Anonymous Judging

[dbny]

Up until last May, when I attended the PSA annual conference and heard that the Eastern European judges feel more free to judge as they please with anonymity, I had been totally opposed to anonymous judging. After that, I started to really think about the pros and cons of it. Recently, I judged a little in-house basic skills competition, and was the target of a crazy family who claimed their darling got third because I didn't like her. In truth, we all placed her third, but I think they managed to see my score sheet. I am now totally in favor of anonymous judging. Has anyone else had a change of opinion on this issue, and if so, why?

[Artemis]

I do see your point in that honest judges do have the freedom to judge the event without worrying about backlash. However if the anonymity is going to stay, there need to at least be some checks and balances in place. Like instead of identifying on the composite score (high and low thrown out, then averaged), we should at minimum be able to see each individual score. That way if one score is completely out of whack with the others, we'd know that something might be a bit fishy.

Also, during the "interim" system last year, not even the ISU was able to determine which judge gave which mark. I'm not sure if that's the case under CoP, but again it would make sense that we at least have the option of finding out who scored what if need be.

[SkateFan123]

Up until last May, when I attended the PSA annual conference and heard that the Eastern European judges feel more free to judge as they please with anonymity, I had been totally opposed to anonymous judging. After that, I started to really think about the pros and cons of it. Recently, I judged a little in-house basic skills competition, and was the target of a crazy family who claimed their darling got third because I didn't like her. In truth, we all placed her third, but I think they managed to see my score sheet. I am now totally in favor of anonymous judging. Has anyone else had a change of opinion on this issue, and if so, why?

In your case, since everyone put the skater 3rd, what backlash could there be? The fact that they saw your sheet is insignificant since the scores were in line with other judges. If the judging were not secret, they would have seen everyone elses 3rd placement too. Since they only saw your scoring, they had no other placement to compare it to. (My assumption from your comments is that they saw your sheet and only your sheet.)

I am positively against anonymous judging. I think the current system leaves more room for cheating, not less. I've stated my reasons several times and won't bore you with them again. I have not changed my mind. Your story just solidifies my position.

[dbny]

I do see your point in that honest judges do have the freedom to judge the event without worrying about backlash. However if the anonymity is going to stay, there need to at least be some checks and balances in place. Like instead of identifying on the composite score (high and low thrown out, then averaged), we should at minimum be able to see each individual score. That way if one score is completely out of whack with the others, we'd know that something might be a bit fishy.

Good point. ITA.

[dbny]

In your case, since everyone put the skater 3rd, what backlash could there be? The fact that they saw your sheet is insignificant since the scores were in line with other judges. If the judging were not secret, they would have seen everyone elses 3rd placement too. Since they only saw your scoring, they had no other placement to compare it to. (My assumption from your comments is that they saw your sheet and only your sheet.)

I don't know for a fact that they ID'ed me by seeing the scoring sheet. It was a guess based on hearing that one of them had his nose pressed against the office window. It could also have been sour grapes from a coach.

If the ordinals were posted without judges' names, they also would have known that we were unanimous, but if we had not been, then one judge could have been a target if names were known. I'm judging another in-house comp this week, and will ID my forms with a number, not my name.