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<DIV>While I certainly respect Earl's comments, he has a long history that gives
him some insite, I cold not disagree more. Taken as a whole they have great
merit, but i don't see them applying to the Sportsman level. I some cases I have
seen Sportsman entrants fly maneuvers the way they believed they should look,
but were completely wrong. most of the constructive criticisms I have rendered
from the chair were of a very general nature. "establish a line between
manuvers", "call box entries and exits" "if you get the wings level before entry
your loops will be easier to keep on path"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I don't think the judes will be saying anything that causes conflict
between them when critiquing at the Sportsman level. All the comments I have
made to these pilots has been genuinely appreciated.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We have to remember that a lot of them have noone at their home field to
help them. They may be trying this for the first time, and if we can give them
some good help, it may bring them back!!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Terry T.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:15:04 -0600 "Earl Haury" <<A
href="mailto:ehaury@houston.rr.com">ehaury@houston.rr.com</A>> writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here are some considerations regarding judges
providing feedback to competitors the we should address. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The key word is "competitors". Judges score
individuals performances in competitions that are held to ascertain the
relative skills of competitors to perform according to stated rules and
descriptions. Being a competition - one should assume that flyers present
their patterns to the unbiased judge sets and the let scores describe the
ranking. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT size=+0>The presumption is that the
competitors arrive prepared to compete. Those who have worked the hardest on
this preparation will (and should) generally excel. A pattern contest isn't
intended to be a training ground, but a review of achievement and peer
comparison. Judges who provide feedback have good intentions, but there
are questions that deserve attention. Isn't the job of the judge to provide
the correct score for each maneuver? Is it appropriate for the judge
to (mis)direct attention to make notations for post flight feedback?
Will the feedback be consistent to all competitors, or "buddy biased"? Is it
fair to my competition for judges to point out my errors so that I can correct
them in subsequent flights? If judges with largely different scores on a
specific maneuver offer feedback and disagree - then what? In the
latter, will this disagreement influence a ju</FONT>dge to change
standards mid-round? What if some wish to discuss feedback, or
argue with it, at the expense of delaying the next flight? What if
this agitates the judges and you're next up? </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I realize that the gist of the feedback issue is
to benefit the newbie, but the above points apply here also. We seem to accept
that anyone, without practice or proper equipment or preparation (reading the
rules), should be able to fly successfully in some form of "beginner" class.
This doesn't happen - and we've fiddled with the rules of the beginner class
for years to little avail. Unfortunately, the judges feedback at a contest
isn't going to help the unprepared. What will help is mentoring - but not from
the judges chair! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The best place to help the newbie is at the
practice field where everything can be addressed. Coach these folks, provide
feedback and assistance. Judge flights, take notes, and critique. Help trim
their airplane, be supportive with equipment maintenance, etc. Get them
prepared for those first contests, call for them, critique their flights,
evaluate their scores, help them in every way as a coach and friend, and
pattern will gain in numbers. Just don't do this from the judges chair -
judging is the only job then. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Earl</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>