Drawing on her experience building a student-run extemp program, Shriya Surana offers a practical roadmap for teams without formal coaching.
Breaking into the extemp circuit as a student-run team can feel daunting. Many established programs benefit from professional coaching, institutional funding, and years of accumulated prep. Meanwhile, student-led teams often juggle inconsistent attendance, limited resources, and the pressure of self-teaching one of the most demanding events in forensics.
And trust me, I’ve been there.
Written by a student captain navigating that exact challenge, this guide is designed to be a practical resource for teams, learning from the failures and successes of teams like mine. In this guide, I will outline how to support novices, structure effective practices, plan for long-term growth, and leverage existing resources, paving the way for student-run success.
Supporting and Retaining Novices
For student-run, student-taught, and student-funded teams, novices will inevitably face a steep learning curve. Without enforced time commitments or daily class periods, beginners often struggle to keep up with the prep, research, and repetition required to succeed in limited-prep events. Early competitive losses can feel discouraging, especially when novices compare themselves to peers with years of coaching and individualized support.
The most effective way to counter this is intentional encouragement.
At tournaments, be present for your novices. After each round, hold a short debrief. I like to structure these as “glows” and “grows”:
Glows highlight something the speaker is proud of or did well. (Ex: “I made consistent eye contact with the room!”)
Grows identify one or two specific, actionable areas to focus on in upcoming practices. (Ex: “I could improve the emotional impact of my statement of significance when I practice this week.”)
This framing keeps feedback constructive and prevents novices from feeling overwhelmed. Be honest about your own struggles as well: Share your ballots, your prep process, and even your weaker speeches. When novices see captains modeling growth rather than perfection, they’re more likely to stay engaged.
Just as importantly, be upfront about expectations. Explain the time commitment required to succeed in extemp and help novices build a self-driven work ethic early. Remind them that sustained progress and reaching their personal goals require structure, honesty, and mentorship. Additionally, let them seek out resources to help, such as our Ultimate Novice Guide, an excellent resource for those unfamiliar with extemp.
Conducting Effective Practice Sessions
Rather than trying to replicate the structure of well-funded, coach-led programs, student-run teams should lean into their flexibility and adaptability.
In-person sessions are essential whenever possible. Aim for at least one per week, ideally with second-year or more experienced competitors in attendance. These practices should emphasize the tangible, performance-based aspects of extemp:
- Delivery and presence
- Vocal variation
- Organization under pressure
- Effective use of evidence in speech
This is where peer feedback shines. Novices often improve fastest when they can immediately see and hear what effective extemp looks like. Let them step into a captain’s shoes and provide each other meaningful feedback. Oftentimes, the best way for students to grow is by taking on the role of a teacher.
Additionally, when you are giving students feedback, focus on having actionable steps the student can implement. For instance, instead of telling a student to stop stuttering, ask them to pause between phrases if they are unsure of what to say. For more guidance on performance-focused content, check out the Extemper’s Bible Delivery resources.
Online sessions can fill in the gaps and be an accessible way to introduce concepts that may not necessarily have to be physically presented. These might include:
- Timed prep drills
- Q&A/individual feedback before major tournaments
- Reviewing prep
- Short current-events briefings led by students
Tailor these sessions to your novices’ interests. If a student is passionate about climate policy, ask them to prep a question on the efficacy of COP30. This not only builds research skills but reinforces extemp as a platform for advocacy, not just competition. You will see your students genuinely excited about the activity this way! Student disengagement is common in club-based programs. Let students shape the content, and they’re far more likely to stay invested.
Planning for Long-Term Growth
Sustainable success requires specific, measurable goals. Whether your team is aiming for local out rounds or national qualification, clarity matters.
Set goals with timelines:
- Fundraising for a tournament? Decide what you’ll sell and when. (Sunny Fridays work well for boba fundraisers; platforms like Vertical Raise can also be effective.)
- Overwhelmed with deadlines? Create a tournament list early in the season and track deadlines in a shared Google Sheet.
Seek out tournaments that challenge your team. Accessible options, such as online tournaments like the Stanford Invitational, offer invaluable feedback, even in preliminary rounds. While locals are important, exposure to higher-level judging accelerates growth dramatically.
Most importantly, bring individual success back to the team. If you qualify for NSDA, NCFL, UKTOC, ETOC, NIETOC or another major tournament, sit in on all as many rounds as possible, flow speeches, and identify trends in successful arguments or delivery styles. Share those insights at the next practice so the entire program benefits from one person’s experience.
Leveraging Critical Resources
Even student-run teams are not without support; many resources are simply underutilized or undiscovered. Here are a few:
The NSDA offers grants aimed at under-resourced programs, including the Keith West Memorial Fund School Grant and the Tate “Road to Nationals” Fund. Mark application windows early. Many grants require a listed coach, so consider asking a faculty member or parent to serve in that role for administrative purposes. This should be the same adult listed when you registered for an NSDA account.
For newer teams, National Online Forensics Tournaments are an excellent entry point. These small, often asynchronous monthly tournaments allow teams to compete accessibly, even without NSDA or state circuit registration.
Finally, student-run organizations like The Extemper’s Bible exist precisely to uplift teams like yours. Free speech reviews, articles, prep materials, and presentations from extempers nationwide can dramatically accelerate a team’s development. If you’re new to these resources, explore the site and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or requests.
Final Thoughts
Being a student-run team is not a weakness, it’s an opportunity. It fosters leadership, collaboration, and a shared investment in success that can be harder to find in traditional programs.
Build strong relationships within your team, remain consistent in your efforts, and always plan for continuity. If you’re a graduating senior, identify and mentor someone to carry the program forward.
To every student captain and extemper carving out space in this activity: good luck, and happy practicing. I hope you find the experience as rewarding as I do.