The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council will be sending a team to the World Schools’ Debating Championships in Nairobi, Kenya between 14 July 2026 and 24 July 2026. The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is excited to open formal applications to coach the 2026 New Zealand team.
Requirements for coaches
The general requirements of coaching the NZ team is as follows for 2026 are:
- Attendance at the National Finals from Friday 22 May 2026 to Monday 25 May 2026;
- Training the NZ team for, at minimum, two weekends prior to departing to Worlds;
- Attendance at the World Schools’ Debating Championships in Nairobi, Kenya between 14 July 2026 and 24 July 2026 (noting that the tournament runs from 16 July – 23 July 2026);
- Attendance at a preparatory “camp” in a major NZ city for several days before departure to Kenya.
Council is opening applications for the NZ team coaches for up to 2 coaches. Council will be subsidising the coach(es), although the exact subsidy has yet to be determined. This will contribute to the cost of flights the tournament, the registration fee for each coach (which covers accommodation, transportation, attendance at Worlds social events and most meals), and training expenses involved with the New Zealand Schools’ Team. Historically, the cost to a coach to attend the World Schools’ Debating Championships has involved a four digit sum. In your application, please provide an indication of what you would be willing to contribute.
Feedback
Members of the community will be able to leave feedback on the candidates applying for NZ Team coaching and judging spots.
Feedback will be submitted to the Council via email. It will only be viewed by members involved in selecting – they will be announced at the end of the application period. The nature of feedback will involve relevant experiences with the applicants as coaches/debaters/judges and any other relevant concerns. The feedback will only be viewed by the Council members named at the end of the application period. If you have any other questions or would like more information on this feedback process, feel free to contact Council to discuss.
Application Timeline
- Applications Close – Wednesday 8 April 2026 at 6pm
- Applicant Feedback Opens – Thursday 9 April 2026
- Applicant Feedback Closes – Thursday 16 April 2026 at 6pm
If you are interested in coaching, please email council@debating.org.nz by 6pm on Wednesday 8 April with:
- Your debating CV (eg. coaching, debating and adjudicating experience, familiarity with the schools style);
- Whether you are applying as an individual, if you are applying as individual whether you would be happy to co-coach if asked to and if you have a preference as to who you coach with;
- If you are applying as combination, please explain why and whether you would coach individually if asked. Please indicate if both coaches would agree to make a greater contribution to the cost of attending the tournament than would otherwise be required if Council appointed only a single coach;
- The level of subsidy that you would require to attend the tournament; and
- Any additional information that may assist Council in making their decision.
Applications will be considered by all non-conflicted members of the Council. The Council reserves the right to propose alternations to combinations of candidates.