diff --git a/judge/ratings.py b/judge/ratings.py
index 46a5d7a..549d3c7 100644
--- a/judge/ratings.py
+++ b/judge/ratings.py
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 
 BETA2 = 328.33 ** 2
 RATING_INIT = 1200      # Newcomer's rating when applying the rating floor/ceiling
-MEAN_INIT = 1500.
-VAR_INIT = 350**2 * (BETA2 / 212**2)
+MEAN_INIT = 1400.
+VAR_INIT = 250**2 * (BETA2 / 212**2)
 SD_INIT = sqrt(VAR_INIT)
 VALID_RANGE = MEAN_INIT - 20 * SD_INIT, MEAN_INIT + 20 * SD_INIT
 VAR_PER_CONTEST = 1219.047619 * (BETA2 / 212**2)