DTD Regulation Drill Scoresheet Briefing

Overview

In this article, you will learn how to utilize our proprietary Regulation Drill scoresheet.  This sheet is a tool that we have found increases judge engagement while balancing the need to be exacting and precise in evaluation while also giving meaningful, actionable feedback to competing teams.  Whether you are briefing a team of judges or interested in implementing our scoresheet at your own meet, this primer is designed to teach you how to best utilize our scoring tool!

Our scoresheet can be used with ANY SEQUENCE OF DRILL COMMANDS.  The example below utilizes commands for the Area 10 NJROTC competition circuit but ANY series of commands can be substituted making our scoresheet 100% customizable to any drill meet!

HOSTS USING THIS SCORESHEET: We recommend projecting this article to your judges and literally reading it word for word while they follow along on their own printed scoresheets!

The Scoresheet and Its Parts

Our scoresheet can look overwhelming at first but once you have a handle of its various parts, using it to score competing Regulation Drill teams is very intuitive and easy!  Here are its parts:

• A – Judge’s Name: Each judge should sign their name to each scoresheet BEFORE they begin evaluating a team.  This provides accountability and transparency to both the host and the competitors!
• B – School & Team Name: This area should be populated with the information for each competing team.  School name is self-explanatory and team name is available for units who communicate to the host their unique team names (i.e. “The Emerald Guard” or “Emerald Pride.”)
• C – Total Number of Cadets & Cadet Commander Initials: Before a team steps onto the floor in competition, the judge should count the total number of cadets taking the floor to include the cadet commander.  The Head Judge should approach the cadet commander and obtain a signature verifying that the school and/or team name listed on the scoresheet is indeed accurate.
• D – Scoresheet Guidelines: These instructions remind you how to best utilize the scoresheet.
• E – Drill Command Sequence: This is the list of commands the team will perform.  Our sheet can accommodate any drill sequence.  The cadets will complete these commands in the order listed here.
• F – Scoring Items: This is where each judge will assign a number within the stated range for each category of evaluation listed down the lefthand side of the rubric.  A singular number should be placed in the box corresponding to the appropriate range.
• G – Penalties: This area lists penalties.  Judges will acknowledge the NUMBER of violations in each relevant category (NOT their point deduction values) and obtain the initials of each field judge to verify the accuracy of penalties assessed.
• H – Missing Cadet Penalties (Head Judge Only): This area allows the Head Judge to assess penalties relating to missing cadets that cause a team to perform with less than the minimum required membership.
• I – Unit Notes: This area is given to the judges to leave written feedback.  We encourage every judge to list both things to improve upon AND items to sustain in future performances.

The Process of Scoring a Team

1. In a timely fashion, sign your name to the scoresheet (A) and add the appropriate school and/or team name to the top of the scoresheet (B).
2. ALL judges count and note the total number of cadets in the appropriate box (C).
3. HEAD JUDGES ONLY obtain cadet commander initials in the appropriate box (C).  Annotate the Missing Cadet penalty area if applicable (H).
4. As the team performs the sequence, utilize the Drill Command Sequence (E) area to “check off” each command performed.  You’ll notice that there are three (3) boxes you can “check off” for each command: “minus,” “check,” and “plus” symbols.  This allows you to make a quick note of the execution of that particular movement.  Using common sense, a “minus” check means there is some sort of major deficiency, a “check” check means adequate performance of a movement, and a “plus” check indicates positive or superior performance.  
5. As the team performs, ALL judges should make “tick” marks in the Penalties section (G) of the Scoring Items area to track the various penalties.  Refer to the meet host to clarification on what constitutes each penalty.
6. When the team has completed their performance, move to the Scoring Items (F) area.  Each category is fairly self-explanatory.  As each judge decides what number to place in each scoring category, they should reference their “checks” on the Drill Sequence area.  If the scoring category is “Column Movements” and most of the column movements performed on the Drill Sequence were checked in the “plus” category, the number given should likely fall in the highest point range.  If the scoring category is “Highlighted Commands” and most of the yellow commands in the Drill Sequence were “minus” checks, the number given should likely fall in the lower point range.  In this way, the Drill Sequence area helps each judge triangulate what approximate number they should give in any category.
7. As final scoring is being completed, all judges should confer on Penalties (G) they marked throughout the performance.  They should initial the HEAD JUDGE’S scoresheet verifying that the number of ticks marked for penalties is accurate.
8. Before completing the scoresheet in its entirety and turning it in the appropriate party, leave some comments for the team in the appropriate section (I.)
9. Turn the scoresheet in to whoever is collecting them for the host!

Conclusion

This scoresheet allows each judge to provide targeted feedback grouped by category of drill movements performed rather than by forcing each judge to make a best-guess at a score for each individual command.  We have found in many cases, if a judge “misses” a command, they are forced to invent a score for that command leading to misleading feedback to a team.  Furthermore, when a less experienced judge must score each individual command, many times the act of watching a command being performed, looking down, circling a number, and looking back up can become cumbersome and lead to getting “lost” on their scoresheet.

Our scoresheet helps judges quickly follow the drill sequence while also allowing them to provide specific, targeted feedback for unit improvement!

Are you interested in utilizing our scoresheet at your drill meet?  Contact us today!