🏆 Janie's Ideal Scoring System (S2.35)
- janie724
- Aug 25
- 2 min read
Episode of May 19, 2025
In cheerleading, scoring points isn't just about performing spectacular tricks. The scoring system plays a huge role, and Janie, a judge, coach, and event producer, has a clear vision for how it could be clearer, more consistent, and fairer for everyone.
🎯 The current challenge: grades that vary too much
Today, the comparative system is the norm. It encourages creativity, unlike the old "rubric" system, which was very rigid and based on checkboxes. The problem is that two teams performing the same routine in two different competitions can receive very different scores, sometimes by 10% to 20%. This doesn't mean the system is unfair... but it lacks consistency, which causes frustration and misunderstanding.
📊 Janie's idea: clarify the difficulty
Janie doesn't want to go back to the rubric system, but she would like to add clear benchmarks for certain parts of the routines (jumps, stunts, pyramids, etc.). This way, if two teams perform the same element with the same number of athletes, they should have the same difficulty score, regardless of the competition. Execution will still be judged subjectively, but difficulty should be objective.
📝 A new feature tested: “routine content”
To make the assessment more accurate, Janie launched a pilot project:
Teams send in advance the list of elements of their routine (jumps, pyramids, stunts, sneakers, gymnastics).
Judges can thus prepare their benchmarks, compare more easily and avoid excessive gaps between events.
This method has already been tested in several competitions and has received positive feedback. Judges see it as a time-saver and a gain in clarity, and coaches appreciate that certain subtleties are better taken into account. The technical vocabulary still needs to be standardized, as the same element can have different names depending on the region.
🧠 Janie's message
For Janie, understanding the comparative system means seeing beyond her own score :
Compare your points to those of other teams in your category.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Accept that performance will change over the course of the season.
She points out that this system is not unfair, but that there is always room for improvement to avoid the "appearance of injustice."
💬 In summary, Janie's ideal system:
Keep the comparison to encourage creativity.
Introduce clear scales for difficulty.
Prepare judges with “routine content”.
Have an open and analytical mind about the results.
With these adjustments, Janie hopes that the scores will better reflect the reality of the performances and that coaches, parents and athletes will better understand the results… while still maintaining the fun and passion of cheerleading.
Comments