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Explanation of the Criteria for Winning Various Competitions - Strategies to Win Competitions. Also refer to judge, decision, performance, head-to-head, offense, defense, cumulative points, war, total victory, predator, defeat, knock out, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Criteria for Winning Various Competitions

by Ron Kurtus (revised 28 May 2006)

The determination of the winner of a competition depends on the type of contest. The criteria for winning can be the decision of judges, the points scored within some limitations such as time or maximum score, or the situation when the loser is incapable of continuing. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Questions you may have include:

• What are the decisions of judges?
• How do the points scored determine the winner?
• When is a competitor incapable of continuing?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Decision of judges

In some competitions third-party judges determine the winner. Most often performance competitions use judges because the criteria for victory is vague. In some cases, head-to-head competitions also use judges.

Although the judges are supposed to be fair and honest, they are also human and can make mistakes. Also, there is always the possibility of corruption or bias in the judging.

(See Major Types of Competition for more information.)

Performance competitions

Examples of competitions where only the performance of the person or team is judged include:

• Competing for a job (decision of hiring manager)
• Figure skating competition (total score from judges)
• Ballroom dancing competition (total score from judges)
• Final exam in English (opinion of teacher on quality of work)
• Beauty contest (total score from judges)
• Political election (total votes)

Head-to-head competitions

Examples of competitions where contestants not only score points but also try to prevent opponent from scoring and where points scored are determined by judges include:

• Boxing match (total score from judges, provided there is no knockout)
• Olympic wrestling (total score from judges)
• Debate competition (total score from judges)

Case studies

During the gymnastics competitions in the Olympics, communist block judges consistently voted for their athletes and against those from non-communist countries. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the judging criteria was improved, minimizing biased votes.

Although a job applicant may be the most qualified, the judgment of the hiring official may eliminated the person due to some personal biases. In such a situation, the manager may actually be hurting his company.

Points scored

The total points scored, according to agreed-upon rules, determine the winners of some competitions. This is usually the most fair way to deem one party champion. Sometimes judges or referees are used to make sure the rules are followed.

Single-score

In a single-score competition, only the end-result is counted as a win or loss score. For example, in performance competitions, the best time indicates the winner of a foot race. In a head-to head competition like chess, checkmate indicates the winner.

Cumulative score

In other competitions, points are added until someone is declared the winner.

Examples of performance winners include:

• Salesman-of-the-month (most sales in a month)
• Final exam in Math (timed exam with percent of correct answers)
• Number one supermarket in town (total sales)

Examples of head-to-head winners include:

• Table tennis (first to get 21 points)
• Baseball game (most runs in 9 innings)
• Golf match (lowest score for 18 holes)
• American football (most points in 60 minutes of play)

Total victory

Total victory is when one contestant is completely defeated or gives up. The loser is humiliated, disabled or even killed. Total victory can bring about hard feelings if the loser or those on his side are given a chance to get their revenge. Boxing is one of the few head-to-head competitions where total victory is seem when the opponent is knocked out or unable to continue.

Predatory competition examples include:

• War (surrender or destruction)
• Predatory business (forcing smaller competitors out of business or buying them out)
• Fox catches a rabbit

Case studies

After their defeat in World War I, Germany was humiliated and suffered economical problems for years. This was a factor in the rise of Nazism, leading to World War II, where Germany got their revenge on the French.

John D. Rockefeller used his power of Standard Oil to crush or bankrupt most of his smaller competitors in the oil business. Although many of them hated him, they were not able to do anything about it. His company prospered and he became one of the world's richest men.

Summary

The criteria for winning a competition can be the decision of judges, points scored, or when the opponent is incapable of continuing. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Resources

The following are resources on this subject.

Websites

Competition Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Competition

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What is wrong with having judges determine the winner?

2. What is the criterion for winning a chess game?

3. What is wrong with crushing your opponents in business?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Winning Competitions. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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Criteria for Winning Various Competitions