Scoring Systems Overview

Scoring systems define how performances are evaluated at your events. They determine what judges score, how those scores are calculated, and how results appear on recaps and summaries.

Why Scoring Systems Matter

A well-designed scoring system ensures:

Fair evaluation - Consistent criteria across all performances
Accurate calculations - Automatic score tabulation and ranking
Clear communication - Recaps show exactly what groups need to see
Flexibility - Support for different competition formats and judging styles

Understanding the Structure

Scoring systems use a hierarchical structure with four levels:

Level	Description	Example
Scoring System	The complete judging framework	"Regional Championship Scoring"
Category	A major judging area	"Visual", "Music", "General Effect"
Caption	A specific judging role	"Visual Ensemble", "Music Individual"
Subcaption	Individual scoring elements	"Technique", "Composition", "Achievement"

How Scores Flow

Subcaption (raw scores)
    ↓
Caption (calculated from subcaptions × judge count)
    ↓
Category (sum of captions × multiplier/divisor)
    ↓
Final Score (total with any adjustments)

Section Types

Scoring systems organize categories into three sections that affect how scores are calculated and displayed:

General Categories

Included in the subtotal calculation
Displayed before the subtotal on recaps
Use for primary judging areas (Visual, Music, etc.)

After Subtotal Categories

Included in the final score calculation
Displayed after the subtotal on recaps
Use for adjustments that apply after the main scoring (timing penalties, etc.)

Special Categories

Not included in score calculations
Displayed after the total on recaps
Use for non-competitive feedback (training judges, comments, etc.)

Calculation Types

CompetitionSuite supports three methods for calculating rankings:

Type	How It Works	Best For
Raw Score	Standard point accumulation; highest total wins	Most competitions
Borda Count	Ranks converted to points; sum of ranking points	Subjective judging
Ordinal Consensus	Rankings compared across judges for majority placement	Tie resolution

Getting Started

Creating Your First Scoring System

Advanced Configuration

Custom Recap Columns - Add calculated fields to recaps
Advanced Settings - Calculation types, tiebreakers, and display options

Prerequisites

Before creating a scoring system:

Set up at least one Configuration (Settings > Configurations)
Plan your scoring structure (categories, captions, point values)
Ensure you have Organization Setup access

Shared Scoring Systems

Your organization may have access to scoring systems shared by other organizations:

Owned by [Organization Name] - Shared with your organization; you can clone but not edit
Shared by you - You created and shared with other organizations

To customize a shared scoring system, use the Clone feature to create your own editable copy.

Common Use Cases

Standard Competition Format

Create categories for each judging area with captions matching your judge assignments:

Visual Category → Visual Ensemble, Visual Individual captions
Music Category → Music Ensemble, Music Individual captions
General Effect Category → Visual GE, Music GE captions

Training Judges

Add a Special Category with captions marked as "Training" - these scores won't affect results but allow judges to practice.

Multiple Judge Panels

Set the number of judges per caption and optionally enable "Drop High Score" or "Drop Low Score" to normalize results across panels.

Need Help?

Contact support@competitionsuite.com for assistance designing your scoring system. We can help translate your organization's paper-based judging sheets into CompetitionSuite.