Ask the Judges - Week 5
Coaches, parents and athletes email us ( mchicsisters@aol.com ) questions you have always wanted to ask the judges. Each week we will send out a question to our M-CHIC Judges Advisory Panel and we will post their responses. To see a list of the members of our Judges Advisory Panel, click here.
This Week's Question:
"The team my daughter is on is not strong in gymnastics, they do BHS, round off and back walkovers in their rounds. Then they do have some tumbling in Round 3…. This team is super strong in stunting and show off their skills very well.
Why is it that they cannot beat a team that is strong in tumbling, but while they stunt, they have 4 bases and do a lot of preps during their stunts, when we have some flashy double base stunts and a few stunts that the side bases are only using 1 arm instead of 2.
We are doing very well this year, have scored 194.5 in Rd1, 193.5 in Rd2, and 292.5 in Rd 3.
Thanks!!"
Answer from the Judges:
Judge #1:
Dear Cheer Parent:
With the outcome of many meets this year being decided by just a few points, you are right in believing that the final score can come down to a team’s strong tumbling ability. This is why:
In ROUND 2:
If a team performs five skills with a difficulty multiplier of 1.0 (e.g., switch splits, toe touch, round-off), the maximum number of points they can receive per judge is 50.
If the team performs three skills with a DM of 1.0 and two with a DM of 1.2 (e.g., triple splits, backhand spring), the maximum number of points they can receive per judge is 54.
If the team performs one skill with a DM of 1.4 (e.g., standing back tuck), two with a DM of 1.2, and two with a DM of 1.0, the maximum number of points they can receive per judge is 58.
When you multiply these numbers by three, the number of judges, you will see that the skills and DM do make a difference in the score. Teams are also judged on the 10-COUNT PRECISION DRILL (0-10 points per judge) and GENERAL IMPRESSION (0-10 points per judge) for everything in the cheer other than the five skills.
In ROUND 3:
Tumbling skills are rewarded with CHOREOGRAPHY points. A team that performs an established number of back tucks (standing or with tumbling) receives 2 bonus points per judge. E.g., a team of 16 needs eight back tucks; a team with 12 needs six. In addition, tumbling can raise my score in GENERAL IMPRESSION from .5 to 1.0 when it is performed with excellence and incorporated into the cheer in a manner that it sets a team apart from the others. BUT, this category, small as it is, is the main place I am able to reward teams for their creative preps, flairs, transitions, and skills. If your team is doing things others are not and in a way they are not, you will see this score rewarded.
Conversely, tumbling can negatively affect scores in the following categories. When the tumblers..
...run around the mat (side to side or front to back) to tumble and then have to race back into formation to fly or base. It just doesn’t look nice. FLOOR MOBILITY (0-10 points per judge)
...forget, or are too tired, to yell the words of the cheer. The volume of the cheer is compromised. VOCALS (0-10 points per judge)
...do not synchronize their skills/passes. Or, those who are not tumbling do not add to the cheer in a significant manner. “Precision and timing of all motions, tumbling, stunts, skills, effective use of all team members” TEAM COORDINATION (0-10 points per judge)
...do not complete skills with precision. EXECUTION (0-22 points per judge depending on the size of the team) This score is determined by how well the 
team does what they do. Judges deduct for everything from a major fall (2.0 per judge) to minor things like flexed toes (.1 per judge). There are more deductions for execution in tumbling than you might think. An EXECUTION BONUS category (1-3 points per judge) is added for teams that perform with few errors.
team does what they do. Judges deduct for everything from a major fall (2.0 per judge) to minor things like flexed toes (.1 per judge). There are more deductions for execution in tumbling than you might think. An EXECUTION BONUS category (1-3 points per judge) is added for teams that perform with few errors.I love watching and judging excellent tumbling and creativity. Equally impressive, however, is a routine that is performed with confidence, strength, skill, and excellence. Because up to 22 points are awarded for EXECUTION, it is a category where a team can significantly improve their score. It is a good place to start while working to add some creativity or to master tumbling skills.
I hope this helps!
Judge #2:
Keep in mind that difficulty is only one category. So if a team just does extensions with three bases and a spotter and easier stunts, they can accumulate the same difficulty points and variety points that your team does. However, if they have stronger tumbling they will probably outscore you in round three by getting bonus points, and possibly general impression (although your team may be scoring high there as well if your stunts are solid!).
The way cheer is scored right now, it is definitely an advantage to be a strong tumbling team!
Judge #3
My first question for you is, Do the teams you are talking about throw Tucks? if so they are worth more points in Round 2 and are also worth a bonus in round 3. So right there is the potential for 2.2 more points per judge. I also believe that tumbling effects your General impression score in round 3.
