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Varsity Scoring Lesson #4

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Justin Carrier sent Varsity Scoring Lesson #4 about 2 weeks ago:

Applying the Varsity Standard with Each Varsity Brand

In true Varsity fashion, our All Star brands will maintain the creativity and diversity that have always placed Varsity at the top of the All Star industry. Even though most of the brands are adopting the Varsity Standard of Scoring, it will be applied in multiple ways throughout the season. The published rubric and category definitions will remain the same and shouldn’t affect your strategy or create a need to adjust your routine on a weekly basis.

You’ll want to be aware of these minor variations going into the start of your season. Be sure to contact each individual brand if you have a question regarding their championships.

PANEL JUDGE vs. CATEGORY JUDGE

The following brands will be using the Panel/Traditional score sheet as it is currently laid out by a panel of judges who are each responsible for every set of scores on the score sheet:

  • NCA
  • Spirit Cheer
  • Spirit Sports
  • UCA
  • USA
  • ACA

The following brands will be using a Category version of the score sheet, where specific judges will be responsible for scoring specific categories (i.e. a Building Skills Judge and a Tumbling Skills Judge).

  • American Championships
  • Athletic Championships
  • WSF

CATEGORY WEIGHTS

In addition to these two styles, both UCA and Spirit Cheer will be shifting the percentage of weight for categories to reflect their brands’ preferences.

  • Building Skills – 40% (standard weight is 30%)
  • Tumbling Skills – 30% (standard weight is 30%)
  • Overall Routine – 20% (standard weight is 30%)
  • Overall Creativity – 10% (standard weight is 10%)

FINAL SCORE COMPUTATION

Each brand will compute the FINAL SCORE one of two ways.

The following brands will use the RAW weight of the score to determine the FINAL SCORE. It will be restricted by level. (Ex: a Level 2 team is not eligible for a score above a 64, so a perfect Level 2 team may have a score of 64 announced during Awards.). Only Level 5 teams will have the potential to score a perfect 100.

  • NCA
  • ACA
  • USA
  • Spirit Cheer

The following brands will use a COMPOSITE weight to determine the FINAL SCORE. With this method, every level will be eligible for a perfect score of 100. (Ex: A Level 2 team that scores a 63 will have a FINAL SCORE of 63/64 = 98.44.

  • UCA
  • Athletic Championships
  • Spirit Sports
  • WSF

NON-STANDARD SCORE SHEETS

The following 3 Varsity Brands are moving forward with their own score sheet. Some of them have adopted theories and principles from the Varsity Standard of Scoring, but will be implementing a very brand-specific standard at their events.

  • All star Challenge
  • American Championships
  • American Cheer Power

For more information about any specific brand, please visit their website directly, or go to http://allstar.varsity.com.

Don’t forget to become a Fan of Varsity All Star on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Varsity.All.Star.

Thanks,

Justin Carrier

Varsity Scoring Lesson #2

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Justin Carrier sent Varsity Scoring Lesson #2:

Lesson #2

Understanding the Execution/Technique Bonus

  • All of the Varsity Brands that are adopting the new Varsity Standard of Scoring will be implementing the new “Technique/Execution” bonus in all skills categories.
  • Technique/Execution was broken out in hopes of making all star teams focus on incredible technique and precision.  The bonus score will range anywhere in between a .10 and 1.0.
  • Here are a few key reminders about the Technique/Execution Bonus
    • The judges will use the following criteria when evaluating Technique/Execution: Synchronization, form, technique, body position and body control.
    • Since “Bobbles” are no longer receiving a quantifiable point deduction, the panel judges may include any bobbles (ex: hands down in tumbling, shaky stunts, incomplete twisting cradles) when awarding a team’s Technique/Execution bonus.
    • For  all “Mistakes” (with a point deduction value of 1.0 subtracted from your Final Score), the panel judges are being instructed to IGNORE those mistakes and only score what skills are executed to completion.  (example: If a team attempts 5 heel stretches, and 2 of the heel stretches fall, the panel judges are to evaluate the 3 heel stretches that are still in the air.)  Our goal is to avoid any opportunity for double-deductions.

Your Technique/Execution bonus score will not necessarily be relative to your Difficulty Score in the same Skill Category.  For example, if a Level 5 team only performs two leg extensions, their Stunts Difficulty Score will be relatively low compared to the other teams in their division.  However, if that same stunt sequence is performed to absolute perfection, they have an opportunity to max out their Technique/Execution Bonus and earn as much as a 1.0.

USASF Rules Clarification

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The USASF issued a rules clarification. The following skill restrictions apply for Senior Open Level 5:

In tumbling, only single twisting skills are allowed. During a full-twisting tumbling skill, no trick other than the twist is allowed (i.e. including but not limited to:  split fulls, hitch kick fulls, X-Fulls, Full-Xouts,  etc) and both feet must land and finish on the performing surface. (i.e. no full twisting tumbling to seat, prone body landings or similar).

Clarification: All skills up to a full twist are also allowed. i.e. half twists and arabians.