Spring 2026 Season Now Open

Where Kids Find Their Voice.

Structured debate tournaments and speech showcases for ages 7โ€“16. Watch your child step to the mic โ€” and the whole room go quiet.

Dogs ARE better and here's why ๐Ÿ•
Actually, libraries should stay open later!
My three points are...
PODIUM1ST PLACE
๐ŸŽค
4,200+
Kids Competed
๐Ÿ“
38
Cities & Growing
โญ
91%
Return Next Season
๐Ÿ†
Ages 7โ€“16
All Skill Levels
Discover
๐Ÿ“Œ Explore Podium

Everything You Want to Know

Tap into any tile โ€” tournaments, real kids, parent stories, and what to expect.

Live Tournament

Spring Championship

Active
Semifinal
Maya R. ๐Ÿ†
vs
Lucas T.
Semifinal
Priya K.
vs
Noah S. ๐Ÿ†
Parent watching their child speak at a Podium tournament with pride
โ

"The first time she stood at that podium, I cried. She's 9 and she just owned the room."

K
Karen Whitfield
Mom of Lily, Age 9 ยท Austin, TX
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Upcoming Events

Spring 2026 Schedule

๐Ÿ“…
Mar
8
Rookie Showcase
Austin, TX
showcase12 spots left
Mar
22
Regional Qualifier
Denver, CO
tournament4 spots left
Apr
5
Spring Open
Chicago, IL
tournament18 spots left
Apr
19
Grand Orator Finals
Nashville, TN
championship8 spots left
Ten-year-old delivering a rebuttal at Podium debate tournament on stage
Featured Clip

"And that concludes my rebuttal." โ€” Amara, age 10

Rank System

Earn Your Badge

๐ŸŒฑ
First Words
First speech delivered
๐ŸŒฟ
Rising Voice
3 tournaments completed
โญ
Confident Contender
First debate win
๐Ÿ†
Grand Orator
Regional champion
TOP
โ

"He went from hiding behind me at every event to asking when his next tournament is."

D
Derek Okonkwo
Dad of Marcus, Age 12 ยท Columbus, OH
By the Numbers
4,200+
Kids Competed
38
Active Cities
91%
Return Rate
620+
Trophies Awarded
Child receiving a debate trophy at a Podium league awards ceremony
โ

"My homeschooled son needed real competition. Podium gave him that โ€” plus friends who argue about everything, which is perfect."

R
Rachel Steinberg
Homeschool Mom ยท Portland, OR
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๐ŸŽ–๏ธ Rank Progression

From First Words to Grand Orator

Every kid starts at Level 1. Every trophy is earned, not handed out. The ladder is real โ€” and so is the pride.

๐ŸŒฑ
Level 1 ยท Ages 7โ€“8

First Words

Seedling

Deliver your first 2-minute speech to a small group. No debate yet โ€” just you, a mic, and something you care about.

Milestone: First speech delivered
๐ŸŒฟ
Level 2 ยท Ages 8โ€“10

Rising Voice

Sprout

Complete 3 tournaments. Start learning the art of the rebuttal โ€” listen, think fast, respond with evidence.

Milestone: 3 tournaments completed
โญ
Level 3 ยท Ages 10โ€“13

Confident Contender

Contender

Win your first structured debate. Judges score on argument quality, delivery, and โ€” yes โ€” how well you handle nerves.

Milestone: First debate win
๐Ÿฅ‡
Level 4 ยท Ages 11โ€“14

League Champion

Champion

Place in the top 3 at a regional qualifier. You're competing against the best young speakers in your area.

Milestone: Regional top-3 finish
๐Ÿ†
Level 5 ยท Ages 13โ€“16

Grand Orator

Grand Orator

Win a regional championship. The Grand Orator title means you've held a room, answered every challenge, and stood your ground.

Milestone: Regional champion
๐Ÿ’ฌ Parent Stories

The Moment They Surprised You.

Real parents. Real moments. The kind you don't forget.

A young girl proudly holding a debate ribbon at a school tournament
โ

I cried in the parking lot after her first tournament. She walked out holding a ribbon and said 'I want to do that again.' That was it for us.

K
Karen Whitfield
Mom of Lily, Age 9
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Proud father watching his son receive a trophy at a debate competition
โ

He was the kid who wouldn't raise his hand in class. Now he argues his case at dinner every night. We created a monster โ€” a confident, articulate monster.

D
Derek Okonkwo
Dad of Marcus, Age 12
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Homeschooled student speaking confidently at a microphone during a speech showcase
โ

As a homeschool mom, I was hunting for something with real structure and real stakes. Podium is the only extracurricular my son asks about on Sundays.

R
Rachel Steinberg
Homeschool Mom, Portland, OR
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
๐ŸŽ“ Built by Educators

Real Structure. Real Stakes.

Podium was designed with speech educators, trial lawyers, and championship coaches. Every tournament uses the same judging rubric as collegiate debate.

๐Ÿ“šWhat Kids Learn

๐ŸŽฏ
Structured Argumentation
Kids learn claim, evidence, and warrant โ€” the same framework used in college debate.
๐ŸŽค
Delivery & Presence
Posture, eye contact, vocal variety โ€” scored by certified judges at every tournament.
โšก
Rebuttal Training
Timed practice sessions teach kids to listen actively and respond on the spot.
๐Ÿ“‹
Research Skills
Age-appropriate research methods that build critical thinking alongside the argument.

โš–๏ธOur Judges

P
Dr. Patricia Yuen
Speech & Debate Coach, 18 yrs
Former State Championship Judge
M
Marcus Ellison
Trial Attorney, 12 yrs
National Forensics League Certified
A
Dr. Ananya Krishnan
Communications Professor
Univ. of Texas, Austin
R
Robert Castellano
Former State Debate Champion
Certified Youth Coach

Spring 2025 Season Results

๐ŸŽค
847
Speeches Delivered
โš–๏ธ
214
Debates Judged
๐Ÿ“
38
Regional Events
๐Ÿ†
620
Trophies Awarded