Well, I have to say I agree with both of you guys. The system can be flawed because it is based on personal opinions (professional, expert, etc) But, judges have been know to get things wrong (Just ask the olympic skaters from Canada).

ACCA tries it's best to make sure that the scores reflect the performances. Here's how it works. There is a panel of 5 judges that will over see a division. The categories are divided into 10 sections, all relating to skills and visual appeal.

The scores are calculated up and sent to an independant score keeper where all the scores are re-verified. Once all the scores are verified, of the 5 scores, the Highest and Lowest scores are dropped and the three that are left are where the actual scoring comes from. I like this system because it eliminates 2 scores that are outside the average usually and the ones left typically (and i say typically for a reason, its not exact science) are the final scores. When you factor in the deductions (which is where I have serious issues) then the scores are tabulated and each Coach has the opportunity to view the scores and double check all calculations before they sign off on the score sheets as accurate.

The judges are told at the beginning of the competition what ACCA wants in its winners. There is a particular style that the ACCA wants in its winners and they brief the judges before hand as to what to look for. All coaches and sponsors are given this information at the annual coaches meeting and therefore should not be surprised if a routine doesn't match what the "style" is.

Over-all, I was pleased with the outcomes of the competition. Usually I am pretty angry afterward. But, I really can't complain. I saw 2 things happen that I didnt agree with, but I saw many more that were done correctly.

I agree with you here oldtimer. I know from first hand experience the disapointment that one can feel after one of these competitions. Everyone goes in feeling they have a chance to win and when the results are announced, it can be heartbreaking.

Just like every other sport, someone has to win and someone has to lose. The worst part about it is, that in this sport someone else is the judge of the winners and losers instead of the final score on the scoreboard.

Oldtimer, i have enjoyed your opinions I believe you are one of the few people on the cheerleading boards (minus the actual cheerleaders of course) that understands a little more than the usual suspects. Keep it up!

hey grim, seems that someone who knows alittle more about cheerleading than we do agrees with me. in addition, i dont have a cheerleader so why would i be biased. i call like i see it.

No bias? Then why did you drive 2 and a half hours to watch the competition?

went with a friend. why does this bug you so much

What bugs me is that you come on here and try to tarnish the accomplishments of one of our NE Arkansas teams that won a Grand Championship this weekend. You have no expertise in the field, yet you feel you are qualified to tell all of the expert judges in the competition that they were wrong.

It's not just about who "messed up" and who didn't. There are tons of rules these girls (and guys) have to follow. If you are not directly involved in cheerleading, you have no idea what all of them are. I'm not even sure of them sometimes. If they break any of these rules, they get large deductions off of their scores. This sometimes results in a squad winning that did not perform as well visually as another squad. For example, I saw one squad where a girl's hair was hanging all down in her face. That is a deduction. Some of the mistakes that the average person can't see are the way they hold a person in a stunt. They have to hold the feet a certain way or they get a 20 point deduction. Falling or touching the ground during tumbling if also a deduction. So it's not all about who dropped someone or who fell in their tumbling. There are lots of factors involved in the final scores.

why are you attacking me. i never bashed any school in particular. maybe you feel guilty or something. i dont know. or is it that some people dont always agree with you. also, i think some people with more qualifications agreed with me, not you. maybe that scared you. anyway, i've got my opinion and you have yours. im finished with this before it gets completely out of control on your part. maybe next time you can sway everyone to your side. but i doubt it.

You never bashed any school in particular?

stated they were not awesome. never said they were not good.

I'll take the opinion of the experts that judged the competition over yours, thanks.

i guess your offended because you think ive been talking about bic. well that shows us how much you know. bic won because they the best in their division that day. i was talking about the whole competition. next time you decide to get aggervated at someone, get the facts before you go off the deep end.

alot people like to sit around and let other people give them their opinion

First of all, I haven't gone off any "deep end." I read what you posted. So did everyone else. I even quoted it for you so you wouldn't forget. The "facts" are "straight".

Secondly, it has nothing to do with which school you were disparaging. If you had made the same post about Bay or Nettleton, I would have come to their defense as well.

I have done no "sitting around". NEARsports Radio broadcasted this event and two others just like it. We were the first radio station of any kind in the history of the state of Arkansas to broadcast a cheerleading competition. Tell me how this can be defined as "sitting around".