JARS v64n2 - 'Point Scoring': A Technique for Flower Judging

'Point Scoring': A Technique for Flower Judging
Kath Collier
Boring, Oregon

"No way are we going to change." "We've always done it this way." "That will never work for us."

How often have you heard these kinds of comments when the discussion turns to how flower shows are managed? A flower show is a huge concerted effort and many of our members know how to put on a wonderful show. But things can get tough, especially during judging when attempting to choose which, of several fabulous blue-ribbon winners, deserves a trophy.

One way to resolve judging issues is to use a technique called "point scoring." Point scoring is used by a wide variety of organizations to judge a wide variety of items from stocks, child care, aircraft, cheerleading, debate training, health care, sports, pets, plants, classic cars, and the list goes on. There is even a site on the internet that provides "Criteria for Winning Various Competitions - Strategies to Win..." that also includes information about point scoring. Their advice was to "know the rules of the game" which, for plant competitions, are not only show rules but some type of numerically weighted checklist for evaluating exhibit elements. The scale of points can be used as that checklist by both judges and exhibitors.

Most show schedules include information to the judges and exhibitors regarding a scale of points. A scale of points might be fairly simple. The African Violet Society (http://www.avsa.org), for instance, uses a fairly simple scale of points. Their 100 point system indicates that they value the symmetry or leaf pattern, condition, and quantity of blooms high enough to give each of these elements 25 points each (out of a total of 100). They give size and type of bloom 15 points each, and color 10.

Most plant societies and garden clubs also use a scale of points to help communicate the values of what they hold important (such as exhibits that are well groomed and named) in their shows. The Hosta Society (www.americanhostasociety.org) has a variety of scales, with different weighted values for elements such as form, size, color, etc. For registered cultivars and species, they can award 25 points each for color and pattern, and up to 15 points each for form, size, texture, substance, and condition and grooming. Finally the American Fuchsia Judging School manual indicates that they use point scoring to "increase objectivity" and "unify judging." An un-named iris will typically not be allowed to compete horticulturally (but can compete as part of a design).

Bruce Feller, Eastern Vice President and Co-Chair of the Shows and Judging Committee with his wife, Marianne, shared a judging experience. He and Marianne had judged a show and afterwards went back through the show and explained why awards were given - verbalizing what they were looking for, the faults of entries, and how some entries excelled - sort of a verbal scale of points review of each entry. This exercise was done to both help the potential future judges and also help the exhibitors learn what would be good to show in the future. Bruce indicated that this exercise was "very helpful" but only possible because of the modest number of entries in that show.

Not all of us have had the opportunity to participate in such a helpful judging workshop. So we might need to depend on other opportunities to both learn how to judge and also how to select better materials to exhibit. Where to start? Begin looking carefully at the scale of points outlined in the show schedule. The show schedule, in theory, should include information on what elements might be weighted differently than others (some chapters, for instance, might consider a well-groomed exhibit more important than say form or condition).

What Might a Scale of Points in a Schedule Include?

As an example, the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC, www.gardenclub.org) maintains a Handbook for Flower Shows (Growing & Designing, Staging & Exhibiting, Judging) that includes some standardized scales for blooming and non-blooming plants. Their scales are very comprehensive and include a detailed list of potential items to look at and fairly extensive definitions. The NGC like many other plant societies have a variety of scales that cover a variety of exhibits one might find in a flower show. This includes scales for horticulture, as mentioned, but also ones for floral arrangements, educational exhibits, combination plantings, displays, gardens, and even for judging the effectiveness of a show schedule.

Many plant societies also include a definition for each of the terms used in a scale, such as what is meant by maturity, grooming, substance, etc. Having a definition for say "maturity" will help eliminate debates at the show of whether or not to discount a too mature exhibit (dropping of flowers) or immature exhibit ("are there too many unopened buds?") or even information on how to resolve tied scored.

Most societies place a great deal of emphasis on the cultural aspects of an exhibit, which is closely followed by condition, grooming, and staging. Many also take a look at the entire exhibit, faults and all, and score for distinction (which includes educational value) and correct naming. Not all societies use a 100-point scoring system. Some use 30, 60, and other scales.

How Could a Scale of Points Help an Exhibitor?

A scale of points can be used by both an exhibitor and a judge. For exhibitors a scale of points could easily be used as a check list when evaluating and selecting show entries from your garden. Using the list as a check list you should be able to tell what kinds of things the judges looking for and what do they value most (as indicated by the number of points). Comparing the points, you will be able to determine if they value grooming over typical size and substance. It will also remind you to evaluate the leaves, stem, allowable closed buds (maturity), etc. If a scale of points is very simple, it may not provide much of a checklist. In this case, a more detailed scale of points from another source might help provide a more useful reminder/check list of things to look for.

What Do Judges "See" When They Evaluate Exhibits?

How do some of them almost instantly know a winner? They may have created a mental checklist - like the scale of points - in their head. While this is an exceptional skill, the scale may not necessarily jive with what the other judges use or it might weigh too heavily on one area (I've talked to a judge that wanted to take off at least 40 points for trusses that were not groomed well), or worse not reflect the values of the chapter.

To help rapidly reduce the number of entries in a class, judges might check three or more of the most highly valued elements involving cultural perfection, condition, and grooming. Any plant that doesn't score highly in these areas might be immediately eliminated. This process could be repeated either mentally or even using a check sheet, evaluating finer and finer elements, eliminating entries, until finally the best of the best remains. A small slip of paper with key elements for judging Iris Society floral arrangements is particularly useful for the judges and provides a place where judges can write notes to the exhibitor, such as "Excellent plant selection, poorly groomed."

Not every exhibit needs to be point scored, although different plant societies have different requirements. Some require that every potential trophy winner be point scored. Let's say that you are part of a horticultural judging team who is trying to award a trophy. The group has already eliminated the obviously less deserving exhibits and winnowed the field down to seven fabulous, and seemingly perfect, exhibits. It is possible for your team to debate the pros and cons of the seven exhibits for a long time. They may never agree, and may end up voting or worse arguing, perhaps without thoroughly evaluating each exhibit, the winner.

Judges could use a scale of points as a checklist to evaluate the exhibits and look for areas, minute as they may be, for deducting points. Working down the list, the judges could systematically evaluate the various elements (it is easy to miss a small detail if you cannot view the exhibit well and missing a bug hole might be all that is needed to lose the "best of show" trophy). Each judge independently calculates the points to be deducted and score, and then compares their score with the other judges. If the scores are dramatically different, the judges can objectively discuss which element(s) were responsible for the deductions. The team should be able to, fairly easily, adjust their scores and come to an agreeable average for that one exhibit that can then be compared against the other six exhibits to finally arrive at the one truly exceptional trophy winner. Judges might need to work extra hard to not award two exhibits the same numerical score (or even 100!).

While, this may seem like an exhaustive process the more one does it the faster they can become. It helps avoid vague arguments ('but I like the big pink one') and helps maintain friendships, and help in times when the judges disagree or are unable to easily decide. As mentioned in "The Encyclopedia of Judging and Exhibiting Floriculture and Flora-Artistry" by Esther Veramae Hamel, "Point Scoring is the only device discovered to date which can reduce the possibility of personal prejudice."

Creating a Standard of Excellence

While the scale of points can vary from show to show, chapter to chapter, society to society, the process for how it is used does not change. Point scoring scales create an objective standard of excellence, a standardized yardstick, for describing, evaluating and judging the quality of the exhibits being shown. It may be that we would want to develop a sample model of what a standard scale of points might include, as well as develop definitions that could easily be incorporated, and modified as desired, into a show schedule. Such a tool would certainly benefit exhibitors and be invaluable for training new judges, and according the African Violet Society "raise your expectations of your plants," which could raise standards and qualities in plant materials being shown, being selected for hybridization, how we managing our shows, and how our beloved rhododendron are compared to shows and plants from other societies.

References:
American Fuchsia Society. 1993. Fuchsia Judging School Manual and AFS Judging Rules . American Fuchsia Society, Editor: Elsie A. Sydnor. ISBN-0-963167-2-1
Hamel, E.V. 1982. The Encyclopedia of Judging and Exhibiting Floriculture and Flora-Artistry , 5th Edition, 8th printing. Ponderosa publishers – Kelly Int'l, Federal Way, Washington 98003 ISBN #0-913162-01-9
National Garden Clubs, Inc. 2007. Handbook for Flower Shows - Growing & Designing, Staging & Exhibiting, Judging . National Garden Clubs, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Stork, J. and K. Stork. 1993. BLUE RIBBONS?? A Beginner's Guide to Judging Beginners Column , African Violet Magazine, May/June.

Kath Collier is President of the Portland ARS Chapter and ARS Secretary.