Job Description - Boulder Judges
1. Before the Competition
· Make sure you know the WCC rules on bouldering well, especially the scoring.
· Make sure you are fully informed about the boulder you will judge (consult the Chief Route setter, WCC Judge/Jury president).
· Learn the boulder by heart, so you can explain to the competitor where to start, where the bonus is and where the tophold is.
· Check the availability of: large and small brushes, brushes on sticks, pieces of cloth etc.
· If needed, make sure there is a ladder for cleaning holds which are difficult to clean with a brush on a stick.
· Check that you have enough tapes ready to repair the start, bonus and tophold marks and black tape if there is a demarcation.
· Always check that there are no gaps between the mats. If there are, take necessary action.
2. During the Competition
· Clean all holds at the beginning of each round. Clean holds before each competitor (if necessary). Clean holds whenever a competitor asks you to do so.
· To judge a boulder you will need a score list with all the names of the competitors for that round (see example underneath).
· Usually: the competitor will hand you his/her personal score card (see example underneath). The purpose of this card is to help the competitor to keep track of his/her results. The boulder judge of the last boulder keeps the personal score cards. The personal score cards are used to double check the result lists.
· Inform each competitor (in English) about: the starting holds, the bonus hold, the top hold(s).
· Mark ALL the attempts for the bonus/TOP on your score list. At the end of the rotation period or when the competitor tops the boulder, you can mark the final score (Example: bonus in 3 attempts, TOP in 5 attempts...) on your score list. Only after you have marked the final score on your score list, you can copy the score on the competitor's personal score card.
· In the interest of the spectators, it is a common practice to raise your hand at the same time you say OK when a boulder is topped.
· At the end of the rotation time or when the competitor has topped, you can show him/her where to go (i.e. the resting area...)
· If a competitor wants to clean a hold himself/herself, allow the competitor to use only the official brushes or cloth.
· Do not touch the holds neither with hands nor feet.
· Do not spot the competitor. Never encourage a competitor.
T = TOP (1 or 0)
AT = number of attempts for TOP
B = bonus (1 or 0)
AB = number of attempts for bonus
- It is now a common practice to mark each attempt with a vertical dash: “|”.
- When the bonus is held, the vertical dash gets an horizontal dash in the middle: “┼”.
- When the boulder is topped, the vertical dash gets an horizontal dash at the top: “T”.
- Example: ││┼│T means bonus in the 3rd attempt, TOP in the 5th attempt.
- Topping a boulder on-sight will then be marked as a T with an horizontal dash in the middle.