Professional Development
Free On-Demand Courses
Visit NSDA Learn to enroll in free, on-demand professional development courses. Courses are open to all member coaches, regardless of whether the school is a member.
Nearly all coaches with speech and debate professional development requirements reported that our courses and certificates meet their needs. Check if you’re among them, and use these courses to satisfy your requirements!
Course content includes:
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- Introductions to coaching new events
- Engaging and mentoring diverse groups of students
- Team management and culture building
- And more
Professional Accreditation
Professional accreditation demonstrates expertise to administrators and is a mark of your commitment to speech and debate.
Our first level, Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement, is the perfect stepping stone to expand and illustrate your skills. The accreditation requires the completion of several NSDA Learn and NFHS Learn courses on coaching, protecting students, and team management.
The requirements for this foundational endorsement are:
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- Active paid NSDA Coach Membership
- Successful Completion of the Intro to NSDA Coaching Course on NSDA Learn (1 Hour)
- Successful Completion of the following NFHS Learn Courses:
- Adjudicating Speech and Debate (3 Hours)
- Understanding Copyright and Compliance (3 Hours)
- Protecting Students from Abuse (1 Hour)
- Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (3 Hours)
- Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors (3 Hours)
- Engaging Effectively With Parents (3 Hours)
Complete each course and apply for the endorsement. As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload the completion certificates you’ll receive for each course and pay a $25 fee. Processing takes approximately two weeks and applicants will be notified of their approval status via email.
Active coach members who have previously earned an NSDA accreditation may, upon completing the required courses, apply for this endorsement for free. Anyone interested in doing so should contact Lauren McCool at lauren.mccool@speechanddebate.org before applying.
Conference Video Archive
Explore videos from our past National Conferences to learn from experts in coaching, management, and equity.