Ask the Judges Week #1
Week #1 Question:
How can a team get a 700 one week and then a 640 the next week doing the same routine? How can scores be so inconsistent, mind you all across the board, for teams? Judges all high scores the one week and all low the next week?
Interested to know.
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.
Answers from the Judges:
Judge #1: In my opinion it is because each judge has a different value system some start with a perfect score and then deduct points (that's what I do) and others use a little chart with each number assigned a value system like 10- perfect, 9- excellent, 8- very good, 7- good, etc. so if I have 2 pts off I could give it a 8 and another judge may say that was only a good skill so they give it a 7. I also, know some Judges average things like they will say 10 girls were on the floor and only 5 out of the 10 did it correctly do they would give it a 5 or half credit. Also, I think because execution deductions can be from .2-1.0 in the same category, example a team doing ugly double sponges one judge might only deduct once at .1 and another might deduct for both sponges at .5. I hope that helps explain a little better
Judge #2: Besides the obvious reasons, such as a change in routine, change in team members, change in numbers, there is the simple explanation that some judges see different things and some judges see things differently. Sitting at a different spot at the judging table may cause a judge to have a better or worse angle on floor mobility, while the infamous "hidden person in the back row" may no longer be hidden. Also, one judge's idea of average -- based on all the teams she has been seeing -- may be different from another judge's, even as we try our very best to "stay on the same page". Finally, it is best for teams/coaches to have consistency from a judge rather than a high/low score; that is, the same quality jump should receive the same score throughout the competition from the same judge. If that is the case, then coaches should feel that their teams have been scored fairly, regardless of the number given.
Judge #3: Every judge sees things differently and scores accordingly.The judge that scores “tough” scores every team tough. The top team gets the top score of the competition--it just may not be as high as the score from the panel the previous week.
The same team does not perform at the same level every week. I have personally judged a team that was outstanding one week, and for some reason (sickness, injuries, substitutions, snow days, etc.), was not even close to that level the following week. It is my job as a judge to give each team a “clean slate” and to score them based upon their performance that day—not what they did last week.
Coaches change routines Coaches change their routines. Hopefully, they take out what isn’t “working” in the cheer. Unfortunately, I’ve judged teams that took some great stuff OUT of a cheer that had made it unique and creative. I had no choice but to lower their overall impression score the following week.
Coaches evaluate cheers through “coaches' eyes” rather than through “judges' eyes”.Coaches see their team differently than judges do. We don’t know “the story” of all you’ve gone through to get to the competition and through the routines. We can only judge what we see that day.
Teams are getting better and better. What used to be a “10” is no longer a “10”, and what used to be an “8” is no longer an “8”. It may seem unfair, but it seems teams have to get better each year just to get the same scores... In addition, the level of difficulty has increased dramatically. Many teams get a 20 in difficulty, a 15 in variety, and a 10 in choreography now. In order to separate the teams, we have to judge other categories tougher.
These days it takes a lot more for a team to have a routine that stands out from the rest. With every team going for all the same skills in choreography, it is difficult for a team to be creative and show their unique style and personality. Many routines appear very similar. In order to receive a top score the cheer has convey to me, “We’re going for the wow!” “We are different from the other teams!”
Judge #4: Some judges do seem to be "tougher" judges than others. Some seem to have much higher standards than other judges. The main thing to remember is as long as they are consistent, it isn't changing the outcome of the meet. It is more difficult to compare the scores of one meet to another, and as a coach it may be frustrating for you and your team to have that high of a swing in scores, but try to stay positive. You can learn a lot from the "tough" judges - even though you are disappointed in how they scored your team.
