Give them Vortex. Give them confidence.
Free, personal coaching in debate & public speaking for middle schoolers. One focused hour, one-on-one, every week. We help nervous kids find their voice and grow into strong speakers, one session at a time.
Learning to argue well teaches kids to think clearly, listen carefully, and speak up for what they believe. We don't think a skill that important should sit behind a paywall, so Vortex is free, online, and open to any middle schooler ready to find their voice.
Start with the basics of speaking and reasoning, then explore the major debate styles to find the one that clicks.
Most of our students start from zero. We meet every kid where they are and build from the ground up.
Start hereTwo-person teams debate the news in plain language. The friendliest place to begin.
Team · current eventsOne-on-one debates about values and big ideas: fairness, freedom, right and wrong.
Solo · philosophyDeep research and evidence on one big question. Great for kids who love diving in.
Research · evidenceTopics announced with little prep time. It's all about quick thinking and staying cool under pressure.
Improv · quick prepVoice, posture, pacing, eye contact, and beating the nerves. The foundation underneath every format.
Confidence · presenceEvery student gets their own coach for a private weekly hour online. A parent registers. No student accounts, no hassle.
A two-minute form: your name and email, your child's first name and grade. That's all we collect.
We match your child with a coach, find a weekly time that works for your family, and send you a secure link.
One focused hour each week, just your child and their coach. Parents are always welcome to sit in or watch.
Drills, mock debates, and real feedback help your child improve week after week, and have a good time doing it.
So there's no surprise once classes begin: your child's coach is a high-school freshman and passionate debater who volunteers their time, which is exactly why the program is free. A responsible adult runs the program and handles all safety, privacy, and legal matters.
We follow youth-protection best practices, and our Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct are available to any family who wants them.
Have a question? Ask usSign-up is free and takes about two minutes. Fill out a short form and we'll follow up with scheduling info.
Register your child (it's free) Prefer email? Reach us at vortexdebate@gmail.comYour child's coach is a high-school freshman who is an experienced, passionate debater and volunteers their time. That's exactly why the program is free. A responsible adult supervises the program and handles all safety, privacy, and legal matters. We want this clear up front so there are no surprises once sessions begin.
Yes, completely. Vortex Speech & Debate is volunteer-run and there's no cost to families, now or ever.
Students in grades 5–8 (roughly ages 10–14). Because coaching is one-on-one, every session is tailored to your child's exact age and level.
One student, one coach, one hour, every week, online. The coach tailors each session to your child, with a parent always welcome to be present.
Not at all. Most of our students are brand new to debate. We start with the fundamentals.
A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone, and a quiet spot to join. That's it.
Sessions are one-on-one, and we encourage a parent or guardian to be present or nearby. We use secure video with waiting rooms and passwords, can record sessions on request, keep all communication through parents, and a responsible adult oversees the program. See the "For parents" section for details.
