New Zealand Schools’ Debating

The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Hind to coach the 2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team at the World Champs in Scotland and South Africa.

Steve was the captain of the Australian Schools’ Debating Team which won the 2005 World Schools’ Debating Championships. Since then he has gone on to be one of the world’s best university debaters. He won the 2010 World Universities’ Debating Championships for Sydney University and ranked as the 2nd best speaker in the world. He has won the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Champs (2008), along with a range of other university tournaments.

Steve recently coached the 2010 NZ Team on the Russell McVeagh International Tour, where the team reached the semi-finals. In Australia, Steve was the coach of the New South Wales Schools Team in 2010, and for the last four years has coached the NSW Combined GPS Team which were grade champions in 2007 and 2008. He has been the Sydney Grammar School Senior A Coach since 2007. The team won the GPS competition in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Assistant Coach

The Council has deferred the appointment of the assistant coach to the NZ Team until after the National Champs in late May.

This year’s Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team will be taking part in TWO World Schools Debating Championships. The first Worlds is in Dundee, Scotland, from 16 – 26 August, 2011. The second Worlds is in Cape Town, South Africa, from 17 – 27 January, 2012.
 
Applications are now open for the position of NZ Coach, and the position of assistant coach.
 
Our preference is to appoint the NZ Coach for the Worlds in both Dundee and Cape Town now. However, we will accept applications from those interested in just Dundee. We are not accepting applications from those interested in Cape Town at this stage (if the eventual coach is appointed for Dundee only, then we will obviously re-open applications for Cape Town later).
 
We are opening applications for the assistant coach position for Dundee only.
Please pass this email onto those who you think may be interested.
 
Please note that applications will close on Friday March 11 at 5pm.
 
NZ TEAM COACH
 
Role of the Coach
 
The role of the NZ Team Coach is to prepare the NZ team team thoroughly for the upcoming World Champs. The coach is expected to attend the tournament in his/her capacity as coach.
 
The coach will be expected to organise (in conjunction with the Council) training sessions for the team in advance of the tournament, and to run those sessions.
 
The NZ team manager will assist with organising travel etc, liaising with the teams, and other non-debating matters that arise. The team manager will also act as the key contact point between the Council and the coach.
 
Time Commitment
 
The coach will be expected to travel to Worlds with the NZ Team. In the time between the date of appointment and the tournament, the coach will be expected to make themselves available to coach the team on mutually acceptable dates for the team members and the coach.
 
We would prefer it if the coach could also attend the National Finals of the NZ Schools Debating Champs in Wellington from May 27 – May 30. The Council will cover transport and accommodation costs to allow the coach to attend.
 
Costs
 
The Council will meet the reasonable travel and accommodation costs for the coaches to attend training sessions, if they are not held where the coaches live.
 
The coaches will be expected to pay a contribution towards the travel costs of sending him or her to Worlds. This contribution has not yet been set by Council, but will be no more than $1000 NZD.
 
If applications are made by a pair of coaches on a co-coach basis, the Council will re-evaluate the contribution of each coach.
 
Appointment Process
 
The appointment process will be as follows:
 
1. Applicants need to send:

• a coaching/debating CV;
• a letter which explains why they would like the job, why they would be a good coach for the NZ team, and which comments on their strengths as a coach (applicants should feel free to provide as much info as they would like);
• the name of one person who would be happy to be contacted as an oral referee to the NZ team manager, Christopher Bishop, by Friday March 11 at 5pm on [email protected]

2. Team manager to consider applications and meet with Council to create a shortlist of applicants.
  
3. Oral referees of shortlisted applicants to be contacted.
  
4. Council may authorise a sub-committee to conduct an interview with short-listed applicants if deemed necessary.
  
5. Council to advise applicants of outcomes by Friday March 18.
 
ASSISTANT COACH
 
We are also looking for an assistant coach of the NZ Team for Worlds in Dundee. The position is designed for someone who may like to coach the NZ team in the future, and who would like to gain some experience and skills by learning from the NZ coach proper. The assistant coach will work with the NZ Team coach in preparing the team for Worlds in Dundee.
 
People who have coached or are coaching regional teams are encouraged to apply for this position.
 
The Council will help pay for the assistant coach to attend the NZ team training sessions in advance of Worlds in Dundee. The assistant coach is also encouraged to attend the World Champs with the team. Due to the registration restrictions in Dundee, the assistant coach will need to attend as an official New Zealand adjudicator. To this end, the Council will set aside one of New Zealand’s two judging slots at the tournament for the assistant coach.
 
Unfortunately, the assistant coach will have to cover their own flights to Worlds and their registration costs (480 British pounds).
 
Appointment Process
 
The appointment process will be as follows:
 
1. Applicants need to send:

• a coaching/debating CV;
• a letter which explains why they would like the job, why they would be a good assistant coach for the NZ team, and which comments on their strengths as a coach (applicants should feel free to provide as much info as they would like). Comments as to future coaching intentions would also be welcomed.
• the name of one person who would be happy to be contacted as an oral referee to the NZ team manager, Christopher Bishop, by Friday March 11 at 5pm on [email protected]

2. Team manager to consider applications and meet with Council to create a shortlist of applicants.
  
3. Oral referees of shortlisted applicants to be contacted.
  
4. Council may authorise a sub-committee to conduct an interview with short-listed applicants if deemed necessary.
  
5. Council to advise applicants of outcomes by Friday March 18

In two weeks time ten teams from six countries will descend on New Zealand for the Russell McVeagh International Schools Debating Tour. The teams participating in the Tour are:

• New Zealand
• New Zealand Development
• Australia
• Canada West
• Canada East
• USA
• USA B
• India
• Malaysia
• South Korea

Between Sunday February 13 and Saturday February 19 there will be eight rounds of WSDC-style debates, as well as semi-finals and a Grand Final. The rounds will be taking place in Wellington, Palmerston North, Napier, Hastings, Rotorua, Hamilton, Whangarei and Auckland.

A detailed itinerary will be placed here in the next few days for those who would like to go along and watch.

The Council is looking for suitably qualified adjudicators from New Zealand to come on the Russell McVeagh International Tour for its duration. This is a great opportunity for up and coming adjudicators/coaches around the country to get some international judging experience!

Adjudicators need to be available from Saturday February 12 until Sunday February 20. Accommodation, transport and most meals will be provided on the tour (including formal opening and closing dinners), as well as some social events (such as luging in Rotorua).

The registration fee for New Zealand adjudicators is $250. We would like it to be free, but this is just not financially possible.

The Council will, however, meet the transport costs of getting judges to and from Wellington/Auckland for the tour

Adjudicators need to have experience at judging debates in the World Schools-style, command respect as an adjudicator, and be able to deliver adjudications in front of large school audiences

To apply, please send a short adjudication/debating CV to the President of the Council ([email protected]) by 5pm on Saturday December 11. Please also include a short blurb as to why you are interested in judging on the Tour. Appointments will be made early the following week

The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is pleased to announce that Ivan ah Sam will be the Chief Adjudicator of the Russell McVeagh International Tour in February 2011.

Ivan is an extremely experienced schools’ adjudicator in both Australia and abroad. He recently judged up to and including the semi-finals of WSDC in Qatar and has been a regular judge of schools debating in New South Wales. He was a Deputy Chief Adjudicator of the 2009 World Universities’ Debating Champs and has also been Chief Adjudicator at a number of other competitions.

Ivan has also had an exceptional university debating career, which has included winning the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Champs (where he was also named best speaker) and reaching the semi-finals of the World Universities’ Champs (where he was also a top 10 speaker).

The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Hind to coach the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team 2010.

Steve was the captain of the Australian Schools’ Debating Team which won the 2005 World Schools’ Debating Championships. Since then he has gone on to be one of the world’s best university debaters. Earlier this year he won the 2010 World Universities’ Debating Championships for Sydney University and ranked as the 2nd best speaker in the world. He has won the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Champs (2008), along with a range of other university tournaments.

Steve was the coach of the New South Wales Schools Team in 2010, and for the last four years has coached the NSW Combined GPS Team which were champions in 2007 and 2008. He has been the Sydney Grammar School Senior A Coach since 2007. The team won the GPS competition in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna and Stephen Whittington have been appointed to coach the NZ Development Team.

Wellington Regional teams coached by Clodagh won the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Champs in 2010, 2009 and 2007; with another team being runner-up in 2008. She coached the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team at the 2010 World Champs where the team made the quarter-finals. Clodagh is a former winner of Nationals herself (2004), and a very succesful university debater.

Stephen Whittington co-coached the winning Wellington team at Nationals in 2010; and a Wellington team coached by him were runners-up in 2006. Stephen is one of New Zealand’s best ever university debaters, having won the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Champs (and twice been a runner-up), reached the semi-finals of the World Universities Champs, and won a range of New Zealand tournaments.

The Council is delighted with these high-quality appointments and wish both teams every success on the International Tour.

In mid-February 2011 the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council will be hosting a World Schools-style tournament that will be open to all countries to enter. Similar to tours the Council has hosted in the past, the tournament will take place over 8 days in a number of New Zealand cities.

Beginning in New Zealand’s busy capital city Wellington and finishing in the metropolitan hub of Auckland, teams will debate in 8 preliminary rounds (both prepared and impromptu) culminating in semifinals and a Grand Final. Hosted at the peak of the New Zealand summer teams will have the opportunity to visit our beautiful countryside and indulge in the best cultural and leisure activities New Zealand can offer. The highlight of the tour, besides the debating, will be a stop in Rotorua – famed for its strong Maori heritage and spectacular thermal activity.

Click here for a link to a one-pager about the tour, including a schedule. The tour will start on Saturday February 12 in Wellington and will finish on Saturday February 19 in Auckland.

Registration is now open and will close on November 20. Payment will be required by 15 December.

For more information, contact the Council.

The Council is pleased to announce that the National Finals of the 2011 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships will be held in Wellington from Friday May 27 to Monday May 30.

Nationals is earlier next year due to the 2011 World Schools’ Debating Championships being held in mid-August.

For more information, please contact the President of the Council.

This year’s Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team and NZ Development Team will be taking part in an international tournament in the North Island of New Zealand in mid-February 2011, currently being organised by the Council. The tournament will be run as a tour of major North Island towns, commencing in Wellington on Saturday February 11 and finishing in Auckland on Sunday February 19.
 
The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is therefore pleased to invite applications for three positions:

• Coach of the 2010 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Team
• Coach of the 2010 Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Development Team
• Chief Adjudicator of the 2011 International Tour

Please pass this email onto those who you think may be interested.
 
Please note that applications will close on Sunday 24 October at 5pm.
 
NZ TEAM COACH AND NZ DEVELOPMENT TEAM COACH
 
Role of the Coaches
 
The role of the NZ Team Coach and NZ Development Team Coach is to prepare the NZ team and NZ Development team thoroughly for the 2011 International Tour. The coaches are expected to attend the tournament in their respective capacities.
 
The coaches will be expected to organise (in conjunction with the Council) training sessions for the teams in advance of the tournament, and to run those sessions.
 
The NZ team manager will assist with organising travel etc, liaising with the teams, and other non-debating matters that arise. The team manager will also act as the key contact point between the Council and the coaches.
 
Time Commitment
 
The coaches will be expected to travel on the International Tour with the NZ Team and NZ Development Team. In the months between the time of appointment and the tournament, the coaches will be expected to make themselves available to coach the teams on mutually acceptable dates for the team members and the coach.
 
The number and length of training sessions will be agreed between the Council and the coach. Indicative times at this stage are: a weekend in early December, some days in late January, and some days before the tournament starts in Wellington.
 
Costs
 
The Council will meet the reasonable travel and accommodation costs for the coaches to attend training sessions, if they are not held where the coaches live.
 
The coaches will be expected to pay a contribution towards the travel costs of sending him or her to on the International Tour. This contribution has not yet been set by Council, but will be no more than $600.
 
If applications are made by a pair of coaches on a co-coach basis, the Council will re-evaluate the contribution of each coach.
 
Appointment Process
 
The appointment process will be as follows:
 
1. Applicants to send a coaching CV and the name of one person who would be happy to be contacted as an oral referee to the NZ team manager, Christopher Bishop, by Sunday 24 October at 5pm on [email protected]
 
2. Team manager to consider applications and meet with Council to create a shortlist of applicants.
 
3. Oral referees of shortlisted applicants to be contacted.
 
4. Council may authorise a sub-committee to conduct an interview with short-listed applicants if deemed necessary.
 
5. Council to advise applicants of outcomes by the end of October.
 
CHIEF ADJUDICATOR – INTERNATIONAL TOUR
 
The Council is also opening applications for the Chief Adjudicator of the International Tour.
 
Role of the Chief Adjudicator
 
The role of the Chief Adjudicator will be set the topics for the tournament (prepared and impromptu rounds), organise and select the judges for the tournament, allocate judges to each debate in the tournament, and organise the draw for the tournament, including the break.
 
Time Commitment
 
The Chief Adjudicator will need to be available for the entire International Tour (February 11 to 19) and will travel with the tour.
 
Costs
 
The Council will pay the registration fee for the Chief Adjudicator of the tournament
 
Applicants should:

• be experienced at judging debates in the World Schools format (the format for the tour);
• have some experience with topic setting and the running of a draw; and
• command respect as an adjudicator

Applicants should send an adjudication CV to Christopher Bishop by Sunday 24 October at 5pm on [email protected]. The successful applicant will be advised by the end of October.

At the Annual General Meeting of the NZ Schools’ Debating Council in August 2010, a new executive was elected. The new executive took office on October 1 and comprises:

President: Christopher Bishop
Vice-President: Desley Horton
Treasurer: Yogesh Patel
Executive Officers: Clodagh O’Connor-McKenna and Udayan Mukherjee

The Council would like to thank Rosy Moar for all her hard work over the past two years as Vice-President, which included acting as the NZ Team Manager. We look forward to her continued involvement in schools debating.