Thank you for your interest in helping Philadelphia students gain valuable skills through debate competition!  ASAP Debate depends on two types of volunteers to ensure quality debate programming: (1) Debate Club Leader or Assistant and (2) Debate Judge.

Debate Club Leader/Assistant

Debate Club Leaders or Assistant Club Leaders are required to attend a Volunteer Orientation, during which ASAP staff will assist participants with obtaining required background checks and clearances to work with youth.  For more information and to start this process, please contact RJ Tischler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or 215-545-2727 ext. 16 with the following information:

• Potential school or neighborhood where you're interested in volunteering (i.e. North Philly, Frankford, South Philadelphia, etc.)
• Which days and times you're available to volunteer (ASAP requires that club leaders volunteer a minimum of one hour per week for at least one full academic semester, or 16 weeks)
• Preferred age range (middle or high school students)
• Any relevant debate experience.  No prior knowledge of debate is necessary, but if you are already familiar with debate, we'd like to know!

Volunteer Debate Judge:

Think you have sound judgment? ASAP Debate is always seeking volunteer debate judges, especially during the 12-week competitive Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League season held on Wednesday afternoons (3:30pm-4:45pm) from November through March. Judges can come as frequently or infrequently as they are available. Debate judges don’t need any debate experience and will receive training prior to judging their first match to review the Public Forum Debate format and scoring rubric.

For more information please contact RJ Tischler at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or 215-545-2727 ext. 16