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From: ISU Judging System To do: format to clearly separate disciplines Update ice dance info
History
The 6.0 system of judging figure skating, was developed during the early days of the sport, when skaters would trace figures on the ice, which, as writer Ellyn Kestnbaum states, "gave rise to the system of awarding marks based on a standard of 6.0 as perfection".[1] It was a placement-judging system in which scores were issued based on how each skater compared to others in the same competition, not on any absolute scale.[2] Figure skating historian James R. Hines calls the 6.0 system "age-old" and "unique to figure skating and deeply entrenched".[3] He says that it was a tradition understood and appreciated by skaters, judges, officials, and fans[3] and that fans found it easy to relate to the 6.0 system, which "represented skating perfection and served as every skater's goal".[4]
The 6.0 system was replaced by the ISU Judging System (IJS) in 2004, following a judging scandal during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and after two seasons of testing.[5][6]
Critical reception
(Locate at end of article??) The subhjective nature of the 6.0 system, and later of PCS scoring, has often invited criticisms 6.0 system:
criticisms of current system: criticisms that the PCS is too heavily influenced by the TES [7] Coaches have also explicitly talked about the boost in PCS that comes with skating in later groups at competitions.
During the 2025-26 season, the judjing of Ice Dance in 0articular has been cakled into question. Criticism include (find) and that the awarding of levels for step sequence elements was too difficult for fans to follow (source)
Program scoring
Skaters are awarded a Total Segment Score (TSS), which is made up of a Technical Element Score (TES), and a Program Component Score (PCS).
Technical Element Score (TES)
Each element performed carries a base value of points (depending on difficulty), and judges assign a Grade of Execution (GOE), which can increase or decrease the base value. The GOE is marked as an integer from −5 to +5 since the 2018–19 season. Before the system change, the scale went from −3 to +3. Each plus or minus step in the GOE results in increasing or decreasing the base value by 10 % in single and pair Skating and by 16 % in ice dance.
The GOE mark is then translated into a value using the Scale of Value (SOV) table which is published regularly by ISU Communications.[8] The GOE values from the judges are averaged using the "trimmed mean" procedure, where the highest and lowest values are discarded and an average is calculated from the remaining values.[8] This average value (which may be positive or negative) is finally added to the base value to produce the judging panel's overall score for the element. The total of all element scores gives the final Technical Element Score (TES).[9]
Program Component Score (PCS)
In addition to the Technical Element Score, the judges grade the overall presentation of the performance by evaluating three components: Composition (CO), Presentation (PR) and Skating skills (SK). Points are awarded for each of the three Program Components on a scale from 0.25 to 10.00, in increments of 0.25, and averaged using the same "trimmed mean" procedure that was used for averaging the GOE marks. This is then multiplied by a Component Factor to produce the PCS.
Component Factoring
The panel's points for each Program Component are multiplied by a factor depending on the event. For singles and pair skating, the factor is uniform for all components, as follows:[10]: Rule 353(m)
| Discipline | Short program (factor) |
Free skating (factor) |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 1.67 | 3.33 |
| Women | 1.33 | 2.67 |
| Pairs | 1.33 | 2.67 |
| Ice Dance | 1.33 | 2.00 |
In an ice dance competition where there is a Pattern Dance(s) (such as junior competitions), the Program Components for this element are: timing, presentation, and skating skills. The component factor is 1.17. [11]: Rule 708(b) FIX CITE
Total Segment Score (TSS)
Judges also have the power to input majority deductions such as Music Violations and Costume/Prop Violations. The Referee inputs other deductions such as Time Violations, Interruption in Excess, and Costume Failures.
The Technical Element Score and Program Component Score are added together. Any deductions for falls or rule violations are then made, resulting in a Total Segment Score (TSS).
Technical Elements
The number and type of technical elements included in a skating program depend on the event and on the level of competition.
Men's and Women's Singles
At the senior international level, the short program for senior singles skaters must contain seven technical elements: (a) double or triple axel, (b) triple or quad jump, (c) jump combination including triple or quad jumps (maximum one double jump), (d) flying spin, (e) camel or sit spin with only one change of foot, (f) spin combination with only one change of foot, and (g) step sequence.[10]: Rule 611 The free program for senior singles skaters must contain (a) a maximum of seven jumps, one of which must be an Axel, (b) a maximum of three spins (one a combination, one flying and one with a single position), (c) a maximum of one step sequence, and (d) maximum of one choreographic sequence.[10]: Rule 612
Pairs
The short program for senior pairs skaters for the season 2023–24 shall consist of the following required elements: (a) any hip lift take-off (hand to hip or upper part of the leg position), (b) double or triple twist lift, (c) double or triple throw jump, (d) double or triple solo jump, (e) solo spin combination with only one change of foot, (f) death spiral forward inside, and (g) step sequence.[10]: Rule 620 The free skating program for senior pairs skaters must contain: (a) maximum of three lifts, not all from the same group, (b) maximum of one twist lift, (c) maximum of two different throw jumps, (d) maximum of one solo jump, (e) maximum of one jump combination or sequence, (f) maximum of one pair spin combination, (g) maximum of one death spiral different from the death spiral of the Short Program, (h) maximum of one choreographic sequence.[10]: Rule 621
Ice Dance
Before the 2010–11 figure skating season, there were three segments in ice dance competitions: the compulsory dance, original dance, and free dance. In 2010, the ISU voted to change the competition format to two segments: the free dance and a new short dance segment, later renamed to the rhythm dance (RD) in 2018. <<maybe delete
The rhythm dance must be skated to a specific theme or rhythm desegnated anually (Rule 709). [12] Required elements include a pattern dance (junior) or pattern dance type step sequence (senior), which is a specific set of steps, also desegnated anually. The rhythm dance for senior skaters also consists of the following required elements: (b) choreographic rhythm sequence, (c) dance lift, (d) not-touching step sequence, (e) 1 set of sequential twizzles.
Similarly, the list of required elements for the free dance can change annually. For the 2025-26 season required elements at the senior international level are: (a) no more than three lifts, (b) a dance spin, (c) a step sequence, (d) one foot turns sequence, (e) synchronized twizzles, (f) choreographic elements.[13]
Program Components
Since the 2022–23 season, the judging panel evaluates three components: Composition (CO), Presentation (PR) and Skating skills (SK). Prior to this, the judges evaluated five components: Skating skills (SS), Transitions (TR), Performance (PE), Composition (CO) and Interpretation (IN).
- Composition (CO): This evaluates how the program is designed in relation to the music; how are the different elements connected; how is the available space used; how does the choreography reflect musical phrase and form?
- Presentation (PR): This evaluates how the program is performed; what does the skater express and project; what energy is created; what is the musical sensitivity and timing; for Pair, Ice Dance and Synchronized skating is the skating appropriately synchronized and showing awareness of space?
- Skating skills (SK): This mark assesses the skater's command of the blade over the ice, including the ability to skate with power and ease. The judges look at variety and clarity of edges, balance, body control, turns, steps, flow, power and speed.[9][14]
Judges
Technical panel
Under the ISU Judging System, the base value of each element performed by the skater is identified by the Technical Panel. The purpose of this panel is to identify all of the elements performed by the skater in real time as they happen. The panel is also responsible for identifying any "technical errors" to jumps; identifying falls of the skater; and the "levels of difficulty" performed in Spins and Steps.
The Technical Panel is composed of the following three people:[9]
- The Technical Controller (TC), who supervises the panel, and breaks ties on technical decisions during the "review of elements" when the TS and ATS do not agree. The TC is also responsible for "rule vetting" the program. The TC can discard any elements from scoring that break the rules for that level and specific program.
- The Technical Specialist (TS), who verbally calls the elements as they happen.
- The Assistant Technical Specialist (ATS), who takes written notes on all of the elements performed and to contribute to any decisions on technical calls during the "review of elements".
The Technical Panel is assisted by two people:
- The Data Operator (DO) assists the Technical Panel for recording purposes, and is supervised by the TC. The DO inputs the codes of the elements and levels of difficulty into the computer system.
- The Replay Operator (RO) operates an instantaneous slow-motion video replay system and supports the Technical Panel in the identification of the performed elements.[9][14]
Judging panel
The role of the judges is to evaluate the quality of each element performed (Technical Score) and the quality of the performance (Presentation Score). At most international events and other large National Championships (such as the U.S. Championships), there are nine judges.[9] At smaller competitions the panel might consist of between four and seven judges. An odd number of judges was needed to break ties in the old 6.0 system, but this is no longer necessary with averaging marks in the ISU Judging System.
Protocol details
Following an event, the complete judges' scores are published in a document referred to as a protocol. This document uses specific notations as described below.
If a skater attempts more than the allowed number of a certain type of element in a program, then the element is still described and called as such by the technical controller, but receives a base value of 0 as well as a GOE of 0, regardless of how the judges have marked it. On ISU protocol sheets, elements that have been nullified by this are denoted by an asterisk (*) next to the element name. In free skating, for jumps executed twice as solo jumps, the second jump is marked as +REP and receives 70% of its base value. Jump elements performed after the halfway point of a program are marked with x and receive a 10% bonus added to their base value. If a jump has been called as having an unclear take-off edge, that jump is marked with ! and receives a –1 to –2 GOE depending on severity; if a jump has been called as having an incorrect take-off edge (for example, an inside edge on the take-off of a Lutz jump), that jump is marked with e and receives a –2 or –3 GOE depending on the severity of the edge fault. Jumps that are under-rotated are marked with < or << depending on the degree of turns completed on the ice instead of in mid-air. < indicates that a jump had less than a ½ turn but more than a ¼ turn completed on the ice, reducing the base value to 70% of its original value. << indicates a severe under-rotation (a ½ turn or more) and the jump is valued as if it had one less rotation (e.g. a triple would receive the value of a double).[15]
Jumps that are executed in combination or sequence are marked as a single element, with a base mark equal to the sum of the base marks for the individual jumps. However, a combination or sequence can be downgraded – marked with +COMBO (combinations in the short program) or +SEQ (combinations and sequences in the free skate) – in which case the sum of the base values of the jumps is reduced to 80% of its original value.