Getting Started in Middle School Debate

Written By Varun Kota

In a world where AI is getting smarter by the day, your child’s greatest asset is something no algorithm can replicate: Clear thinking. Persuasive speaking. Unshakable confidence.

That’s exactly what middle school debate builds and what college admissions committees want.

Whether your child is shy or outspoken, curious or cautious, debate helps them find their voice — and use it with power, while setting them up to win admission to the college of their dreams.

Why Debate? AI Resilience & College Admissions

Debate isn’t about arguing. It’s about mastering the skills that every leader, communicator, and problem-solver relies on:

  • Break down complex ideas with clarity

  • Speak so others listen — and act

  • Think fast, under pressure

  • Write better, listen deeper, lead stronger

These are the skills AI can’t replicate. And they compound — across classrooms, college admissions, job offers, and beyond. Watch Ascend alumnus and current middle school coach Adrian Baek talk about his debate journey below:

Why Start in Middle School?

Most families wait until high school. The top performers don’t. Starting debate in middle school unlocks exponential advantages:

Starting in middle school gives your child a powerful head start:

  • They develop confidence before peer pressure kicks in

  • They build skills before grades and test scores start to matter

  • They grow in a low-pressure environment where it’s safe to try, fail, and improve

Think of debate like learning a language or a sport — the earlier your child starts, the more fluent and fearless they become, and the greater their odds of winning awards that win them admission to top universities.

What Middle School Debate Actually Looks Like

Every week, your child joins a small group coaching session. They learn to:

  • Structure arguments

  • Speak with poise

  • Think critically under pressure

They practice while receiving individualized speaking attention and feedback with the goal of rapid improvement. Approximately once a month, they compete — online — against students from around the country.

Where Students Compete

There are three main categories of generally online tournaments middle school students can attend:

  1. Tournaments Hosted by National Organizations – like the National Speech & Debate Association (“NSDA”) and the Tournament of Champions (“TOC”)

  2. University-Hosted Events – universities like Harvard and Stanford host events where MS students can compete virtually

  3. Private Tournaments – run by individuals school and other education programs like Ascend Speech & Debate

Tournaments are held throughout the year. Students can either compete as part their middle school team if one exists or with a private team like the Ascend Middle School Speech & Debate Team.

What Happens After Middle School?

Middle school debate is just the start of a much larger journey. Students who begin in middle school often:

  • Win more and earlier in high school competitions

  • Build standout resumes for college admissions

  • Lead student clubs, advocacy initiatives, and more

We’ve seen students go from nervous sixth graders to national champions. From hesitant speakers to confident leaders bound for the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, the University of Chicago, and other top universities. Debate becomes more than an activity. It becomes your child’s edge.

How to Get Started

Here’s how to begin your child’s debate journey:

Step 1: Enroll in a program that provides your child coaching

  • If your school has a team: sign up for coaching offered by your school. Even if your school has coaching, online middle school coaching can be a valuable supplement.

Step 2: Enroll in a program that enables your child to compete in tournaments

  • If your school has a team: register for tournaments with your school coach.

  • If your school does not have a team: join the Ascend Middle School Speech & Debate Team, which offers middle school students the opportunity to compete on our team at online tournaments throughout the year.

A Final Note

No matter where your child is starting from — whether they’re the quiet observer or the nonstop talker — middle school debate will help them grow into a more confident, capable communicator.

And that’s a skill they’ll carry with them for life.

Questions? Let’s chat below!

Varun Kota