SBO Judging Article Published – June, 2009
I submitted this SBO Judging Article to the magazine blindly and it appeared a few months later in the June of 2009 edition. I didn’t even know they accepted it!
Opening paragraph: There are many types of activities that rely on subjective assessment and the comparison of one performance to another. Often these judgements decide placement, with winners and losers. Others may rank contestants against a local, regional, or National standard, with multiple gold or silver medalists at a single event. From gymnastics to figure skating to cheerleading to marching band, many popular youth activities involve judges using some type of criteria to arrive at, “And the winner is…”
Closing paragraph: Few consider judging a glamorous life. Millions of people still remember when the French judge was accused of tainting the Olympics in the figure skating competition. Certainly this person was qualified to represent her country at the Olympic finals, but clearly her ability to remain objective and focus on the actual performance were compromised. People will remember when judges make mistakes, but if all goes well and no one is surprised when the scores are announced, the judges simply go on their way. There is not a lot of glory in this activity, but it certainly can be rewarding. To have a teacher or performer thank you for your help and insight is special. However, reputations are on the line every time someone chooses to judge and rate performances of an artistic or athletic nature. It is a big responsibility and still challenges my knowledge and experience every time I grab a clipboard and sign my name as the judge for today’s competition.
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