Next-Gen Coaching: When Students Lead, Everyone Wins
Robbinsdale Middle School launched their first debate team last year, joining a growing network of hundreds of middle school debaters across the state. Our middle school debate program is now the largest program of its kind in the nation. What made its rapid rise possible was our league’s simple but powerful idea: pairing experienced high school debaters with new middle school teams as paid assistant coaches.
These student mentors understand exactly what their younger teammates are going through, creating connections that help everyone succeed. Tessa, one such student coach, proved just how effective this approach can be when she led Robbinsdale‘s rookies all the way to victory.Tessa, a four-year veteran of the debate team at Cooper High School with dreams of becoming a lawyer, took on an inspiring challenge during her senior year.
“I’ve noticed some huge misunderstandings about debate, particularly from younger students,” Tessa explains. “But I jumped at the chance, because we’ve been putting a lot of effort into encouraging new students to join the team at Cooper High School. Creating a team at the middle school level would allow more students to try it out than ever before.”
Tessa understood the specific challenges her young team faced. She dedicated herself to teaching complex concepts and navigating the emotional journey that comes with competition, a process of growth that she describes as “massive” for both her and her students.
What made Tessa such a powerful coach was her unique ability to connect with her team.
“Lots of problems may seem small to someone who may not be competing, but could seem earth-shattering to the student,” Tessa explains. “I think the ability to have that outlet, that person, is incredibly important to fostering a healthy relationship with competition in general.”
“Debate gives you information on so many different societal issues, struggles, and even successes. It’s been through this learning that I’ve been able to make my own impact in the world. My aspiration in life is to be able to make changes in people’s lives through law, and that’s a dream I don’t know if I would have discovered if not for debate.” – Tessa
I think I grew a lot as a person through my work coaching, particularly in being able to understand and access situations with more grace. Before, I probably wouldn’t have known what to do if you gave me a middle schooler-related issue and told me to solve it. Now, even if I can’t give a solution right away, I know how to connect and find that solution together with a student.
As two of Tessa’s rookies, held up their gold champion trophies at the Citywide Championship last year, it confirmed their collective hard work. It was an outstanding capstone to the season, but Tessa says her most special memories came from everyday moments during the season.
“I hold the memories of my debaters celebrating themselves and their teammates at every award ceremony—with unabashed joy—very, very close to my heart,” says Tessa. “That feeling of connection is something I did not feel myself until I joined my high school debate team.”
By creating those same connections for the next generation, student coaches like Tessa are building a legacy that extends far beyond any trophy.
