2022 KCBS Judge Certification Update Program (JCUP) for Continuing Education

2022 KCBS Judge Certification Update Program
(JCUP) for Continuing Education

KCBS has developed an online Judge Certification Update Program (JCUP) for all Certified BBQ Judges (CBJ). This Continuing Education (CE) program will go live in the early 2022 BBQ season. KCBS recognizes the need to ensure all of our CBJs have the opportunity to learn the most current judging methodologies and standards and is pleased to offer this Continuing Education.

Since inception, KCBS has continuously improved the standards our CBJs use to evaluate competition BBQ using the best current practices at the time of the CBJ class. New CBJs have been shown and mentored using guidelines in place at any given time. We have not had a formal offering for our experienced judges that provided an opportunity to train and learn the most current KCBS standards. As a result, KCBS recognizes that our CBJs, while understanding and practicing the art of judging competition BBQ, are utilizing a variety of methods to evaluate entries for final scoring of Appearance, Taste, and Tenderness. KCBS also recognizes the need to offer our current CBJs the opportunity to learn the latest judging methods being presented in our CBJ classes and to allow all CBJs the opportunity to easily learn and understand current rules and guidelines on an ongoing basis.

KCBS is excited to present to our CBJs this continuing education platform that will keep KCBS a world leader in the BBQ food sport. By presenting the JCUP, contestants, CBJs, and Organizers can be assured that entries will be evaluated uniformly. KCBS will continue to update and fine tune this program as necessary. These updates will teach best practices in the evaluation of competition BBQ, in order to continue to ensure that entries receive the same uniform approach for the evaluation of Appearance, Taste, and Tenderness. These updates will be available to CBJs on an ongoing basis, allowing all CBJs the opportunity to participate and confirm their understanding.

We strongly encourage all CBJs to participate in this roll out of the JCUP. CBJs that successfully complete the JCUP during this introductory period will have a notation of the successful completion as part of their electronic record on the KCBS website. After the roll out period, KCBS intends to require that all CBJs, in order to maintain their status as active CBJs, participate in the JCUP. This is to ensure they remain current in their knowledge and understanding of rules and the KCBS standards of evaluating competition BBQ. Organizers who utilize the KCBS website to select CBJs will be assured that the CBJs that are signing up for judging opportunities have successfully completed the JCUP and are aware of the current rules and most current KCBS judging guidelines.

As a start, the KCBS Certified Judge committee and Rules committee proposed, and the Board of Directors passed, an updated scoring scale and removed the word “average.” Our goal is to make the evaluation of competition BBQ more consistent from contest to contest, coast to coast, and worldwide. The updated scoring system removes two scores that are seldom used and better defines the remaining scoring numbers for judging use. Concepts from this program will be added to the existing CBJ class material for consistency.

The following outline are the steps required along with a comprehensive description of the JCUP program along with the content of each module with the program.

JCUP Outline and Implementation steps

Step 1 - Eliminate the use of the scoring numbers 3 and 4. Research has validated that these numbers are used so little that they are simply not needed. Data from 2014 to 2020 was pulled and an initial analysis shows the combined total of 3’s and 4’s never exceeded .0025 (.25%) of all individual scores given in a single year. This narrows the "band" of usable numbers to 9 thru 5 and provides a center of the scale to be a 7.
Step 2 - The new scoring system will read: The scoring system is from 9 to 5 and 2; all whole numbers from nine (9) and five (5) and the number two (2) may be used to score an entry. 9 is Excellent, 8 is Very Good , 7 is Good, 6 is Fair , 5 is Poor, and 2 is inedible.

A score of a 1 - penalty or disqualification - can only be given with a Contest Rep's concurrence and is a disqualification.

Step 3 - As part of the Judge Certification Update Program, we may consider using the Academic system of grading (A, B, C, etc.), as a teaching tool or analogy and as a means of how we intend judges to use the new 9 thru 5 scale.

9 - Excellent
8 - Very Good
7 - Good
6 - Fair
5 - Poor
2 - Inedible (e.g., raw chicken)
1 – Disqualification or Penalty (requires Rep approval)

Step 4 – The CBJ committee is urging removal of the word "Average" all together because it seems no one can agree on what average is and it also alludes to comparative scoring.

Key Questions About the JCUP Program:

How long is the Content?- About one hour, broken into 8 modules with a bank of 10 questions each, participants will be randomly presented with 5 questions from that bank.
How long between or how often - Re-certification is possible every two years or after a major change has occurred. CBJ’s must receive a 100% correct score to successfully pass the JCUP. Modules can be repeated as many times as needed to score 100%. No time limit, no limit on retaking, and no trick questions. Once certified, judges may review the videos as often as they wish. Please note that the online learning system we have chosen will tell you why a participant may have chosen an incorrect answer, helping that participant make a correct choice on the next test attempt.
Keep it simple - Ease of use for all, regardless of your computer skills.
How much does it cost? There is no fee structure associated with this initial online learning rollout.
How long is the roll out period? The roll out period will be determined by the number or percentage of judges that successfully complete the program. We are anticipating two years or until the 2024 TOY, at this time.

We will send more announcements and links to the online learning management system as soon as the final videos are ready for launch. If you have any questions, please reach out to CBJ_Committee@kcbs.us .