Here are the KCBS disqualification rules as I understand them. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong anywhere.
I edited this post for spelling and grammar corrections, but I'm not sure if I found them all.
In the appearance category, an entry is assumed to be legal and must be scored by all judges before any judge or Table Captain (TC) is allowed to speak up to question the legality of the entry.
No Certified Judge (CBJ), Master Judge, or TC has the authority to disqualify (DQ) an entry for any reason. Only a KCBS representative (rep) has DQ authority. If an entry is suspected to be illegal by judges and/or TC, the rules state that the TC must summon a KCBS rep for an official, final ruling.
According to my 2017 KCBS Official Judges Certification Manual, here are all the ways an entry can be DQ'ed, and the extent of the DQ:
Illegal Garnish
See the KCBS web site for legal / illegal garnish types. Even the KCBS rep that taught my CBJ class seemed annoyed at having to deal with garnish violations, because of their potential complexity. He said he once had to send cell phone pics of garnish in to KCBS headquarters for a real-time legality decision.
When a garnish violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ). The judges will then proceed to score the entry for taste and tenderness.
Notice that the entry is not completely disqualified; it is disqualified only in the appearance category.
Sauce Violations
Sauce violations include pooled sauce in the turn-in box, and/or chunks in sauce that are larger than about one-eighth inch cubed.
When a sauce violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ). The judges will then proceed to score the entry for taste and tenderness.
Notice that the entry is not completely disqualified; it is disqualified only in the appearance category.
Sculpted Meat
Sculpted meat includes meat that is shaped in an identifiable form (for example, rosette, animal, number, letter, logo, etc). The intent here is to prevent judges from being able to identify which team cooked the meat.
When a sculpted meat violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ), and to write 1 (DQ) for taste and tenderness as well.
This entry is DQ'ed in all categories.
Less than 6 Samples in Box
If a judge is shorted a sample of meat, the KCBS rep will instruct that judge to score a 1 (DQ) in all categories.
The KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ). The judges with samples will then proceed to score the meat for taste and tenderness.
Marking and Foreign Objects
This category of violations includes any mark on the box, or any object in the box, that could allow a judge to identify which team cooked the meat. This includes foil, toothpicks, skewers, pickles, etc.
When such a violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to a 1 (DQ), and to write 1 (DQ) for the taste and tenderness as well.
This entry is DQ'ed in all categories.
Rib Meat not Attached to Bone
It is an egregious violation to turn in any rib meat that is not attached to bone, but I'm not sure of the extent of the DQ. I'm going to guess it will be a total DQ (score of 1 in all categories), but my manual doesn't say for sure.
I edited this post for spelling and grammar corrections, but I'm not sure if I found them all.
In the appearance category, an entry is assumed to be legal and must be scored by all judges before any judge or Table Captain (TC) is allowed to speak up to question the legality of the entry.
No Certified Judge (CBJ), Master Judge, or TC has the authority to disqualify (DQ) an entry for any reason. Only a KCBS representative (rep) has DQ authority. If an entry is suspected to be illegal by judges and/or TC, the rules state that the TC must summon a KCBS rep for an official, final ruling.
According to my 2017 KCBS Official Judges Certification Manual, here are all the ways an entry can be DQ'ed, and the extent of the DQ:
Illegal Garnish
See the KCBS web site for legal / illegal garnish types. Even the KCBS rep that taught my CBJ class seemed annoyed at having to deal with garnish violations, because of their potential complexity. He said he once had to send cell phone pics of garnish in to KCBS headquarters for a real-time legality decision.
When a garnish violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ). The judges will then proceed to score the entry for taste and tenderness.
Notice that the entry is not completely disqualified; it is disqualified only in the appearance category.
Sauce Violations
Sauce violations include pooled sauce in the turn-in box, and/or chunks in sauce that are larger than about one-eighth inch cubed.
When a sauce violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ). The judges will then proceed to score the entry for taste and tenderness.
Notice that the entry is not completely disqualified; it is disqualified only in the appearance category.
Sculpted Meat
Sculpted meat includes meat that is shaped in an identifiable form (for example, rosette, animal, number, letter, logo, etc). The intent here is to prevent judges from being able to identify which team cooked the meat.
When a sculpted meat violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ), and to write 1 (DQ) for taste and tenderness as well.
This entry is DQ'ed in all categories.
Less than 6 Samples in Box
If a judge is shorted a sample of meat, the KCBS rep will instruct that judge to score a 1 (DQ) in all categories.
The KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to 1 (DQ). The judges with samples will then proceed to score the meat for taste and tenderness.
Marking and Foreign Objects
This category of violations includes any mark on the box, or any object in the box, that could allow a judge to identify which team cooked the meat. This includes foil, toothpicks, skewers, pickles, etc.
When such a violation occurs, the KCBS rep will instruct all judges to change their score for appearance to a 1 (DQ), and to write 1 (DQ) for the taste and tenderness as well.
This entry is DQ'ed in all categories.
Rib Meat not Attached to Bone
It is an egregious violation to turn in any rib meat that is not attached to bone, but I'm not sure of the extent of the DQ. I'm going to guess it will be a total DQ (score of 1 in all categories), but my manual doesn't say for sure.
Comment