Coaches Opinion
Serving as a coach with the Solomon Debate program was a spontaneous decision that turned into everything I could have hoped for. I coached a high school team in Newark, New Jersey that initially consisted of boys, Freshman to Junior. When I conducted the kick-off meeting, I shared my delight – their presence in the volunteer debate program spoke volumes. I was thrilled to invest in young people who were also willing to invest in themselves. Each week additional students joined our sessions, including several young ladies. Through patience, discipline, grit, and a bit of inspiration, the students rose to each occasion, competing against notorious and dominant opponents from New York and ultimately teams from other parts of the world. My belief is, “you should speak as if you expect to be listened to”. Over time the students built the confidence and compelling arguments that made people listen!