Join Us
See the club before you decide.
We would rather you visit and know exactly what you are getting into than sign up off a description. Once a year, in May, we open our doors so you can do just that.
Read this part carefully. It is the difference between a family that thrives here and one that burns out by November.
You will judge rounds
Parents judge practice rounds all season. No debate background needed: you get a ballot, you listen, and you write down what persuaded you. We'll train you the first few weeks.
You will help run tournaments
We host The Prologue and the Texas Escalade at Dallas Baptist University, and it takes every family: timing, tab room, hospitality, setup. It's also the most fun weekend of the season. (Thursday dinner is simple: everyone brings their own.)
This is not a drop-off program
Plan to be present, and plan on homework. Speeches get rewritten at home and debaters read and file evidence between meetings. A few hours most weeks, more before a tournament.
Faith is central
We are a Christian club. Families review and sign our statement of faith and club policies at registration, and the IF Moment devotional anchors every Thursday.
- Send the interest formTell us about your students. We will reach out, answer your questions, and make sure you get the open house invitation.
- Come to our spring open houseOne evening, everything on display: classes, coaches, a showcase round, and plenty of families to grill about what it is really like.
- Apply and registerAfter the open house comes a short application (the $50 fee counts toward membership), a family interview, and background screening. Then August brings class registration, Stoa, and dues.
Every year is a little different, but this is the arc. It is also why we keep enrollment to the season start: the year builds on itself.
New family orientation, class selection, and the first Thursdays. Debate resolutions for the year get announced.
Classes settle in. First drafts of platform speeches, first evidence in the files, judge training for new parents.
Practice rounds pick up speed, and we host The Prologue at Dallas Baptist University.
Polish and memorization. Some students compete in a first tournament.
A break for the holidays.
Back to Thursdays, and tournament season picks up across Texas.
The heaviest tournament stretch. Students refine events between weekends.
Qualifying season, and the Texas Escalade comes to Dallas Baptist University.
Final tournaments, and older students begin mentoring next year's newcomers.
Last Thursdays and awards night, plus our open house for prospective families. Qualifiers head to NITOC, Stoa's national championship.
Club dues cover the season: our facility, materials, and club operations. Stoa membership is separate and goes to the league. Tournaments and camps are optional and register separately as they come up.
Dues are $300 a year per family, no matter how many of your kids compete. After you register, you'll get an invoice right on the club site.
The essentials
What ages can join?
Students ages 8 to 18. Younger students start in junior classes that build the same skills at their speed; older students compete at Stoa tournaments.
Do parents have to stay on Thursday nights?
Yes. This is a family activity and the club runs on parent help. Most parents come to love judging. It's the best seat in the house.
Do we have to be homeschoolers?
Stoa is a league for homeschooling families, and so are we. If your schooling situation is unusual, reach out and we'll talk it through together.
My student is shy. Will this work?
Shy students are our specialty. Everyone starts small, usually with a short speech in a friendly room, and confidence builds week by week. Nobody gets thrown on a stage.
What does the faith commitment look like?
We're a Christian club with a statement of faith that families review and sign at registration. Student-led devotion (the IF Moment) is the center of our Thursday.
What does a season really cost, all in?
Club dues of $300 per family, Stoa membership around $100 per family, a $19 Ministry Safe background check, plus entry fees for the tournaments you enter (budget around $150 per student per tournament, and the club asks for at least three). Camps are optional and priced per event. New families also pay a $50 application fee, which counts toward your membership.
Can we visit a Thursday, or join mid-season?
We keep regular club nights just for members, mostly so the students stay focused and the year can build on itself. Instead, we open our doors once a year at our spring open house, and new families join at the start of the season in August.
The interest form is open all year. Send it whenever, and we'll make sure you get the invitation.
Where do you meet?
In Southlake, Texas, on Thursday afternoons and evenings. We share the exact location when we reach out.
Tell us about your family.
The interest form takes about two minutes. We will reach out, answer your questions, and make sure you get an invitation to our spring open house.