Subject:      These ARE the rules
From:         Sandra Loosemore <sandra@shore.net>
Date:         1997/11/13
Message-ID:   <7ouiutw5m28.fsf@shell2.shore.net>
Newsgroups:   rec.sport.skating.ice.figure

OK, here are the rules, straight out of the ISU technical regulations
for figure skating....

Rule 316 (short program marking)

In single and pair short programs two marks are awarded.

1.  The first mark is for the required elements, the second is for the
presentation of the program.

2.  In marking the required elements the following must be considered:
  a) jumps:  the height, length, technique and the clean starting and
     landing of the required jumps;
  b) jump ccombination:  the perfect execution of the two jumps in relation
     to their difficulty;
  c) lifts: the speed, the height, the continuous rotation, smoothness of
     the take-off and landing, good coverage of the ice surface, the position
     of the lady in the air;
  d) death spirals:  a smooth entry and exit, the even descent into the
     spiral by the lady, the maintenance of the pivot position by the man and
     the position of the lady's body and head should be close to the
     ice surface during the execution of the actual death spiral;
     [how's that for grammar?  :-P]
  e) spins:  strong and well controlled rotation, number of revolutions in
     the required position, speed of rotation, centering of the spin.  In
     flying spins the height of the jump and the position in the air and
     landing;
  f) step and spiral step sequences:  the difficulty of the steps used, the
     swing, carriage and smooth flow of the movement in conformity with the
     character and rhythm of the music;
  g) difficulty of the connecting steps/movements;
  h) speed.

3.  In marking the presentation of the program, the following must be
considered:

  a) harmonious composition of the program as a whole and its conformity
     with the music chosen;
  b) variation of speed;
  c) utilization of the ice surface;
  d) easy movement and sureness in time to the music;
  e) carriage and style;
  f) originality;
  g) expression of the character of the music;
  h) unison (for pairs).

[remainder of the rule is about deductions for failures]

Rule 322 (marking for free skating)

1.  In single and pair free skating two marks are awarded.  The first mark
is for technical merit and the second one for presentation.

2.  In marking the technical merit the following must be considered:
  a) difficulty of the performance (with no credit being given for
     portions thereof which are missed);
  b) variety;
  c) cleanness and sureness;
  d) speed.

3.  In marking the presentation the following must be considered:
  a) harmonious composition of the program as a whole and its conformity
     with the music chosen;
  b) variation of speed;
  c) utilization of the ice surface;
  d) easy movement and sureness in time to the music;
  e) carriage and style;
  f) originality;
  g) expression of the character of the music;
  h) unison (pairs).

4.  All the elements of a free skating program (the jumps, spins, step
sequences and particularly the glide, footwork and the difficulty and
variety of the steps) must be taken into consideration in the mark for
technical merit and be rewarded accoding to their relative merit as to
difficulty.  No individual element can be given predominant importance
and the program must be considered as a whole.  Excessive values must
not be assigned to triple or quadruple jumps especially when of poor
quality.  [...]

5.  In the case of jumps (including toe jumps) special attention must
be paid to a clean spring starting from a true edge and to a clean landing.
Any jump commenced or landed on two feet shall not be marked by the Judges.
In the case of spins special attention must be paid to a beginning which
is smooth, strong and well controlled rotation, number of revolutions,
speed of rotation, centering of the spin and a controlled and pleasing
finish.  In flying spins special attention must be paid to the height
of the jump and the position in the air and landing.

[there are several more items covering unison for pairs, penalties
for falling or lying on the ice, etc.]

-Sandra