<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think that trial balloon could float.
Good thoughts Jim.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wayne Galligan</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Jim_Woodward@beaerospace.com
href="mailto:Jim_Woodward@beaerospace.com">Jim_Woodward@beaerospace.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 02, 2005 7:36
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Performance Judging? Trial
Balloon</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Trial Balloon Email (beware)
:)</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Hi All,</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2>I'm going to propose a different way of looking at
judging. Of course, the pilot is the "performer" that is on stage for
all to see, however, at the same time the judge(s) are performing as well.
At the US Nationals, the judging committee is calculating persons
judging marks, and continuing to rank the judges. Thus, the judges are
performing at the same time as the pilot. However, we typically do not
ever get to see how the performance of the judge ranks against the pilot, or
peers in an open forum. The current atmosphere is sort of hush
quiet, or a "don't tell" type in regards to what judge gave what score.
Almost as if, its considered good pilot etiquette not to ask judging
questions. Many judges do not like to be approached after a round to
discuss scoring. Instead of this, we could turn the tables completely
180 degree around. </FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Judging
could be made to be a completely open from start to finish of the contest.
Perhaps within the scoring system, after each round, judges scores for
all pilots are posted (tear sheets essentially) at the same time as the round
postings. The posting of side-by-side scores, could become a POWERFUL
training tool for younger pilots (judges). Currently, there is no award
for the "performance" of judging. Flyers go to a contest to fly,
yet the task of judging takes double or more of the combined numbers of people
than contestants (at least in total effort). </FONT> <BR><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2>If we acknowledge that in the current local contest and
Nationals setting, there is already volumes of discussion going on between
pilots regarding scoring (is there any bigger topic with 90% of the pilots?),
we can then foster an environment which turns what is currently ambivalent or
negative judge critiquing, into one in which takes these volumes of discussion
and focuses on "constructive" or "objective" results - results beyond simply
complaining amongst each other (avoid the misery loves company syndrome).
</FONT><BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Doing something like this will
address two important issues. 1.) The contestant should feel more
"in-tune" with scoring, and perhaps use this feedback to better their own
flying and judging. 2.) The judge should feel satisfied in knowing
at the end of a round, whether or not his/her "calibration" is more or less
correct (I'm tending to think that within a few posted rounds of these scores,
judges will "self-correct" any trends without asking if such a trend has
become obvious). Individually, I hope each judge feels compelled to
"talk" to pilots about the round if asked. </FONT> <BR><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2>Finally, recognizing that judging is an important
criteria, I recommend a "District Award" for the top 1,2,3 persons who
performed the most amount of judging in the district (or most accurate if
possible to calculate). Also possibly a District award for the "team"
that performed the most contest scoring.</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif
size=2>Key thoughts:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>1.
Contestants are more in-tune with total system of contest
running/scoring, etc.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>2. Judges
(or CD's???) offered an avenue to "self-correct" if & when necessary
(... could happen to anybody)</FONT> <BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>3.
District awards for the massive judging/scoring effort already taking
place.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>4. Re-focus the
INCREDIBLE VOLUMES of discussion already taking place regarding scoring into a
beneficial training event</FONT> <BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>5.
Possibility: Upon the conclusion of Saturdays competition, the CD
could offer an open-discussion or review of the days scoring and judging
- read as, a quick pilots meeting that gives folks the open forum to
discuss anything - which can also be viewed as
mini-judge-training-event.</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Anyway
- just thinking of ways to take the effort that is already going on, and
refocusing into beneficial paths. Definitely open to other ideas and
suggestions.</FONT> <BR><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>Jim W.</FONT>
<BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>