Schools’ Training Policy 2008

As you know, an important and growing source of revenue for MUDS comes from debating coaching that we provide to schools across Victoria. I write to introduce you to the services that we offer this year, and to your pivotal role in their operation as a MUDS trainer.

Contents
1. Coaching Services
2. Trainee Coaches
3. Payment policy
4. Thanks

 1. Coaching Services
The bulk of MUDS jobs are coaching, adjudicating and demonstrating 3-vs-3 debates, the style of the DAV Schools’ Competition.

However, our niche is the extension program that we offer to schools. Public speaking, British Parliamentary debating and mooting especially attract schools with gifted programs. Every year, MUDS derives a significant part of its revenue from these extension programs.

From a trainer’s point of view, MUDS jobs still comprise three categories: coaching jobs, adjudications, and demonstration debates. In other words, the extension programs have expanded the content of our services, but the basic structure remains the same.

You can find an online version of the Coaching Services Brochure under School Services.

 2. Trainee Coaches
Coaching is difficult. It is also different from debating: a good debater may not necessarily be a good coach. For this reason, all coaches must undergo training before coaching solo for MUDS’ clients.

Trainee coaches will accompany an experienced trainer on real coaching jobs. Trainees wholly new to coaching and debating will observe the experienced coach only. Trainees with more experience will conduct part of the training under the supervision of the experienced coach. This is akin to the DAV ‘piggyback’ system for beginner adjudicators.

I will assign trainee coaches to each job, giving preference to the trainees with most potential and experience. That way, I hope to graduate trainees to coaches faster, increasing the number of qualified coaches.

3. Payment Policy
MUDS will remunerate its staff according to the following rates.

Job type	Rate ($/hr)
Coaching	25
Adjudication	20
Demonstration Debate	15
Trainee Coaches	15

In previous years, MUDS has asked that trainers donate their first five hours of coaching. This policy no longer exists: there is no longer any 5-hr rule governing the payment of MUDS coaches.

 4. Thanks
Finally, I would like to thank you for supporting MUDS’ schools program. We rely exclusively on your dedication, a little touch of lunacy and perhaps a lack of life outside debating to run such a program, without which MUDS would be very much the poorer.

Kind regards and many thanks,

Anthony Kung
Schools’ Training Officer, MUDS
muds.coaching@gmail.com
0402 072 377