Decathlon Scoring Tables - 1984 Scoring Tables

1984 Scoring Tables

By the early 1980s, more problems had been pointed out with the then-current scoring tables. Specifically, the regressive nature of Jörbeck's tables for the field events seemed to obviate the importance of elite performances in those events; decathletes' field-event performances had improved to the point where further score increments were practically negligible. Moreover, besides sapping decathletes' motivation to improve in field events, the tables also gave an unfair advantage to competitors in the track events - both because those tables were still progressive and because decathletes' performances in those events were much closer to the world records.

The IAAF working committee therefore met in 1983 in Prague to develop improved tables, putting forth the following nine principles, which still stand today:

1. The decathlon scoring tables should differ from those used for individual event scoring.
2. The scores for different events should be comparable, in a manner such that equal skill levels in different events (however difficult it is to define such a concept) are rewarded with equal point levels.
3. The new tables should be one of the following:
   1. modified versions of the existing ones,
   2. linear in all events, or
   3. slightly progressive in all events.
4. The tables should be applicable to all levels of performance, from youth to elite.
5. Men and women should have different tables.
6. Specialists' performances should be the basis for the scores in the tables.
7. The new tables should be applicable now and in the future.
8. The total scores using the new tables for the top world-class athletes should remain approximately the same (about 8500 points).
9. As much as possible, the new tables should ensure that a specialist in one event cannot overcome top performances in the other events.

The 1984 tables are still in use today, with a slight update in 1998 (adding entries for the long throws for odd numbers of centimeters, which were rounded to the next-lower multiples of 2 cm until 1997).