The 2026 Debating SA season has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean your debating journey needs to stop!
Whether you’ve just completed your first season or you’re an experienced debater looking to take your skills further, the off-season is a great opportunity to build your confidence, explore new ideas and become a more effective speaker.
And the good news? You don’t need a debating team, an adjudicator or even a formal debate to keep improving.
Here are some simple ways to make the most of the months ahead.
1. Stay Curious About the World
Strong debaters are curious people. They take an interest in what’s happening around them and are willing to explore ideas beyond their own experiences.
During the holidays, make an effort to read or watch something that challenges you to think.
You might explore a news story, a scientific discovery, an ethical dilemma or an issue affecting your local community.
As you learn about an issue, ask yourself:
- What is the main question or problem?
- Why do people disagree about it?
- What are the strongest arguments on each side?
- What evidence supports those arguments?
- Has anything I’ve learned changed my opinion?
Remember, you don’t have to agree with an argument to understand why someone might find it convincing.
Try this: Choose one interesting news story each week. Write down two arguments supporting a particular position and two arguments opposing it. Then decide which arguments you find most compelling, and why.
2. Become a Better Researcher
Good debating isn’t simply about having an opinion. It’s about being able to support that opinion with clear reasoning and reliable evidence.
The off-season is an excellent time to practise finding and evaluating information.
Rather than relying on the first search result you find, investigate where information comes from.
Consider:
- Who produced this information?
- What qualifications or expertise do they have?
- When was it published?
- Is it supported by evidence?
- Can I find another reliable source that confirms it?
- Does the information actually support the argument I’m making?
Look beyond headlines and short summaries. Government publications, academic research, reputable news organisations and reports from recognised institutions can all provide useful starting points.
And remember: a statistic isn’t automatically persuasive just because it contains a number. You need to explain what the evidence means and why it matters to your argument.
Try this: Find a claim being made in a news article or social media post. Track down the original source and see whether the evidence supports the claim.
3. Practise Explaining Your Reasoning
One of the most valuable debating skills is the ability to explain why something is true or important.
It’s easy to make a statement. It’s much harder to develop that statement into a convincing argument.
For example, consider the claim:
“Schools should encourage students to read more books.”
That’s a position, but it isn’t yet a fully developed argument.
To strengthen it, you might explain how reading exposes students to unfamiliar ideas, develops vocabulary and improves their ability to understand different perspectives.
You could then support that reasoning with relevant research.
The important thing is to make the connection between your claim, your reasoning and your evidence clear to your audience.
Try this: Take an opinion you hold and challenge yourself to explain it in 60 seconds. Avoid simply repeating your claim. Concentrate on explaining why your audience should accept it.
4. Learn to Recognise Strong Arguments
Not every argument in a debate carries equal weight.
Some arguments are more relevant to the topic. Others have stronger evidence, more convincing reasoning or greater consequences.
An important skill for experienced debaters is learning to identify which arguments deserve the most attention.
When listening to a discussion or watching a debate, consider:
- Which argument goes closest to the central issue?
- Which argument has the strongest supporting reasoning?
- What assumptions are being made?
- What would happen if the argument were accepted?
- Which argument would be most difficult to answer?
This is particularly useful when developing your rebuttal.
Rather than trying to respond to every statement made by the opposing team, focus on the arguments that matter most to the outcome of the debate.
Try this: Watch a discussion involving two opposing viewpoints. Identify the strongest argument from each side and explain which one you think should carry more weight.
5. Practise Speaking Without a Script
Confidence in public speaking develops through practice.
One of the best ways to improve is to become comfortable explaining your ideas without relying on a fully written speech.
Start with a familiar subject. It could be your favourite book, a school policy you would change or an issue you feel strongly about.
Prepare three or four dot points and speak for two minutes.
Concentrate on speaking clearly, maintaining a logical sequence and making your ideas easy to follow.
You can also record yourself on your phone and watch the recording afterwards.
Ask yourself whether your explanation was clear, whether you rushed and whether you relied on unnecessary filler words.
Don’t worry about delivering a perfect speech. The aim is to become more comfortable thinking and speaking independently.
Try this: Give a two-minute speech using only dot points. A few days later, repeat the exercise and see whether your delivery has improved.
6. Develop Your Listening Skills
Debating is as much about listening as it is about speaking.
Effective debaters pay close attention to what others say. They recognise the reasoning behind an argument, identify its weaknesses and respond to the point actually being made.
You can practise this skill in everyday conversations.
When someone expresses an opinion, try to understand their reasoning before deciding whether you agree.
Could you accurately explain their position to someone else? Have you understood their strongest point, rather than just the easiest point to challenge?
Being able to understand an opposing argument fairly is an important part of developing thoughtful and persuasive rebuttal.
Try this: Listen to an interview or discussion and summarise the speaker’s main argument in your own words before evaluating it.
7. Keep Learning with Debating SA
You don’t have to develop these skills on your own.
The Debating SA YouTube channel features educational videos designed to help students strengthen their debating skills, from developing arguments and delivering speeches to improving their reasoning and rebuttal.
You can revisit topics you’ve already learned or explore skills you’d like to develop before next season.
Visit our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/debatingsa
We also encourage you to explore the learning resources available through the Debating SA website. These resources can help you revisit important debating concepts, build your understanding and prepare for the challenges of the next season.
Explore our resources:
https://www.debatingsa.com.au/
You might even like to share a useful video or resource with a teammate and discuss what you’ve learned.
A Little Practice Goes a Long Way
You don’t need to spend hours every week preparing for next season.
Even 15 or 20 minutes spent reading about an unfamiliar issue, examining an argument or practising a short speech can help you develop valuable skills.
The most important thing is to remain curious, question what you hear and be willing to consider different perspectives.
At Debating SA, we believe debating is about much more than winning a competition. It’s about learning to think critically, communicate confidently and engage thoughtfully with the world around us.
These are skills that will serve you well at school, in further study, in your future career and throughout your life.
That’s what we mean by Debating for Life.
Enjoy your break, keep asking questions, and we look forward to seeing you back for another exciting season in 2027!