Classification of judged sports based on the scoring format

Abstract

Judged sports, where judges' scores for the performance affect the results, have a great diversity of scoring formats, which is the scoring method for each sport. This study aimed to classify multiple events based on the characteristics of scoring formats in order to present a framework for understanding the diversity of judged sports. The scoring format for the 36 events of the 15 sports in the Olympic and Paralympic Games was organized based on the competition and judging regulations from the following seven perspectives: "Grading several people at a time," "Including a relative evaluation," "Including an overall evaluation," "Including an evaluation of the environment and tools," "Including a scale-based judging system," "Elements other than the judges' score affecting the results," and "Judging criteria including quantity descriptions." These events were classified via hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward's method to create a dendrogram. As a result, the judged sports covered in this study were divided into three types based on differences in the characteristics of their scoring formats: the "qualitative relative evaluation" type, in which the entire performance is evaluated comprehensively and relatively using qualitative judging criteria; the "deduction for physical movement" type, in which only physical movements are scored using a point deduction method and an absolute evaluation based on quantitative judging criteria; and the "mixed evaluation" type, which includes either an evaluation of the environment and tools or an overall evaluation of the entire performance, in addition to a quantitative judging criteria and an absolute evaluation. The classification into three types by this study will serve as a basis when considering training, coaching, scientific support and research methods in the future and will also allow the application of the findings for a particular sport to other sports classified in the same type.