Why isn't our band's exhibition score posted?
Why don't you rank based upon the most recent score?
How long does it take to post updates?
How can you update scores so quickly?
How do the custom analysis pages work?
Why are the static pages sometimes more current than the analysis pages?
Why do I get a message that the database is unavailable?
Why don't you post percussion/guard caption scores?
Why aren't the scores from (competition name) included in the rankings?
Why did you include (band name's) exhibition score in the rankings?
We obtain scores from a variety of sources. Interested band members, band parents, boosters, band directors and staff, etc. send them to us. Additional scores are obtained from the marching band newgroups and forums as they are posted. We also share information with the other sites that post TOB scores.
There may be any one of several reasons.1. Your band was not judged. Not all exhibition bands request that their performance be adjudicated. This is the band director's decision.
2. Because exhibition scores are not announced at the competition, we do not have the information yet. We must rely upon a report from your band director, other band staff, or a band member in order to obtain this information. Otherwise, we must wait for the information to be posted on the TOB web site.
3. Your band director has requested that the score not be included on the recap sheet. Unless the information becomes available from other public sources, we will not post the score.
We base the ranking on the best score to date.
We feel the highest score represents a band's best effort, even if it wasn't their most recent effort. Also, seedings for the Chapter Championships are based upon the two highest scores. Other sites use different philosophies for ranking. Frankly, we think they all have their advantages, and we welcome the fact that so many different forms of analysis are available to the TOB community.
It takes less than 30 seconds to regenerate nine static pages, including the scores page for the current weekend, the four group ranking pages, and the four group band scores pages. Typically we can have the new pages posted within two minutes of entering the last score.
All of the information (bands, competitions, scores, captions, show descriptions, web sites) is entered in a Microsoft Access database. Using SQL statements and custom Visual Basic code, the software is programmed to generate the necessary HTML/ASP code.
We maintain a copy of our database on the web site. When a request is submitted, the database is queried for the necessary information, and the HTML/ASP page is built at the moment the information is requested.
A local copy of the database is used for data entry and HTML/ASP generation. Periodically a copy of the database is transferred to the web host. Since it takes longer to transfer the entire database than it does to transfer the static pages, we do not transfer it as frequently. This may mean that the most current scores may not always be available for interactive analysis.
After the database is transferred to the web site, it is necessary to momentarily lock out users performing interactive analysis. The locks are typically in place for no more than five seconds, and never more than one minute. If you encounter this message, please wait a minute, then try again.
First, from a practical standpoint, we cannot guarantee that we will receive all caption scores, resulting in incomplete postings. Caption scores are not announced at competitions. Since the vast majority of our score reports come from these announcements, the potential number of sources for caption award scores is greatly diminished.
Second, the TOB site serves as a double check of the score reports we receive, and allows us to fill in the occasional missing score. Since they do not post caption scores, there would be inevitable errors and missing scores.
Third, there is already a tremendous amount of effort involved in tracking competition locations, starting times, directions, web page links, competing bands, show descriptions, scores, caption awards, etc., in addition to the effort required in maintaining the other portions of our band web site.
Also, while we fully appreciate the interest in the achievement of individual sections, we try to keep the emphasis on the overall bands' performances.
Finally, the practical answer is "there aren't enough hours in the day." However, we have added our FORUMS page, which often includes threads started by individuals interested in posting and comparing caption scores.
If the situation should change in the future, we might reconsider.
There are generally one of two reasons:
1. We haven't received the scores yet.
2. The results are not consider official. This typically occurs as a result of (a) poor field conditions or (b) inclement weather which resulted in the bands performing either while standing in place or indoors. In both cases TOB will adjust the scores as specified in RULE 21. This is solely for the purpose of the awards ceremony at the competition. The tabulator does not send the score sheets to TOB. Therefore, they are not official scores and are excluded from our rankings.
When a school hosts a TOB competition, their band typically appears is "judged exhibition". This means that their performance is evaluated and scored by the same panel of judges that evaluated the other competing bands. In this sense, "exhibition" refers to the fact that they are not eligible to receive a placement trophy, and their score is not typically announced to the spectators. However, their score is included on the official recap sheet, and counts as a qualifying score to meet the minimum requirement for attending the Chapter Championships. It also may be considered in determining seeding, which is based upon the average of a band's two highest scores during the competition season. In every sense other than the awarding of trophies it is a legitimate judged performance eligible for inclusion in our rankings.
