BlueCat
Roses are red, cats are blue
- Dec 14, 2009
- 4,503
- 19,507
I thought I would get some suggestions on ways to improve the scoring process for all star cheer.
Here are a few of mine:
1. All the scores are made public. EVERY number written down on any judge's sheet should be made available to the public. The comments are given only to the coaches of the teams.
2. Universal scoring process (with customizable variables) Having a single system would improve the judging as all training could be done on one system. My "tweak" to this is to allow EPs, if they choose, to add a variable number as a "multiplier" to each category to change the weighting of the various areas of cheer. The final score would look the same, but the EPs could adjust the value of each category if they chose. The important part is that the judging process would not change at all, the computer would just spit out the adjusted results.
3. Unofficial scoring is announced as you go. It increases total interest at the event. (Yes, awards is less dramatic, but OVERALL there is more drama throughout the event as you anticipate and compare scores all day long.) It also lessens the appearance of politics. Judges can still keep track of the scores they have given as a reference. IMPORTANT: Scores/placements are not final until coaches have had the chance to quickly review their scoresheets and lodge any protests. (Correct math errors, out-of-range scoring, etc.) This also has the benefit of allowing teams to compose themselves before being put under the award ceremony microscope.
NEW:
4. Coaches turn in a skills declaration before their teams compete. The judges have a written list of the skill elements in the routine to use as a reference in deciding difficulty. This would be in the order that they are performed in the routine. (Execution would still be subjective, and a major part of the final score.) Penalties would be given if athletes changed their skills to something easier. (Athlete throws a tuck instead of a double, flyer singles down instead of doubles, etc.) A judge sitting with the deduction judge would watch video to determine compliance with written skills. Coaches would have the ability to make last-minute changes in the case of injury or water-down decisions.
5. Expert panel annually ranks the difficulty of the most common various skill elements. Is a 1.5-up to stretch harder than a tic-tock? Is a 1 to double harder than a 2 to whip double? Is an assisted toss stretch harder than unassisted toss extension? There currently is NO standard by which coaches (or judges) can go by to decide what skills they will be rewarded for. Coaches may be performing skills they think are getting rewarded for, but the judges may not actually think it is harder. We basically need a frame of reference.
Here are a few of mine:
1. All the scores are made public. EVERY number written down on any judge's sheet should be made available to the public. The comments are given only to the coaches of the teams.
2. Universal scoring process (with customizable variables) Having a single system would improve the judging as all training could be done on one system. My "tweak" to this is to allow EPs, if they choose, to add a variable number as a "multiplier" to each category to change the weighting of the various areas of cheer. The final score would look the same, but the EPs could adjust the value of each category if they chose. The important part is that the judging process would not change at all, the computer would just spit out the adjusted results.
3. Unofficial scoring is announced as you go. It increases total interest at the event. (Yes, awards is less dramatic, but OVERALL there is more drama throughout the event as you anticipate and compare scores all day long.) It also lessens the appearance of politics. Judges can still keep track of the scores they have given as a reference. IMPORTANT: Scores/placements are not final until coaches have had the chance to quickly review their scoresheets and lodge any protests. (Correct math errors, out-of-range scoring, etc.) This also has the benefit of allowing teams to compose themselves before being put under the award ceremony microscope.
NEW:
4. Coaches turn in a skills declaration before their teams compete. The judges have a written list of the skill elements in the routine to use as a reference in deciding difficulty. This would be in the order that they are performed in the routine. (Execution would still be subjective, and a major part of the final score.) Penalties would be given if athletes changed their skills to something easier. (Athlete throws a tuck instead of a double, flyer singles down instead of doubles, etc.) A judge sitting with the deduction judge would watch video to determine compliance with written skills. Coaches would have the ability to make last-minute changes in the case of injury or water-down decisions.
5. Expert panel annually ranks the difficulty of the most common various skill elements. Is a 1.5-up to stretch harder than a tic-tock? Is a 1 to double harder than a 2 to whip double? Is an assisted toss stretch harder than unassisted toss extension? There currently is NO standard by which coaches (or judges) can go by to decide what skills they will be rewarded for. Coaches may be performing skills they think are getting rewarded for, but the judges may not actually think it is harder. We basically need a frame of reference.
