Interesting that you object to the whole thing now, when it was you who originally asked if I had any video showing teeter calls. See this comment for the original post.

The whole thing started out innocently enough, I could never have imagined this outcome. 

If it is true I'm sorry to hear it. 

I don't object to the airing of the video at all. That wasn't my point. I think airing the video was a good idea. I wasn't in Scottsdale. I heard from quite a few people that the judging of teeters all weekend was fairly inconsistent and quite lenient on the teeter especially all around. I was happy to see the video to see for myself. What I object to is the hammering (verbal) of the judges. Had we just let the video speak for itself, and let people come to their own conclusions it would have been pretty good. And a great use of the internet and video. It's when everyone has to have something to say about it that we get into trouble. I believe that your actions were totally innocent of any intent other than to share the visual fact. It's the verbalized opinions that suck. /amy

If only many would stick to the intent and subject of the postings (forum or lists ) than a hammering like this would not have occured .

 as a result of the need of some to take advantage of writing personal grievances we have now come to a poitn were it is now almost even impossible to mention anything about judging ( sencorship on lists ? ) without being pointed at as bashing the judges , rules or anything related.

Also the paranoia of reading something as a personal attack when there is none whatsoever is disturbing . what happened to : I dont understand, maybe I didnt here/read correctly , can you be more specific please, what do you exactly mean ? isnt this as easy to write as to say ?

 Staying objective to the matters would be the first thing. time and time again we see replys being diverted from the real issues . suggestions for changes in equipment turn into personal opinions ( yeah but my dog ..... sounds familiar ? ). Questions about rules, jumpheights, facilities ... never sticking to the point . the most absurd answers are given . there was even a mention that a spectator was nto allowed to "judge" as they were not inthe ring during the briefing for whatever might have been said to the handlers . As far as I know the bulk of the spectators are handlers that run by the same rules normaly. Maybe a briefing shoudl be publiq then ( or is this a wrong suggestion) But the mere idea ..... . ( this has nothing to do with the judges desicions made during the happenings !!!!!!!!)

Maybe this basically very simple sport is so overregulated that rule briefings are needed ? Dont you just have to go from start to finish over a bunch of obstacles performed under some basic rules as fast as you can ?

 Many judges are handlers, many handlers are judges . and many know the difficulties either way . some choose to do both some dont becasue of the knowledge of what it implies and each has the right to choose wihtout being bashed either for it ( isnt one of the most stupid responses .. wel instead of giving comments or react to observations do it yourself ) from suggestions and ideas come solutions but when taken out of context the situations become worse .

Agility is a sport and at some point it is performed on the edge , and whatever can improve the quality of it shoudl be objectively looked at without pointing a finger at an individual ! and for those that are in doubt or saying : if there were no judges there would be no trial , the opposite holds true also !! Thank you judges for doing this job , just hope as a handler one is still allowed to voice observations and maybe come to solutions to help one another .

 All in all the issue and sugestions for solutions were IMO totally valid . to bad it turned into a personal fingerpointing .
I find it very interesting that to the solutions given some discussion started about the pro and cons of the workings, what system and much more was developing but sadly thanks to the turning into a bashing and certain sencorships potential improvements for all ( judges and handlers heck even organisation) have become some sort of illigal thinking .

 its not what you use its how and when you are using it ( this case videofeedback)
Its really ironic ... less than a month after being asked to provide footage for judging improvement/education clinics similar footage would be a ugly thing somewhere else .

Personally I thank those that answered with questions how it could work or suggested certain problems etc , only way to figure them out

Guy

Amy started: "So, there is a rumor going around this morning ..."

I can understand why people would be upset by the recent thread ... Trainers/competitors went out there on the same field under the same judging ... The judge went out there to do the best she could, making split-second calls in a pressure-packed situation ... Volunteers worked hard to host a wonderful event ...

The first day or even the first week after the event is likely not the best forum for speculating and brainstorming on how to provide judges and/or exhibitors with a tool for improving upon what are often very difficult calls to make ... All those who trained for, competed in, judged at, and volunteered to work on the event deserve at least a moment or two of appreciation ;-)

So, I do share some sense of the feeling behind your "objection to the practice of 'just putting it out there' on the internet."

However, I don't see how things are improved by instead turning this into a forum for passing along rumors.

Greg

It would be unfortunate if Karen stopped being a judge - any judge to quit for that matter. Being a judge isn't easy. I think everyone appreciates the judges and know that they are human and mistakes are made (most people have had bad calls that have gone against them and for them - so mostly it evens out).

The fact is that when a bad call is made - it will be talked about, especially on this level. A judge has to feel confident enough about their ability and stick to their calls and deal with it. Or, they can learn from the experience and go forward.

With the internet - news does spread fast and things like this will be out for public viewing and comment. That's just a fact. Talking about these issues also help better the system. I haven't heard anyone say she was a bad judge for these calls. It was presented as "this is what happened - are there ways to better the system."

Handlers push their dogs and handling skills to the limit at big events. If taking risks cause a bad obstacle performance - then hopefully it will be called. Or, have it stated that since they can't be real accurate judging because of the speed of these classes - that they won't be called.

I know that is a ridiculous statement but the handlers who protect their contacts will add split seconds to their times which is huge. And, is leaving the teeter is okay - but not the dogwalk? Or Aframe? Up contact? Which is going to get a lenient call?

Renee

Amy, I Was there and to say that anything posted on this list had anything to do with Karen quiting or not would be a big reach. The stands were full and the big wigs from USDAA were all present. The calls were already being discussed. I asked a friend who ran in the finals in the Vet and regular class if the briefing (re: the teetor) somone posted really happen. She, who is a USDAA Judge, as well, said no. It is a small world. On another list we are talking about how important it is to know the rules of the venue. In this case another Judge was trying to force a handler to do something which the Judge had no right to do. Quote: ** but Karen Gloor stepped in to assist the handler, thankfully.** The USDAA games are a hugh event and for the most part well run. Mistakes are made and unless someone speaks up they will not be corrected. In the PNS semi finals the Judge refused to let the jump setter move the standards of the #2 jump closer together so the bar was hanging by a thread. Sadly, in an easy opening that bar came down many times. She fixed it for the next class to run : ( In the Power and Speed class the double jump with a spread of 25" was incorrectly, not set asending.Again a mistake which was not corrected in a timely fashion. Should we just pretend these things dont happen? Cheers, Jean

...that anything was said on this list that may or may not have precipitated Karen's RUMORED retirement. I just said that there was this rumor and it made me think about something. My personal feelings about hammering judges is that it's water under the bridge. Unless it is a matter of a clear mis-interpretation of the rules, it's a "judgement" call and sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you. It's just very disappointing to hear so little about what was great about the games and so much about what was unfortunate. /amy

Karen is taking a sabbatical. She'll be back to judging in 2008, although not for the GP Finals.  I got that info directly from her when I thanked her for the fine job she did in organizing all volunteers and hospitality, and for judging the GP. 

Please don't spread the rumor that she's resigned.

<<So, there is a  rumor going around this morning that as a result of the very public hammering that Karen Gloor took for her teeter judging in the GP finals, she has resigned from the USDAA judging corps. It may or maynot be true.>>

I will make sure the folks who told me that she had resigned, know the facts. I said it was a rumor rather than pass it as fact, because I didn't know. I appreciate you taking the time to let us know what's really up. /amy