Relative Ranking Rule:

The Relative Ranking Rule has replaced the old "score-as-you-go" system in all forms divisions in all SMAA sanctioned tournaments. Since all competitors run their forms before anyone is scored, the system eliminates the possible disadvantage last-running seeds may have enjoyed. In addition, it prevents judges from getting "boxed-in" by giving scores too high early on and eliminates "scoring-creep" where judges who start very low scores gradually raise their scores as the division progresses.

For the Relative Ranking Rule to operate properly, all judges must use the scoring worksheets provided at the rings. As each competitor runs their form, they are given a place number relative to the competitor(s) that have already run. For example, each judge gives the first competitor up a "1" next to his or her name on the worksheet. The next competitor gets a "2" if their form isn't as good; or if their form is better, they get a "1" and the first competitor gets their "1" changed to a "2". The third competitor then gets a number that grades their form relative to the first two competitors, and so on down the division. When all competitors have run, each judge's worksheet will have all the competitor's names listed in the order they ran, but with numbers next to their names that reflect their place relative to one another.

The center judge will then allow the judges to assign decimal scores to each competitor based on their relative ranking. Each judge decides how to score their "1" competitor- usually 9.99 or 9.98 in the black belt divisions- and assigns that score to the top competitor. The number "2" placed competitor will be scored one-hundreth lower at 9.98 or 9.97 (or even lower if the judge feels there was a great gap between the "1" and "2" competitors). Number "3" will get a score at least one-hundreth lower than number "2" and number "4" will get a score of at least one-hundreth lower than number "3" This is done until all competitors are ranked relatively to each other. None of the top four competitors ever receive the same score from the same judge and the top four scores a judge gives are only given once. A judge may give the same score to competitors they ranked as "5" or lower, though it is discouraged unless there are many competitors in the division and given incrementally lower scores would take the lower-ranked competitors to to scores that were undeservedly low. Judges may prefer to use slash marks rather than numbers to rank each competitor; I, II, III, IIII and so on. By using this method, you do not have to mark out or erase as often, you only add slashes. 

Once judges are ready, the center judge will have each competitor step forward as his or her scores are announced, using the Maximum Deviation Rule listed below.

Maximum Deviation Rule:

Divisions with 3 officials will use the Maximum Deviation Rule. Since high and low scores are not dropped when 3 officials are used, the Maximum Deviation Rule has a similar effect of limiting the impact of a judge's score that is significantly higher or lower than the other judge's scores. This prevents a single score from being so high or so low that it controls the placing order. 

When a form or other performance is ready to be scored, the center judge will say "Ready", then "Check", at which point the three judges will show their score to each other only (not the competitors or spectators)

The center judge will look at all three scores to determine which one is the middle score. No score shall be more than .02 higher or lower than the middle score. (for example, a 9.92, 9.96 and a 9.95- the 9.95 is the middle score). So, in this example the 9.92 must be upgraded to a 9.93.

Other than this mandatory adjustment, a judge may not change his score. If no score is more than .02 higher or lower than the middle score, then there is no adjustment. After assuring that any necessary adjustment has been made, the center judge then says, "Score", and the scores are then shown to the audience, the competitors and the score keeper as usual.