Frequently Asked Questions
What new students and families ask me most, in one place. Tap a question to open it.
Do I need experience to join the team?
- No! New students are welcomed! There are beginner events in both speech and debate where students will learn with and compete against other students in their first year of experience.
How can I connect with the team?
- Students should email the coaching staff (sjouya@polyprep.org) or schedule a meeting using our school Google Calendars.
- Additionally the Debate Office is located in the squash center in the Novogratz Building, and is open during the day for students to hang out or meet for extra work.
- Regularly attending weekly practices is the first step to being eligible and prepared to compete.
Can I play sports, perform in musicals, or take part in other after school activities?
- Yes. We work very hard to create an individualized curated experience for many students to be able to participate in other school activities and excel in speech and debate.
- While practices are essential, we provide a variety of ways students can flexibly participate, such as meetings during free periods or lunch and watching recordings of practice.
- Please schedule a meeting with our coaching staff to talk about your particular schedule needs.
What kinds of tournaments do you compete at?
- Local tournaments are offered 1-2 times a month and are located throughout the city. They will take place on Saturday and last about the length of a school day.
- National and regional tournaments are located throughout the country and take place over the course of a weekend. Our team travels to roughly 2-3 traveling tournaments a month during our regular season.
How long does the season last?
- The Debate season is the length of the school year. Our regular season runs from September through February. March is a qualifying month and April through June is our postseason with state and national championships.
Is there a cost to attend tournaments?
- There is no cost for local tournaments, but traveling tournaments are offered at a heavily subsidized rate. Regional tournaments are typically $200 and national tournaments are typically $400. Each tournament’s specific fee is communicated on its registration form.
- Tournament fees will be charged through student billing and financial aid automatically applied.
Still have a question?
Anything I have not covered here, put a meeting on my calendar or send me an email and I will get you an answer.