Spirit Score System

Using the Spirit Score System

Your whole team should be consulted when determining a score for your opposition. Determine the score in each of the five categories and sum up the points to determine the Spirit of the Game (SOTG) score for the other team. Most scores will be between 8-13 pts. A “2” in any category is considered normal – you award or subtract points based on the examples provided in the help sheet. “10” is a good, average score.

There are five (5) key areas you will address when rating your opposition for the game you just played. Each category is rated out of a total of 4 points and will determine a final score out of 20 for your opponent.

1. Rules Knowledge and Use – Examples: They did not purposefully misinterpret the rules. They kept to time limits. When they didn’t know the rules, they showed a real willingness to learn
2. Fouls and Body Contact – Examples: They avoided fouling, contact, and dangerous plays.
3. Fair-Mindedness – Examples: They apologised in situations where it was appropriate, informed teammates about wrong/unnecessary calls. Only called significant breaches
4. Positive Attitude and Self-Control – Examples: They were polite. They played with appropriate intensity irrespective of the score. They left an overall positive impression during and after the game
5. Communication – Examples: They communicated respectfully. They listened. They kept to the discussion time limits 

• Spirit scoring is a team effort.
• Encourage all players to hold up fingers to “vote” for the score they think should be given in each category. People with outlier opinions (0s, 4s or maybe 1s and 3s) should speak about why they feel this way. Other players can then adjust their score, and then an average is taken.
• Fun games after the game is over are great, but should not contribute to the Spirit score.
• Do not give lower spirit scores out of retaliation or prejudice (e.g., based on previous encounters with this team, or hearsay or reputation). If in doubt, the Spirit Captain should strongly encourage their teammates to justify the score by the Example Behaviours sheet.
• Remember: a “2” is a normal score. Normal total scoring is between 8 and 13.
• Clarify the outlying scores of 0 or 4 with comments. This saves the Spirit Director a lot of time, and also helps to give clear feedback to opposition teams.
• Any spirit scores of 7 or lower, or 14 or higher, or 0s or 4s in several categories or over multiple games can result in conversations with the Spirit Director and the teams involved.
• If a team has several low scores and doesn’t improve, or has a particularly low score, the TRG (Tournament Rules Group) will be informed.
• The Spirit Director will contact a team that consistently gives scores of 15 or higher, as that is considered a non-standard (unusually high) score and usually indicates that the scoring system is not being accurately employed.
• Remember that your final game will count towards the final average spirit scores, and may influence the prize for SOTG at the award ceremony, so please make an effort to submit that last score ASAP.