should cook teams have more training

[smoke-n-my-i's]

Ok, I tossed out the should judges have more training, now how about cook teams....

I know that at the cook's meeting they play the rules for the "new" teams, and anybody that wants to stay and listen can. I know the sample book for turn in boxes is available.... been there done all of that.

Now, what about more "training" for the teams, that are like the judges, on line etc., that in to keep you abreast of the new rules/changes, etc.... what and what not to do with your boxes, etc.... every team has to sign in at KCBS website, to a question and answer "test" say once a year.... a refresher and then also we as cooks can NOT say, "oh, I didn't know that", or "when did that effect".....

I know a LOT of the teams that have cooked for years drag themselves up for the standard cooks meeting, listen to the welcome to our event, etc.... then can't get outta there fast enough.

I think if it is "good" enough for the judges, table captains, reps, etc.... it should have to be good enough for the cook as well.

Thought, good or bad.... throw them out here.....

[huminie]

I think it is the cook's responsibility to learn as much as they can about how to compete before entering a contest. Some choose to jump right in and use the trial by fire method. Some spend a year or more researching, practicing and learning how to compete before they jump in. It is up to the cook to decide what works best for them.

There could maybe be a better way of communicating changes in rules to all cooks, but again, you should do your own due diligence to figure this out at the start of each season. This should be the responsibility of the cook and not someone else.

Know the rules of the game you are playing, or else face the consequences. It costs too much to compete to not prepare yourself adequately, IMO.

[Ford]

You don't have to be a member to cook a contest.

[Pigs on Fire]

You don't have to know the rules to send in your $250+ entry fee.

You don't have to listen to what is said at the cooks meeting.

You don't have to follow the rules when you prepare and turn your box in.

Judges don't pay nor do they get paid to judge, as far as I know.

They have travel expenses, but all the judges I know enjoy the hell out of it and consider it a great hobby. And they eat food that many say can't be bought.

Let the free market work.

[txschutte]

I would like to see photos, etc. On a website showing what legal garnish looks like, and what not to put in a box. There seems to be some confusion out there as to what flat parsley and spinach leaves are.

[Pigs on Fire]

Confusion on who's part?

[Bentley]

This is a joke, right?

[BBQchef33]

1 - you dont have to be a KCBS member to cook a contest

2 - KCBS isnt the only game in town, so signing onto to WHAT website to review what?

3 - If youre uninformed about the rules, it will show up in your scores or the impending DQ.

4 - Rule changes are communicated, and recommunicated. its the cooks responsibility to know the rules. If they dont know them, they hurt themself, whereas if a judge doesnt know the rules to judge by, he hurts the teams regarding scoring, or themselves regarding the code of conduct.

[Jason TQ]

Nah.

[bover]

For KCBS events, cook's meeting attendance isn't even required unless the organizer makes it mandatory (Rep advisory 4.20). I can't imagine a scenario where imposing something like this would lead to anything good.

No.

[Fourthwind]

So you want stepford teams that are all trained alike so that it appeases the stepford judges we have already? Yeahhhh that makes sense

[Rookie'48]

I've got some mixed feelings on this one. As a judge I have seen pulled pork sandwiches, uncut half chickens, foil in the bottom of the box and a lot of other strange things hit the judging table.

These were things that the cook team should have known weren't allowed in a KCBS comp. Would mentoring or training helped them? I don't know.

I'm thinking that if the cook team didn't bother to learn the basic rules of the game then they probably wouldn't pay attention to other help if it were offered. I'm pretty sure that I'm up to par on the KCBS rules, but if I were to go to a GBA, FBA, IBCA, PNWBA, etc. contest then I'd better check out their rules.

Or pay the consequences.

[Harbormaster]

Originally Posted by BBQchef33

If youre uninformed about the rules, it will show up in your scores or the impending DQ.

Yep.

A judge with poor training holds the fate of 16 teams in his/her hands.

A team with poor training holds the fate of 1 team in his/her hands, their own.

[deepsouth]

i don't get why cooks would have to be trained like judges?

[Scottie]

I voted no. If cooks don't know the rules, we get DQ'd. If judges don't know the rules, they become master judges...


***OK, the last one was tongue in cheek....