Online Association of Winter Guard Simulation

Section 3


Section 3:  Competitive Play

            Competitive play begins during with Circuit Contests each season ending with the National Championships.   By dedication and persistence of rehearsing your guard during the prep period, you continue to rehearse with scheduled regular competitions and area-based championships which display all your hard work and strategy against others split by classes, circuits, and by overall comparison while earning titles, a reputation, fans' support, and a competitive rating.

Cleft Factors

Classes

            Classes are a triplicate filter that separates guards by their performance scores within given time periods.  All new guards begin at the Novice level.  Upon earning a given amount of points within a given time period, earning a top three position at their circuit finals, or earning a top 3 position within their class, a guard will move up to the next higher class, which are Apprentice and Masters respectively.  This prevents guards with higher skill and discipline levels from dominating guards with lower performance levels allowing guards with like performance levels to compete fairly and equally.   Once a guard has been promoted to the next higher class, it cannot move down to a lower class within the season.  A directing instructor may request an adjustment if the guard has not advanced from the promoted class for two complete successive seasons.

Period Scores

            Throughout the season, guards will progress earning scores that keep the overall competition out of competitive reach.  Most likely these guards will perform the entire season without just competition from other guards.  By eliminating those guards from that class, the other guards will compete against those who are similar in performance level with the opportunity to win that class.  Those guards who possess higher skills and disciplines are placed in a group to compete against others who fall into the same dilemma.  This makes competition between these guards more competitive and fair to the lower guards.
            Presented with this, a time period table has been established to detect these anomalies.  This is similar to the WGI and circuit-related Block Score System.  Once a guard begins competitive play, their scores will be compared against the Period Score table.  If their score exceeds the allotted score within the time period for the class they currently compete in, they will be automatically promoted to the next higher class.  This, however, does not apply to the Masters class.

Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6 Period 7
Novice 74 76 78 80 82 84 86
Apprentice 77 79 81 83 85 87 89
Masters 80 82 84 86 88 90 92

            Periods are defined per season and can be found at the OAWGS Statistics page for the current season.  If changes to the Period Score table are necessary, these decisions will be made the Board of Directors and will be applied at the time of need.

Circuits

            The game accommodates those players who wish to base their guards in the United States.  When registering, supplying your five-digit ZIP Code places your guard in a district of the country with the first number of the ZIP being the same.  Each district is assigned as a circuit within the OAWGS.  There are ten circuits:

00001-09999 10000-19999 20000-29999 30000-39999 40000-49999
North Atlantic Circuit Charter Colony Circuit New England Circuit Southeast Circuit Mid-American Circuit
50000-59999 60000-69999 70000-79999 80000-89999 90000-99999
Great Plains Circuit Midwest Circuit Gulf Coast Circuit Rocky Mountain Circuit Pacific Coast Circuit

Competitions

            The heartbeat of the game and of the sport of winter guard.  Competitions allow us to put our trial-and-errors, strategies, and entertainment skills for everyone to see.  It is exactly the same here.  A series of very important steps are included within the process of competitive play.  But before you play, there are some factors you should be aware of and some information to fill your curious head.

 

Blind Competitions

               These competitions will be listed with Blind under the Time of Contest heading.   Registration ends the day before the scheduled blind competition and any changes made to the website the day of the competition may or may not be included in the adjudication.  It is best to have this done prior to the day of the competition.
There are six types of competitions during a season of play.  Each have different means for the player.
    
Previews

               Previews are evaluations that every player may take advantage of.  These evaluations are placed throughout the pre-competitive period of the season usually while most guards are rehearsing and getting their show specifics laid into a foundation.  Attendance to receive the evaluation is not necessary; circuit divisions, class splits, and distance differences are not applied.  A player simply submits the registration form for the date they want their guard evaluated and the OAWGS replies with a pseudo-competition result e-mail.   This allows the player to understand and analyze the log they have kept in reflection to a competitive environment.  The judging results are sent via e-mail to each participant with information on elements to enhance their show that the player may choose to use or disregard.  Scores from previews are never announced nor displayed.   This is pre-season strategy building for dedicated players who show initiative.
Total number each guard can compete in:
Total number of guards per class:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
5 12 Blind Open

Via e-mail to each participant with information about polishing elements of  their show

 Exhibition
Elements Affected:
 Member Scores Reputation
Invitationals

               Invitationals are competitions that a player must be formally invited to participate in.  Invitationals are held privately for specific players for those who want to compete in a secluded, untainted environment.  An Invitational could be a group of friends who want to go head-to-head on occasion, or could be a group of regular players who want a pre-National Championships to test the waters, etc.  Open registration is not available for Invitationals due to its private nature.  The only way to register for an Invitational is to RSVP register after receiving an official invitation.  Invitationals must be set up by request and approved.
Total number each guard can compete in:
Total number of guards per class:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
3 8
(total; class restrictions lifted)		 Blind Invitational RSVP

Via e-mail to each participant with information about show concept, theme, and design accompanied by justifications from each judge.

 Invitational Request
Elements Affected:
 Member Scores Reputation eZar Rating Distance Fan Factor
Circuit Contests

              Circuit Contests are the regular season competitions within a circuit.  These are the first regular organized competitions of the season where class divisions and circuit splits apply with distance factors included.  A guard may enter as many as ten Circuit Contests within one season excluding Circuit Championships.  Circuit registration is open only to players within the circuit of the contest. 

Total number each guard can compete in:
Total number of guards per class:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
10 Regulation
+ Circuit Championships		 8 Blind or In-House
(contest specific)		 Open
Circuit Members Only

Via e-mail to each participant with information about show concept, theme, and design.

 Regulation
Elements Affected:
 Member Scores Reputation eZar Rating Distance Fan Factor
Regional Contests

              Regional Contests are external competitions that are offered throughout the competitive period of the season.  They are optimally placed to get the most participation within an specific region of the country where class divisions and distance factors apply allowing guards to get a first-season-look at other participating guards within a competitive realm.  Regional registration is open to all players no matter their circuit affiliation.  This type of competition will have a preliminary-finals structure that is divided between two consecutive days.  Rehearsals are allowed between the two competition times.  Completely different panels of judges are used for each sub-structural competition.
Total number each guard can compete in:
Total number of guards per class:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
3 Preliminaries
3 Finals		 12 Blind Open

Via e-mail to each participant with information about show concept, theme, and design.

 2-Level Finals
Elements Affected:
 Member Scores Reputation eZar Rating Distance Fan Factor
Circuit Championships

              Circuit Championships are the final competitions for the regular season within each circuit.   They will occur with the final full month of the season up to two weeks prior to the National Championships.  This type of competition will have a preliminary-finals structure that is divided between two consecutive days.  Rehearsals are allowed between the two competition times.  Completely different panels of judges are used for each sub-structural competition.
Total number each guard can compete in:
Total number of guards per class:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
1 Preliminaries
1 Finals		 Unlimited Blind Open
Circuit Members Only

Via e-mail to each participant with information about show concept, theme, and design.

 2-Level Finals
Elements Affected:
 Member Scores Reputation eZar Rating Distance Fan Factor
National Championships

              National Championships is the last competition of the season.  It will be a preliminary-semi-finals-finals structure that is split into two consecutive days.   Rehearsals are allowed between each competition prior to the competition times.   Only guards who have met a specific criteria may register for National Championships. 

bulletAre in the Top 25 of the Association following all Circuit Championships.
bulletAchieved a Period 7 Score at their Circuit Championships. (5 wildcard slots)
bulletEarned a top 3 placement at their Circuit Championships within their class.
bulletEarned a top 3 placement at any Regional Contest within their class.

            Attendance is not required to participate in the National Championships, however, registration for each level is required.  Completely different panels of judges are used for each sub-structural competition.
Total number each guard can compete in:
Total number of guards per class:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
1 Preliminary
1 Semi-Final
1 Finals		 Preliminaries
All qualifying guards into 4 blocks; Top 24 from all blocks per class advances to Semi-Finals

Semi-Finals
Top 12 in each class advances to Finals

Finals
Top 3 in each class are promoted to the next higher class

 Blind Qualifying RSVP

Via e-mail to each participant with information about show concept, theme, and design.

 3-Level Finals
Total Number to Compete in:
Style of Competition:
Type of Registration:
Critique Style:
Competition Structure:
Blind

     Via e-mail to each participant with information about show concept, theme, and design.

 3-Level Finals
Elements Affected:
 Member Scores Reputation eZar Rating Distance Fan Factor
Playing in Competitions

            First of all, it is best to have your guard's website up and running with a current view for the other players and judges to access.  Secondly, it is wise to have spent some time rehearsing your guard and fine tuning your show specifics. 

Finding Competitions

            Browse through the list of current season competitions that can be found by clicking Competitions.    Click on the competition name to get more information about the competition, view other registered guards, and the results of the competition if it has ended.  Registration for competitions is opened approximately one week prior to the competition date.  It is up to you to keep updated and check regularly.

Registering for Competitions

            Follow the steps listed in Finding Competitions above, and click Register.  Fill in the Guard Name and Password you registered at OAWGS.  Please allow 24 hours for processing and to appear on the registered guard list for that competition. As the registration for each competition is processed, an e-mail will be sent with a link to a show specifics form. This form finalizes the details of staging; who is doing what during which part of the show as well as determines how much of the show belongs to each stage. When filling out the stage percentage section, make sure that all of your stages add up to 100%, if you fall short or exceed this total, you will be redirected to fill out this part again. As for assigning members to stages, go through each stage of your show and click on those members who are performing that specific section. Keep in mind that if they haven’t rehearsed that section enough, penalties may apply based on their skill.
            If you register for a competition that requires your attendance, then make sure you attend.  Your guard is penalized for no-shows in Morale, Professionalism, Reputation, Fan Support, and eZar Rating.  If you must withdraw from a competition you have registered for, use the competition withdraw form.  Be sure to withdraw from the right dated competition.
            If you register for a competition that doesn't require your attendance, then you may hold rehearsals that affect that contest until the day before that competition.  Same day rehearsal forms will be applied toward the day only, not the competition.  Remember that the OAWGS runs on Eastern Standard Time.
            Registration for a Blind ompetition ends at midnight on the date of the compeitition.

Competition Results

            Results will be posted on the on the competition results page for that competition.  To view them, go to the competitions page, click the competition in question, and follow into the results page.  Each player participating in a competition will receive the results via e-mail as well as their judges' results.

Interpreting your Judging Results

            After a competition, you will receive an e-mail with your guard's results, the competition statistics, and a link to how the competition affected your guard.  Your guard's results will consists of your score breakdown, new eZar Rating, and judges' critiques.  The competition statistics will show the scores of each guard, their placement, and their new eZar Rating.   The link will direct you to a private page, similar to a rehearsal result page, within the website showing you statistics of how each member of your guard was affected by that competition and statistics that affect the guard as a whole.  This also links to you holding your next rehearsal.
            The score is comprised of 4 captions:  General Effect, Ensemble, Movement, and Equipment.  GE takes 40% of the total, while Ensemble, Movement, and Equipment take 20% each.  Because judges aren't actually watching a performance, the Ensemble, Movement, and Equipment scores are based completely on formulas.  The General Effect, however is based on half the judges scoring and half formula adjustments.  This integrates the ideal that the judges were watching a performance.

Post Competition Factors

            A couple of factors are derived from competitions and their results.  They are equated into the formula to create a simulation based on all realms:  intellect, creativity, skill, discipline, emotion, support, and rank.  The are also included on your statistics page.

Distance

            This factor represents the number of miles between your guard's homebase, the ZIP Code you registered them, and the contest site, the ZIP Code of the city it takes place in.  Other factors that rely on distance are Stress, Fatigue, and Fan Support.

Size

            This number is how many members your guard has which is between 8 and 30.

Reputation

            This number comes from the number of competitions you enter and how well you place at each of them within your class and overall.  This number is between 1 and 400.

Fan Support

            This is a factor that is built by your Distance, Size, Reputation, and eZar Rating formatted as a percent.   Simply meaning your percent equals the percent of fans who favor your guard.

eZar Rating

            This rating comes from how well you fair against other players; strategy-to-strategy.  It compares ratings to competition result placement against all competing players within the same competition.  Each new guard starts at 1000.  The higher the number, the better strategy you have made.

Section 4