Combine virtual judging with BCOE&M's Electronic Scoresheets feature and your competition practically runs itself.
Judging virtually has both advantages and disadvantages over traditional in-person judging. Virtual judging allows for one or more judging sessions where judges evaluate their assigned entries at a time conventient to them.
In a post-COVID-19 world, virtual judging sessions can still take place – less now for health and safety and more for convenience reasons. Competitions can still leverage virtual judging for added flexibility and increased opportunity.
Virtual judging is easy using one or more of the readily available video-based web conferencing solutions, such as:
There may be some technological hurdles to overcome for some participants, so organizers and judges should plan extra time to get used to whichever platform they decide to use.
It is highly suggested that organizers requrie judges evaluate each entry synchronously as is practiced in traditional judging. This allows for real-time discussion of the entry's strengths and weaknesses to arrive at a consensus score before moving on to the next.
It is also highly recommended that organizers require judge teams to opt for a communication tool that incorporates video into the equation. Video helps to soften the distance barrier by providing judges simulated face-to-face communication and much of its associated nuances. Synchronous judging can be accomplished via an audio-only medium, but video more effectively promotes the team-based approach that judging is based upon.
Once judges get acclimated to judging in a virtual environment, the procedures and practices should be very familiar, similar to traditional, in-person judging. Judges inspect their respective bottles, open them, pour a 1-3 oz sample, and proceed the evaluation as normal, either discussing along the way or taking notes and discussing at the end.
See Tips for Judges for some helpful strategies.