Introduction to Professional Judging & Officiating Course

1. Introduction to Professional Judging & Officiating Course

2. Introduction • The role of the judge in a surfing contest is to decide which surfer performs the closest to the criteria in a particular heat. • It’s essential that judges have the experience and knowledge to give them confidence to obtain the correct result • Increased success of surfing as a competitive sport can also be directly linked to improvements and refinements made to the competitive rules and judging criteria

3. A competition system is only as good as the people who are charged with the responsibility of determining the outcome of the competition, i.e. THE JUDGES. Judges who genuinely wish to improve their capacity to discriminate between surfers who perform closest to the judging criteria and those who do not, need to be prepared to continually monitor their effectiveness as judges of competitive surfing.

4. Manoeuvre Definitions • A language had to be defined to distinguish (by clear definition) and to classify in terms of degree of difficulty, all the potential manoeuvres that can be performed while riding a surfboard. • These definitions facilitate a clear decision (at the time of the ride) as to the nature of certain manoeuvres and their influence on point allocation: eg. a clear distinction is made between • The major manoeuvres: re entry’s, cutbacks, floaters, snaps & tube rides • The minor & transitional manoeuvres: mid-face turns, pump turns, speed turns & white water manoeuvres.

5. Point Allocation & Scoring • Point allocation is affected by degree of difficulty: - this must be individually categorised for each type of manoeuvre - difficulty defined in terms of exceptional, good, average & poor • Scores should be determined according to quality of the manoeuvres actually performed

6. Take Off ‘Categorised by nature of the wave, point of entry in relation to each wave & degree of control.’ • Exceptional: (these occur rarely) • Tube/cover-up take off with smooth transition to first manoeuvre • Free fall, very steep or late take-off with controlled transition into first manoeuvre • Average: (most fall into this category) • Take off allows smooth transition into the first manoeuvre • Poor • Off balance or leads to disruption of balance • Resulting in delay of transition to first manoeuvre • Too far out onto the shoulder of the wave

7. Major Manoeuvres Tube Ride Aerial

8. Major Manoeuvres Re-entry Cutbacks

9. Major Manoeuvres Floater Bottom turn

10. Minor Manoeuvres • Not in the category of major manoeuvres but have some influence on scoring potential • Top Turn • Softer versions of major turns • Foam Turns & Floaters • Fades • Tricks (Long boarding)

11. Minor Manoeuvres • Not in the category of major manoeuvres but have some influence on scoring potential • Top Turn • Softer versions of major turns • Foam Turns & Floaters • Fades • Tricks (Long boarding)

12. Transitional Manoeuvres • Little influence on scoring potential • Mid-face turns • Pump turns • Trim • Foam Trim or Groveling • Stalling • Recovery after loss of control • Prone Out (flick out)

13. Method of Finishing • Controlled: • Kick Out • Pull Out • Step Off • Uncontrolled

14. JUDGING CRITERIA “A surfer must perform radical controlled manoeuvres in the most criticalsection of a wave with power, speed & flow to maximize scoring potential. Innovative/progressive surfing as well as variety of repertoire (manoeuvres), will be taken into consideration when rewarding points for waves ridden. The surfer who executes this criteria with the highest degree of difficulty & commitment on the waves shall be rewarded with the higher scores.”

15. Criteria • A surfer must perform radical controlled manoeuvres in the critical section of a wave with power , speed and flow to maximize scoring potential • This is by far the most important and highest scoring part of the criteria. Emphasis should always be on Radical controlled manoeuvres in the critical sections. • Key words when looking at this part of the criteria are: RADICAL CONTROLLED MANOEUVRES CRITICAL SECTION POWER , SPEED & FLOW

16. Criteria • Innovative /progressive surfing as well as variety of repertoire (manoeuvres ) will be taken into consideration when rewarding points for waves ridden. 3. The surfer who executes this criteria with the maximum degree of difficulty & commitment on the waves shall be rewarded with the higher scores. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY & RISK (commitment) = REWARD

17. #1 Judging Tip Recognising the key words of the criteria and proper use of a open judging scale a good judge will always: • Evaluate- The performance of the surfers’ ride on the wave. • Compare- Each wave to the first wave and successive waves. • Separate- A judge will always clearly separate each wave score.

18. Judging – Scoring System • Point scoring system is 0.1-10, broken into one-tenth increments. • Uses the following 5 scoring categories. with basic examples. • Bad Wave – no manoeuvres or minor manoeuvre with little or no control (0.1 to 1.9) • Poor Wave – minor manoeuvre or basic manoeuvre with control (2.0 to 3.9) • Average Wave – basic manoeuvres 1 major and minors with control (4.0 to 5.9) • Good Wave – radical controlled major manoeuvres with speed & power in the critical sections.(6.0 to 7.9) • Excellent Wave – radical controlled major manoeuvres with speed & power with most other elements of the key words of the criteria (8.0 to 10.0)

19. # 2 Judging Tip • Always start the heat using whole and half scores. This will open up your scale automatically. Use the smaller decimals only when you have scores either side. • The first good ride of the heat will set the scale of the heat. • Compare every wave score to the first ride & the current highest wave score of the heat.

20. Judging Panel • The standard judging panel for a regional or higher level event consists of the following members in it’s basic structure: • 4, 5, 6 or 7 Scoring Judges • 1 Head Judge In order to succeed, the individual members of the judging panel, including the Head Judge, combine to form an effective team. Each member must encourage and support the others to reach a good judging outcome.

21. Scoring Judge The role of the judge is to compare & evaluate each surfer’s performances against one another by applying the basic judging criteria consistently, accurately & fairly. Duties of a Scoring Judge are: • Judge heats assigned to them by the roster from the beginning of the day to the end • Score each wave ridden in a heat using a scale of 0.1 to 10.0 & record scores on the score sheets provided. • Correctly fill in the details on the judging score sheets • Rule on any interference situation • Call competitive riders’ singlet colours as they are “up & riding” • Provide wave counts & other information when required by the Head Judge or other judges • Provide input to pre & post contest briefings under direction of the Head Judge • Have a thorough knowledge of the Rule Book. This will help with confidence

22. Qualities of a Judge • If you want to be a good judge, there are a number of qualities you should possess: - Confidence - Concentration - Experience - Recall • To bring greater efficiency to your judging you can learn from experience & with proper concentration, develop a method of good judging where you can almost switch yourself to ‘automatic pilot’ to judge heats. • When you find the right rhythm, good judging becomes second nature.

23. The Head Judge The Head Judge holds the highest position of authority & responsibility within the judging panel. • The role of a head judge is to organise, supervise & instruct the panel of judges so they can meet their responsibilities fairly, promptly and efficiently. • Main responsibilities are to ensure consistency in scoring, eliminate obvious discrepancies & to advise the judges of conditions throughout the day that may affect their scale.

24. Judging Longboards • Longboards are at least 9ft long & will be judged on the normal criteria (2005). • Special attention should be made to the variety of repertoire and control when the surfers are performing the manoeuvres. • It is expected the surfers to utilize both traditional and modern manoeuvres in each ride to capitalise on full scoring potential.

25. Judging Longboards • The critical section of the wave is the ‘pocket’, or closest to the curl • The most important critical section of the wave is the first section or… ‘out of the back’ • A judge must judge the manoeuvres not the wave or length of the ride.

26. Judging Longboards Major Manoeuvres: • Traditional • Hang ten & hang five • Walking foot over foot • Re-entries • Drop knee manoeuvres • Modern • Roundhouse cutbacks • Floaters • Tubes (traditional & modern) • Off the lip Re-entries & Snaps • Radical changes of direction of the longboard will basically amount to being a modern manoeuvre • Stylish flowing traditional elements will become obvious if the surfer is committing to the Longboard Criteria

27. Cross Stepping Hang Five Hang Ten Cut back

28. Judging Longboards • How difficult the manoeuvres are, followed by the amount of control & commitment put into them will determine how high they will score. • Longboard surfing also has an array of ‘tricks’ or manoeuvres that are classified as easy to perform and should have no real bearing on the overall wave score. These tricks can be performed along with real manoeuvres & should be viewed as the surfer being in control & embellishing the ride with an entertaining element.

29. Points to Consider when Judging Longboard Heats • How well were the manoeuvres connected together? • Did the surfer walk foot over foot along the board or did they shuffle? • Are the surfers toes really hanging over or are they back from the nose? • Has the surfer used the whole length of the surfboard? • Compare outside manoeuvres to inside manoeuvres. Are they major or minor? Are they traditional or modern? • Compare take off areas and how deep the surfer was at the initial take off. • Consider how the surfer utilised the wave. • Consider the ability of the surfer to make sections and whether the manoeuvres were functional in doing so. • Did the surfer actually complete the manoeuvre and with control? • What did the surfer complete before falling? • Don’t be fooled by tricks or arched backs. Judge the real manoeuvres. NB. If the competitor does not surf to the majority of the criteria the surfer cannot be rewarded with excellent scores (8 points or over).

30. Competition Rules • Starting Heats: • 1 siren to start • 2 sirens to finish, with a 2 second gap between each. • Flags: • Green: heat in progress • Yellow or orange: 5 mins left • Red or disc in neutral position/no colour showing: heat is over • The commentator must give a 5 sec countdown at the start & end of the heat. • The first of 2 sirens must sound immediately when the commentator reaches zero. • The end of the heat is before the start of the first siren. • Generally, there is a 30sec break between heats. • In most cases, 20min heats are conducted with the best 2 waves counting and 10 to 15 wave maximum per competitor can be caught.( at discretion of the Head Judge) • Finals are generally 25-30mins with the best 2 waves counting and a 15-wave maximum. (at the discretion of the Head Judge)

31. Interference Rules • The interference rule will help to decide which surfer has the right of way (ROW) as a situation arises • It’s up to the individual judge to determine whether the surfer with the (ROW) HAS BEEN “HINDERED” IN THEIR SCORING POTENTIAL. • Judges need to consider ‘did or didn’t the surfer hinder’ to the scoring potential of the surfer with (ROW) • If the judge decides that there HAS been a hindrance of scoring potential the interference must be called

32. Interference Rule “The surfer deemed to have inside position for a wave has unconditional right of way for the entire duration of that ride. Interference will be called if during that ride a majority of judges feel that a fellow competitor has hindered the scoring potential of the surfer deemed to have right of way.”

33. Points to Consider • Has there been a Hinderence of Scoring Potential: • Was there interference or not? • Did the surfer with unconditional ROW have their scoring potential hindered? • Inside Position: • Which surfer has ROW? • The inside surfer has unconditional ROW • What type of interference was it? • What rule in the book reflects the infringement? Drop-in, snaking, paddling interference.

34. Point Break Single Direction Wave • The inside surfer has unconditional ROW for the duration of the wave.

35. Single Peak Left & Right Breaking Wave • The surfer consider to have the inside position at the initial point of take-off has unconditional ROW in the direction they choose by making an obvious turn. A second surfer may surf in the opposite direction. The surfers may not cross paths to gain the opposite side of the peak unless, in the majority of the judges’ opinions, they do so without hindering the scoring potential of the inside surfer.

36. Beach Break Multiple Random Peaks • Two separate peaks that eventually meet. The first surfer to stand has unconditional ROW

37. Snaking • A surfer who is farthest inside at the initial point of take-off & has established wave possession is entitle to that wave for the duration of their ride, even though another surfer may subsequently take-off behind them. • If the second surfer has not hindered the original surfer with right of way, the judges may choose not to penalise them & will score both surfers’ rides. • If in the opinion of the judges, the second surfer has interfered with (snaked) the original surfer with ROW by causing them to flick out or fall , the interference may be called on the second surfer, even though they were behind the first when the penalty was called. • A Surfer may not take off on the opposite side of a broken wave peak to gain possession of the opposite wave face, when a surfer has already established ROW by making an obvious turn.

38. Paddling Interference • In 4 person heats or non-priority 1-on-1 situations, a surfer who has the inside position should not be excessively hindered by another surfer paddling for the same wave. Paddling Interference may be called if: • The offending surfer makes contact with or forces the inside surfer to change their line while paddling to catch the wave causing loss of scoring potential. • The offending surfer obviously causes a section to break down in front of the inside surfer which would not normally have happened, causing loss of scoring potential. • When a surfer is put in a position while paddling out that he cannot get out of the way & a collision happens due to this, it is up to a majority of judges to call interference based on whether it is felt to be accidental or not. • When paddling out from the beach, and when in the line up if two surfers make aggressive contact the judges will penalize with an interference the surfer or surfers deemed to be the aggressor/s.

39. Identifying Paddling Interferences Judges should look for: - hindrance of scoring potential - physical contact - change in paddling line - breaking down a section How to mark an Interference on the score sheet • To mark a riding interference the judge should place a triangle around the interfering surfers’ score with an arrow going to the surfers’ score who has been interfered with. • To mark a paddling interference where the surfer has caught the wave, the triangle will go above the score with the arrow. • To mark a paddling interference where the surfer did not ride the wave the triangle will go between the scores with the arrow.

40. Tabulation of Heats Manual Tabulation The tabulator must check: • The correct number of judges score sheets is in • Wave counts are the same • Any interferences • The scores are then totaled on each sheet. In most cases the tabulation is of each surfers best 2 or 3. • The highest score indicates 1st place. Then allocate the remainder places for each surfer in the heat. • If a tie occurs on a sheet, the points awarded to each of the tied surfers will be the average of affected placing points added together: Eg. If tied for 1st: Add 1st & 2nd divide by amount of surfers (2) = average is 1.5 If tied for 3rd: Add 3rd & 4th divide by amount of surfers (2) = average is 3.5

41. Breaking tieson the master sheet • Two Surfers • Go to all judges sheets & institute + & - system • If still equal, go to the tied judges’ sheets, re-tally using the best two or best one depending on how many wave are counted eg. Best 2 or 3 • If they are still tied go to the next highest 3rd ,4th or 5th wave and so on until the tie is broken • Three or More Surfers Tied Rule 1 • Allocate all placing’s in each judging column • Total allocated (not crossed off) placing’s across page to break the tie IF THERE IS STILL A TIE Rule 2 • Use all judge’s placing’s & total Rule 3 • Go to tied judges’ sheets • Eliminate lowest scoring ride of each surfers score • Tally • Repeat if necessary (as above in the two surfer system). If a 2 or a 3 way tie cannot be broken: SURF OFF.

42. The most Common judging problem • The most common problem is not using the full scale or range of scores available. • Usually this occurs in the upper range of the scale (7 to 10) & this can be the result of a stubborn attitude from some judges who, for example, make it a rule “never give an excellent score (8 to 10)”. • Judges who use a narrow upper range scale will commonly score most of their waves in the 4.0-6.5 range & automatically disadvantage themselves and the surfers in terms of judging correctly.

43. Not using a full scale results in: • The potential for difference in scores is narrowed & there is increased likelihood of tying surfers’ for heat placing’s • Tying riders makes the tabulator’s job difficult & more time consuming due to the necessity for count backs • Performance in the panel will be reflected by a large number of judging errors due to narrow scope & inability to clearly separate riders on the score sheet • Riders will be discouraged if their best wave only gets a 6.0

44. A good judge will always have the ability to utilise the full scale & range of scores available (from 0.1 – 10.0) A good judge will be able to re-evaluate their scale for: • Different divisions (take into account the skill level of the specific division being judged eg. Increase the upper range scale for boys, masters & women’s and decrease it for juniors, men’s & pro divisions) • Different surf conditions (eg. Increase the upper range if conditions are bad or deteriorate & decrease it for improving or perfect conditions) • The only way to overcome the tendency to score in a narrow range is through experience & with a concentrated effort in applying this most important basic judging principle.

45. Judging Tips • Study the heat & conditions prior to your first session of judging. This will enable you to be aware of what sort of ride is good or bad for these conditions • It’s important to score the first wave exchanges in the heat correctly. This will set the scale for the rest of the heat. Try to make at least a 1 point difference between your first two scoring rides, then if your next wave falls in between your first two you will still have good separation.

46. Judging Tips • Use whole & half points as much as you can during the heat. Resort to smaller decimal places only when necessary (eg. Near the middle & ends of the heat) • During the course of the heat, try to use the whole of your scale from 0.1-10, regardless of surf conditions or skill levels. • Score the good waves up and the bad ones down • Avoid scoring higher as the heat continues; bear in mind the previous bench mark scoring waves.

47. Judging Tips • No 2 rides are identical so try to differentiate between all the scoring waves. • Don’t deliberate on your scores. Put pen to paper your first thoughts are usually correct. • If a judge misses a wave or part of one, an M should be placed in the square of the judge’s sheet or have the wave included into their sheet by the event head judge or an event representative.

48. Judging Tips • Judges may not change their scores or interference calls. In the event that a mistake has been made, the judge should have the Head Judge make the corrections for him. • During a heat call wave counts as frequently as possible whilst the competitors are not riding. Minimum 4 times a heat. • Avoid being influenced by the spectators, commentators or friendships & other outside influences. Have the confidence to stand by your decisions

49. Judging Tips • Do not express your opinions to other judges during the heat. • Keep your sheet neat & easy to read so it is easy to tabulate. Any score adjustments should be completely blocked out & initialed by the judge. • Always judge the singlet colour, NOT the surfers wearing it.

50. All correspondence and Information Other Judging and Officiating programs are available on request: The Level 1 and 2 accredited courses are recognised and endorsed by the Australian Sports Commission and the International Surfing Association. Surfing Australia Judging manager Glen Elliott PO Box 1613 Kingscliff, NSW. 2487 AUSTRALIA Or email: glene@surfingaustralia.com