Judging Discussion Thread [before: Judges' behavior at WCA competitions]

[Kirjava]

The judge is meant to say 8 seconds and 13 seconds at the corresponding time.

I thought it was 8 and 12? OH GOD HAVE I BEEN JUDGING WRONG ALL THESE YEARS?

 

[coinman]

As far as i know the judge should say 8 and then go at 12 seconds.

 

[RyanO]

I had a judge who couldn't figure out how to use the stopwatch and nudged me once I already started the solve (obviously within the 15 seconds allowed) and asked me how to work the stopwatch. I was so angry about it that it affected my whole average negatively.

 

[ThumbsxUpx]

I might just have to JUDGE you on your grammar. Haha, JK!

But these are very good points, thanks for speaking out.

 

[Daniel Wu]

I really don't mind so much when judges cube during my solves, but I can see how others could think it to be annoying.

 

[ben1996123]

Basically, just know how to judge, don't distract people, and don't do this.

 

[Crazycubemom]

What I hate if :

Smelly terrible judge
Judge using a mobile phone while judging.
Judge keep holding the cover while I already said ' Yes I'm ready".
Judge doing a SMS while judging.
Judge telling me how to start.
Judge letting a camera from another competitor JUST 2 cm from me.

 

[CharlieCooper]

What I hate if :

Smelly terrible judge
Judge using a mobile phone while judging.
Judge keep holding the cover while I already said ' Yes I'm ready".
Judge doing a SMS while judging.
Judge telling me how to start.
Judge letting a camera from another competitor JUST 2 cm from me.

I forgot about the first one... very important...

 

[oprah62]

Basically, just know how to judge, don't distract people, and don't do this.

Or this...

Please judges, know the regulations.

 

[Weston]

I think this is also partially the competitions fault.
I think that competitions should use judges that already know what to do rather than using some random kid competitor.
The norcal comps usually have a set judging team.

Oh yeah. Keemy. Lol.

 

[bluecloe45]

At my last competition, the judge took the cube out of the cover, it got caught in it and it fell on the ground. He then proceeded to, after inspection, cover the cube and when i started the timer, he didn't take the cover off. I basically slapped it away.

 

[Tim Major]

Man, some of this does sound bad. Probably my worst experience was solving clock at MSO. I stopped it, the judge (I'll keep back the name) announced to the audience, "Australian Record," mocking me, as that was pretty much the reason I was competing, to beat the slow then AR. (this wasn't the bad experience, I don't mind things like that). The bad experience, was him picking it up to take to Dene to scramble, and me calling him back, saying "check the other side" . It wasn't solved.
Also, I think one of the reasons I haven't had any big issues, is if at the start of my inspection, if the judge is right close, I just ask if they can move back a bit. They listen. I think it's because our organizing team always tells other judges, exactly how to judge, and competitors, how to compete. We usually do examples on how it's all meant to work at the start of the day, and whenever asking for judges, we make sure they know how to judge.
You can't always blame the judge, as after all, they're usually volunteers, and if they screw up, maybe they haven't been taught well. I don't really think a "how to judge" manual is needed, or "judge etiquette". It's just common sense, and how well they've been showed by the organizers.

 

[Vincents]

Helps to give a sample solve for judges and competitors to watch before the competition officially begins to cover major transgressions. Of course, you can't get everything in with 1-2 samples, but at least it helps.

 

[Lucas Garron]

should use judges that already know what to do rather than using some random kid competitor.

This is very hard to do.
It's just impossible to avoid needing inexperienced judges, for reasons that are already being enumerated in this thread.

What we would really need is a way to make sure the judges can be made experienced enough as quickly as possible.

The quickest I have ever trained a judge is by having her read Article A and then go straight into it, with the presumption that she asks any questions if she's not sure. This works quite well, but is impractical to enforce.
However, a consistent, quick "training procedure" event could be useful. I can't imagine how to organize all the little details, though.

Helps to give a sample solve for judges and competitors to watch before the competition officially begins to cover major transgressions. Of course, you can't get everything in with 1-2 samples, but at least it helps.

Helps, but you need time and full attendance for this.

 

[StachuK1992]

Note: When judging me, if I talk to you, feel free to talk back.

Are there any rules about this? Like, not being all "OMG WHAT OLL NOW?" but rather "Hey, how are you?" as I'm solving.
Personally, it helps me if anything, but I'd like to know if this is 'legal.'

As for "bad judge!" really the only things I find distracting is when they hover over you or make some sort of physical contact with you.

-statue

 

[Bryan]

I have this for judges: http://www.cubingusa.com/jtutorial.php

I need to print out more copies and bring them.

And I should neuter the speakers on my stopwatches.....and order some more.

 

[Anthony]

I think that competitions should use judges that already know what to do rather than using some random kid competitor.

 

[oprah62]

don't do this.

Seems like others agree.

 

[cmhardw]

The quickest I have ever trained a judge is by having her read Article A and then go straight into it, with the presumption that she asks any questions if she's not sure. This works quite well, but is impractical to enforce.
However, a consistent, quick "training procedure" event could be useful. I can't imagine how to organize all the little details, though.

I'm always interested in new ideas on how best to do this. Andrew Kang and I have organized a number of competitions together, and we generally would run a 10-15 minute training session in the morning for all first time judges before the event started. It was basically an explanation of the rules, followed by some example solves orchestrated by Andrew and myself.

We eventually started requiring new judges to shadow experienced judges for 1-2 solves before they were allowed to judge someone on their own. This also worked quite well, and is something I will try to continue to use in the future.

My biggest judging beefs as a competitor are:
1) Bumping into me while I am speedsolving
2) Talking to your friend and clearly ignoring me while I am solving (what if I decided to cheat?)
3) The BLD judge allowing the paper to hit my hands while I am solving. I realize this happens on accident, and is a product of the rule for BLD cubing, but it still annoys me to be perfectly honest.

My biggest judging beefs as an organizer are:
1) Judges who don't want to judge the slower competitors, and therefore their cubes languish untouched on the scrambling table. I literally assign judges to a cube in these cases it annoys me so much.
2) Judges leaving on break without telling me. I don't care if you need to take a break, that is absolutely fine. But if everyone leaves on break at the same time, I am now in a bind to complete the current round with enough staff.
3) Judges who goof off. I treat competitions very seriously, so if you laugh at a competitor's time or just generally goof off around the scrambling table without helping out then I will generally give you one very stern warning that although I appreciate your help, such behavior will not be tolerated. I did once ask a judge to stop judging and no longer take part in the event as a judge because of this.

 

[a small kitten]

Shanghai Open: During the OH round my judge (had her 3 times) kept talking to me about my turning speed. Then another person came and they debated whether or not I spoke Chinese. They concluded that I didn't. Then they tried to speak really broken English. It was awkward but I tuned out almost everything they said because I was uber jetlagged.