Configure Captions

Captions represent individual judge roles within a category. Each caption defines what a judge evaluates and how their scores contribute to the overall results.

What Are Captions?

A caption is a judge position in your scoring system. For example:

• "Visual Ensemble" - A judge evaluating group visual performance
• "Music Individual" - A judge evaluating individual musicianship
• "General Effect" - A judge evaluating overall entertainment value

Each caption contains subcaptions (the actual scoring elements) and can have specific settings for judge count, commentary, and tablet display options.

Creating a Caption

1. Open your scoring system
2. Navigate to the category where you want to add the caption
3. Click Add Caption
4. Enter the required fields:

• Name - Full caption name (e.g., "Visual Ensemble")
• Initials - Short abbreviation for displays (e.g., "VE")

1. Configure additional settings (see sections below)
2. Click Save

Caption Settings

Basic Settings

General Settings Tab

Training Mode

• Yes - Caption is hidden from groups; scores don't affect rankings
• No - Normal scoring; visible to groups

Use Training mode for practice judges or when testing new judging criteria without affecting competitive results.

Commentary

• Yes - Judge can record audio commentary for performances
• No - No audio commentary available for this caption

When enabled, judges can record verbal feedback that groups can access after scores are released.

Supports Multi-Panel

• Yes - Caption can have multiple judges assigned in the same position
• No - Only one judge can fill this caption at an event

Enable this when you need flexibility in judge assignments (e.g., sometimes 2 judges, sometimes 3).

Number of Judges

How many judges will score this caption simultaneously.

Drop High Score / Drop Low Score

Available when Number of Judges > 1.

• Drop High Score - Exclude the highest judge score from calculations
• Drop Low Score - Exclude the lowest judge score from calculations

Use these to reduce the impact of outlier scores when multiple judges evaluate the same caption.

Note Requires Score Release

• Yes - Written notes are only visible to groups after scores are released
• No - Notes may be visible before scores are released

Recap Tab

Configure how this caption appears on printed recaps.

Raw vs. Calculated:

• Raw - Shows the score as entered by the judge
• Calculated - Shows the score after multiplier/divisor adjustments

Ratings Tab

Ratings allow you to display feedback text based on score ranges. For example, scores 90-100 might show "Superior" while 80-89 shows "Excellent."

To add a rating:

1. Click Add Another Rating
2. Enter:

• Max Score - The upper limit for this rating
• Text - The label to display (e.g., "Superior")
• Value - Optional numeric value to associate

Ratings display on recaps and summaries based on your visibility settings.

Judge App Tab

Configure what judges see on their tablets for this caption.

Display Score on Tablet

• Yes - Judges see their running score total
• No - Score display is hidden from judges

Score Display Type

(Only shown when Display Score is Yes)

• Raw - Shows unmodified entered score
• Calculated - Shows score with multiplier/divisor applied

Display Performance Time

• Yes - Show elapsed time during performance
• No - Hide performance timer

Show Public Notes Tab

• Yes - Judge can write text notes for groups
• No - Notes tab hidden from judge app

Show Timers Tab

• Yes - Enable timer tools for this caption
• No - Hide timer tools

Use timers for captions where judges need to track timing segments or penalties.

Show Counters Tab

• Yes - Enable counter tools for this caption
• No - Hide counter tools

Use counters for captions that track specific occurrences (drops, boundary violations, etc.).

Show Boundary Tab

• Yes - Enable boundary tracking tools
• No - Hide boundary tools

Use for captions that evaluate floor boundary adherence.

Caption Calculations

Caption totals are calculated as:

Caption Total = (Sum of Subcaption Totals) × Multiplier ÷ Divisor × Number of Judges

Example:

• Subcaptions total: 100 points
• Multiplier: 1, Divisor: 1
• Number of Judges: 2

Caption Total = 100 × 1 ÷ 1 × 2 = 200 points

Managing Captions

Edit a Caption

1. Click the pencil icon next to the caption name
2. Modify settings across all tabs
3. Click Save

Remove a Caption

1. Click the pencil icon to open the caption
2. Click Remove (bottom-left, red button)
3. Confirm the removal

Warning: Removing a caption also removes all subcaptions within it.

Best Practices

Naming Conventions

• Use descriptive names: "Visual Ensemble" not "VE"
• Keep initials short: "VE" not "VisEns"
• Match terminology your organization already uses

Judge Count

• Start with actual judge assignments you plan to use
• Enable "Supports Multi-Panel" only if you genuinely need flexibility

Commentary

• Enable for captions where verbal feedback is valuable
• Consider microphone requirements and storage implications

Training Mode

• Use for new judges who need practice
• Use when testing scoring system changes at actual events
• Remember: Training captions are completely hidden from groups

Common Caption Configurations

Standard Judging Caption

• Training: No
• Commentary: Yes
• Multi-Panel: No
• Number of Judges: 1
• Display Score: Yes (Calculated)
• Notes Tab: Yes

Multi-Judge Panel

• Training: No
• Commentary: Yes
• Multi-Panel: Yes
• Number of Judges: 3
• Drop High/Low: As needed
• Display Score: Yes (Raw)

Training/Shadow Judge

• Training: Yes
• Commentary: Yes (for practice)
• Multi-Panel: No
• Number of Judges: 1
• Display Score: Yes (Raw)

Penalty Judge

• Training: No
• Commentary: No
• Multi-Panel: No
• Number of Judges: 1
• Show Timers Tab: Yes
• Show Counters Tab: Yes

Troubleshooting

Caption not showing on judge tablet

• Verify judge is assigned to this caption in the event
• Check that caption is not in Training mode (unless intended)
• Ensure subcaptions exist within the caption

Commentary not working

• Verify Commentary is enabled for the caption
• Check judge's device has microphone permissions
• Confirm adequate storage space on device

Scores not calculating correctly

• Review Multiplier and Divisor values
• Check Number of Judges setting
• Verify Drop High/Low Score settings if using multiple judges

Related Articles

• Categories and Sections
• Subcaptions
• Commentary Overview
• Using the Judge App