ISU Communication 2623: Singles & Pairs Levels and GOE Guidelines 2024-2025

Communication 2623

Changes in this document are pending approval at the 2024 ISU Congress in June. More information about rule change proposals will be available before the Congress. Notable changes in this document include:

1) The Euler will be a non-listed jump with no value (previously, it had a base value of 0.5). This applies to both singles and pairs skating.

An Euler (half-loop) is considered a non-listed jump, it will have no value when used in a jump combination between two listed jumps and it will not be counted in the number of the allowed jumps of the concerned jump combination. An Euler jump cannot be included in the jump combination of the Short Program. An Euler (half-loop) can only be executed once in Free Skating.

2) Addition of a choreographic spin in singles (replacing one leveled spin?)

A Choreographic Spin is a spin which enhances the choreography of the program and matches the music. Choreographic Spin must have minimum 3 revolutions executed on a blade, with any basic or non-basic positions allowed. Change of foot is optional and can be done several times during the spin. If the Choreographic Spin cannot be identified by the Technical panel, the third performed spin will be considered as the Choreographic Spin (Choreographic Spin confirmed). This element has a fixed base value and will be evaluated by the judges in GOE only.

3) Addition of a choreographic lift in pairs (replacing one leveled lift?)

A Choreographic Lift is a lift which enhances the choreography of the program and matches the music. Choreographic Lift must be ascending and descending whilst moving across the ice surface. It must have a minimum of 1 rotation. The Choreographic Lift does not have any limitations regarding the hold on entry or at any point during the lift. The lifting partner must have straight or almost straight arm(s) at some point during the lift. If the Choreographic Lift is not identifiable to the panel, the last performed lift will be taken as the Choreographic Lift (Choreographic Lift confirmed). This element has a fixed base value and will be evaluated by the judges in GOE only. The positions in the Choreographic lift will not be considered as used in the other lifts of the program. The take off may be the same as in another lift of the program and will not invalidate the other lift.

4) Addition of a choreographic pair spin

A Choreographic Pair Spin is a spin which enhances the choreography of the program and matches the music. A Choreographic Pair Spin must have a minimum of 3 revolutions executed on a blade at least by one partner, with any basic or non-basic positions allowed. Change of foot is optional and can be done several times during the spin. Lifting of partners is optional but should not consist of any lifting movement with full extension of the arm(s) if the lifted position is higher than a shoulder level. The Technical Panel identifies the Choreographic Pair Spin and will be confirmed once the 3 revolutions have been completed. This element has a fixed base value and will be evaluated by the judges in GOE only.

Solo Ice Dance Introduced as International Discipline

From the International Skating Union:

Solo Ice Dance is a parallel discipline to Ice Dance. Skaters perform the same Pattern Dances, Rhythm Dance and Free Dance segments. Ice Dance and Solo Ice Dance both draw from the fundamentals of ballroom dance and emphasize the techniques of edge work, flow and motion where Skaters must always skate to a defined beat, rhythm or theme. Solo Ice Dance has required elements that competitors must perform, creating well-balanced Ice Dance programs (Rhythm Dance, Free Dance); these programs include a dance spin, a step sequence, a twizzle sequence, a pattern dance element, edge elements, and choreographic elements. Edge elements, which replace lifts in partnered Ice Dance, consist of movements like spread eagles, bauers, hydroblades, and spirals to highlight edge control, flexibility and musicality. Solo Ice Dance follows the same elements and requirements for levels that are published annually by the ISU for Ice Dance. Each year new Rhythms and Pattern Dances are chosen to keep the sport current, fresh and entertaining.

Solo Dance is an opportunity for Skaters to develop Ice Dance skills without a partner, allowing for the sport of Figure Skating to grow. Solo Ice Dance demonstrates artistry, expression and musicality. Solo Ice Dance will also serve as a developmental tool for the discipline of Ice Dance and is an educational tool to assist our sport's developing nations in growing their athletes.  Solo Ice Dance will allow Skaters to “learn how to skate to music” which is essential in Figure Skating across all disciplines.

Documents:

• Solo Ice Dance Requirements 2023-24

• Solo Ice Dance Levels 2023-24

• Solo Ice Dance Scale of Values 2023-24

Minimum TES Scores for 2024 ISU Championships

Source: ISU Communication 2570

2024 World Championships (SP/FS)

• Men: 34 / 64

• Women: 32 / 53

• Pairs: 29 / 46

• Ice Dance: 35 / 52 (previously 33 / 49)

2024 European & Four Continents Championships (SP/FS)

• Men: 28 / 46

• Women: 25 / 42

• Pairs: 25 / 42

• Ice Dance: 30 / 48 (previously 28 / 45)

2024 Junior World Championships (SP/FS)

• Men: 25 / 44

• Women: 25 / 40

• Pairs: 23 / 34

• Ice Dance: 24 / 38

ISU Statement: IOC Recommendations of March 28, 2023

The ISU Council discussed the IOC's recommendations on allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes back to competition, and have decided that the ban will remain in place for the time being. They are still exploring the feasibility of allowing RUS/BLR athletes and continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine.

Full statement:

The International Skating Union (ISU) has supported the Skating Federations of Ukraine since the start of the war, implementing ISU Communication 2469, and also granting financial support to assist Ukrainian Skaters. The ISU reiterates its sympathy for and solidarity to all affected by the War in Ukraine. The ISU maintains its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms.

The ISU Council met on June 9-11, 2023 and discussed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations of March 28, 2023 for International Federations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarussian passport in international competitions.

The ISU Council decided to explore the feasibility issues with regard to potential pathways to implement the IOC recommendations within ISU Sports.

The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the ISU activity as well as the decisions and their implementation within the Olympic Movement. In the meantime, ISU Communication 2469 remains in force.

ISU Communication 2560: Ice Dance Requirements for Technical Rules Season 2023-24

The ISU has published Communication 2560: Ice Dance Requirements for Technical Rules Season 2023-24.

Summary of notable changes:

Rhythm Dance:

• Theme (senior and junior): Music from the 1980s (must be originally released in that decade)

• Junior Pattern Dance: Two sequences of Rocker Foxtrot in any order, can be skated one after the other or separately. In the first sequence, the man skates the man’s steps and the woman skates the woman’s steps. In the second sequence, the woman skates the man’s steps and the man skates the woman’s steps.

• Senior Choreographic Rhythm Sequence: Silver Samba, steps #9, 9a, 9b to #47. Woman’s/man’s steps may be performed by either one partner or both partners, “provided there is continuity of prescribed steps always performed by at least 1 partner”. Tempo at least 100 beats/min, no restriction in number of beats per step. Partners must be in contact, but any holds are permitted. (Note: This element is still evaluated as a choreographic element, not a pattern dance with levels.)

Free Dance:

• Choreographic Hydroblading Movement added as a new option for choreographic elements. Both partners would perform the hydroblading movement at the same time. If any part of the body besides the boot of the free leg touches the ice, the element may be considered a Choreographic Sliding Movement instead.

• Choreographic Character Step Sequence: Skaters may now perform this sequence in various patterns instead of only along the short axis of the rink. The pattern for the ChSt must be different from the pattern of the other step sequence in the free dance.

  • Diagonal (corner to corner)

  • Long axis

  • Short axis

  • Circular (starting and ending at the long barrier at the short axis)

ISU Communication 2558: Singles & Pairs Levels, GOE and PCS Guidelines for Season 2023-24

The ISU has published Communication 2558: Levels of Difficulty and Guidelines for Marking Grade of Execution and Program Components Season 2023/24

Summary of notable changes (underlined portions are new):

Spin Levels:

• “In Flying spins and spins in one position the difficult exit must be started from a basic position (not final windup), which must be at least reached. In spin combinations the difficult exit can be started from any position.”

• “When windmill is used as a difficult exit, it must be executed on the spinning foot.”

• Optional level 4 feature: “Both directions immediately following each other in sit, camel, Layback and difficult variation of an upright position”

Pair Lift Levels:

• “In Group 5 Reverse Lasso Lift (5RLi) when both partners skate forwards, this is considered as a difficult variation of take-off.”

Death Spiral Levels:

• “Difficult entry and/or exit is one feature and only one of them will count as a level feature. The exit must have a significant impact on the balance, control and execution of the death spiral.”

Pair Spin Levels:

• “Difficult exit – exiting in a lift or spinning movement, an innovative move that makes the exit significantly more difficult. The exit must have a significant impact on the balance, control and execution of the pair spin combination.”

• “Lifting the woman while the man is on 1 foot is a level feature when executed for at least 2 revolutions. If the woman is in a difficult position during the lift, it will be counted as a difficult variation.”

• “Pair Spin Combination can be started with a jump. Any flying entry can be considered as a feature. If one or both partners do not execute 3 revolutions before or after the change of foot, the PCoSp will be marked with a “V”. If there are less than 3 revolutions on both feet by one or both partners, the spin will have “No Value”.

GOE - Positive Aspects:

• Jumps: “effortless throughout (including rhythm in jump combo or sequence)”

• Step sequences: “Creativity of body movements including variations of free foot: This positive bullet includes creative and varied body movements and different placements of the free foot (forwards, sideways, backwards/supported or unsupported) during the step sequence.”

GOE - Negative Aspects:

• Jumps: “Poor take-off: For example a toe-assisted jump is taken off from the full blade, Toe Loop is executed like a Toe Axel or there is excessive rotation on the ice at the take-off. The reduction in GOE is -2 to -4.” (previously -1 to -3)

• Jumps: “Multiple “q” signs in jump combo/seq: -3 to -4”

• Spins: “Poor exit: -1 to -3”

• “In case of any of the following errors, the starting GOE for the evaluation cannot be higher than +2:” (added following)

  • Spins with less than required revolutions (Short Program)

  • Spins with change of foot with poor change

  • Flying Spins with poor fly

• Twists: “Poor take-off (poor speed, serious scratching, no toe-pick): -1 to -3” (previously -1 to -2)

• Death spirals: “Poor or weak position of the woman (too high/less than 1 rev in low position) or man: -1 to -3”

• Death spirals: “Woman’s or man’s weak edge quality: -2 to -3” (previously -1 to -2)

Reallocation of entries of cancelled ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2022 Yerevan, Armenia

The ISU Council evaluated the potential options to replace the cancelled ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating, Yerevan (ARM) – September 21-24, 2022 (see ISU Statement of September 16).

One option considered was to hold the event in Yerevan on October 19-22, 2022 as gracefully proposed by the Figure Skating Federation of Armenia. However, while the situation at the Azerbaijan/Armenia border and in Yerevan seems calm, the ISU understands that the situation remains fragile and new eruptions of fighting and/or protests in Yerevan cannot be excluded. Considering this uncertainty, the Council therefore concluded that such short-term postponement remained risky and this option was not pursued. However, subject to a normalization in the area, the Council re-affirmed its intention to allot another ISU Junior Grand Prix event to Armenia as soon as possible. The ISU Council reiterates its high appreciation to the Figure Skating Federation of Armenia in preparing the event and for their understanding of the decision taken.

The Council further evaluated the allotment of the cancelled Armenian Junior Grand Prix event to other locations but due to logistical challenges and the time pressure, no economically feasible alternative was found.

The Council therefore decided to re-allocate the competitors’ entries of the cancelled Armenian ISU Junior Grand Prix to the next upcoming three Junior Grand Prix events, namely in Gdansk, Poland on September 28 – October 1, again in Gdansk, Poland on October 5-8 and finally in Egna-Neumarkt, Italy on October 12-15, 2022. The respective organizers have signaled their availability to cooperate with the ISU in accommodating the additional entries. The concerned participating ISU Members are being urgently contacted by the ISU. The ISU thanks the Polish and Italian organizers as well as the concerned participating ISU Members for their flexibility and cooperation.

Source

Cancellation of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating, Yerevan (ARM) – September 21-24, 2022

The ISU Council has followed with concern the recent developments at the Armenian/Azerbaijan border and protests in Yerevan. The ISU Council also noted that some of the participating ISU Members have already decided not to attend the event.

Considering the prevailing uncertainty with safety implications that are impossible to predict, considering that this is a Junior event involving minors and mindful of security being the top priority, the ISU Council concluded the event cannot be held as planned.

The Council is evaluating a postponement to a later date and/or the re-allocation of the entries to the remaining Junior Grand Prix events of the season for a decision to be communicated as soon as possible.

The ISU regrets this unfortunate situation and thanks the Figure Skating of Armenia for their efforts to prepare the event and for their understanding for this decision.

Source

ISU Communication 2488: Four Continents Moved, 2022-23 Technical Minimum Scores

ISU Communication 2488

The 2023 Four Continents Championships (Feb. 7-12) has been moved from Sydney, Australia to Colorado Springs, USA.

Technical Minimum Scores, 2023 ISU Championships:

2023 World Championships:

• Men: 34.00 SP, 64.00 FS

• Women: 32.00 SP, 53.00 FS

• Pairs: 29.00 SP, 46.00 FS

• Ice Dance: 33.00 RD, 49.00 FD

2023 European & Four Continents Championships:

• Men: 28.00 SP, 46.00 FS

• Women: 25.00 SP, 42.00 FS

• Pairs: 25.00 SP, 42.00 FS

• Ice Dance: 28.00 RD, 45.00 FD

2023 Junior World Championships:

• Men: 25.00 SP, 44.00 FS

• Women: 25.00 SP, 40.00 FS

• Pairs: 23.00 SP, 34.00 FS

• Ice Dance: 24.00 RD, 38.00 FD

58th ISU Congress: Day 5 - Election Results

Press release and full election results

President: Jae Youl Kim (KOR)

Vice President, Figure Skating: Benoit Lavoie (CAN)

ISU Council (Figure Skating):

• Patricia St. Peter (USA)

• Tatsuro Matsumura (JPN)

• Susanna Rahkamo (FIN)

• Gyorgy Elek (HUN)

• Maria Teresa Samaranch (ESP)

Athlete Commission Member: Eric Radford (CAN)

Ice Dance Technical Committee:

• Chair - Shawn Rettstatt (USA)

• Hilary Selby (GBR)

• David Molina (FRA)

• Ingrid Charlotte Wolter (GER)

Singles and Pairs Technical Committee:

• Chair - Fabio Bianchetti (ITA)

• Leena Laaksonen (FIN)

• Yukiko Okabe (JPN)

• Emilie Billow (SWE)

• Susan Lynch (USA)