Many coaches believe that you should forget what happened last season. Many believe that what was accomplished in the past needs to be forgotten. Some feel that you should not want payback from the kids that gave you a loss. A few even believe that you should learn everything for the first time again. I don’t buy this. I think that what happened last year is completely relevant to what is going to happen in September. If you got eliminated in the final round before qualifying for nationals, you should take that anger into this next season. I think if you won state or went to nationals, you should walk into every round expecting to win.
What is important is to realize that just because you won or lost last year, doesn’t mean it will be the same this year. If you lost last year, it doesn’t mean you can’t rebound and become the winner that is inside of you. Also, just because you were the best last year, doesn’t mean there isn’t a sophomore or junior breathing down your neck. You have to take the lessons you learned last year and bring them into this new season.
Here are a few concepts that I found to help me when a new year started:
If you lost last year, be aware that you have an opportunity for redemption. You need to remember that you are a year older and have more experience now. There is not one speaker or debater that has not lost a ballot and it’s important to learn from those losses. You will face a lot of cocky speakers and debaters at the beginning of the year, which leaves you with a perfect opportunity to knock them on their butts.
As a returning champion you need to have the swagger of a winner, but the fear that your title can be taken from you at any moment. Don’t allow yourself to assume that you are going to win. Take every competitor seriously and make sure you win early in the year. If you pick up some wins you will instill fear in your opponents for the rest of the year. You don’t want to give anyone a chance to take what you earned last year.
Try to settle scores. Every debater or speaker has someone that seems to have their number. Make sure you target this person and beat them early in the year. This will build your confidence up. If you lose every round, but you beat that one person that you couldn’t beat last year, it will help you set a pace as the season proceeds. Remember that there is no one out there that is unbeatable. It merely takes the right opponent and the right strategy.
Don’t make excuses this year. Don’t blame your wins or losses on your coaches, judges, or opponents. When you lose, it is your loss. Own those losses and think about them. I hate when students tell me that the judges screwed up. My response is always, “What could you have done to have won that round?” In every case there is an answer. Judges don’t care enough to give you a loss because they don’t like you or love your opponent. You can always do research and prepare for rounds on your own, so it cannot be your coaches fault that you lost. Put in the work and give it 100% in each round. Realize that you are the one that truly fills out that ballot and you just need to figure out how to get the pen or pencil to write your code down.
Make sure you set many goals for the year. If you have many goals, it is more likely you will achieve some of them. Students never have perfect seasons. The NFL National Champions in DUO did not win the UC Berkeley Invitational, but they were the ones who had the last laugh. If their goal was only to win Berkeley and they gave up on their piece and year in February, they never would have won nationals.
Have fun and realize that the season is long. Forensics is a September through June activity. Make sure to have fun at the tournaments and realize that what happens in November, doesn’t necessarily translate or occur in May. You need to enjoy each tournament and practice. My favorite students are the ones that compete and rarely win trophies because they are competing because they love the activity. Winning is fun, but it’s not why you should be participating. It should be a goal, but not the ends.
Ignore the high school BS that you will face throughout the year. You will meet students that lie to you about winning tournaments and the amazing camps they attended. I am a firm believer that you don’t need a camp to win and you don’t need to believe what your opponents say. Forensics is often a mind game and you can’t play it. You need to stick with your game, which is preparation, practice and executing your game plan in rounds. Don’t let your opponents stories dictate your rounds. If you have a judge who coached your opponent at a camp, give that judge credit and assume they will vote for the true winner.
Take chances! Don’t be afraid to try new events and attempt to use different strategies. I meet far to many competitors that insist they are LDers when in fact, they would be better in Public Forum or in their IE’s. You can’t be married to a specific event. Give yourself as many chances to win by trying new things and experiencing all the events that are out there. I qualified for nationals in three events, even though I only enjoyed one of those events. Reflecting back on my competitive days, I would never give the trophies back that I earned in events I enjoyed less.
So the 2008-2009 season is upon us. It is time for re-birth. You will have a chance at redemption, building a legacy and most importantly you will get a chance to enjoy another great season. Try to stay true to your game and utilize the concepts I’ve shared.
What is important is to realize that just because you won or lost last year, doesn’t mean it will be the same this year. If you lost last year, it doesn’t mean you can’t rebound and become the winner that is inside of you. Also, just because you were the best last year, doesn’t mean there isn’t a sophomore or junior breathing down your neck. You have to take the lessons you learned last year and bring them into this new season.
Here are a few concepts that I found to help me when a new year started:
If you lost last year, be aware that you have an opportunity for redemption. You need to remember that you are a year older and have more experience now. There is not one speaker or debater that has not lost a ballot and it’s important to learn from those losses. You will face a lot of cocky speakers and debaters at the beginning of the year, which leaves you with a perfect opportunity to knock them on their butts.
As a returning champion you need to have the swagger of a winner, but the fear that your title can be taken from you at any moment. Don’t allow yourself to assume that you are going to win. Take every competitor seriously and make sure you win early in the year. If you pick up some wins you will instill fear in your opponents for the rest of the year. You don’t want to give anyone a chance to take what you earned last year.
Try to settle scores. Every debater or speaker has someone that seems to have their number. Make sure you target this person and beat them early in the year. This will build your confidence up. If you lose every round, but you beat that one person that you couldn’t beat last year, it will help you set a pace as the season proceeds. Remember that there is no one out there that is unbeatable. It merely takes the right opponent and the right strategy.
Don’t make excuses this year. Don’t blame your wins or losses on your coaches, judges, or opponents. When you lose, it is your loss. Own those losses and think about them. I hate when students tell me that the judges screwed up. My response is always, “What could you have done to have won that round?” In every case there is an answer. Judges don’t care enough to give you a loss because they don’t like you or love your opponent. You can always do research and prepare for rounds on your own, so it cannot be your coaches fault that you lost. Put in the work and give it 100% in each round. Realize that you are the one that truly fills out that ballot and you just need to figure out how to get the pen or pencil to write your code down.
Make sure you set many goals for the year. If you have many goals, it is more likely you will achieve some of them. Students never have perfect seasons. The NFL National Champions in DUO did not win the UC Berkeley Invitational, but they were the ones who had the last laugh. If their goal was only to win Berkeley and they gave up on their piece and year in February, they never would have won nationals.
Have fun and realize that the season is long. Forensics is a September through June activity. Make sure to have fun at the tournaments and realize that what happens in November, doesn’t necessarily translate or occur in May. You need to enjoy each tournament and practice. My favorite students are the ones that compete and rarely win trophies because they are competing because they love the activity. Winning is fun, but it’s not why you should be participating. It should be a goal, but not the ends.
Ignore the high school BS that you will face throughout the year. You will meet students that lie to you about winning tournaments and the amazing camps they attended. I am a firm believer that you don’t need a camp to win and you don’t need to believe what your opponents say. Forensics is often a mind game and you can’t play it. You need to stick with your game, which is preparation, practice and executing your game plan in rounds. Don’t let your opponents stories dictate your rounds. If you have a judge who coached your opponent at a camp, give that judge credit and assume they will vote for the true winner.
Take chances! Don’t be afraid to try new events and attempt to use different strategies. I meet far to many competitors that insist they are LDers when in fact, they would be better in Public Forum or in their IE’s. You can’t be married to a specific event. Give yourself as many chances to win by trying new things and experiencing all the events that are out there. I qualified for nationals in three events, even though I only enjoyed one of those events. Reflecting back on my competitive days, I would never give the trophies back that I earned in events I enjoyed less.
So the 2008-2009 season is upon us. It is time for re-birth. You will have a chance at redemption, building a legacy and most importantly you will get a chance to enjoy another great season. Try to stay true to your game and utilize the concepts I’ve shared.
