Preparing for Online Competition

Opportunities to compete online are all over the place, but how prepared are you? Online competition is a great way to participate in speech and debate without leaving the comforts of your home. But how do you prepare to communicate in this environment?  Is it as simple as setting up your computer in your bedroom and showing up to deliver a speech? Our coaching team has been booked the last couple weeks… people realize you have to ADAPT if you are speaking to a camera or computer. It’s just different! If you don’t have time to schedule a coaching call before the next time you compete online, read on for the best tips and tricks from online competition experts who helped many in 2021 succeed…

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Continuing to Build Into Your Speech… MidSeason by: Lynda DePasacreta

I recently had the privilege of representing Lasting Impact! and attended a tournament in Florida (I reside in NH). After the tournament I spent the day coaching a local club. In our general session we covered how to prepare for the rest of the season…

The REST of the season can mean several things…

1. Preparing for Regionals or your National Championship 

2. Having one last chance to break – to take your speech to the next level of competition- gain a green check, cash in some at large points, etc.

How do you take a speech to the next level?

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Happy 4th SALE! Online Speech and Debate Camps – Membership Prices for ALL!

MEMBERSHIP PRiCES for ALL – through the 4th of July!! Our Online Camps are LESS THAN $100 (see below for details on the discounts). Sign up today for Lasting Impact! Online Camps, they will provide – amazing information, instruction, and inspiration! And, as always, the recording is FREE! Running a Club this year? Club Leaders are also welcome to attend! Learn and glean from top notch coaches to walk away with a jump start on the season making progress towards success!

Ethan Tong said, “Some of my fondest memories of High School Speech and Debate were the summer camps: hanging out with friends, not understanding how much I was learning, with little to no pressure to perform well. I remember one camp in Wisconsin where I was doing a practice round. One of the camp coaches was judging. I could not finish a single sentence without stuttering and saying ums all over the place––despite it being my 2nd year competing. I was so embarrassed that I literally said, in my speech, “I’m sorry, I promise I’m usually not this bad”!”

The great thing about camps is that you’re allowed to make mistakes and not be on your best game. You need to remember- you go to camp to learn, grow, and explore!

Lasting Impact! is offering summer speech and debate camps all over the country – including Hawaii! But did you know we also are providing some AMAZING speech and debate opportunities ONLINE this summer?? We are offering ONLINE DEBATE – in three different events––TP, LD, and Moot Court–– and ONLINE SPEECH! We guarantee they will help you learn the elements to get you started on the road to progress. By heading to a summer camp you are guaranteed to be further ahead than if you didn’t! We, at Lasting Impact!, are all about the process and progress over the perfection! If you can’t make it to an in person camp this summer… check out these online options…

TP and LD Camp – (TP – July 10-11/LD – July 12-13) These are called “Principles of TP” and “Principles of LD” because we will not just teach you how to succeed in a particular resolution, but how to succeed in any resolution. Coach Ethan Tong and Coach Nathanael Kolssak will teach you the principles of debate that all nationally-ranked debaters use. They are not only experienced coaches and past competitors, but they are also experienced judges! Therefore, they will be able to give you tips from the other side of the table and tell you what judges like and what they don’t like. Click HERE and enter the Code – DISCOUNT2310 for $25 OFF!!

Moot Camp – (July 26-27 or Aug. 4-5) This camp is geared for beginners and advanced. Beginners will cover…

⁃What is Moot Court?
⁃What To Do When Cracking Open the Packet
⁃Case Writing 101
⁃Responding to Questions 101
⁃2023 Packet Discussion
⁃…and more!

The advanced track will cover:
⁃Improving at Moot
⁃Case Writing 201: Compelling Intros and Conclusions
⁃Mastering the Rebuttal
⁃2023 Packet Discussion
Click HERE. And enter the Code- DISCOUNT2310 for $10 OFF!!

Jump Start Speech – (July 17) Heather Neumann will lead students of all levels to get a kick start for the upcoming season. Through class time and engaging activities, Heather will break down all the speech categories, teach the benefits of speech and debate, and dispel various myths. Even the most apprehensive students will walk away with a foundation, and the varsity students will be inspired! Click HERE. And enter the Code- DISCOUNT2310 for $10 OFF!!

Do you need a camp to do well? No, not necessarily, but our camps will have value. You have the opportunity to start your journey NOW! Begin the process NOW. Oh––and one more thing: we promise these camps will be fun. Yes, they’re online. But we use high energy, humor, games, activities, and everything in our power to make these camps some of the best you’ve ever been to. Just hear what a Moot Court camper said:

“The energy was immaculate, the feedback was top tier, and the way the coaches handled everything (from jokes to lectures to drills to giving tips) exceeded my already high expectations greatly. Would 100% pay again. 10/10.”

Sign Up Today!

Ready, Set, (Speech and Debate) Summer!

Can you believe it’s mid-June? Can you believe I have had coaching sessions already for fall 2023?! I’m not going to lie- I love summer prep! I love the enthusiasm that comes with tackling new resolutions, speech ideas, and the inspiration that comes from simply seeking His will.

Are you feeling ready for what the new speech and debate season has in store? If you are feeling unequipped, unsettled, or uninspired – join Lasting Impact! to get energized!!

Online Summer Camps! 

In Person Summer Camps!

One on One Coaching! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/services/ 

  • There’s nothing like a coaching session to give you accountability for the summer! 

Over 400 Articles!

  • Look through all our past articles to see what past coaches, competitors, even National Champions wanted to share with us!

New! Limited Prep Guide! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club15091/ 

  • The latest Lasting Impact! Resource full of beginner, intermediate, and advanced tips to help you grow in your limited prep speaking. Including Impromptu, Mars Hill, Extemporaneous, and Apologetics.

Books and Resources!

And don’t forget Fall Clubs are right around the corner… sign up now! Space is limited! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/ 

  • Speech 101 with Heather Neumann
  • Speech 102 with Heather Neumann
  • Interp Club with Heather Neumann and Lynda DePasacreda
  • Limited Prep with Ethan Tong
  • Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz
  • LD Fundamentals with Hillary and Nathanael Kolssak 
  • LD Strategies with Ethan Tong
  • Intermediate LD with Peter Montgomery 
  • LD Roundtable with Noah McKay
  • TP Foundations with Emalyn George
  • Advanced TP with Eric Meinerding 
  • Extemp Roundtable 

We can’t wait to see you again, meet for the first time, come alongside you and GROW, EQUIP, INSPIRE, and IMPACT! As always, we are cheering you on, and remember- you got this… cuz He’s got you!

Beyond the Story Example: Advanced Tips To Add Spice To Your Impromptu Speech by: Honor (Persing) Hoffmann

Most people think of impromptu examples as stories. Almost always, that’s the way it plays out: whether you’re telling the story of someone’s life (Beethoven overcame challenging life circumstances to compose beautiful music), a plot point from a book (When Frodo took the ring to Mount Doom, he relied on his friend Sam), or even a personal anecdote, you’re relying on storytelling. There’s nothing wrong with this–in fact, story is a powerful way to connect with people and draw them into your narrative…

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Ask the Coach – New Competitor Advice by Heather Neumann

I am a new student, heading to my first speech and debate tournament, what should I focus on?

Great question! There is a lot of soak in! A tournament involves long days, and often not a lot of sleep, so here’s a few tips…

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Extemp Roundtable is HERE – sign up TODAY!

Extemp Roundtable
Time: 4pm ET
Fridays – Begins Nov. 18, 2022-April 2023
Cost: $100 Members / $125 NonMembers

One downside of digital extemp is the lack of club mates getting together to discuss the news while filing articles. The extemp roundtable will recreate that valuable discussion time. Each week everyone will be responsible for a short (2 min) summary of a news topic, followed by a brief discussion. Coach Marc will help keep the discussion going and take notes. This is about information density and actively keeping up with the news. Parents are encouraged to attend to learn alongside their students. Join students from around the nation, from a variety of leagues! This is for beginners to experienced, from students to coaches. You do not want to miss out on the opportunity to discuss current events, understanding the critical thinking process, analysis, and overall communication skills this club will provide!

Go here to sign up – https://lastingimpact.info/product/club10143/

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The Exploratory Stage – Choosing a Topic by: Alaina Hoyt


Whether taking a High School Speech class or preparing to compete in Nationals, choosing the right speech topic can seem daunting. Topic possibilities are endless, ranging from persuasive platforms to abstract interps! The thousands of choices swirling like a storm through your mind or scribbled on your notes may make your head spin, but they don’t have to. Using these principles will provide you with a step-by-step map for any situation, always resulting in the same destination: success. Don’t allow yourself to rush through or be intimidated by, what Heather Neumann calls, The Exploratory Stage

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Researching the Resolution by: Isaiah Depp

Many debaters have already started preparing cases, or at least researching the resolution. Maybe you have always wanted to write your own case, but do not know where to start with researching and understanding the topic. I would argue that research is integral to debating. If your goal is success in competition, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the topic will help you to win rounds with far more consistency. If your goal is to learn and gain life skills, understanding something thoroughly before you talk about it is likewise far more persuasive and enlightening both for you and for your audience. Let me break down the basics of understanding the resolution and how to research your topics…

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How To Decide? Selling Your Speech Topic Idea

You have probably heard me before talk about this part of your Speech and Debate Journey… welcome to the Exploratory Phase - the time when you should be exploring ideas, options, cases, even books (please tell me you aren’t only using a search engine)! Honestly, this is one of my favorite times - I have stacks of books scattered around my house, coaching appointments are made up “idea generating sessions”, the TV, radio, newspaper could give me a lead on the next best idea! So why is it that so many people struggle with this Phase!!?

While you are in the Exploratory Phase… you need to do just that - EXPLORE! How else are you going to decide what you want to talk about for the next 4-10 months (you think I am over exaggerating, but I’m not). In order for you to make progress… you actually have to put in the work! Here, I’ll help- I will break it down in a little check list for you to decide if you will be able to sell your idea to your future audience…

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Understanding and Incorporating Cultural Relevance – Finding Your Topic and Voice by: Kristi Eskelund

We live in changing and turbulent times in which we are made increasingly aware of upheavals in our melting pot culture that stem in part from a carelessness in speaking and acting. If you are going to become a public speaker, it’s important that you consider how to be a relevant speaker.

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