Judging Criteria - FAQ
As organisers of the World Pole Dance Championships we strive for a fair and open judging system. This year we have introduced 2 technical judges Tricks called Syntax Coordinators and their job is to record every single trick and pose which in the event of a tie or very close result will offer guidance to the judges for the competitor with the most original and well performed show and mindful of making this competition inline with an Olympic Standard for competitions.
Please find below some of the more frequent questions asked
Q. Why is there an odd number of judges
A. Our experience has shown that an odd number is always recommended as it helps with the fair and balanced scoring.
Q. Why are the preliminary groups judged by a different set of judges?
A. A different set of judges were chosen for each group as each group lasted approximately 95 minutes and this allowed the judges to remain fresh and focused. Before each group the judges are bought together and the rules and points scoring explained (again). We feel it would be both impractical and impossible for one set of judges to judge the whole day due to a possible lack of concentration, which could potentially create an unfair situation for later contestants.
This method of judging is consistent with the way other competitive gymnastic based sports such as cheerleading are also judged where judges are rotated between groups and in the wider sporting world in general (e.g. in the World Cup, each game will be refereed by a different team operating to the same standards. A Tennis tournament will have different umpires).
Judges for the Saturday finals were again different in order to ensure that their perspective on the routines delivered could remain fresh and impartial (as many finals routines were similar or identical to the preliminaries).
Q. How can judges remain impartial and not favour one competitor?
A. All individual judges’ scores are independantly checked and verified for any abnormal judging in the sense of their score being exceptionally high or exceptionally low. Any instances of discrepancy against other judges scores are bought to the attention of all the judges in that group or final and the judges asked to indicate verbally why they judged as they did and reason behind their decision. This is not to say variences in judging are frowned upon, in fact the opposite is true BUT the judges has to explain their decision to the full satisfaction of the other judges. This makes it impossible for any judge to influence the decision of any one candidate in their group.
Ideally we endeavour not to have a member on the jury who is associated with a candidate, although all jury members have signed their contract that they will be consistent and fair throughout their judging process, all working from the same criteria and format throughout the groups.
Q. How is it possible to have judges in the finals from the organization?
A. All international judges are accepted from their application form on the panel due to their professionalism and experience, not only in competition organisation and national ownership, but also in pole fitness, pole dance and fitness teaching experience. All organisation members organise and run their own national competitions and are very experienced judges in their own right, as indicated in their bios on the website. All international judges have to apply in writing for their position with details of qualifications, memberships and experience. Judges were then selected based on their applications.
Q. Why do you sometimes change a competitor from one group to another?
A. There are many factors involved in this and usually this is to keep the groups balanced in numbers and for timing purposes. Any candidates who are moved are usually picked at random. We make it very clear at all times on email and the website the organisation may have to change candidates at short notice due to the operational logistics of the competition – we try not to do this, however. In 2010 we had three candidates drop out within the last two weeks before the competition which was beyond our control requiring a re balance of competitors.
Q. Who decides the height of the poles?
A. The height of poles are governed by a few factors and usually its down to the available height of the venue or stage area and ceiling structure. But also we consider;
- Health & Safety of all competitors, staff and bystanders
- Insurance - Currently most insurance companies won’t accept risk for poles in excess of 3.5 meters height. This is something as part of the organisation we have been working on since 2005 and are still working in association with Insurance companies. Currently the World Pole Dance organisation (Pole Passion Ltd) has liability cover of £10,000,000 (maximum cover) specific to competitors performing on the poles. Also as members of Equity (a very powerful governing body and union) we respect and abide by their rights for competitors and performers and safety during performances and have a zero risk policy in place during competitions.
Stephen Penney (Director of Pole Passion Ltd and inventor of the Rpole) has over 20 years experience in Health & Safety in the UK construction industry and has spent many years designing the safest competition poles where each pole is designed and manufactured specifically for competitions and are not stock or standard poles and are ONLY used for competitions.
Together with Clive Coote (Xpole) he will be working with in the future to approve the best and safest pole design as they are both members of the safety committee on the Olympic Pole team committee which is great news for the future of pole and the safety of performers through their extensive knowledge and future collaboration.
Q. What safety checks are carried out?
A. We carry out and record risk assessments before any poles are used. This is always carried out on both the main competition day and preliniaries. The organisation takes the health and safety of all competitors seriously and emphasises the importance of this as paramount as is also for the members of staff and audience bystanders and we always have a first aider by the side of the stage. The poles are also checked and wiped clean after every competitor.
The risk assessment is a complex form and covers many aspects of potential risks, with the poles just being one of them. The stage is checked and swept clean after each performance if required. All contestants were informed in the pre competition briefing and had the right and opportunity to check their own poles prior to their performance without being penalised, if they wished and many exercised this right.
The risk assessment is usually completed on bright yellow paper and placed at the front of the competition stage until the beginning of competition and only removed prior to the competition otherwise it too may have become a potential slipping risk.
Q. Who decides the nationalities of the judges vs. The finalist?
A. Judges represent a number of nationalities in order to ensure impartiality. On each panel at least one judge represented Europe and at least one represented the Americas. The ethnicity of contestants and or judges have no consideration on the final result reflected within the score and judges notes.
Commitment to equality and diversity is a matter of international law and all organisers and judges operate to a strict policy of non discrimination.
Please find below some of the more frequent questions asked
Q. Why is there an odd number of judges
A. Our experience has shown that an odd number is always recommended as it helps with the fair and balanced scoring.
Q. Why are the preliminary groups judged by a different set of judges?
A. A different set of judges were chosen for each group as each group lasted approximately 95 minutes and this allowed the judges to remain fresh and focused. Before each group the judges are bought together and the rules and points scoring explained (again). We feel it would be both impractical and impossible for one set of judges to judge the whole day due to a possible lack of concentration, which could potentially create an unfair situation for later contestants.
This method of judging is consistent with the way other competitive gymnastic based sports such as cheerleading are also judged where judges are rotated between groups and in the wider sporting world in general (e.g. in the World Cup, each game will be refereed by a different team operating to the same standards. A Tennis tournament will have different umpires).
Judges for the Saturday finals were again different in order to ensure that their perspective on the routines delivered could remain fresh and impartial (as many finals routines were similar or identical to the preliminaries).
Q. How can judges remain impartial and not favour one competitor?
A. All individual judges’ scores are independantly checked and verified for any abnormal judging in the sense of their score being exceptionally high or exceptionally low. Any instances of discrepancy against other judges scores are bought to the attention of all the judges in that group or final and the judges asked to indicate verbally why they judged as they did and reason behind their decision. This is not to say variences in judging are frowned upon, in fact the opposite is true BUT the judges has to explain their decision to the full satisfaction of the other judges. This makes it impossible for any judge to influence the decision of any one candidate in their group.
Ideally we endeavour not to have a member on the jury who is associated with a candidate, although all jury members have signed their contract that they will be consistent and fair throughout their judging process, all working from the same criteria and format throughout the groups.
Q. How is it possible to have judges in the finals from the organization?
A. All international judges are accepted from their application form on the panel due to their professionalism and experience, not only in competition organisation and national ownership, but also in pole fitness, pole dance and fitness teaching experience. All organisation members organise and run their own national competitions and are very experienced judges in their own right, as indicated in their bios on the website. All international judges have to apply in writing for their position with details of qualifications, memberships and experience. Judges were then selected based on their applications.
Q. Why do you sometimes change a competitor from one group to another?
A. There are many factors involved in this and usually this is to keep the groups balanced in numbers and for timing purposes. Any candidates who are moved are usually picked at random. We make it very clear at all times on email and the website the organisation may have to change candidates at short notice due to the operational logistics of the competition – we try not to do this, however. In 2010 we had three candidates drop out within the last two weeks before the competition which was beyond our control requiring a re balance of competitors.
Q. Who decides the height of the poles?
A. The height of poles are governed by a few factors and usually its down to the available height of the venue or stage area and ceiling structure. But also we consider;
- Health & Safety of all competitors, staff and bystanders
- Insurance - Currently most insurance companies won’t accept risk for poles in excess of 3.5 meters height. This is something as part of the organisation we have been working on since 2005 and are still working in association with Insurance companies. Currently the World Pole Dance organisation (Pole Passion Ltd) has liability cover of £10,000,000 (maximum cover) specific to competitors performing on the poles. Also as members of Equity (a very powerful governing body and union) we respect and abide by their rights for competitors and performers and safety during performances and have a zero risk policy in place during competitions.
Stephen Penney (Director of Pole Passion Ltd and inventor of the Rpole) has over 20 years experience in Health & Safety in the UK construction industry and has spent many years designing the safest competition poles where each pole is designed and manufactured specifically for competitions and are not stock or standard poles and are ONLY used for competitions.
Together with Clive Coote (Xpole) he will be working with in the future to approve the best and safest pole design as they are both members of the safety committee on the Olympic Pole team committee which is great news for the future of pole and the safety of performers through their extensive knowledge and future collaboration.
Q. What safety checks are carried out?
A. We carry out and record risk assessments before any poles are used. This is always carried out on both the main competition day and preliniaries. The organisation takes the health and safety of all competitors seriously and emphasises the importance of this as paramount as is also for the members of staff and audience bystanders and we always have a first aider by the side of the stage. The poles are also checked and wiped clean after every competitor.
The risk assessment is a complex form and covers many aspects of potential risks, with the poles just being one of them. The stage is checked and swept clean after each performance if required. All contestants were informed in the pre competition briefing and had the right and opportunity to check their own poles prior to their performance without being penalised, if they wished and many exercised this right.
The risk assessment is usually completed on bright yellow paper and placed at the front of the competition stage until the beginning of competition and only removed prior to the competition otherwise it too may have become a potential slipping risk.
Q. Who decides the nationalities of the judges vs. The finalist?
A. Judges represent a number of nationalities in order to ensure impartiality. On each panel at least one judge represented Europe and at least one represented the Americas. The ethnicity of contestants and or judges have no consideration on the final result reflected within the score and judges notes.
Commitment to equality and diversity is a matter of international law and all organisers and judges operate to a strict policy of non discrimination.
