For a first time event partner it is easier to run an event without judging. So we'd give performance awards such as Tournament Champion, but no judged awards such as Design. Even though there would be no judged awards, is there any reason we can't give out balloted awards such as Sportsmanship?
Judging
2133: Balloted Awards
Answered by Competition Judging Committee
For the two Volunteer Nominated Awards, the Sportsmanship Award and the Energy Award, Volunteers can nominate teams without the involvement of Judges.
If an event does not have judges / is not offering additional judged awards, it would be acceptable for the Event Partner to work with key volunteers such as Head Referee(s), Division Manager(s), and others to develop a process to determine the award winners for the Sportsmanship and/or Energy Awards that is within the guidelines in the Guide to Judging, specifically the section entitled "Volunteer Nominated Awards" on page 17:
● Volunteer Nominated Awards: Based on the award criteria. A subset of Judged Awards, Volunteer Nominated Awards allow for volunteer event staff—such as the Head Referee, scorekeepers, and Emcees—to nominate teams for these awards based on what they’ve seen at the event. Alternatively, the awards can be determined solely by the Judges. Only the Sportsmanship and Energy Awards have the option to be determined in this manner. The Field Note to Judge Advisor and the Sportsmanship and Energy Nomination Award Forms are helpful tools for event staff to submit award nominees. Event staff should have multiple candidates in the circumstance that the team at the top of their list is in consideration for another Judged Award.