PLYMOUTH, Vt. — The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation located in Plymouth, Vt., is seeking volunteer debate judges for the fourth annual Coolidge Cup debate tournament, which invites high school students from around the region and beyond to compete for more than $10,000 in scholarship prizes.
“The Coolidge Cup brings together some of the top high school debaters from across the country to compete in a tournament that is unique for its style, location and awards,” said Jared Rhoads, debate program director, in an email. “Volunteer debate judges are critical to the success of this tournament.”
The debate will take place from July 2-4 at The Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth Notch. Most of the competition takes place on July 2 and 3, and judges can sign up to participate for a full or half day. About 30 judges are needed.
Anyone is welcome to judge the debate. There is a small amount of training provided, but for the most part, judges are encouraged to follow their gut while judging the debate.
“Since we are big believers in the value of having citizen judges, we keep the rules and format very straightforward. There aren’t a lot of technical details to worry about. Our debaters know that our judges are looking for logical arguments, delivered clearly and at a reasonable speed,” Rhoads said.
Very few judges have experience with competitive debate, which the organizers consider a good thing.
“There are no special skills required other than the ability to set your own opinions aside temporarily and judge the students’ speeches objectively and neutrally,” Rhoads said.
At the debate, judges fill out a paper ballot and turn it in, rather than announcing the winner on the spot.
“Sometimes people who are considering judging worry that judging might be a high-pressure experience with a confrontational element, like being a referee or umpire in a heated game of basketball or baseball,” Rhoads said. “That is absolutely not the case!”
Ultimately, the judges’ decisions are respected, he said.
“There is a dictum in competitive debate of which everyone, including the student debaters, are well-aware: The judge is always right,” Rhoads said.
Many judges enjoy the social aspect of volunteering at the debate, and also listening to critical thinking about the economic and public policy issues that are debated. They also receive a complimentary gift and dinner.
“Because volunteer judges are so critically important to a tournament like this, we make every effort to treat you like royalty,” Rhoads said.
For more information or to volunteer for the tournament, visit https://www.coolidgefoundation.org/debate/register-to-judge-the-coolidge-cup.