There’s nothing like instant, in-context feedback
Problem: 
Competitors see the callback list and scores, but have no idea why they did or didn’t make it.
Wouldn’t it be nice to offer them some guaranteed, qualitative, constructive feedback to give them an idea of what’s holding them back?
Solution:
Competitor Critique service provided by a designated assessment-specialist judge.
Not all judges are trained in movement analysis. They can provide their experienced opinion on the competitors, but they are less able to articulate exactly what they saw, or moreso, how to fix it, especially in the short timeframe required in judging prelims.
As a veteran chief judge and master movement analyst, Myles and Tessa are exceptionally skilled at providing this analysis.
How it works:
- Event announces the Competitor Critique service to the attendees in advance of the event.
- Competitor pre-register at the comp desk for a Competitor Critique, before contest registration closes. Target price: $20-30.
- Maximum 12 critiques per division (max 6 per heat)
- Registration provides Myles/Tessa with the list of names to critique.
- Myles/Tessa is issued a clipboard with heat sheets along with the other judges, but is not scoring.
- Myles/Tessa assesses the dancers, recording notes.
- Immediately after the round (or block) is over, Myles/Tessa delivers their feedback verbally to each dancer (approx. 3 minutes each)
- Myles/Tessa are paid for the critiques by the event at the end of the weekend.
Why we offer this service
Judges have only a few seconds per competitor to score them, The more experienced they are, the faster they are able to make their evaluation. Training, however, changes the way a judge assesses a competitor, with tools that analyze and diagnose movement on a whole different level.
Tessa’s training actually started in her early teens. After getting extensive movement analysis training as part of the required coaching certification program, she worked as a competitive swimming coach. At each meet, she was responsible for 10-30 swimmers, who raced 3-6 times over the course of the day. Average about 80 races, usually spaced 20 seconds to 10 minutes apart. There were often multiple swimmers in each heat. Her job as coach was to observe their race, record feedback and splits in a notebook, then deliver that feedback within minutes of the swimmer getting out of the water. The feedback might include comments such as “you took an extra breath after the turn”, “it looked like you ran out of gas in the back half – you needed to hold back on the first length”, and “I noticed you’re losing power on your right leg in the kick – let’s work on that in practice”.
This performance feedback was a crucial part of the swimmers’ development, serving to train growth mindset and a healthy approach to failure, teach the swimmer to self-evaluate, and help them focus for the next race. As a result, Tessa got really good at the trifecta of rapid movement analysis, performance recall, and efficient feedback delivery.
“I don’t mind judging, but at heart I’m a teacher and a coach. A little part of me hates scoring competitors without explaining to them why. Personal Competitor Critiques are second-nature to me, and they allow me to give the competitors some delivering them desperately needed feedback to grow.” ~Tessa
To request our signature Competitor Critique service as part of our event contract, please contact us directly.