Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Free DEI Resources for Tournaments
Join us in making speech and debate a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive activity. Download or view free resources designed to support your efforts to make your classroom, practices, and tournaments more equitable. Thank you to the members of NSDA Coaches’ Caucus and other community members for significant contributions in developing these materials. Visit our Resources page and use the “inclusion” filter to the left of the screen to find more resources.
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- Extemp Questions
- Impromptu Prompts
- Congress Legislation
- Tournament Invitation Templates Templates to invite administrators to tournaments with the objective of generating more support for participation at schools with and without speech and debate (links to templates currently in a lower section on page.
Free DEI Resources for Classroom/Practices
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- Critical Classroom Conversations – an NSDA collection of resources designed to help teachers and coaches create safe spaces for dialogue on social justice issues
- Conscious Style Guide – an external resource covering terminology for various communities
- Pronoun Usage Best Practices
- Calendar of Cultural Observations
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- Extemp Questions
- Impromptu Prompts
- Congress Legislation
- Materials for celebrating diversity, including posters and literature collections.
Professional Development

Coaches and teachers, visit the NSDA’s online learning platform, NSDA Learn, to find free courses on:
The 2021 NSDA National Conference, a free conference advocating for more equitable and inclusive speech and debate communities, was held online August 3-5, 2021. Recordings are available for many of the sessions.
Coaches’ Caucuses
The NSDA coaches’ caucuses provide opportunities to network with other coaches and join in important discussions and dialogue in safe and private spaces. Caucus participants are asked to abide by the NSDA harassment and discrimination policy at all times.
Interested in participating in a coaches caucus? Register below.
Fall 2023 Coaches Caucus Meetings

Wed, October 18 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Tue, October 17 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Tue, October 24 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Spring Date Coming Soon!

Spring Date Coming Soon!

Spring Date Coming Soon!

Wed, October 11 – 7:00 p.m. CT
Harassment and Discrimination Policy
The National Speech & Debate Association is committed to providing its participants, judges, coaches, and staff the opportunity to pursue excellence in their endeavors. This opportunity can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. The NSDA prohibits all forms of harassment and discrimination. Accordingly, all forms of harassment and discrimination, whether written or oral, based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law are prohibited, whether committed by participants, judges, coaches, or observers. Individuals who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to the full range of sanctions, up to and including removal from the tournament premises.
Equity Commitments
Current and Past Statements
Statements
Read our statement on George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
Read our statement on the Atlanta Attacks
Learn more about our 2020-21 Judge Accreditation and Equity initiatives announced on Aug 21, 2020.