As a high school ethics bowl coach, I’ve found that it’s between rounds one and two, and two and three, that a team will be most eager for and receptive to feedback – more malleable and open to modifying their approach. Once you get past round two, some fall into tacit roles, and their question response pattern becomes difficult to adjust.
Below is an example of feedback I provided my team between rounds 1 and 2 during a recent bowl in Tennessee. Notice how I emphasized both what they were doing well, and opportunities for improvement.
Last, know that sometimes no matter how clearly you convey your suggestions, teams will still forget to consider and respond to a possible objection, continue to say, “In our opinion…” and continue to go overboard in thanking the judges. All you can do is coach. How well the respond is largely on them.
