Electronic Scoring On A Tight Budget

How to bring high-quality electronic scoring to your next tournament at an affordable price.

Overview

It is clear that high-quality electronic scoring improves Taekwondo tournaments. But for many tournaments electronic scoring has been perceived as being too difficult, too expensive or too unreliable to be worth the effort.

We believe that with the introduction of Precision Score many more tournaments will be able to benefit from electronic scoring. Electronic scoring improves the fairness of tournaments, which makes them more attractive to competitors; it also makes the tournament much more exciting for the spectators. And of course, all of these things improve tournament attendance.

In this article we share our experience in using Precision Score to bring electronic scoring to a typical tournament of, say, 6 - 12 rings. We describe what has to be done in the month or so before the tournament, in the days immediately preceding the tournament, the day of the tournament, and immediately following the tournament.

We hope that this document serves you. We have tried to make this document as brief as we can without omitting important details. If you believe we have left out important information, or if you have any questions or concerns, we ask that you contact us. We will be more than willing to discuss any of this with you and to make sure that your questions are addressed in a satisfactory manner.

About Precision Score

Precision Score is an electronic scoring system. It allows ring judges to signal their belief that a given competitor has scored one or more points. When a majority of the judges agree within a specified time period, Precision Score adds the correct number of points to that competitor's score. The results are displayed on an external monitor that is visible to the spectators and to the competitors.

The Precision Score system is completely described on its website. That website is located at the following address:

http://www.precisionscore.com/

Step 1: Get To Know Precision Score

We recommend that you first get to know Precision Score. Doing this is easy, because we are happy to send you a Precision Score system for you to use while you are deciding whether Precision Score is right for you.

To request an evaluation system, simply contact us. We can be reached at:

Common Sense Systems, Inc.
18915 142nd Ave. NE, Suite 145
Woodinville, WA 98072

Telephone: 425-806-8744
Facsimile: 425-806-8407
E-mail: ps-request-1106@precisionscore.com
Internet: http://www.precisionscore.com

When your evaluation system arrives you simply:

1. Unpack the system and connect the cables. Everything snaps together and no tools are required. While you likely will not need it, a comprehensive user manual is included as well.
2. Put the Precision Score software CD-ROM into your computer's CD-ROM drive. Then just follow the on-screen prompts to install the software.
3. When the software is installed, double-click on the Precision Score icon on the desktop and you're ready to start scoring with Precision Score!

You are welcome to use the evaluation system within your school. Put the system through its paces and have fun with it. While you have the system, you might want to take some time from your regular sparring classes to teach your students how to fight more effectively when electronic scoring is in use - for example, being able to glance (not stare!) at the monitor from time to time while sparring, and to use that information to adjust their fighting style appropriately.

If you decide that Precision Score meets your needs, you can lease the evaluation system and as many additional systems as you need to conduct your tournament. When you have leased the evaluation system and any additional systems you need, you may keep it for use at your tournament - there is no point in shipping it back to us, only to have us turn around and ship it back to you. You must, of course, return all Precision Score systems after your tournament.

If, on the other hand, you conclude that your needs would be better met by using a different system or none at all, you must return the evaluation system. Simply pack it in its original shipping container and return it to us, no questions asked.

The remainder of this document assumes that you have selected Precision Score for use at your tournament.

Step 2: Lease The Systems You Need

Your next step is to lease the Precision Score systems you will need to run your tournament. Simply contact us and tell us how many systems you need to lease for your tournament.

Our leasing rate for a three-judge Precision Score systems is $65 per ring, per day. Four judge systems lease for $75 per ring, per day.

The systems are shipped to the address you specify, and we target arrival to be five business days before your tournament date. It is important to us that your systems arrive in plenty of time for you to do any training or inspection of them prior to your tournament.

We ship via UPS Ground service, so please contact us at least 2 weeks before your event to allow ample time for delivery. We will contact you when the systems have been shipped. If there are any concerns regarding your shipment, you should contact us immediately.

Step 3: Obtain Computer Systems And Monitors

You'll need one computer and one computer monitor for each ring that will be scored with Precision Score.

We suggest that you use laptop computers. By using a laptop, you can have the computer system facing the scoring system operator while the external monitor faces the crowd. The external monitor then plugs into the external monitor connection on the back of the laptop.

In general, we recommend that you lease (rent) the computers and monitors you will need to run your tournament. By leasing the computers and monitors that you need you can ensure that they are all of the same type, have a fresh copy of Windows installed, and are fully functional. We recommend Windows 98, especially on older, slower laptops.

If you like, we will contact three to five computer rental companies in your area and send you quotations for your review. The cost of this service is $25.00. You can then use this information to make the necessary arrangements with them (delivery, pickup, payment, etc.).

While prices in your area may vary, we have found good quality laptop systems to lease for as low as $35 per weekend. An external monitor was an extra $5 for the weekend. You may also want to consult our list of computer equipment rental companies. This page provides information on rental companies that either we, or our customers, have used in the past.

Of course, you can also borrow computers, e.g., from students or their parents. While we don't recommend this, it can be done. Please make sure you allow adequate time for testing each system you will use at your tournament well in advance of the tournament date.

Step 4: Prepare Your Tournament Staff

You will need a sufficient staff of volunteers to help you run your tournament. We suggest that you:

1. Choose a capable, responsible person to manage your tournament.

2. Have that person train your staff of volunteers on electronic scoring, using the Precision Score system that was sent to you for evaluation.

   There is nothing difficult about using Precision Score, but spending an hour or two having everyone use the system will help ensure that they execute well on tournament day.

3. Work out the logistics of setting up on tournament day.

   If you have a secure facility, you may be able to set up the night before. You can set up and then take the laptops with you, if you are concerned about them being stolen.

   If you have matted rings, run your Precision Score cables under the mats (at the edges, if practical). If not, then you need to tape them down.

   If you are taping down the cables, make sure you: (1) do a good job, so that there are no trip hazards, and (2) use a tape that is approved by the manager of the facility where your tournament will be held.

   If you can't set up the night before, make sure everyone will be at the tournament early enough to allow time for set up.

   It is always a good idea to do a "dry run" of setting up one ring at your school, and create a checklist of what has to be done for each ring. Giving people clear instructions on what they need to do is an important step in order to have a well-run tournament.

Step 5: Setup On Tournament Day

On tournament day, your tournament manager ensures that the staff sets up each ring and completes the set up checklist for that ring. If you have been proactive in preparing for your tournament and if your tournament manager is able to give clear instructions, this will go smoothly.

Precision Score does not yet support scoring forms competitions. As a result, you can leave the laptop computers powered off until you are ready to conduct sparring.

Step 6: Tournament Use

Just prior to sparring, power up the computer in each ring. When the computer is booted, use Precision Score in the normal manner.

Precision Score includes a built-in test feature. We recommend that you have your judges test their respective hand controls briefly before each match.

The purpose of this has nothing to do with Precision Score. The hand controls in Precision Score are extremely durable, and it's highly unlikely that you will have any problems with them.

Rather, the pre-match test helps to demonstrate to the audience that the system is working properly. There have been a number of electronic scoring systems on the market and unfortunately not all of them have been completely reliable.

The pre-match test also helps the judges become familiar with the "feel" of the buttons and to ensure that judges are holding the correct control in the correct hand. In the excitement of a tournament it's easy for judges to forget to check what color they are holding in each hand. The pre-match test helps to avoid that situation.

Step 7: After The Tournament

After the tournament, tear down the rings. The tournament manager should make sure that no equipment is lost or damaged in the rush to get finished. If you used laptop computers, lock them up first.

Return your Precision Score systems to us. You can reuse the original shipping container. Please ensure that each system contains all of the parts originally shipped, and note any missing or damaged parts. Ship the systems back to us, using a shipping carrier of your choice.

Arrange for your computer systems and monitors to be returned to the local rental company, if delivery and pickup was not already pre-arranged.

Finally, we would ask that you contact us and let us know that the equipment has been shipped. We also want to know how your tournament went, whether the rental company (if any) provided you with good service, and if there are things we can do to be of more service to you in the future.

Summary

We have outlined how you can bring high-quality electronic scoring to your tournament on a tight budget.

The following is a simple summary of the costs on a per-ring basis:

We have also outlined the few steps needed in order to bring electronic scoring to your tournament.

We hope that this information serves you. Please contact us with any questions.

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