Figure Skating in
Northern Ontario
Understand Figure Skating
How do judges judge
Judges are given the task of determining
the best skater in a given competition. The varying elements will change
with each level and discipline but the basic comparison points between
performances remain the same. Once a performance is done, the judges
will assess the elements completed, the basic skating skills between the
elements and how well the skater or skaters were able to incorporate
those elements with the music chosen. If mistakes have been made which
require deductions, the judges will apply those deductions before
awarding the final mark.
Because it is a competition, judges are continually assessing the
abilities of one skater to another. It is not always easy - while one
skater may be an excellent jumper, another may be almost as good a
jumper but a better spinner. A third and even fourth skater may also be
good jumpers and spinners and have excellent presentation skills.
One often hears television commentators state that "I would not want to
be a judge on this panel." Sometimes a decision can be very difficult
when two or more skaters in an event are similar. This difficulty is
only increased when there is an arena full of spectators, each with
their own favorite skater and opinion on who should win.
But the bottom line is that judges are trained to handle these very
situations. Whether judging at a club competition or the World
Championships, judges have been trained to assign marks that reflect the
performances given, taking into consideration established rules as well
as the technical and presentation skills outlined above.
What do judges look for?
When comparing one skater against others, judges look for the
following:
Basic skating skills
Technical skills
Presentation skills
Basic Skating Skills
Regardless of the level of competition, judges assess a skater's
or team's basic skating skills. This includes stroking, flow, power,
speed, edge quality and form. Skaters covering the ice with good speed
(achieved through proper technique and with good upper body carriage and
solid edges) with comparable technical skills will generally be awarded
higher technical marks than their slower competitors. At international
competition speed is essential. Speed is encouraged in the earliest
stages of development and for this reason is included as one of the
seven CanSkate stages. Basic skating skills are an essential component
in every discipline.
Technical Skills
Singles, Pair and Synchronized Skating
While taking notes during an event judges not only record what elements
a skater or team completes but also note the quality of each jump, jump
combination, jump sequence, lift, spin, and footwork/field movement
sequence. Even though two skaters may complete the same number and level
of jumps, there may be a difference in quality.
Skills that help differentiate between jump and lift quality are:
- Speed and flow on entry and exit
- Air position (proper backspin position
versus a wrapped free leg in jumping and a technically correct and
aesthetically pleasing position in lifts)
- Correct technique on take-off
- Height and distance achieved
All of these criteria apply to jump
combinations and jumps series. Judges also assess ice coverage and
consistency in the height of each jump in the combination/series. In
spins and spin combinations judges look for proper and aesthetically
pleasing positions, speed and number of revolutions, the amount of
height obtained in flying spins, ability to centre and control on entry
and exit. In footwork and field movements ice coverage, variety,
difficulty and use of levels all help differentiate between competitors.
In synchronized skating judges develop a detailed charting technique
that indicates the various elements that teams are performing. The
charting will indicate the type of formation, the steps involved during
the formation, direction changes, speed, flow and overall quality. Marks
will be assigned based on the notes made and the overall impression of
the performance.
Judges are skilled in developing a keen awareness of what 12-20 skaters
are doing at the same time. The difficulty and quality of the manoeuvres
executed must be evaluated in the first mark (required
elements/technical merit). The elements in synchronized skating are much
like footwork in singles and pairs short programs with a lot going on at
the same time. The judge must be able to comprehend the number and
variety of footwork steps, number and difficulty of holds, direction of
skating, in addition to the actual basics of the manoeuvre. The teams
can be changing the hold, direction of skating, executing intricate
footwork and combinations of the manoeuvre all at the same time.
Peripheral vision is a must.
Ice Dancing
Beyond the technical requirements and restrictions set for compulsory
dances, variation/rhythm dances and original free dances there are some
basic elements which judges use to assess teams. When considering
technique in compulsory dances judges take into consideration the
following:
- Accuracy - how well steps are
performed in accordance to the rules
- Placement - are the steps of the dance
performed consistently on the prescribed pattern
- Style - does the team have good form
and skate the dance with proper carriage and positioning while still
giving it their own "flair"
- Unison.
In Timing/Expression judges assess the
skaters' abilities to skate the steps in time to the music with an
expression appropriate to the rhythm (e.g. does the American waltz have
nice lilt achieved through nice soft knee action, rising and falling or
is the feeling created through swingy free legs?).
In the other portions of dance events judges evaluate the material
presented in terms of difficulty, variety, unison, edge quality, speed,
flow and form. They also determine whether or any illegal moves were
included and take appropriate deductions if necessary.
The Presentation Mark
When assessing a singles or pairs program (short or free), the
panel of judges is responsible for evaluating a number of different
things. They focus on the technical components of the skating (i.e.
jumps, spins, footwork and field movements), and on how those elements
are performed in relation to the music, and if they are executed with
style, carriage, form and line. Judges evaluate these components when
assigning the presentation mark to a skater.
The presentation aspect of figure skating makes it a unique sport - it
is one of few sports which combines athletics and artistry. The
successful combination of the two aspects helps create memorable
performances. More specifically, skaters are assessed equally on
Technical Merit (or Required Elements in the case of a short program)
and Presentation. In the Free Program, the presentation mark breaks the
tie if the marks awarded to two skaters by an individual judge are the
same total. In a tight competition, often the presentation mark can gain
(or lose) a placing or two. But why is that? What do the judges look for
when assessing this seemingly subjective mark?
Eight Components of the Presentation Mark
When assigning the presentation mark, each of the following elements is
taken into consideration before arriving at one number:
- Harmonious composition/conformity with
the music chosen
- Variation of speed
- Use of the ice surface
- Ease of movement/sureness
- Carriage and style
- Originality
- Expression of the character of the
music
- Unison (pair skating)
1. Harmonious Composition/Conformity with
the Music Chosen
This is essentially the overall "look and feel" of the program. Judges
must determine if the skater or team is skating in time with the music,
and in the case of pairs, with one another. Is the music used fully in
terms of placement of highlights? Is the choreography suited to the
music and the skater?
2. Variation of Speed
While general speed is assessed under the technical merit/required
elements mark, variation of speed is considered in the presentation
mark. Judges look for a change in speed of movement (long, sustained
movement and short, sharp contractions), ease and variety of
acceleration/deceleration, all of which will be dictated by the chosen
music. A program should strive to incorporate changes in speed of
skating and movement.
3. Use of the Ice Surface
A program should cover the entire ice surface, using a variety of
patterns, directions and levels (low, medium and high). Skaters should
avoid programs which rely heavily on circular and straight-line
patterns. Highlights should be distributed evenly over the entire ice
surface (i.e. not all in between the two blue lines, nor in one or the
other end zone). Again, use of pattern, direction, level and placement
of highlights should be dictated by the chosen music and/or theme.
4. Easy Movement/Sureness in Time to the Music
In this component, judges are essentially looking for the ease with
which the skater or team performs. Balance, strength, rhythm, timing and
flow are all assessed. Skaters performing choreography and highlights
with apparent effortlessness will be rewarded with a higher presentation
mark. Michelle Kwan is a good example of a skater who generally performs
with such ease.
5. Carriage and Style
Skaters should perform with erect carriage and strong line. Variations
in line and carriage in relation to the music/theme are acceptable, so
long as they are still aesthetically pleasing and have proper alignment.
Flexibility is also considered in this component.
6. Originality
Ideally, skaters and coaches, when choreographing a new program, venture
to try something new - something which will advance the sport of skating
beyond the present. Originality is rewarded through innovative movement,
program concept (theme and/or music selected), or choreography. A skater
who often "pushed the envelope" and took skating in a new direction was
Canadian champion, World and Olympic medallist, Toller Cranston. More
recently, Ukrainian skater Dimitry Dimitrenko has become quite well
known for his creative and innovative choreography, style and movement.
7. Expression of the Character of the Music
Judges assess whether the skater demonstrates an understanding of the
character of the music and uses the whole body in order to interpret the
chosen music theme. Judges must determine whether the choreography is
being performed because that is what the coach has indicated should be
done at certain points in the program, or whether the program is skated
with feeling. Choreography and movement should be inspired from within.
8. Unison (Pairs)
Unison is a key component of the presentation mark for pair teams.
Skaters should have similar technique (jumping and spinning) and basic
skating styles and demonstrate an ability to skate as "one". Judges
determine whether or not the skaters are always within reach of one
another or if they are scrambling to get in time with one another,
continually searching for the other. While skating in time with one
another, the pair needs to skate in time with the music, with similar
performance levels. Excellent examples of pair teams who have the
ability to skate seemingly as one unit are current Canadian pair
champions Kristy Sargeant and Kris Wirtz and former World and Olympic
champions Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov.
The International Skating Union (ISU) has placed a major emphasis on the
assessment of the presentation mark with many seminars being held
throughout member federations. Canada's Lori Nichol and Anne Schelter
have played key roles in the development and delivery of these seminars.
As you can see, judges need to take a lot into consideration when
awarding the presentation mark to the skater or team. All of these
components are etched into the subconscious of competitive judges and
many seek to expand their understanding of art through the study of
dance, theatre, visual art and music, as do many coaches and skaters.
There is no one style of movement, type of music or theme that is
preferred by judges. As long as skaters satisfy each of the components
above in their programs the judges will reward the skaters appropriate
marks. Because the presentation mark breaks the tie in a free program it
is essential that skaters pay attention to each and every component that
makes up this mark.
