Figure Skating Journal, Technical Information

Glossary

Basic Concepts

Direction
Skaters tend to favor a natural rotation direction. Although, skaters may be called “righties” or “lefties”, rotation is not necessarily related to the hand the skater favors for writing.

Counter Clockwise
Most skaters rotate counter clockwise (CCW). They perform forward spins on their left foot, backspin on the right foot and land common rotational jumps on the right foot. These skaters have been called “righties”. Since CCW skating is most prevalent, the elements included in this glossary will be described for CCW skaters. If you prefer to skate clockwise (CW), simply mirror the descriptions in this glossary.

Clockwise
A smaller fraction of skaters rotate clockwise, meaning they perform forward spins on the right foot, back spins on the left foot and land rotational jumps on the left foot. These skaters are often called “lefties” though they are not necessarily left-handed.

Ambidexterity
The term “Ambidexterity” describes individuals who are equally capable of performing tasks with the right or left side of their bodies. While very few skaters perform jumps in both directions, there have been some who spin in both directions. However, footwork should include turns in both directions, which contributes to the difficulty of the sequence. The Ice Skating Institute of America (ISIA) requires participants to jump in both directions to pass advanced tests.

diagram of blade edges

Edges
Each skate blade has two edges, an inside (I) and outside (O) edge, as shown on the diagram. Therefore a pair of skates has four blade edges as follows: right inside (RI), left inside (LI), right outside (RO) and right inside (RI). Skaters may glide on any of these four edges either forward (F) or backward (B). The edge and direction of a skater’s movement may be indicated by an abbreviation. For example, a skater traveling forward on the inside edge his left blade may be indicated by the following abbreviation: LFI. All other edges may be indicated similarly.

Flat of the Blade
When a skater is gliding straight, whether forward or backward, without favoring either edge, the skater is on the flat of the blade (or on a "flat"). Both edges are in contact with the ice and weight is evenly distributed. Basic beginning two-foot and one-foot glides are taken on a flat. Spirals and other gliding motions that cover the ice in a straight line also utilize the flat of the blade.

Tracings
Tracings are the marks left on the ice by a skater's blades. Edges leave a single tracing from the edge upon which the skater was gliding. Flats leave two parallel tracings from both edges touching the ice at the same time.

Skating Disciplines

Compulsory Figures
Figure Skating originally was named for an artform which involved creating intricate patterns on the ice with the edges of the blades. Later, compulsory figures (also known as school figures figures, or compulsories) became part of training and competition. Compulsories were based on the figure eight and involved various turns and edges. The completed tracings left by the skater's blades were evaluated by judges. Ideally, edges were clean without scratches, undesired changes of edge, or evidence of flats. Now a dying art, figures are no longer part of elite competition and are usually excluded from training in favor or focus on artistic skating.

Freestyle Skating
Freestyle skating (free skating or artistic skating) is what viewers see on television. It involves spins, jumps and footwork. Competitive skaters assemble their skills into a program which is skated to music and evaluated by judges at competitions.

Moves in the Field
Moves in the Field (MITF) have taken the place of figures in training and testing, though they are not part of standard competition. MITF competitions may be held for recreational skaters or as special events for skaters in training. MITF consist of set patterns of turns, glides and edges that utilize the entire ice surface. Patterns may be set on lobes, the perimeter of the rink, large circles, straight lines down the length of the rink, or follow another regular pattern. The value of MITF as an actual replacement for figures continues to be debated. Issues include perceived deficiencies in edge quality, control, and increased injury due to young athletes focusing on jumps.

Singles Skating
Singles skating is performed by a solo skater, male or female. The single skater performs a program of his or her skills for testing and/or competition based on his level of achievement.

Pair Skating
Pair skating involves and man and woman performing skills together. Elements include singles elements executed in unison as well as pair skills where the partners complete skills as a unit. Pair skating is differentiated from dance by the types of elements performed in the program. Specific pair skills include overhead lifts, freestyle jumps and spins, throw jumps, twists, and death spirals. Same-sex pair skating may be performed in specialty competitions such as The Gay Games or as an exhibition or professional routine.

Ice Dancing
Ice dancing is performed by a man and woman together, although solo dance may be required to pass certain tests and may be included in recreational or adult competitions. Solo dance is not a standard track competitive discipline. Ice dancing differs from pair skating because separation between partners is limited, freestyle jumps and spins, and overhead lifts are not allowed. Spins are restricted to dance spins which are performed by the partners as a unit. Ice dancing is performed to a musical beat and often resembles the character of similar styles of ballroom dancing.

Compulsory Dance
Compulsory dances are required in competition. These are set pattern dances, and the same steps are executed by all teams in the competition. This allows direct comparison between teams performing the same steps to the same type of music.

Original Dance
In higher level and elite ice dance competition, a type of dance, such as a samba or folk dance, is decided prior to the competitive season. All competitors create a version of that type of dance. In this case, the beat is pre-established, but dancers are free to design their own steps to interpret the music.

Free Dance
The free dance is ice dancing's equivalent of a long program. Dancers choose their own music which may change during the progression of the performance. A single type of beat is not required. In other words, the entire free dance does not have to be a waltz or any other kind of dance. Skaters also design their own steps to interpret the music and highlight their skills. Elite free dances are usually very creative and incorporate unique movements that the skaters develop with their coaches and choreographers.

Synchronized Skating
Also known as “synchro”, synchronized skating is team skating. Synchronized skating was formerly called "precision skating" in North America. Although synchro is not an Olympic sport, it is a competitive sport. Colleges and clubs will often have synchronized skating teams sometimes several to accommodate skaters of different levels. Synchro competitions may be held a local, national and international or world championship levels. A synchronized skating team may consist of both men and women; however, many teams are composed of only female skaters. Due to sheer numbers of female participants in the sport, a team of all men would be very unusual though theoretically possible.

Synchronized skating involves skaters performing patterns on the ice as a team. Emphasis is placed on skaters performing identical movements in precise unison with each other. Individual or paired elements are also incorporated. Synchronized skating was originally featured in professional ice shows but has more recently provided an additional forum for competitive skaters.

Types of Skating

The types of skating described in this section are not mutually exclusive. In fact, much overlap can occur among the categories. For example, a thirty-five year old man who skates for his own enjoyment is obviously an adult skater. He is also a recreational skater. If he takes tests and competes, he is also a test and competitive skater. In a different example, a fourteen-year-old girl who is preparing for her junior test so she can compete at regionals is an eligible track competitive skater. She tests and competes. If she and her family are serious about her skating career, she is not a recreational skater. If she qualifies for national and international competition, she becomes an elite skater.

Recreational Skating
Recreational skating is skating that is done for fun and exercise. It may consist of skating a public session on Saturday afternoon or may be more involved to include lessons, tests, and competition. Recreational skating covers a wide range of skaters of various skill levels and ages. Participants may range from young children taking their first steps on ice to retired competitors who continue to skate for personal enjoyment. Recreational skating is most clearly defined as skating in which contention for major competitions and titles is not an objective. The Ice Skating Institute (ISI) is the governing body of purely recreational skating in the United States. It has its own test and competitive programs designed for recreational skaters.

Test Skating
Test skaters train to pass skating proficiency tests. These skaters may also compete at their test levels, though some choose only to test. Commonly, a skater may decide to stop competing but will continue to test in order to complete the test track for personal satisfaction or to earn credentials for coaching.

Recreational Testing
The United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA or USFS) offers a Basic Skills program that includes beginning skating skills aimed at tots, young beginners, adults, and low freestyle skaters. Although any level of testing can be considered recreational, these tests are aimed at introducing beginning participants to the sport. Additionally, ISI offers ten levels of testing for singles skaters as well as tests for tots, special skaters, couples, pairs, and dance.

Standard Track Testing
Standard track testing, also known as eligible track, is the system that prepares skaters for Olympic eligible competition. In the United States, the USFSA is the governing body for eligible track testing and competition. Standard track testing is available for the following skating disciplines: singles freestyle, moves in the field, pairs, and dance. Compulsory school figures tests are still offered, though they are not required for competition. Singles skaters must qualify to take freestyle tests by passing the corresponding moves in the field test for any given level.

Test levels beyond Basic Skills for individual skaters are as follows:

If you watch televised skating competitions, you are probably familiar with the national and world championships. These skaters have completed their senior tests. You may have also seen junior level competitions on television. These skaters have completed junior tests. Since every country has its own skating association or governing body and protocol for preparing skaters for competition, this test structure only applies to American skaters.

Adult Track Testing
The USFSA has established an adult testing track as well as adult competitions. Similar to standard testing, adult singles skaters must pass corresponding moves in the field tests in order to qualify for the freestyle test of a given level. Test content and judging criteria are geared toward adult participants.

Adult freestyle test levels are as follows:

After completing the gold test, adults may continue on with standard track testing at the intermediate level. Skaters who test beyond adult gold compete in Masters level events.

Competitive Skating
Anyone can compete in ice skating regardless of skating discipline, age, or level. The USFSA holds competitions for basic skills skaters, standard track skaters (including the US National Championships), and adult skaters. Depending on a skater’s potential and commitment, the skater may compete recreationally or with the intention of moving up toward national or Olympic contention.

Eligible Competition
This category refers to skaters who may be presently, or at some time in the future, theoretically eligible for placement on the US Olympic team. Eligible competitors are not professionals and have completed standard track tests. Of course, not every skater who competes in the eligible track has a realistic chance of making the Olympic team, but they are competing in the same pool and following the same rules and protocols as skaters with true Olympic potential.

Elite Competition
Elite competitors are the best skaters in the country. These skaters compete at international events and at US Nationals. However, since the United States can only send so many skaters to the Olympic Games, every elite skater is not necessarily an Olympic skater.

Adult Competition
The USFSA defines an adult skater as a person who is at least 25 years old. However, young adult competitions may be added to adult skating in the future for those people between the ages of 18 and 24 who prefer not to compete against children but are not old enough to meet the USFSA’s adult age criterion. Adult competitors have passed adult skating tests or corresponding eligible track tests. The USFSA does not differentiate between skaters who learned to skate as children and are now at least 25 years old and those who learned to skate as adults. In any given adult competitive event, skaters trained as children will probably compete with those who took their first steps on ice as mature individuals. However, the USFSA does acknowledge adults who passed intermediate standard track tests, even if the test was passed in childhood. These skaters compete in masters level events.

Adult singles competitions are broken down by gender, age, and test level. Separate competitions for pairs and dance are also differentiated by test level. Adult competitions may offer solo dance as well as partnered dance events. There are also competitive adult synchronized skating teams.

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The definitions provided in the technical glossary are offered in good faith for personal use. They are not necessarily official definitions.

The content of this site is copyright by "Kay" K. J. N., 1999 - 2009