posted Sep 7th, 2003 - After the opening "penalty round" of the 4-way event, the NSL News followed up on the judging issue with an interview of the German FAI Event Judge in Gap, Klaus Wellens. Here is the other side of the medal explained by Wellens:

NSL News: Klaus, we saw a bunch of penalties of the top teams in round one. What was the reason behind this?

Klaus Wellens: I have no idea why the teams did it the wrong way (laughs).

NSL News: Seriously, there was apparently a change of judging policy that was discussed yesterday between competitors, coaches and judges. What was the concern of the teams?

Klaus Wellens: It was about center point transition of Block 12 and the right way to perform this block. So the top teams as France and U.S.A. showed us their training videos of these blocks, and we told them which technique would put them in trouble and what was good. So today, they all performed very well. The French team got busted at their last Block 12 in working time. Both team coaches came to the judging room and agreed with our judging.

NSL News: Why did they come to the judging room?

Klaus Wellens: They voluntarily came to the judging room to confirm the our work.

NSL News: Apparently some teams, including U.S.A. and France were surprised by the policy when they came here. Was the policy new?

Klaus Wellens: Actually not. It was just at the World Cup 2002 where some teams performed this block wrongly and it was not seen by the judges.

NSL News: What happened then?

Klaus Wellens: Some judges and team managers came to me in Spain and in Germany and asked if I was really sure whether this was the right judgment and if they could continue with the technique they saw in Spain. After confirming by watching tapes and checking the results, I said no and checked with the IPC FS and Judges Committee to make sure that we will make it right this year.

NSL News: Did the committee communicate this further down the line, so it could arrive at the team level?

Klaus Wellens: I think not. Before I went to Russia for the first 1st Category Event this year, the IPC Anton Malevsky Memorial World Cup, I made sure that the judges in Russia were aware of the policy for the technical execution of certain blocks. I also pointed it out at the team captain’s meeting in Russia and with the present top teams, including Majik, Italy and Russia. It was also important for the Majik members for their coaching positions. They understood and accepted how we would go and judge these techniques.

NSL News: Even the Golden Knights came here without the knowledge about this policy and had to change their techniques yesterday, one day before the competition. How could this dilemma be avoided?

Klaus Wellens: In Germany, the national 4-way team provided me prior to the national championship with a team video that showed all their techniques. I pointed out the problems and how to avoid damage.

NSL News: This is great. However, it is based on a volunteer action and smart move by the team. Is there a way that the IPC and the judges can also help the teams in the other direction?

Klaus Wellens: I am running a website in Germany with up-to-date information about judging issues, rules and competition topics (http://www.schiri.klaus-wellens.de). Teams can and do look it up at any time.

NSL News: What can the German FAI Event Judge Klaus Wellens do for the rest of the world?

Klaus Wellens: We must find a way to communicate the information to the teams, the coaches, and the international judges directly and also up-to-date. We will think more about how to do this.

NSL News: Thank you, Klaus.