also list three potential partners they’d be excited to work with and share a short explanation for each choice. Taking all this into account, we thoughtfully form partnerships with the goal of setting each team up for the best possible experience and growth.

Do you have the same partner all year?
Not always. While we aim to pair debaters with partners who have similar tournament availability, unexpected changes can come up—such as last-minute schedule conflicts or a student choosing to attend an additional tournament. When that happens and a debater needs a partner, we’ll reach out to the club to see if anyone is available. While it may not seem ideal at first, partnering with someone new can be a valuable learning experience.

How often should my debater be meeting with their partner?
For Team Policy, partners will need to meet more regularly than in other formats since they’re preparing cases, writing briefs, and practicing arguments together. However, much of the work can be divided and conquered, with each student tackling different tasks independently. We recommend that partners check in at least once a week, whether in person or via email, FaceTime, Zoom, or another method that works for them. Regular communication helps them stay on track and prepare effectively—especially as tournaments approach.

My child is the right age for PF and TP. Which event would be best for them?
In general, if your child is new to debate, we recommend they be at least 13-14 years old before starting Team Policy. We've found that completing at least one year of Public Forum helps build a strong foundation for success in TP. It gives students experience working with a partner, researching and forming arguments, using Google Docs effectively, managing email communication, and more.

Are the debate resolutions for the whole year?
Team Policy resolutions and Public Forum propositions are for the entire tournament year. Parli debate resolutions change for each tournament round.

How are resolutions chosen?
Stoa uses a proposal and voting process to select the next year's Team Policy resolution before the debate season ends. Each Stoa member family gets one vote for the TP and LD resolutions, the Speech Wildcard event (every 2 years). Voting typically occurs in May, and the chosen resolutions are announced during NITOC. Three Public Forum propositions are selected by our regional committee and then sent out to Public Forum families. Each family receives one vote to help choose the final resolution.
 
Can you explain PF coin flips?
Before beginning each round the students or judge will flip a coin. The team winning the coin toss may then choose which speaking position they would prefer - to speak first or last. Teams have up to 60 seconds to make their decisions. During that time they may not leave the room or consult with anyone other than their partner.

What are the TP stock issues? Why do we use them? 
*Stock issues are the core components that an affirmative team must prove in order to justify adopting a policy. They provide a framework for evaluating whether a proposed change should occur. The stock issues are: 
*Significance – Is there a serious problem or important need that requires action? The affirmative must show that the current situation (status quo) has meaningful flaws.
*Inherency – Is the problem built into the current system? In other words, will the issue persist without a policy change? This shows that the status quo cannot or will not solve the problem on its own.
*Solvency – Will the affirmative plan actually fix the problem? This involves demonstrating that the proposed solution is practical, effective, and capable of addressing the harms.
*Harms – What specific negative impacts exist under the current system? The affirmative must explain what damage or risk is being caused by the status quo.
*Topicality – Does the affirmative plan fall within the scope of the resolution? The plan must be clearly related to and limited by the wording of the debate topic.

Why does Parli require you to be a certain age/experience level?
Stoa generally recommends a specific age or prior debate experience for participating in Parliamentary Debate, as it is fast-paced, demands quick thinking, broad knowledge, and only allows 20 minutes of preparation time before each round. Because of these challenges, it is best suited for students who have already built a strong foundation through other debate formats like Team Policy or Lincoln Douglas.

Speech:
Do all of the speeches have to be memorized? 
No. Limited Preparation speeches do not have to be memorized. Platform speeches, Interp pieces, and Wild Card speeches must be memorized to not incur a penalty.

Which speech events are best for beginners? 
Many beginners find that starting with a platform speech is a great introduction to speechwriting and presentation.

I would like to try Duo Interp. How do I find a partner? 
Duos can be a lot of fun! To help find a suitable partner, consider arranging a meeting with your student’s potential partner and their parents. It’s important to discuss expectations and ensure a shared level of commitment, as this sets the foundation for success. Partners should agree on the piece, collaborate effectively, and be consistently available to one another throughout the season. While Duo requires a significant commitment, it’s also incredibly rewarding!

Can students use published material, or must everything be original? 
Yes, students can use cited published material. 

What role do parents play in helping their student prepare for speech events? 
Parents play a crucial role in their student’s success. They serve as cheerleaders, mentors, and sounding boards throughout the process. We encourage parents to be actively involved in selecting topics or literary pieces, and to support their student with writing, revising, and memorizing. 

Are there sample videos or past winning speeches students can watch? 
Yes. As a Stoa member, you’ll have access to past NITOC videos. Additionally, many former students have shared their performances on YouTube, providing another valuable resource.

Can students reuse speeches from previous seasons or do they need new material each year? 
Students cannot reuse speeches from previous seasons.

What’s the best way to choose a topic for persuasive or informative speeches? 
Choose a topic that is important to you! Please meet with a coach for prior approval if the topic is sensitive in nature. The topic your student chooses will become a part of them and will stay with them far longer than the competition season.

Can a student switch speeches/topics mid-year? 
Yes. A student can switch speeches and topics mid-year.