This is the first part of the UAAP CDC 2013
routine review for the 1st and 2nd placers, NU and UP,
respectively. NU won with a margin of over 70 points over UP. I don’t really know how scoring goes in
cheerleading competitions but I’m still trying to compare the routines in a
very technical way. When I say “technical way”, I mean the “gymnastics way”.
In gymnastics, routines are scored based on
the difficulty and the execution. Difficulty accounts all skills performed in
the routine while execution, oh Sweet Jesus, I bet you know what execution
means. These two scores are added, the routine with the highest total score
edges the others. Simple.
HOW DID I COMPUTE FOR THE DIFFICULTY?
I listed all the skills. I counted the
number of people APPEARING on the screen performing the trick. I designated
values for each skill much alike as that in gymnastics. Say, a straddled jump
(toe-touch) is an A-skill, a back tuck is a B skill, a back tuck with a full
twist (tuck 1/1) is a C skill and so on. The hardest skill performed in the
whole UAAP CDC was a back layout with a double twist. I designated an E value
to that skill. THEEEEEEN. Each letter corresponds to a numerical value, A=0.10,
B=0.20 and so on. If a cheerleader performed a connection of jumps and
acrobatic skill, they get bonus. Example, NU did five round off + back
handspring + back layout with a full twist.
Round-off is an A, handspring is an A, back
layout 1/1 is a D. Total value of the pass is 0.60. Plus Connection value of
0.20. There were five sort of a gymnast cheerleader who did that so, NU gained
a total of 0.80 multiplied to 5 difficulty score for those passes. That 4
points already.
HOW DID YOU COMPUTE FOR THE EXECUTION?
In gymnastics, small errors are deducted
with 0.10, medium errors are 0.30, and large deductions are 0.50. Fall in any
skill is a whole point off the score. I’m very particular with legs
separations, poor twisting forms, poor landing and all technical errors. Of
course, I didn’t check on each forsaken crossed legs INDIVIDUALLY. I would’ve
strained my eyes if I did that. I deducted scores for each pass. Meaning, for a
single pass, even if just one member twists in the ugliest way possible (a.k.a.
Mustafina-ed twist, google Mustafina so you at least extend your knowledge
about gymnastics), the team will incur 0.50 points. Now, this is a routine of
many people SO it is very righteous to deduct for synchronicity, right? You
need not to learn about synchronicity, you just see it. I assigned a maximum of
50 points for the execution. So, if a team incurred a total of 4 points
deduction, then they’ll get 46 points. Excel did all the math.
BTW, I forgave some little errors. Like,
lack in hip angles and separation of legs during handsprings. FACT: Some people
are born with 'bowed legs'. Meaning, no matter how hard they try, those legs will
be separated. Put this in this term, it’s like the “spaced” and “hollow” legs
of girls who are assumed not to be virgin anymore.
NOW YOU KNOW, LET’S START.
Score cards, please.
Legend: DV-Difficulty Value, CV-Connection
Value, RO – round off, BHS – back handspring
University of the Philippines
Difficulty Score: 37.90
Execution Score: 46.10
National University
Difficulty Score: 40.90
Execution Score: 46.80
THE REVIEW
In my eyes, NU beat UP in this category SLIGHTLY. I’m
quite picky on the jumps and I was not reluctant to take away 0.30 for a UP
squad member who can’t reach her toe in a jump. The skill has a credit and a
TECHNICAL qualification. She did a star
jump. Well, that is for all those people wondering where the 0.60 deduction
came from.
BTW, I did this because I am bored. LOL. Don't focus on my poor grammar or my not-so-fair-judgement, and some other things I might have overlooked. You ain't perfect, dahling.
ISSUE #1: Somersaults and Twists
What amazed me with the National University
is their DIFFICULT tumbling passes. NU had at least 50 somersaults. Crunch
UP’s numbers, they just had a little bit over 30. Yes,
UP had at least 75 back handsprings (BHS) but relative to a somersault, it is a
lot easier and less risky.
There were a number of ‘twisters’ in NU. UP had nine
full twists, NU had 17 in their opening sequence. Plus, 21 other full and
double full ('Full' means one whole twist in a flip, a flip is a somersault). So,
NU had a total of 38 twisting somersaults, at least. Incomparable to UP’s NINE <maybe, they did NINE full twists in purpose. LOL, IYKWIM>. I am
personally amazed with that number of huge twists in a single routine. When a
single flip became too conventional, NU took risks of training multiple twisting
somersaults – hands down, NU.
ISSUE #2:
Combination Passes
Combination passes are just series of elements
combined together in a single tumbling run. UP did five kinds, including that
starting from a straddled jump. NU, on the other hand, did seven.
The most amazing run for me: NU's Round off, tucked Arabian,
walkout to full twist. Gymnastics do that combination. What sets it apart is
that Arabian and a Layout 1/1 are two acrobatic skill. They were combined in a
series! You ain't getting it, do you? Take note that Round offs and back handsprings are
preparatory skills and the huge skills are those back tucks, back layouts, and
twisting layouts. Most cheerleaders do the RO+BHS series then a big skill. But
that one NU person was really good to snatch an Arabian in between two prep
skills. Again – hands down, NU. UP, where art thou?
ISSUE #3: Synchronicity
Both teams were really good on this field. Period. But
I see more issue in the UP tumble runs than in NU. Check on their vids. I didn’t
go harsh on their differences in extension. I understand people if they can’t
hit splits in the air. Synchronicity for me is timing, anyway.
ISSUE #4: Execution
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting good execution from
NU. I know how clean UP performs. Surprisingly, both had great extension in
their jumps. I have an issue on poor twisting forms. NU twisters have POOR
twisting forms on the bigger skills but as the gymnternet says, the harder the
skills are, the harder it is to perfect. The scores were close, slightly in
favor of NU. <Well, sorry to say but I kinda hate that UP “star jump-er”.>
Compare and Contrast
I thought UP was good.
Yes, they were. NU did the harder trick, went for broke, and coldly
landed each skill with no major fall. Nu won my heart in terms of difficulty.
With their execution not that really poor, I think, they are righteous for
their edge in this category.
Letter to UP Pep
I don’t want you to risk injuries, but I hope to see
more stellar tumbling passes. You can own it. Just a tip, glue your feet
together unlike the NU people who mess around their toes while twisting. I love
UP but this is how my comparison went. :D
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