Doggygirl said:
...The alternative seems to be a longer "test" period where both COP and 6.0 would be used throughout competitive seasons. The criteria are different, and I tend to think that the skaters have a clearer path to the podium by adopting the new system after two seasons of combined (COP and 6.0) scored events rather than prolonging use of two different judging systems. I don't know for sure, since I'm not a skater. But I respect your opinion on these matters, and am interested to know how you view the pros/cons of more quickly implementing a new system v. testing the new system for a longer period, which seems to imply that skaters would have to compete under two different systems for a longer period.
DG
I see what you mean about two different systems. I think this is where opinions will differ. Personally, I think that since the GP appears not to be taken as seriously as the "big events", this would be the ideal place to test out Cop. If you also factor in that now a lot of the top skaters are skipping it, that's even better. They don't have to worry about the new system until it's perfected and refined. As for the skaters that choose to do it, well, there HAS to be a guinea pig of some sort, right? I just think it's better to have it tested out and refined in the smaller events rather than rushing it into the big ones where there is more likely to be scrutiny,mistakes, and crooked judging. Plus, it would turn people away from skating. Anyone who paid close attention to the judging at Euros and Worlds knows what I mean here. (some Cohen fans and others thought that Irina was overmarked in the SP). One might say this would also happen under the 6.0 system, but at least it's tried and true. Not good to have a new judging system under controversy in its first two years because it destroys its own credibility before it's even been refined. Also...the JUDGES are a big part of it, too. Any judging system would work IMO if the judges would just judge on what happened that night rather than reputation. That said, the Cop could be a step in the right direction (notice I said "Could be") because it rewards more than just jumps and a clean performance. But, the catch-22 is that the average viewer might cry "wuz-robbed" to a flawed Slutskaya or Cohen performance placed over a clean Kwan/Kostner performance. Just an example here.
Since you specifically pointed it out, I will go over the pros and cons of getting a new system out vs. refining it:
Getting the Cop out (like they did now):
Pros:
Gives all skaters a chance to compete under the new system
Rewards all elements of a performance
Exposes the system to everyone before the Olympics
Cons:
I went over some in the above paragraph, including rushing an imperfect system to judge an important competition where results truly matter, and opening it to scrutiny in its early days.
Keeping the Cop limited to judging GP events
Pros:
Gives ISU a chance to test out new system and sort out any problems or issues with it
Keep it in testing mode for at least four seasons. They could also do some test runs at second-tier competitions such as Four Continents later on as well. Even at Euros and Worlds they could have a separate (secret) judging panel who judges the competition under the Cop while the actual results go by 6.0 for a while, too.
Cons:
As you said, having two systems in play for a season. This would put the skaters who choose to do the GP at a disadvantage (wouldn't Kwan love that
)
JMO, of course.
