Coaching Debate
Find coaching and teaching resources for debate events, including Big Questions, Congress, Extemp Debate, Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, Public Forum, and World Schools Debate. For more debate resources, visit our resource table.
Resource Access
This collection features resources from a variety of membership levels.
Free: Resources available to all.
Members: Resources available to members logged in and attached to a school with an NSDA membership.
Resource Package Subscribers: Resources available to individuals or teams who are logged in and have purchased a Resource Package with additional tools.
Classroom Instruction
Lesson Plans
Access grab-and-go lesson plans designed to introduce new students to different debate events. Lessons can be used in the classroom or adapted for after-school and can easily build on each other to fit your needs.
Members
Start Here: Teaching Public Forum
Members
Start Here: Teaching Lincoln-Douglas
Members
Start Here: Teaching Policy Debate
Members
Start Here: Teaching Middle School Public Forum
Members
Start Here: Teaching Middle School Congressional Debate
Textbooks
Supplement your instruction with event overviews and instruction from expert authors via downloadable online textbooks.
Members
Public Forum Congressional Debate
Members
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Members
Policy Debate
Members
World Schools Debate
Topic Resources
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PF Topic Resources
Download a topic breakdown on the January Public Forum Topic, Resolved: The African Union should grant diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state.
LD Topic Resources
Download a topic breakdown on the Jan/Feb Lincoln-Douglas Topic Analysis, Resolved: The United States ought to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and/or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Policy Files
Access the 2024-2025 Open Evidence files, Courtesy of NDCA
Congress Legislation
Download the January 2025 Legislation Docket.
World Schools Motions
Download the January 2025 World Schools Debate Motions.
Big Questions Topic Resources
Download resources on the Big Questions topic, Resolved: Creativity is a more powerful force than intelligence.
Learning the Fundamentals
Free
Competition Events Guide
Explore the basics of each form of debate and what it takes to succeed.
Free
Unified Manual
Understand the rules in competitive events.
Free
Judge Training
Read or share judge training resources and quick event primers.
Members
NSDA Learn Courses
Dive deeper into norms and coaching strategies with content from experts.
Members
Intro to Flowing PF and LD
Conquer note taking in PF and LD in this series of flowing videos with example speeches.
Members
Intro to Flowing Policy
Learn why, how, and what to take note of in a Policy Debate round in this series of flowing videos.
Members
Intro to Coaching Lincoln-Douglas
Explore the ins and outs of coaching Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Members
Intro to Framework
Understand how to construct, justify, and respond to framework in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Members
Intro to Kritiks
Learn to explain, identify, and respond to types of kritiks, which are arguments that focus on power structures that exist around us and how they cause the problems we ought to address.
Members
Intro to Philosophy
Understand how to apply philosophies to strengthen or weaken arguments, differentiate the three main branches of philosophy, and engage constructively with philosophies that are commonly used in competitive debates.
Members
How to Cut a Card
Practice identifying and organizing evidence for a debate round with this short video.
Members
HeinOnline
Research topics with the HeinOnline Database.
Resource Package Subscribers
Webinar Recordings
Access our archives of recorded webinars for expert advice on argumentation, spreading, legislation, cross-examination, and more.
Free
Congress Round Intro
Break down an introductory Congress round, explaining the role of the PO, authorship and sponsorship speeches, precedence, affirmative and negative speeches, questioning, and voting as the elements unfold on screen.
Free
Public Forum Round Intro
Dive into the basics of Public Forum Debate with a round intro, including key terms, speech times and purposes, and strategies as the elements unfold on screen.
Free
Big Questions Debate Round Intro
Go step-by-step through a round of Big Questions Debate to understand the purpose of each speech and the flow of a round.
Free
Big Questions Debate Breakdown
Uncover the strategies and techniques behind a final round of Big Questions Debate.
Sample Rounds
Members
Big Questions Debate
Watch the 2023 Big Questions Debate National Tournament final round.
Members
Congressional Debate – House
Watch the 2023 House National Tournament final round.
Members
Congressional Debate – Senate
Watch the 2023 Senate National Tournament final round.
Members
Extemporaneous Debate
Watch the 2023 Extemporaneous Debate National Tournament final round.
Members
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Watch the 2023 Lincoln-Douglas Debate National Tournament final round.
Members
Policy Debate
Watch the 2023 Policy Debate National Tournament final round.
Members
World Schools Debate
Watch the 2023 World Schools Debate National Tournament final round.