What Experienced Speech and Debate Coaches Bring to the Table

Award-winning author Madeleine L’Engle once said, “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you have been.” Unfortunately, this is sometimes forgotten when older coaches are disregarded simply because they are older.

Age should not be a reason to ignore the contributions of a coach, as they have not “lost all the ages that they have been.” Well-seasoned coaches can provide valuable expertise and networking, along with mentoring and leadership.

The valuable expertise that a seasoned coach possesses provides the coach a deep understanding of the activity. For speech and debate, this translates into knowledge of the nuances of each event, strategies for a debate team, and proven techniques that work. Years of experience can be especially valuable at higher levels of competition. Such competitions have their own eccentricities for success and often require unique decisions, such as providing that student who is ready to go on stage for the final round performance with just the right words to give the student the confidence to succeed.

Coaches also use the multitude of their years to understand new situations. Coaches with a wealth of experience may look at situations with a different lens than an inexperienced coach. This perspective helps guide more productive decision-making.

A common example is in the use of computer technology in speech activities. Most speech and debate events are now scheduled and tabulated via computer programs. These programs have their genesis in the manual manipulations made by coaches before computers were available. Many newer coaches have never had that experience. When a computer program has a glitch or fails to work, it is the knowledge of the experienced coach that saves the day, because the experienced coach understands how it works and can perform the same tasks manually.

Experience also helps a coach understand the students. Understanding the strengths, weaknesses and individual needs of all team members can be crucial for success. An experienced coach will have a wealth of knowledge about how to help speakers improve their skills and achieve their full potential. Experienced coaches have a variety of drills and techniques they are able to provide, along with valuable feedback and guidance to foster individual progress. Being able to recognize which students have the personality and the drive to work best together, or how to bring along that struggling student, are challenges that the seasoned coach has faced.

Effective communication is another tool in the bag of an experienced coach. Communication skills are the basis for building a positive team culture, motivating a team to success, and assisting speakers to reach their full potential. Knowing what to say to motivate a debater who has lost several debates in a row to go into the next debate and try again is a valuable asset for a coach. Instilling confidence in a student speaker and providing that student with a positive direction for improvement after receiving not-so-positive feedback from a judge is an invaluable skill.

Experience in coaching can play a significant role in networking to build relationships and connections within the coaching community. Individuals with more experience may have a larger network of contacts, which can be helpful in learning about best practices and new strategies. Experienced coaches often become leaders within their state or national associations. Leadership, and the connections it brings, provide much needed assistance for coaches and their students.

Networking with college coaches can help students transition from high school to college programs and may even open the doors for financial assistance. Networking also opens opportunities for mentorship, which can be a great way to share knowledge and experience with others. Older coaches can use their wealth of experience to help mentor younger coaches and guide them as they develop their own careers. The speech and debate community often struggles with a shortage of coaches. Mentoring younger individuals can help grow coaching numbers and retain people in the field.

Older coaches are believed to be stuck in their old ways and don’t keep up with the times, but that doesn’t have to be the case. It is incumbent upon individuals to be lifelong learners. An experienced coach may be a novice at some things. Older coaches can keep up with an evolving activity by researching, reading and connecting with others regarding the latest trends and best practices. They recognize the importance of attending coaches’ clinics to take advantage of opportunities to learn from others, and staying active in local, state, regional and/or national organizations. It is important for coaches to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things, and to be willing to try new strategies and approaches to stay current and effective.

Experienced coaches are the carriers of the wisdom, they are the institutional memory of the activity, and they are a valuable part of the community. Taking their cue from Madeleine L’Engle and using “all the other ages they have been” makes their future, and the future of their students, more productive and successful.