Contestant Judging was Calling Maneuvers for Judges

[AWorrest at aol.com]

Contestant judging doesn't get rid of favoritism or the perception of 
favoritism if all the contestant judges are locals.  I've experienced this recently.  
For me the perception of favoritism is reduced if a different set of judges 
is used for each round.  This probably requires non-contestant judges.  A 
better solution is to have non-locals do some of the judging.

The major drawback of using contestant judging exclusively is that it harms 
pattern in localities where pattern is not prevalent.  To put on a pattern 
contest requires the support of the entire club or at least the acquiescence of 
those who don't give a darn.  Non-contestant, club judges become pattern 
supporters.  While a contest can use the services of non-competitors for 
registration, score keeping, cooking, etc., judging is the best way to turn the 
non-competitor into a contestant.  If the club environment is such that the club expects 
it members to work at its contests, there is no problem in getting club 
judges.  In fact people are hurt if they aren't asked to judge.  I've had more 
success in getting a new person to judge than in getting him to fly as a 
contestant.

Having said all this, I'll concede that contestant judging, if drawn from the 
entire contestant pool, is more accurate and fair than using club judges.  
But contestant judging does nothing to promote the support the sport. I'm 
willing to put up with imperfect judging if it means the club will continue to hold 
pattern contests in the future.

Allan Worrest
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