Understanding Categories and Sections
Categories are the top-level organizational units in your scoring system. They group related captions (judge roles) and determine how scores appear on recaps.
Understanding Sections
Categories are organized into three sections, each with different calculation and display behaviors:
General Categories
Purpose: Primary judging areas that form the core of your scoring system.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Calculation | Scores are summed into the Subtotal |
| Display | Appears before the subtotal on recaps |
| Use for | Visual, Music, General Effect, Performance, etc. |
Example: A marching band system with Visual (40 points max), Music (40 points max), and General Effect (20 points max) as General Categories would show these before a 100-point subtotal.
After Subtotal Categories
Purpose: Adjustments or additional scoring applied after the main performance evaluation.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Calculation | Scores are added to the subtotal for the final score |
| Display | Appears after the subtotal but before the total |
| Use for | Timing penalties, safety deductions, bonus points |
Example: A "Timing" category that deducts points for exceeding time limits. The subtotal (100) minus timing deductions (2) equals the final score (98).
Special Categories
Purpose: Feedback or training that doesn't affect competitive placement.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Calculation | Not included in any score totals |
| Display | Appears after the total on recaps |
| Use for | Training judges, feedback-only captions, informational scores |
Example: A "Training Judge" category allows new judges to practice scoring without affecting results.
Creating a Category
- Open your scoring system
- Select the appropriate section tab:
- General Categories
- After Subtotal Categories
- Special Categories
- Click Add Category
- Enter the category details:
- Name - Descriptive label (e.g., "Visual Performance")
- Multiplier - Multiply the category total by this value
- Divisor - Divide the category total by this value
- Visible on Recap - Show/hide this category on score recaps
- Click Save
Category Settings
Name
- Up to 50 characters
- Appears on recaps and judge tablets
- Use clear, recognizable terminology for your activity
Multiplier and Divisor
These values adjust the category's contribution to the score:
Category Score = (Sum of Caption Scores) × Multiplier ÷ Divisor
| Multiplier | Divisor | Effect | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | No change | Standard categories |
| 2 | 1 | Double the score | Weighted emphasis |
| 1 | 2 | Half the score | Reduced weight |
| 1 | 10 | Divide by 10 | Convert 1000-point scale to 100 |
Example: If a category with Multiplier=2, Divisor=1 contains captions totaling 50 points, the category contributes 100 points to the score.
Visible on Recap
- Yes - Category name and totals appear on printed recaps
- No - Scores still count, but the category row is hidden from recaps
Use this to hide implementation details while keeping calculations active.
Managing Categories
Edit a Category
- Click the pencil icon next to the category name
- Modify settings as needed
- Click Save
Remove a Category
- Click the pencil icon to open the category
- Click Remove (bottom-left, red button)
- Confirm the removal
Warning: Removing a category also removes all captions and subcaptions within it. This cannot be undone.
Reorder Categories
Categories display in the order they were created within each section. To change the order, you'll need to:
- Note the current category settings
- Remove categories in reverse order of desired display
- Recreate them in the preferred order
Section Selection Guide
| Scenario | Recommended Section |
|---|---|
| Main judging areas (Visual, Music, etc.) | General Categories |
| Penalty deductions | After Subtotal Categories |
| Bonus points based on performance | After Subtotal Categories |
| Training/practice judges | Special Categories |
| Feedback-only scores (no ranking impact) | Special Categories |
| Timing adjustments | After Subtotal Categories |
Best Practices
Keep It Simple
- Start with 2-4 General Categories
- Only add After Subtotal or Special Categories when genuinely needed
Use Consistent Naming
- "Visual" not "VIS" (save abbreviations for initials)
- Match terminology your judges and groups already use
Plan Before Building
- Sketch your category structure on paper first
- Verify point totals add up correctly before adding to the system
Test Multipliers Carefully
- Incorrect multiplier/divisor values can produce unexpected totals
- Test with sample scores before using at events
Example Structures
Simple Three-Category System
General Categories
├── Visual (Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1)
├── Music (Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1)
└── General Effect (Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1)
Weighted System with Penalties
General Categories
├── Performance (Multiplier: 2, Divisor: 1) → 2x weight
└── Technical (Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1) → 1x weight
After Subtotal Categories
└── Penalties (Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1) → Subtracted from subtotal
Special Categories
└── Training (Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1) → Not in calculations
Troubleshooting
Category not appearing on recap
- Check that Visible on Recap is set to Yes
- Verify the category has at least one caption with scores
Scores not adding up correctly
- Review Multiplier and Divisor values
- Ensure category is in the correct section (General vs. After Subtotal)
- Check caption and subcaption multipliers as well
Can't add categories
- Verify the scoring system isn't shared by another organization
- Shared systems require cloning before editing