I hear ya on scoring issues. I would like to know what scores EVERYTIME so that I could come up with a better game plan before tournaments.

I think it just goes back to the "Human" issue. There isn't a GUAREENTIED way to score. But you wouldn't spar someone tournament style in a real fight anyway right?

I think that the local tournaments are good practice for overcoming your fears and nervousness of tournaments. And because you overcome your nervousness in the tournament...it helps you in REAL life to overcome nervousness or doubt not only in self-defense, but performing under pressure and staying calm though stressful times.

But I noticed the same thing as you while watching the olympics....but the good thing was, they would re-play certain scores close up and in slow motion so you could see why that point wasnt awarded or why they scored.

That's a real shame Fighting-Gravity, I hope it doesn't put the white belt off. I echo what Asterix said - in TAGB (ITF-style) we have four corner judges for continuos sparring and a mirror judge system (a lead referee, a mirror judge and an umpire, two out of three have to give it but if ref is convinced and the other two were unsighted, he can award it) - and tbh there's never a failsafe way of making sure all points are seen and scored.

I don't know much about WTF scoring and refereeing other than what i've seen at the olympics but one thing that white belts often lose out on is the gamesmanship element of doing things like moving round to an angle where both/most/all refs can see techniques but that'll come with experience.

Maybe the yellow belt shielded the attacks from the eyes of the refs, or maybe he got an arm in the way and that was seen as a blocked attack.

It does sound not right though. Hope the lad (I've assumed it's a boy, sorry if it's not) is ok and not too downhearted. Jx

White belt hit hogu clean with resounding thud.  it was a WTF tourney.  I'm just amazed( and navie) at the favorites at this level.

The issue occurs due to various things but it also depends the scoring method. In ITF however, with 4 corner judges, it can, for example,  happen due to not all judges seeing each technique performed correctly. One judge could have seen it hit perfectly but another may not. Kicking an arm that have blocked a front kick,for example doesnt score a point and if you are not certain then it shouldnt be given. Just because a person is knocked to the floor doesnt mean it was done by a valid scorring point (again only if enough judges saw the correct technique). The thing is love is that if someone is kicked in the head and knocked to the floor out of the ring not only does the attacker get a point but the defender get a warning for both loss of balance and going out of the ring.