JUDGING AND SCORING

You will encounter many "judging & scoring systems" as you compete at different competitions throughout the year. The following will provide information on how US Spirit will judge and score your routines.

Please visit Rules & Guidelines for information about USASF and NFHS rules which are used for All-Star and High Schools for 2007.

Multiple Day Scoring
All teams compete on both Saturday and Sunday. Individuals and stunt teams are scored on Friday ONLY. High and low scores are dropped each day, and the remaining totals for the two days are added together for each teams final total and rank in each division.

Judges
We select judges with the finest qualifications and go to the expense of flying in judges from around the country with a variety of backgrounds, styles and affiliations. None are US Spirit employees or staff. In most cases, the judges are unfamiliar with the competing teams and the routines. In the case that a judge is familiar with a team, has provided choreography, or is affiliated in some other way, another judge would sit in for that division.

Multiple Judges Panels
Judging panels chnage throughout the day. Dance judges sit in for dance divisions. Some or all of the same judges may score your routine on the second day. This is not an advantage or disadvantage to any team or division. Also see scoring method.

Judges Preparation
Judges are provided sample score sheets and scoring guidelines weeks before the competition to give them time to familiarize themselves with the sheets and criteria. Once they arrive, our judges attend a comprehensive meeting to help ensure they understand all aspects of the score sheets and criteria.

Score Sheets
Every score sheet we use is specific to its division. This is important to ensure accurate scoring. For example, jazz sheets are different from hip hop or pom. Non-mount & non-tumbling sheets are different than those that allow those skills. The score sheets also allow the judges to evaluate and notes items within the routine that could be of help to you for the next round or future competition.
Sample Score Sheets

Scoring Method
Each judge scores the entire routine. This allows your routine to be scored in its entirety by each judge for accuracy and difficulty. Rules judges are separate and watch for infractions. The high and low score are thrown out after each round to help ensure that no single score will have undue influence on the total. Each routine is scored against the score sheet and its criteria. Judges also compare routines within each division which they keep notes of throughout each division. The final scores, once totaled should accurately reflect the proper placement of each team, but, each judge has the responsibility and authority to review and submit prior to the final tally of the scores for all competitors, their final scores and ranking of squads.

Between Round Rankings
After round one, a ranking sheet is posted in the backstage area for coaches to review their scores from each judge for each respective division for round one. These rankings are posted shortly after each division has been completed on Saturday. The posting also provides any penalty deductions that may have been made. This data could be important to your team so that you can make modifications to your routine for the following day if necessary. Score sheets may be made available for review as well. Score sheet information will be addressed in the Articles of Understanding once teams have registered.

Order of Competition
Round one competition order is randomly assigned by our data base. Teams compete in the opposite order in round two. Judges can review all scores in the division prior to final tallys, so there is not an advantage or disadvatge to going first, last, middle or in the opposite order of day one ranking.

Scoring Consistency
We mention the following because scores can and will vary from judge to judge. Each judges view of perfection will be different. Their respective background and experience dictate how each will score each routine. Judges are provided guidelines and information prior to the competition, but each will retain their personal views. This is why not every score from every judge is identical. Each particular judge should be consistent in their scoring, i.e., they could be low or high compared to the other judges throughout the competition. Remember, high and low scores are thrown out after each round eliminating extreme scores and assuring a more consistent range of scores. When viewing your ranking sheet, you can check to see if a particular judge is consistently low or high as compared to others. See scoring method also.