My studio went to a competition we have never been to before. I know that judging at comps is very subjective, however, out of three judges my students got a 90, 89 and 64?? My students don't normally get silvers but the 64 brought them into the silver range and the other 2 judges scored them in almost the Platinum range. My students were extremely upset and when I looked at the scores after the comp I am kind of at a loss of words myself. I tried to go and listen to the critque tape and that particular judge missed 3 of our dances in a row on our critque tape? Has anyone else ever gotten such a discrepency in scores, this is almost a 30 point difference?? Do I explain to my students that one judge just simply didn't care for that dance??? The other two critques did not have much on them because they liked and scored the dance high, so I don't have anything to go back to the studio and correct, but they got a SILVER??? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I think that in this situation that is what you have to do. Use it as an opportunity to show the kids that all judging is subjective and merely one person's opinion. Opinions can differ dramatically. And you have to average the scores to get the placement, and that is how things worked out.

I think you need to make sure you maintain your professionalism as you present this to the kids. While you do not have to agree with it, you shouldn't bash the judge to the kids or parents.

Also take this opportunity to ask the kids how they felt about their performance. Were they proud of it? Were their things they could improve on? Really use it as a learning experience for them. Sometimes in live, people will shoot you down when you do something really great. You just have to keep trying and never give up.

I agree with buckeye2. It is a great chance for a learning experience. Also it's a great chance for a life lesson. People are not always going to like what you do. What's important is what they take away from this moment.

I think it's also good for kids to not always score the highest. When you're consistently on top its easy to assume you belong there regardless of the work you do. It can be a chance for them to really self assess themselves and decide what they may want to do differently in the future or is you ever run into this judge again.

I agree with Chinue that sometimes its ok to not score the highest. My Jr and Sr team kids definately had this a little this year...for the last 2 yrs they have either won or placed extremely close...down to tenths seperating the places. This year they aren't even close they are getting blown away at certain comps....it upsets me b/c the kids are doing it to themselves and I know they can perform better than they are....but I also think that its what kids need to get a "wake up" call.

There are times that I absolutely DONT agree with the scores. But I always say that I wasn't the one judging it. Even if it kills me that the judge(s) were all over the place.

It is a crapy lesson to learn...but one that I think all kids, parents, coaches etc should have to deal with. It makes you appreciate those 1st places even more.

And it will hopefully make them work it even more.

At my dancers competition I watched the judges from time to time to see facial reactions. One judge didn't even watch my girls until the dance was 3/4 of the way over. Then and there I knew that the accuracy of judging wasn't fair, you can never really trust or depend on someone elses opinion. In the end tell your girls to be proud of themselves, because you're very proud of them. What you think should matter to them more than what the judges think anyway.

That is a really big discrepancy. To the girls, I would accept it and do what the OP's have said to do. Definitaly stress that you are proud of them and all that really matters is how THEY feel about it.

I would also call the competition, NOT to complain or ask for the scores to be changes, but to let them know. It may be the first time they used this judge and you might not be the only one it happened to. That way, maybe next year that won't happen!

Thank you so much for everyone's input. My students have NEVER won anything at competition, except a special award here and there. They are not used to winning, I guess maybe that is why I was so upset over this score, because for once they were going to get a great award because they did do AWESOME for them (if you know what I am saying) but it just didn't happen!

Thanks again for all your comments! I think my best bet it to teach them how different scoring can be from one judge to another and that they just have to always try their best cause you never know who is critquing you.

One thing that I do when I go over scores with the students is say "if there were 3 judge A's, you would have gotten a high gold, if there were 3 judge B's you would have gotten a silver....etc etc. I definately emphasize that it is just 3 people's opinions. then we usually joke that if we had shown our bellies or had on rhinestone necklaces we would have won. Nothing against rhinestone necklaces, we just don't wear them.

It wasn't thirty points but at star quest this year one of our dances got a 95, 92 and 83 ...put them at a high gold instead of platinum...they got 5th overall though.

As a judge I think its best that I offer this suggestion, you should really contact the company whom hosts the competition. If there are large differences in the scores this is something they need to address with the judges that they hire.

The company that I work for always sends us out a judging packet every year which includes all the rules and regulations and also a video tape with dances and their score sheets so that they can understand our individualy judging style.

One thing I also will suggest is that you speak to your students and not let it show that you are confused by the scores. Sometimes you will have a judge that is harder on you then the others but it really needs to be looked at as a learning experience. This "harder" judge could simply have more training, experience, and also a more critical eye. No one is perfect, even one of the most flawless routines I have ever seen still had areas of improvement that could be worked on.

As a coach it is your responsibility to help your students understand that, competition isn't all about the trophys at the end of the day, its about the journey and hard work that goes into the final product.

Happy dancing.

In high school, my band director once said something that I still pass on to my dance students. It was odd for him, because he didn't usually be this passive.
Anyway he said "Some time a judge just has a bad hot dog for lunch and takes it out on you." Irish dance is very competitive and your see wild results all the time, everyone experiances them. You can't do anything about it except for laugh and go on with life.