🧑⚖️ Understanding the judging system in cheerleading (S2.14)
- janie724
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Episode of December 2, 2024
Cheerleading is a dynamic, spectacular, and complex sport, especially when it comes to competitions. One aspect that often intrigues athletes, parents, and even some coaches is the judging system. Why do some teams seem to be the best, but don't finish first? How are scores awarded? We'll explain everything simply here.
⭐️ The panel of judges: 5 specialists, 5 roles
In a competition, five or more judges evaluate the teams, each with a specific role (sometimes a category may be divided and a judging panel may have more than 5 judges):
The Building Difficulty Judge assesses the difficulty of the team's stunts, lifts, and pyramids. The more complex and technical the elements, the higher the score can be.
The Building Execution Judge : He looks at the quality of the execution: are the movements clean, well-executed, and error-free? For example, are the bases well-placed? Everything must be neat!
The Tumbling and Jumping Judge : This judge oversees gymnastics and jumps, both in terms of difficulty and execution. This is where we will regularly have two judges. One for difficulty and one for execution.
The Choreography Judge (Overall) He observes the routine as a whole: the fluidity of movements, the use of space, the coordination, the showmanship (energy, stage presence), and for school teams it will be the judge who will watch the songs and animations of the team.
The Legality and Deductions Judge This judge is a bit of a "bad guy" in the group, as he deducts points. He checks that teams are following the rules and penalizes falls, instabilities, or illegal elements.
Points awarded and points removed: how does it work? 💯
The first four judges award points based on their category. The last judge deducts points for mistakes. For example, performing an illegal stunt or falling costs a lot of points.
Teams must therefore find a balance between the difficulty of their routines and the quality of their execution. It is often better to have a simpler, but perfectly executed, routine than tricks that are too difficult and poorly executed.
A comparative system 🧑⚖️
The scoring system is comparative , meaning that judges compare teams within the same category and competition day. The scores are not absolute: a team may have 76 points in one competition and 65 in another with the same routine, because the judges and opponents are different.
This is why we cannot compare the results of one competition to another. Instead, we must focus on our progress and the quality of our performance.
🤸♀️ The Prep and Novice categories: another objective
For the youngest or beginners (the U6 and U8 prep and Novice categories), there is not always an official ranking because there are no points. These categories are mainly there to learn to perform, discover the pleasure of competition, and progress in the sport without the pressure of ranking.
Long-term athlete development is prioritized, and coaches are given sheets with feedback and criteria to help athletes improve, rather than strict grades.
Why grades can change during the competition 🤔
Judges are allowed to adjust their scores throughout the competition. Sometimes the first team to perform receives a "starting" score, which the judges adjust based on subsequent performances.
This also explains why impressive teams may not finish first: judges evaluate several criteria at once, and the final score results from the combination of several elements.
⚜️ Rigorous training for judges in Quebec
In Quebec, cheerleading judges are professionally trained with official certifications. They must be familiar with all levels, from 1 to 7, and undergo regular training.
This system ensures that the judgment is serious, impartial and professional.
📋 In summary
The cheerleading judging system may seem complex, but it's designed to encourage difficulty, quality, and, most importantly, execution and safety. For athletes and parents, understanding this system helps them better enjoy competitions, manage expectations, and, most importantly, continue to progress in this incredible sport.
If you have any questions about the judging system or would like to learn more, feel free to check out your local federation's resources or listen to the full episode of the Kick's Cheer Podcast!
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