1. ADJUDICATION AND SCORING

2. Primarily local competitions with a culminating championship competition Mostly guards from North Texas Series of regional championships throughout the country Culminates in the National Championships in Fort Worth, TX North Texas Colorguard Association (“NTCA”) Marching Auxiliaries (“MA”) GRAPEVINE COMPETES IN TWO CIRCUITS

3. Judges watch, listen, comment, and score our students’ performances Judges are located in the spectator side of the gym A judge has three primary responsibilities: Rank: determine the order that reflects the comparative quality of performance for each guard (first place to last place) Rate: give each guard a score that accurately assess the quality of performance based on the performance criteria rubric Educate: provide recorded commentary that justifies the ranking and rating, as well as potential avenues for improving future performances WHAT DO JUDGES DO?

4. NORTH TEXAS COLORGUARD ASSOCIATION

5. Equipment Flags/Rifles/Sabres 20 points Vocabulary (10 points) Excellence (10 points) Movement Body 20 points Vocabulary (10 points) Excellence (10 points) Design Analysis Composition and Achievement 20 points Composition (10 points) Excellence (10 points) General Effect 2 Judges (scores added together) Show Design and Performance 20 points each (40 points overall) Repertoire (10 points) Performance (10 points) Individual Captions (“Downstairs Judges”) Overall Captions (“Upstairs Judges”) FIVE JUDGES FOR EACH NTCA COMPETITION

6. The DOWNSTAIRS captions (Equipment and Movement) evaluate the quality of technique, musicality, and excellence of performance. The UPSTAIRS captions (Design Analysis and General Effect) evaluate the effectiveness of the repertoire and effectiveness of performance. WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

7. Performers don’t get “ticked” for mistakes they make. Performers start with a score of “zero” and receive credit for the things they do well. Each caption has a rubric that describes criteria for the very best performance. A guard’s performance is evaluated based upon comparison to the qualities described on the criteria rubric. A score is determined based on the frequency that a guard exhibits those qualities: 0-6.9 = Box 1: Never (Weak) 7-29.9 = Box 2: Seldom (Fair) 30-59.9 = Box 3: Occasionally (Good) 60-89.9 = Box 4: Frequently (Excellent) 90-100 = Box 5: Consistently (Superior) Judges evaluate what is being performed at the same as how it is being performed. ALL ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE ARE EVALUATED USING A RUBRIC

8. Much like UIL, NTCA rewards performances with an appropriate divisional rating. Divisional ratings are assigned based on the final score after penalties. These ratings are classified as follows: First four weeks of each season: Division III: “Good” (0-24 points) Division II: “Excellent” (25-54 points) Division I: “Superior” (55-100 points Remainder of the season: Division III: “Good” (0-29 points) Division II: “Excellent” (30-59 points) Division I: “Superior” (6-100 points) NTCA DIVISIONAL RATINGS

9. MARCHING AUXILIARIES

10. A panel of MA judges will evaluate the performance based on the following criteria: Appearance: 10 points (costuming, grooming, appropriateness to musical selection) Choreography: 20 points (originality/creativity, variety of movement, musicality, difficulty/demand, equipment) Technique: 20 points (method/completion of movement, articulation/strength of movement, posture/alignment, proper use of equipment/prop) Precision: 20 points (uniformity/timing, form/orientation) Presentation/Staging: 10 points (use of performance area, transition, variety of movement Showmanship: 10 points (emotion, projection style) General Effect: 10 points (program content, emotional response) 3 JUDGES FOR EACH COMPETITION

11. Much like NTCA, MA rewards performances with an appropriate divisional rating. These ratings are as follows: Division V: below 50 points Division IV: 50-59 points Division III: 60-69 points Division II: 70-84 points Division I: 85-100 points These ratings are somewhat equivalent to the 5-box system NTCA uses. MA DIVISIONAL RATINGS

12. At the BEGINNING of the season, we expect all aspects of our performance to be in Box 4 or the top of Box 3 (in the upper 50s to upper 60s). By the end of the season, all aspects of our performance are expected to at least be in the top of Box 4 (80s). Box 5 means that all qualities in the performance criteria reference are shown by all of the performers consistently throughout the performance. That means “ALL OF US, ALL OF THE TIME!” ALL OF US, ALL OF THE TIME!

13. Judging is subjective There are sub-captions to evaluate within each caption. Sometimes buttons get pushed—positively or negatively. It is possible that judges perceive performances differently. It is also possible that different judges see completely different performances based on location. ANOMALIES OR INCONSISTENCIES IN SCORING

14. A judge’s first priority is to get the finishing order correct (placements). Judges are not “out to get” our kids or to find flaws in the performance. Many judges are current or former teachers. Judges are generally very nice people. Judges begin every competition hoping to see the very best performances. Judges want to encourage excellence in the performers they evaluate. Judges never want to see performers fail and will help them succeed if they can. A JUDGE’S MINDSET