Why Some Competitions Fail — And How to Avoid It

Competitions can serve as powerful instruments to cultivate talent, inspire excellence, and foster community engagement. From music and science contests to Quran recitation and academic Olympiads, they incentivise achievement and recognise merit across a broad spectrum of disciplines. However, despite the best intentions, not all competitions succeed. Some fail to attract participation, lose credibility, or result in dissatisfaction among stakeholders. Understanding the common pitfalls and implementing strategic solutions is essential for ensuring that competitions are fair, impactful, and sustainable.

Common Reasons Why Competitions Fail

Although competitions vary in format and purpose, there are recurring issues that frequently contribute to their downfall. Recognising and addressing these can help organisers and stakeholders design more effective and reliable events.

1. Unclear Objectives

Competitions without clearly defined goals often struggle to measure their success or communicate their purpose to participants. A contest designed “to promote excellence” is too vague unless it specifies what excellence entails, how it will be measured, and why it matters in that specific context.

Example: A Quran memorisation contest may aim to encourage accurate memorisation, enhance tajweed (pronunciation), and instill a love for the Quran. Without articulating these aims, the contest may appear unfocused, leaving participants uncertain about expectations.

2. Poor Planning and Logistics

Failure to develop a detailed and realistic plan often leads to logistical breakdowns. These can include scheduling conflicts, lack of resources, inadequate venues, missing equipment, and insufficient personnel support. Such issues tend to damage reputation and erode trust.

Consequences include:

• Delays or cancellations mid-competition
• Overloaded judges or administrators
• Inconvenience and frustration for participants and attendees

3. Inconsistent or Unfair Judging

Perhaps one of the most common reasons competitions fail is a lack of transparency or consistency in scoring. When participants perceive the judging process as biased, arbitrary, or unclear, they lose confidence in the event’s integrity. This is especially damaging in competitions with subjective criteria or high emotional investment, such as recitation or art.

Root causes:

• No standardised rubric or scoring guide
• Untrained or inexperienced judges
• Conflict of interest or lack of impartiality
• Poor record-keeping of evaluation data

4. Limited Accessibility and Inclusivity

Some competitions unintentionally exclude participants due to difficulty, location, language, technological access, or limited awareness. This results in lower participation, smaller talent pools, and a perception that the contest is only open to a select group.

For example, if registration forms or instructions are only available in one language, or if the rules overlook the needs of younger or differently-abled participants, certain groups may find it difficult to take part.

5. Weak Communication and Promotion

Effective communication is vital for any event’s success. Poor publicity, late announcements, or unclear instructions can lead to confusion or under-enrolment. When prospective participants or collaborators can’t easily understand what the competition is about or how to get involved, engagement will suffer.

6. Overly Complex Formats

While innovation can enhance engagement, overly complex structures—such as multi-layered elimination stages, intricate judging systems, or ambiguous rules—can alienate participants and judges. Complexity also increases the margin for error in coordination and evaluation.

7. Lack of Follow-Up and Feedback

Competitions that end without proper follow-up fail to build on the momentum and learning achieved. Participants appreciate feedback, recognition, and the opportunity to understand how and why decisions were made. Without this, the competition experience may feel transactional and unrewarding.

Strategies to Ensure a Successful Competition

Avoiding failure requires thoughtful design, transparent structures, and ongoing participant engagement. Below are several strategic areas to focus on when organising any type of competition.

1. Set Clear and Measurable Objectives

Before determining the competition format, define what success looks like in specific terms. Outline your goals in ways that can be communicated and measured. For example, aim to “increase Quran memorisation among participants aged 10–18 by 25% within six months” or “identify top regional talent in recitation accuracy.”

Clear objectives help design evaluation criteria, allocate resources, and inform every facet of the event—from marketing to scoring policies.

2. Develop Transparent Rules and Criteria

A strong set of rules and assessment guidelines builds credibility. Publish the competition rules well in advance and ensure participants understand:

• Eligibility requirements
• Registration deadlines and fees (if any)
• Scoring system, scale, and criteria
• Any disqualification policies or appeal processes

Clear documentation prevents disputes and allows participants to focus on performance rather than administrative uncertainty.

3. Train Judges and Standardise Evaluation

One of the most effective ways to prevent controversy and bias is by equipping judges with structured training and rating rubrics. A judgement panel should be diverse, knowledgeable, and impartial. Practising sample scoring before the event begins helps ensure consistency across all performance levels.

Many competitions today use digital scoring platforms to reduce manual errors and enhance transparency. Automated scoring records can also support post-event review and feedback mechanisms.

4. Plan for Accessibility and Engagement

Diverse participation improves the quality and fairness of competition outcomes. Promote inclusivity by identifying potential barriers and proactively addressing them.

Considerations include:

• Offering multiple language options for materials
• Allowing virtual or hybrid participation for certain stages
• Setting age-appropriate difficulty levels
• Using accessible venues and providing support for those with disabilities

5. Engage Participants Before, During, and After

Competitions are not only about winning; they are learning and community-building experiences. Build momentum and value by:

• Hosting orientation sessions to explain expectations
• Providing interim feedback during multi-stage competitions
• Communicating post-event results promptly and professionally
• Recognising not just winners, but effort and improvement

6. Monitor, Evaluate, and Improve

After the competition concludes, gather feedback from participants, judges, organisers, and viewers. Surveys, interviews, and data analysis can all help identify what worked and what didn’t. Even well-run competitions benefit from continuous improvement practices.

Maintain records (performance scores, participation data, technical issues, audience feedback) for future reference. Transparent communication about how feedback is used strengthens your reputation and improves trust.

7. Use Technology Effectively

Digital tools can streamline competition management, reduce errors, and enhance user experience. Depending on the type of event, consider using:

• Online registration and scheduling systems
• Automated scoring apps with built-in rubrics
• Live-streaming platforms for virtual audiences
• Mobile apps or web portals to keep participants informed in real time

However, technology should be used thoughtfully – it must complement, not complicate, the competition. Ensure all stakeholders are properly trained and supported.

Conclusion

Successful competitions don’t happen by chance. They are the result of deliberate planning, inclusive design, clear assessment protocols, and responsive communication. By recognising why some competitions fail — and proactively addressing these issues — organisers can create rewarding, fair, and enriching experiences for all involved. Whether in educational settings, religious events, or talent showcases, well-managed competitions have the potential to inspire growth and excellence in meaningful ways.

If you need help with your Quran competition platform or marking tools, email info@qurancompetitions.tech.