ISU scoring system for figure skating and ice dancing

The ISU judging system for figure skating and ice dancing (Engl. ISU Judging System for Figure Skating and Ice Dancing ) is a set of documents that the assessment of the International Skating Union organized (ISU) competitions in the individual race , pair skating and ice dancing regulates.

The first international figure skating competitions took place in Vienna in 1882 , according to the competition rules , the so-called regulatory . It was taken from the textbook of Jackson Haines' students - Dr. Body, Wirth and Diamantidi derived “Traces on the Ice” , which was published in 1881 .

This regulation was later also adopted by the ISU, and this is how the rules were created that basically still apply today. There were more significant changes with the introduction of the short program and with the change in the ratio in the assessment of compulsory and freestyle.

The "old" system

The "6.0 system" was used until the 2004 World Championships. Each judge gave marks on a scale from 0 to 6:

6th	Perfect and flawless
5	Very good
4th	Well
3	Average
2	Weak
1	Very weak
0	Not run

Decimal places (e.g. 1.2 - 3.8 - 5.5) were used to differentiate the rating.

Each participating country or each approved association (international) provided a judge for each discipline. However, only 9 judges were used and were drawn by lot. Each judge awarded an A grade for the technical execution and difficulty of the program as well as a B grade for the artistic expression for each program run . Both grades were added for each judge, which then resulted in the judge's placement proposal (seat number, e.g. 1st place, 2nd place, etc.). The placement of the runners or the couple was determined according to a majority principle from the place numbers of the individual judges.

In order to obtain the total placements for a competition consisting of a short program and a freestyle (or ice dance: compulsory, original dance and freestyle), the individual placements were multiplied by weights and added. The short program counted to 1/3, the freestyle to 2/3, which corresponded to factors of 0.5 for the short program and 1.0 for the freestyle. The lowest weighted sum according to this calculation marked first place in the overall ranking.

The "new" rating system

In order to make the subjectively assessed sport of figure skating more transparent and objective, the ISU has developed a new rating system that has replaced the "old" system (now called the "6.0 system" ) internationally since the 2004/2005 season . The ISU Judging System of the international ice skating union is based on a completely new calculation of the competition results. With the use of a digital video system in the competition, the judges are able to review elements repeatedly and thus evaluate them more objectively.

Functionaries

The three main officials who monitor the competition and assess the program elements carried out are the technical inspector , the technical specialist and the technical specialist assistant . Everyone must have the highest level of knowledge about the technical aspects of single, pair skating, ice dancing or synchronized skating.

The main functionaries nominated for a specific event must, if at all possible, come from different members of the ISU.

Technical specialist

The Technical Specialist (Engl. Technical Specialist ) determines which figure skating elements were carried out and what possibly was the difficulty level. (For certain elements, different levels of difficulty are determined by the ISU scoring system.) The work of the technical specialist allows the judges to focus on censoring the quality of each element in a figure skater's program.

• All technical specialists are former national or international figure skaters or trainers and take part in figure skating on a weekly basis.
• The technical specialists are nominated from a group of trainers, ISU / international judges and ISU / international referees.
• You must not be younger than 24 and not older than 65 years. In the case of a figure skater, the gap between the end of the amateur career and a nomination must be at least two seasons.

The position of technical specialist demands a high level of responsibility, the highest level of knowledge and honesty. The work of every technical specialist is checked after each competition. Any technical specialist who has judged against the ISU rules in violation of the rules will be removed from the list of technical specialists immediately.

Tasks of the technical specialist

• Recognizing and naming the elements carried out;
• Recognizing and naming the correct difficulty level for performed elements;
• Detection of prohibited elements;
• Recognizing the creative addition of elements;
• Detection and cancellation of additional elements.

The naming of the elements by the technical specialists is monitored by the technical inspector and corrected if necessary. However, if both technical specialists (specialist and specialist assistant) are against this correction, their initial decision will stand.

Technical inspector and technical specialist assistant

The Technical Controller (Engl. Technical Controller ) and the Technical Specialists Assistant (English. Assistant Technical Specialist ) help the technical specialists and make sure that all potential misperceptions be corrected immediately. The technical inspector can reject the determination made by the technical specialist if the technical inspector thinks that an element has not been correctly identified (named). Each of these individuals will be monitored with tape and video recordings during the competitions.

• The technical inspector must either be qualified as a member of the ISU Technical Commission or as an ISU Referee, ISU Judge or International Referee.
• The technical inspector can replace a technical specialist if, for urgent reasons, he is unable to continue his tasks.

Tasks of the technical inspector (a selection)

• monitors and, if necessary, corrects the detection of elements, the entry of their names and the level of difficulty. However, if both technical specialists are against a correction, their initial decision is retained.
• authorize or correct the cancellation of items;
• authorizes or corrects the detection of prohibited elements;
• confirms or corrects creative element additions;
• confirms the cancellation of additional items;
• takes part in the award ceremony.

The technical specialist assistant only intervenes in an emergency. However, his advice is sought in the event of a conflict between the technical inspector and the technical specialist.

The technical inspector sits next to the technical specialist and the technical specialist assistant. He is connected to the technical specialist and the data operator through a voice connection (headphones). His place is equipped with a touchscreen , if possible.

Data operator / replay operator

Data operators must have good computing skills and be familiar with touch screens . They are recruited from figure skaters, coaches, judges and referees.

Tasks of a data operator

• Input of the elements mentioned by the technical specialist;
• Input of the mentioned difficulty levels;
• Correction of the elements or levels of difficulty as instructed by the technical inspector;
• Enter a highlight bonus, which may have been reported by the technical inspector.

The data operator sits next to the technical inspector and the technical specialist and has a good overview of the ice surface. He is connected to the technical inspector and the technical specialist through a voice connection (headphones).

The replay operator identifies the beginning and the end of each run element in the video recording. He needs to have a good understanding of figure skating as he needs to see the elements in its approach. He sits next to the judges. He is connected to the technical inspector and the technical specialist through headphones.

Referee

The referee or umpire is a person who is responsible for the competition for all questions and decisions related to ISU rules.

Referee's duties (a selection)

• gives the music manager the signal to start the music;
• if necessary, allows the athlete to repeat the start;
• can postpone ice skating if the public interrupts the competition or hinders its regular course;
• can exclude an athlete from the competition if necessary and justified and replace a judge or functionary;
• takes part in the award ceremony.

The referee sits between the other judges along the side of the rink. The referee has a touchscreen , telephone / intercom and a walkie-talkie available.

Judges

The judges (Engl. Judges ) focus entirely on assessing the quality of each element and the quality of the five program components. Your grades are based on specific criteria for each element and provide a complete assessment of each figure skater's skill and performance.

The jury consists of twelve judges, from whom the computer selects nine at random. Only the ratings of these nine judges are included in the results. The selection of the judges applies to an entire segment (e.g. short program) of a competition. However, it is not known to anyone during the competition who the nine "counting" judges are. All twelve judges work equally.

In order to calculate the overall evaluation of an individual element from the evaluations of the nine "counting" judges, one ignores the highest and the lowest value and averages the remaining seven values ​​( "truncated" mean ).

Judge Obligations

• Online evaluation
  • Grading the quality of each performed element / part (ice dancing) with the "degree of implementation" (English. Grade of Execution , briefly GOE );
  • Grading of the five other components
    • Ice skating skill
    • Fasteners
    • Footwork and timing (only for compulsory dances)
    • Presentation / implementation
    • Choreography / composition
    • interpretation

• Offline assessment
  • A paper version of the evaluation is also created for each individual participant.

All judges sit along the boards on the long side of the ice rink with a clear view of the ice surface. If you look with the judges in the direction of the ice surface, the judge No. 1 sits on the far left. Each judge has a touch screen with a video replay system. All the necessary information can be seen on the screen.

Technical result

When a figure skater has performed an element, the technical specialist, supervised by the technical inspector, marks it. His respective point value will be displayed on the judges' screens. Each judge will then assess the quality of the item, the degree of implementation (Engl. Grade of Execution , briefly GOE ). A level of difficulty is assigned to certain elements such as pirouettes and sequences of steps.

Value scale

The value scale (Engl. Scale of Values , shortly SOV ) contains basic values of all elements and regulations for the quality of their execution. The value scale table (Engl. Scale of Values Table ) of the elements for a single run, pair skating and ice dancing is published annually by the ISU and can be changed by an ISU Communication.

Difficulty level

The technical specialists indicate the name and level of difficulty (English. Level of Difficulty ) of each element.

• Lifts and death spirals (pair skating), pirouettes, steps and spirals (single and pair skating) are divided into 4 levels, depending on their difficulty: level 1 - easiest, level 2 - intermediate, level 3 - more difficult and level 4 - most difficult execution of a Elements.
• In ice dancing, all elements are divided into at least 3 levels, depending on their difficulty.
• Jumps with the same level of difficulty are rated slightly higher in the freestyle if they are performed in the second half of the program. (The strength usually decreases towards the end of the program.) This is done by multiplying the base value by a factor of 1.1.

A description of the properties that give an element a particular level of difficulty will be published and updated in ISU Communications.

Degree of implementation

During a program, the judges use the GOE ("grade of execution") to evaluate each element within a range of +5 to −5 (ie +5, +4, +3, +2, +1 , Base value, −1, −2, −3, −4, −5). First, evaluate the positive aspects of an implementation, which can add to the overall value of the element, and then deductions if mistakes are made.

Each plus or minus degree is assigned its own numerical point value in the value scale table. The trimmed mean of these point values ​​is later added to the base value of the respective element. In figure skating, each value on the GOE scale stands for 10% of the respective base value (+5 for example 50%). When it comes to ice dancing, a value on the GOE scale at the base level is currently 15% of the corresponding base value (+5, e.g. for 75%), at a higher level (i.e. from level 1 ) for 15% of the base value of level 1 (and thus at level> 1 for less than 15% of the respective base value); Exception: for the choreographic elements, a value on the GOE scale in the positive range stands for 75%, in the negative range for −20% of the basic value (+5 for 375%, −5 for −100%).

The guidelines for the assessment will be published and updated through ISU communications. This means that the basic values ​​and GOE point values ​​can also vary from season to season.

Total technical value

The overall degree for the execution of an element, which is indicated as GOE in published detailed results, is calculated by the computer as the truncated mean over the GOE point values ​​of the "counting" judges. (See under judges .) Adding the total grade to the basic value gives the rating of the element. The technical total value (English Total Element Score ) is the sum of the ratings for the individual technical elements.

Program components

In addition to the technical result, the judges awarded points for five program components (Engl. Program Components ), on a scale from 0 to 10 in increments of 0.25. The program components are as follows: Skating skills, connecting elements, presentation / execution, choreography / composition and interpretation.

Amazing	10
Excellent	9
Very good	8th	about 75%
Well	7th
Above average	6th
Average	5	about 50%
Acceptable	4th
Weak	3	about 25%
Weak, hopeless	2
Very hopeless	1

In ice dancing, the compulsory dances have only four program components: Skating skills, timing, presentation / execution and interpretation. This is due to the fact that the sequence of steps in compulsory dances is precisely predefined, i.e. the choreography is the same for all couples.

The jury result for each program component is calculated by the computer as a truncated mean based on the ratings of the “counting” judges. (See under judges .) The result for each program component is multiplied by a factor so that the program components with different weights are included in the total and the total is roughly balanced with the overall technical result. All values ​​are rounded to two decimal places after the comma.

The highest possible score for each of the five program components is obviously 10.00 points. Nevertheless, the maximum point gain by all five components is not simply 50 points because of the multiplication with weighting factors. With the short program or with compulsory and original dance the factors are smaller, with the freestyle larger. The relative weighting of the program components by the factors in the short program and freestyle or compulsory dance, original dance and freestyle is also different.

The following describes some of the aspects that the judges should be aware of when evaluating the program components.

Ice skating skill

The ice craft (engl. Skating skills ), as a figure skater / pair is the way on the ice. Technical clarity, quality of the edge run, speed and continuity of ice skating are assessed.

Criteria:

• Balance and a rhythmic knee work, precision of the footwork;
• Flow and effortless glide;
• Cleanliness and safety with the deep edge run as well as the steps and turns;
• Energy and acceleration;
• Skating in multiple directions;
• Skating on one foot;
• balanced mastery of technique in both partners, harmonious and synchronous execution of the program (pair skating, ice dancing);
• Use of the entire ice surface (compulsory dances).

Fasteners

The connecting elements ( transitions ) are all movements, positions, footwork and postures that connect the elements. The inputs and outputs of the technical elements must also be observed.

Criteria:

• Variety, difficulty and quality of fasteners;
• Difficulty, creativity and quality of the connection steps;
• Originality and difficulty entering and exiting the elements;
• harmonic and synchronous execution (pair skating, ice dancing);
• general quality;
• Balance and teamwork between partners (pair skating, ice dancing);
• Diversity of dance postures, precise footwork ( trace images - ice dancing).

Presentation / implementation

During the presentation (English performance ) one has to assess how a figure skater / couple is able to present music and choreography in a pleasing manner and to impress a pleasing impression with the help of conscious and deliberate body movements. In the implementation (Engl. Execution ) is quality of movement, posture and balance rated the performed elements. This includes harmony of movements in pair skating and ice dancing.

Criteria:

• physical, emotional, and intellectual empathy;
• Style and individuality;
• harmonious and synchronous body movement (pair skating, ice dancing);
• Variants of speed;
• balanced performance by both partners (pair skating, ice dancing);
• conscious division of space by both partners - the distance between the partners, harmonious change of posture (pair skating, ice dancing)

Choreography / composition

The choreography (engl. Choreography ) is a deliberate, elaborate and original arrangement of all the movements that are in accordance with the unit, the space of the structure and expression.

Criteria:

• Idea, intention;
• Creativity and originality;
• even distribution of the elements on the ice surface;
• meaningful and deliberate connection and connection;
• Utilization of staff and overall space;
• Correspondence of elements, steps and movements to the music;
• Harmony and unison (pair skating).

interpretation

The interpretation is a personal and creative translation of the musical mood and character into the movements on the ice.

Criteria:

• effortless movements in accordance with the music;
• Representation of the mood of the music, the character and rhythm of the music;
• a relationship between partners that the music represents;
• Correspondence of elements, steps and movements to the music;
• Suitability and appropriateness of the piece of music (original and freestyle dance)
• Ice skating to the rhythm of music (free dance).

timing

Timing is the ability of an ice dance couple to correctly represent the rhythm in time with the music while running the prescribed traces of compulsory dances. The beat times are set for each step. In the original dance and in the freestyle, the correct execution in terms of beat and rhythm is assessed. There are no prescribed steps here, but the execution must be carried out in a correct reference.

Criteria:

• Ice skating according to the so-called "heavy" emphasis ( beat );
• Ice skating in time with the music;
• Ice skating at the prescribed rhythms;
• Start of the ice dance with the right beat.

Prints

Violations of the rules will be punished with point deductions. There are e.g. B. for

• Timeout / underrun
• Illegal elements
• Falls
• Program interruptions
• Violation of the costume rules

In ice dancing there are still deductions for z. B.

• Additional elements
• Elevations of too long duration

Bottom line

The sum of the technical result and the weighted program elements gives the final result for the segment (short program or freestyle or compulsory, original or freestyle dance) after taking into account deductions.

The results of the segments are added together to form the final result of a figure skater / couple for the competition. Whoever has the highest number of points wins.

Tie

segment

If two or more participants (single runners, couple) have the same number of points, the technical result is decisive in the short program. In the freestyle, the result decides for the program components. If the results are the same here, too, they all have the same rank.

competition

If two or more participants (single runners, couple) have the same total number of points, the better result in the last segment will decide. If the results are the same here, too, they all have the same rank.

Publish the results

The results from each segment of the competition or championship must be published immediately when all participants have completed the segment. At the end of each competition, the final result must be made available to all participants.

Top performances

Personal best

In the new ISU evaluation system, the personal best is the maximum number of points that a figure skater has achieved in his career. This must have been achieved in an ISU competition, national competitions are not included.

Season best

The season's best is the maximum number of points achieved by a figure skater in a season. It is used to determine the field at the Grand Prix final.

World record

The world record is the highest number of points achieved under the new point system. This must have been achieved in an official ISU competition, national competitions are not included. Changes in the point system were not included. The ISU does not officially refer to these high scores as world records.

At the beginning of the 2018/19 season, the ISU expanded the range for the grade of execution to plus or minus five points. At the same time it was determined that all previous best performances only have "historical" value and that new best performances will be made from the 2018/19 season. Listed as "historical records" are the highest number of points achieved since the introduction of the points system, which was renewed for the 2004/2005 season, up to and including the 2017/18 season.

Current world records

Men's

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short program	Yuzuru Hanyu	111.82	Four continents championships 2020
Freestyle	Nathan Chen	224.92	Grand Prix Final 2019 in Turin
total	Nathan Chen	335.30	Grand Prix Final 2019 in Turin

Ladies

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short program	Aljona Kostornaya	085.45	Grand Prix Final 2019 in Turin
Freestyle	Alexandra Trussova	166.62	Skate Canada 2019
total	Aljona Kostornaya	247.59	Grand Prix Final 2019 in Turin

Couples

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short program	Alexandra Boikowa / Dmitri Koslowski	082.34	European Championship 2020
Freestyle	Sui Wenjing / Han Cong	155.60	World Championship 2019
total	Sui Wenjing / Han Cong	234.84	World Championship 2019

Ice dance

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Rhythm dance	Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron	090.03	NHK Trophy 2019
Freestyle	Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron	136.58	NHK Trophy 2019
total	Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron	226.61	NHK Trophy 2019

Historic world records

Men's

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short program	Yuzuru Hanyu	112.72	Autumn Classic 2017 in Canada
Freestyle	Yuzuru Hanyu	223.20	World Championships 2017
total	Yuzuru Hanyu	330.43	Grand Prix Final 2015

Ladies

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short program	Alina Sagitova	082.92	Olympic Winter Games 2018
Freestyle	Alexandra Trussova	166.62	Skate Canada 2019
total	Yevgenia Medvedeva	241.31	World Team Trophy 2017

Couples

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short program	Tatiana Volososchar / Maxim Trankov	084.17	2014 Winter Olympics
Freestyle	Aljona Savchenko / Bruno Massot	162.86	World Championship 2018
total	Aljona Savchenko / Bruno Massot	245.84	World Championship 2018

Ice dance

(Records according to the rating system from the 2010/2011 season)

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Short dance	Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron	083.73	World Championship 2018
Freestyle	Alexandra Stepanova / Ivan Bukin	124.94	Grand Prix Russia Cup 2018
total	Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron	207.20	World Championship 2018

(Historic records up to the 2010/2011 season)

segment	Figure skater	Points	competition
Compulsory dance	Tatiana Nawka / Roman Kostomarow	045.97	World Championship 2005
Original dance	Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir	070.27	World Championship 2010
Freestyle	Tatiana Nawka / Roman Kostomarow	117.14	Cup of Russia 2003
total	Tatiana Nawka / Roman Kostomarow	227.81	World Championship 2005

See also

• figure skating
• Single run
• Pair skating
• Ice dancing
• Synchronous figure skating
• Figure skating elements

Sources and web links

• Summary of ISU Judging System engl.
• ISU Judging System - a page with detailed documents in PDF files (English)
• ISU Judging System software - a page with the input software (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ISU : Communication 1611: Single & Pair Skating - Scale of Values, Levels of Difficulty and Guidelines for marking Grade of Execution, page 5, from May 4, 2010 (accessed on January 30, 2020)
2. ↑ ISU Communication No. 2253: Single & Pair Skating, Scale of Values, season 2019/20
3. ↑ ISU Communication No. 2256: Ice Dance, Scale of Values, season 2019/20
4. ↑ ISU Special Regulations S & P / ID 2018 , Rule 353, para. 1. m
5. ^ ISU : Statistics Personal & Season's Best
6. ↑ Record lists and explanations on the ISU homepage