Starting out at Potomac debate academy, I really had no idea what the activity was, but with the helpful guidance of the numerous coaches I had throughout the years, I was able to gain a great grasp of the sport and compete on the National level. I really want to thank Potomac Debate Academy for the myriad of opportunities they provided to me throughout my career.
Competitive Track
Start your 2025–2026 debate season strong
For students who are eager to compete at tournaments in Public Forum debate, this track provides the structure and rigor to help students — both new and experienced debaters — take their debating to the next level. By design, this track is for any student driven to compete tournaments in Public Forum, whether they’re novice or varsity; our curriculum trains debaters both to solidify their foundational skills—including case writing, weighing, and flowing—and to understand more advanced concepts, including styles and strategies commonly used at tournaments on the national debate circuit. This is the ideal track for debaters who are looking for a fun, intellectually rigorous, and nurturing environment to help them achieve their ambitious goals.
Not sure if this track is the right fit for you/your child?
Our program offers several camp experiences tailored to different student goals. Check out our Skill-Building Track to learn more about our other camp track.
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Practice & Receive Feedback
Refine your debate skills under the mentorship of some of the best debate coaches in the country! Through skill drills and practice debates, students will receive coaching feedback to improve their critical thinking, case writing, and ability to effectively execute strategies, both in rebuttal speeches and in the second-half of the round.
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Improve Your Preparation
One of the biggest benefits of a great camp experience is the opportunity for a student to get ahead on the research and preparation for the next debate season. At PDA, students will grow their backfiles by researching and developing materials they can use at tournaments during the upcoming season.
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Learn All New Styles of Debate
Led by instructors who have coached students to success in both so-called “traditional” and “progressive” styles, campers will learn how to effectively adapt to judges and opponents with diverse approaches to debate by developing a “toolkit” of diverse strategies they can use in these debates.
Typical Daily Schedule
8:00 AM ————————————– Morning Check-In & Breakfast
9:00 AM ————————————– Drills
10:00 AM ———————————— Lab Session
11:30 AM ———————————— Development Session
12:30 PM ———————————— Lunch
1:30 PM ————————————– Electives
3:30 PM ————————————– Lab Session
5:00 PM ————————————– Start-Stop Round
6:00 PM ————————————– Dinner
7:00 PM ————————————– Lab Session
8:00 PM ————————————– Office Hours
9:30 PM ————————————– Floor Check / Free Time
10:30 PM ———————————— Room Check