Skill Levels - More food for the debate.

[Ken Fuchs]

Julian Orbach wrote:

>However, it strikes me that if there is much debate about the relative
>difficulties of the various skills, then the skill levels should *reflect*
>that, and not impose rigid constraints on the skills required.

>It would allow both the unicycle federations to re-join their skill levels
>(hopefully without loss of face on either side). It also addresses Beirne's
>valid comment that permitting one change would also mean many others changes
>would be proposed.

The idea that Julian has laid out sounds really great! I think it could solve
the problem, except perhaps it is too different, not static enough for everyone
to agree to. It would be revolutionary in a good way though!

However, I think it should be OK to avoid, for example hopping on the wheel
until level 10 is attempted. Level 10 would consist of all skills not yet
performed.

This method also avoids the problem that not every unicyclist is the same and
thus one unicyclist may not find the relative difficulty of skills to be the
same as another unicyclist. So, skill substitution equalizes things between the
riders until they are ready for level 10, when all remaining skills must be
performed.

Sincerely,

Ken.

[Julian Orbach]

Perhaps I am out of my territory here; I am not even approaching the ability to
wheel walk or hop while standing on the wheels or whatever. Nor am I currently a
member of any unicycling federation.

However, it strikes me that if there is much debate about the relative
difficulties of the various skills, then the skill levels should *reflect* that,
and not impose rigid constraints on the skills required.

That may sound like it goes against the whole idea of skill levels, but what I
am suggesting is that unicyclists be permitted to perform skills from higher
levels to replace ones they cannot do at the current skill level.

For example, someone on Level 3 might attempt Level 4 without the ability to
"idle with the left foot down 25 times" (Level 4 skill). So they demonstrate
instead that they can "ride one footed in a figure eight" (Level 5 skill) and
they are awarded Level 4.

There would have to be some note on what skills they have performed - they
couldn't get Level 5 later without patching up the Level 4 skills they missed -
or replacing them with Level 6 skills! There would be a few other details to get
sorted out too, but I hope the basic concept is clear.

In this way, the issue of whether one particular skill is in the wrong place is
not an important issue - if you think it is in the wrong place - take advantage
of that! Perform the "easier" skill with the higher rating.

It would allow both the unicycle federations to re-join their skill levels
(hopefully without loss of face on either side). It also addresses Beirne's
valid comment that permitting one change would also mean many others changes
would be proposed.

Julian

-- Julian Orbach (julian@cs.uq.oz.au) -- University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Australia