Returning parent information
What is the team structure?
We are not an official school activity but a 501c3 which works closely with the school administration. We have our own policies, but we are independent from Whitman. There are four events, each with their own coaches: 1) Congress; 2) Lincoln Douglas; 3) Speech; 4) Public Forum. Mr. East is the faculty sponsor. He plans for rooms and is helping facilitate the return to the school building.
How do you register?
Go to Team Snap at this link. When you register there is a description of the Speech and Debate team. Once you register, you will receive communication on a regular basis.
How much are dues?
We kept dues the same as last year. They are $300 for novices, and $400 for returning students.
When is practice?
Every Monday and Wednesday from 6:45-8:45 PM. When there is no school, there is no practice.
Is practice online or in-person?
Practice is fully in-person!
What types of tournaments are there?
There are two types: 1) National and 2) Washington Arlington Catholic Forensic League (WACFL) tournaments.
When and how do national tournaments work?
Speech and debate kids appreciated that last year tournaments continued throughout the pandemic. They were able to compete (though it was different without travel). Students will be going to national tournaments before Thanksgiving. In the 2021-2022 season, the only in-person tournaments were Blake and NSDA Nationals. We really need parents to volunteer. As a volunteer you will 1) Coordinate payments, 2) Hire judges, 3) Make sure the students have all paperwork in, and 4) coordinate travel, if the tournament is in-person. We have checklists/ guides to help you. You can reach out to Sohail Zaidi with any questions.
When and how do WACFLs work?
These are local tournaments that your dues pay for. They were scheduled every Saturday, and they run through the end of the year, except for the holidays. A schedule will be sent out to parents. You can reach out to Jonathan Levy with any questions. Even some seniors go to the WACFLs. WACFLs are virtual through end of school year.
For the future, what roles to coordinators/ chaperones play in national travel tournaments?
There are two parent volunteers for each tournament. The coordinator takes care of the registration, finances, booking the hotel, and booking the transportation. The chaperone travels with the team, keeps track of everyone, and makes sure everyone is back at night.
How can I get more involved/ volunteer?
We really need you to volunteer. We especially need people to coordinate the tournaments and serve as judges at WACFLs. If we don’t have enough volunteer judges for WACFLs, we have had to forfeit, which we don’t like doing. All of you can do it! You will get the help you need. It’s really fun. If you have an interest in coordinating/ judging, operations (Team Snap), communications, or finance, please let Kanisha Weerakoon, the President of the board, know, and she will direct you to the person responsible. We will invite you to a Board meeting and you can observe and see what interests you.
Is financial assistance available?
Yes. If you need financial assistance, we have the Tommy Fund, founded in memory of a previous team member. Contact Kanisha Weerakoon for more information.
What are the costs for national tournaments?
National tournaments are not included in dues. It varies a lot, depending on if the tournament is online or in-person. For online there are 1) registration fees and 2) cost of judges. Costs can vary dramatically when traveling, but online is predictable. It is usually a couple hundred dollars per tournament. Travel depends on the location. There are some local national tournaments -- Georgetown, George Mason -- with in person costs that are the similar to online tournaments. We try to estimate in advance, usually a little bit over, so the person coordinating doesn’t have to pay out of pocket, then refund the excess cost after the tournament.
What are the expectations for attending practice?
There are very different levels of participation. For example, some kids are on sports teams, some kids only come on Mondays, and some kids come every time. Any level of participation is acceptable, whatever works for your child. Note if child is in PF, s/he needs to coordinate with the partner.