Coaching Notes: How to Give Great Feedback to Students

Why Feedback Matters

Effective feedback is one of the most powerful coaching tools. It improves performance, motivates growth, and deepens understanding. It helps debaters see:

• What they’re doing well
• What they can improve
• How to get better in the next round

3 Golden Rules for Giving Feedback

1. Is what I’m saying helpful?

• Be specific. Focus on skills or techniques — not general impressions.
• Use positive language to encourage, not discourage.
• Example:
  “Your use of statistics was strong; next time, try connecting them more clearly to your impact.”
  

2. What will the debater learn from this?

• Show the reason behind the feedback.
• Help them see the pattern: What worked? What didn’t? Why?
• Structure feedback as:
  • What went well
  • What could improve
  • How to improve

3. How will they use the feedback in the next round?

• Focus on transferable skills, not personal preferences.
• Avoid “if I were debating…” comments unless they specifically ask.
• Ask: “Will this help them perform better right away?”

What Good Feedback Looks Like

Adjusting Feedback for Different Skill Levels

For Younger / Inexperienced Speakers

• Focus on one or two key areas at a time (e.g., clarity, speaking speed).
• Use encouraging language to build confidence.
• Highlight progress (“Your second speech was much clearer than your first!”).
• Give tangible goals they can focus on immediately:
  • “Try standing still for your next speech.”
  • “Practice making one argument with a clear example.”

Avoid overwhelming them with too much feedback.

For Advanced / Experienced Speakers

• Dive into argument nuance, strategic choices, and weighing mechanisms.
• Challenge them to think critically: “Why did you frame your impact that way?”
• Use detailed feedback: “You had good impact framing, but your internal links were vague.”
• Encourage self-reflection: “What would you change in your 2nd speech?”

Push them to be self-directed and ambitious in improving.

A Coach’s Checklist for Evaluating Mentees

Use this framework to assess performances and structure feedback.

1. Content

• Are arguments supported by logical reasoning and evidence?
• Are unsupported assertions or overreliance on authority avoided?
• Does the speaker show strong understanding of the motion?
• Do they follow through on the core issues of the round?
• Are definitions clear, fair, and consistent?

2. Refutation

• Are rebuttals targeting key points of clash?
• Is new reasoning or evidence introduced?
• Is refutation more than repetition?

3. Reasoning

• Is the logic sound, original, and agile?
• Are common fallacies avoided and pointed out?
• Is there creativity in thought?

4. Organization

• Is there a clear, logical structure?
• Does the team coordinate well?
• Are rebuttals and summaries easy to follow?
• Are introductions and conclusions impactful?

5. Persuasiveness

• Does the speaker connect emotionally with the audience?
• Do they use rhetorical tools like storytelling, tone, and analogies?
• Do they seem authentic and convincing?

6. Delivery

• Is speech clear and confidently paced?
• Are gestures, posture, and facial expressions effective?
• Is there eye contact and audience awareness?
• Are words pronounced correctly with good diction?
• Is there vocal variety, humor, or emphasis where needed?

Coach’s Practice Tips

1. Feedback Sandwich
   Start with praise → give a critique → end with a specific suggestion.
2. Model Feedback
   Let experienced students or co-coaches give feedback as examples.
3. Ask Reflective Questions
   Encourage mentees to self-assess:
   • What did you think went well?
   • Where did you struggle?
   • What would you change next time?
4. Track Progress
   Use a rubric or checklist over time to show growth in each category.