After School Debate Program
Debate is a sport of the mind, where students work together with a team organized at their school, practice under the guidance of a coach, and attend Saturday competitions October through April. Like all WUDL programs, the After School Debate Program is free for students and schools alike, including breakfast and lunch at tournaments.
We design a schedule that fits each school, so meetings might be after school, at lunch, or another time that best fits the needs of the students and coaches.
New research shows that extra-curricular options are the third highest factor that DC parents consider when choosing a school for their children (after staff and subjects). Furthermore, the debate is the only extra-curricular mentioned in the study as a net positive program parents are looking for.
Support
We provide extensive support for each program that we work with, to support both teachers and students, including
Curriculum and Lesson Plans
Coaching Stipends
Professional Development Opportunities
Expert Assistant Coaches
Site Visits from WUDL Staff
WUDL Youtube Channel
Our Tournaments
Extensive peer-reviewed research shows that attending 3 or more tournaments during an academic year is the tipping point where most of the benefits of debate kick in. Beyond the research, tournaments are fun and engaging experiences that pit the wits and preparation of students against one another.
Tournaments occur on Saturdays once a month throughout the school year at local universities and participating schools. Students debate in pairs representing their school and compete in divisions based on their experience and skill, not their age.
Rookie Division
Where Middle School students in their first three tournaments can make their first speeches
Junior Varsity Division
Where students with a grasp of basic argumentation challenge themselves with more experienced competition and more advanced argument structures
Novice Division
Where students start their debate journeys and figure out the basics of argumentation
Varsity Division
Where students will face their most experienced and talented opponents and qualify for national competitions
Our Judges
WUDL offers one of the best judge pools available in the country for local tournaments anywhere in the nation. Our judges are often former debaters (including many alumni of UDL programs), including several previous high school and college national champions, as well as teachers, policy experts, congressional staffers, and more.
Judges are randomly assigned to each debate and are charged with listening and taking notes throughout. They then decide who wins and who loses a debate, and award speaker points for individual performance.