Does it cost anything?
No. At CUDL partner schools, coaching, materials, tournament entry, and transportation to CUDL-supported tournaments are free. Students do not need to buy books, briefs, or a laptop. Business casual clothes for tournaments are recommended, not required; talk to your coach if that is a barrier.
How much time does it take?
A typical program meets once or twice a week after school for an hour to ninety minutes. Tournaments are usually on Saturdays, four to six times a year for a first-year student, and run most of the day. Students who want to compete more can; students who want to practice without competing are welcome too.
Do I need experience?
No. Most CUDL students had never seen a debate round before they joined. The first month covers what a round looks like, how to build an argument, and how to speak in front of people. Coaches expect beginners.
What if I am shy?
Many of the strongest debaters started quiet. The formats are structured, so you always know what you are supposed to say next, and you practice in small groups long before you compete. Our article on building confidence through competitive speech explains how that works.
Which event should I try?
Students who like current events often start in Public Forum or Congressional Debate. Students who like philosophy and reading often start in Lincoln-Douglas. Students who like performing try Interpretation or Original Oratory. See the formats page for a comparison, and ask your coach; you can switch.
How do tournaments work?
Students compete in four to six rounds against students from other schools, judged by trained volunteers. Everyone debates every round; nobody sits out after a loss. Results and written feedback come back on ballots. Our tournament day checklist covers the details.
How do students get there?
CUDL arranges transportation for partner schools to CUDL-supported tournaments. Families never need to drive, though they are welcome to watch elimination rounds.
What do students gain?
Reading, research, writing, public speaking, and the ability to think under pressure. Peer-reviewed studies of urban debate leagues link participation to higher reading scores, graduation rates, and college enrollment, with the largest gains for students who start furthest behind. The studies are on our research page. Colleges also recognize speech and debate as a serious extracurricular.
How do I sign up?
If your school partners with CUDL, ask the sponsoring teacher when practice meets, or sign up here and we will connect you. If your school does not have a program yet, tell a teacher or counselor about CUDL and send us your school's name. We work with schools to start programs at no cost.
Can parents help?
Yes. We train volunteer judges before every tournament, and no experience is required. Parents also help with meals at tournaments and with recruiting students at their school. Volunteer with CUDL.
Get new guides and topic primers by email
One email when a new topic primer or guide is published, about twice a month during the season. No other mail.