Welcome to version 1.0 of my new website! Right now, there’s a few resources that I’ve been asked about many times: links to my PPT slides and reading recommendations for books and news. I also added a section on Pedagogy (my core philosophy about the art of teaching); a Philosophy section of a class I’ve taught; as well as some other Resources and of course, Memes.

The main motivation for this site is to provide free resources to debate students and coaches who might lack resources or proper guidance, so I aim to update this in the coming months to make it more effective and helpful for you! Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions!

email me at dias.llc@pm.me

~ Coach Peter
Feb 25, 2026

How is debate a sport?

let me count the ways...

Development

Kids can play sports at a low level, but so can Olympic athletes. Kids can debate about simple stuff, but professors and world leaders also debate about economic policy and international relations.

Strategy

To be good at a sport requires many different skills that interconnect. Debate is the same, it can be broken down into separate isolated skills but ultimately must be synthesized again together.

Diligence

It's extremely difficult to be very good at a sport. Debate is the same; it requires hard work, and it never ends.

Variety

There's so many different types of debate. Which one is best? Which sport is best? The question doesn't make sense.

Personality

There's not just one perfect type of athlete; you bring your own unique skills to the game. Although being tall helps at playing basketball, you can be short and win. Being extrovert could initially help at debate, but often introverts become champions. Creative poets, math nerds, and everyone else all have a home in debate.

Tradition

Debating about things goes back millennia and competitive academic debate goes back over a century. My university debate team started in 1895, and philosophers have debated for thousands of years. Students today are also part of this historic and global tradition.

Growth

Sports teach more than physical exercise; they teach emotional and personal growth, strength, resilience. Debate teaches not just academic skills, but also EQ skills like how to deal with frustration, loss, and bad actors in an emotionally mature way.

Friendship

Ask anyone who's been in debate for years and they will always say the most important part of debate is the people you meet. I don't care about my high school trophies anymore, but I will always cherish the lifelong friendships I made then.

Teamwork

You can't succeed by yourself, you always have to depend on someone else and work together.

Fun

Playing sports is very fun. Many people think good fun and hard work are opposites, but they work together. If you work hard, you’re more likely to have fun at what you do!

"Debate is a Sport!"

About Coach Peter

Education. studied at Hong Kong University, Nanjing University, and Johns Hopkins University. I have a BA in Philosophy and MA in Chinese history, philosophy, language from The University of Kansas.

Experience. Over 10 years experience coaching middle school and high school debate in Shanghai.

Certification. I completed a teaching training program and earned an official teaching certificate in Washington DC.

Mission. Debate opened up my world as a curious kid in Kansas, so I am driven to help spread the joy and opportunity of debate to more students around the world.

Passion. I strive to convey the excitement and wonder of learning new things, and to instill a commitment to working hard to practice new skills.

Values. I strongly believe that every person of any identity or personality deserves the utmost respect and consideration. Every single voice contributes to the world at large and the world of debate.

All of my teaching and everything on this website draws on over 10 years of experience as a teacher, as well as a lifetime as a student. Thanks to all who have contributed and shared!

加个微信吧！ WeChat

Coach Peter

here’s my account on WeChat. Feel free to add me for any comments or suggestions or just to stay in touch

🚫 NO SLOP! 🤖
I did not use any A.I. in anyway to create anything on this site.

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