The International Skating Union (ISU) has created a new International Judging System, or IJS, for figure skating and ice dance. This system has replaced the previous relative judging system (RJS) which is more familiarly known as marks out of a perfect '6.0' score.
The British Championships for figure skating, ice dance and synchronized skating are all run using the IJS. There are currently three IJS Events held annually prior to the championships which offer skaters the chance to achieve the necessary championship qualification score.
The National Ice Skating Association (NISA) are gradually removing the '6.0' judging system from all aspects of British skating over the coming years. This will take some time but in addition to Championships some national Open competitions are already being run using the IJS. It would be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the new system as it's here to stay.
Below is an edited explanation as to how the system works. It's a bit lengthy but try and stick with it ! :O)
Championship competition format
Figure Skating Championships are made up of four events - Men’s Single, Ladies’ Single, Pairs and Ice Dancing.
The Single and Pair skating competitions are made up of a Short Program followed by a Free Skating Program.
In the Singles events, the 24 best placed skaters in the Short Program qualify to skate the Free Program.
In the Pairs event the skaters placed 1-20 after the Short Program qualify for the Free Program.
The Ice Dancing competition consists of a Compulsory Dance, an Original Dance and a Free Dance. In Ice Dancing the 30 best-placed couples after the Compulsory Dance skate the Original Dance. Based on the results of the Compulsory and Original Dance combined, the 24 best placed Couples proceed to the Free Dance.
ISU Judging System for Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dancing
The ISU Judging System is constructed as follows:
1. Competition Officials
a) Technical Panel
A Technical Panel composed of 3 officials, namely the Technical Controller, the Technical Specialist and the Assistant Technical Specialist, monitors the competition and determines the elements performed by the skaters, assisted by a Data Operator for recording purposes. An instantaneous slow-motion video replay system that is operated by a Replay Operator supports the Technical Panel in identification of the performed elements.
– The Technical Specialist, assisted by the Assistant Technical Specialist identifies and calls the performed elements
– identifies and calls correct Levels of Difficulty of certain performed elements (eg. spins, footwork)
– identifies illegal elements, additional elements; falls and also new, innovative elements
– The Technical Controller authorizes or corrects the deletion of elements
– supervises the Technical Specialists and Data Operator and proposes corrections, if
necessary, respecting any performed element and Level of Difficulty identified by the acting
Technical Specialist and Assistant Technical Specialist. However, if both Technical
Specialists disagree with a correction asked for by the Technical Controller, the initial decision
of the Technical Specialist and Assistant Technical Specialist stands; In the case a
disagreement about an element and/or Level of difficulty exists between the Technical
Specialist and Assistant Technical Specialist, the decision of the Technical Controller prevails
– authorizes or corrects the identification of illegal elements; falls and innovative elements
b) Judges
Under the ISU Judging System, the Judges focus entirely on scoring the quality of each element and the quality of the Program Components. Their scores will be based on specific quality criteria for each element and will provide a comprehensive assessment of each skater’s skills and performance.
A Judge is not required to compare and score each skater directly in relation to all other skaters. This permits each Judge to focus on the quality of 1) each performed element, and 2) the Program Components, and to enter his/her scores through a touch screen. Judges may review in real time certain sequences of the skaters performances thanks to an instantaneous video replay system.
There will be a panel of Judges, of whom a set number are drawn at random. The scores of these Judges will form the result. Out of these Judges, the highest and lowest scores of each element or Program Component are deleted and the average will be taken from the remainder, generating the trimmed mean.
At International Championships the ISU Membership strongly supports that Judges should not be named and identifiable so as to significantly reduce the risk of outside influence on Judges as well as enabling the evaluation of the Judges performances anonymously leaving no room for favouritism by the evaluating bodies.
2. Technical Score
The element score is composed of the “Base Value” of each element, identified by the Technical Panel, and the so-called “Grade of Execution (GOE)” that is monitored by the Judges.
A group of experts, including experienced skaters and coaches, have worked out a summary list of each element’s Base Value as well as its Level of Difficulty in the case of spins, steps, lifts, etc. The level of points of the Base Value depends on the difficulty of the element.
Some elements such as spins and footwork sequences are furthermore broken down depending on their “Level of Difficulty”.
These element Base Values and Levels of Difficulty ensure that skaters receive the appropriate and consistent credit for every element performed. The Base Values of all recognized elements are reviewed and published annually by the ISU in an ISU Communication.
When a skater/couple performs, each element of their Program identified by the Technical Panel is assigned the respective Base Value. The name of the element identified by the Technical Panel will be listed instantaneously on the Judge’s screen.
The Judges then grade the quality of the element within the range of +3 to -3 and increments of 1. The sum of the Base Value added to the trimmed mean of the Grade of Execution (GOE) of each performed element will form the total element score and the sum of all element scores will form the Technical Score.
3. Program Components
In addition to the Technical Score, the Judges will award points on a scale from 0.25 to 10 with increments of 0.25 for the Program Components to grade the overall presentation of the performance.
These Program Components are for Single and Pair Skating (Short Program and Free Skating
- Skating Skills
- Transitions, Linking Footwork and Movement
- Performance/Execution
- Choreography/Composition
- Interpretation of the music
In Ice Dancing for Compulsory Dances
- Skating Skills
- Performance
- Interpretation
- Timing
for the Original Dance and Free Dance
- Skating Skills
- Transitions / Linking Footwork and Movements
- Performance/Execution
- Composition/ Choreography
- Interpretation/Timing.
The Judges panel’s score for each Program Component is reached by calculating the trimmed mean of the scoring Judges’ results for that Program Component. The panel’s scores for each Program Component are then multiplied by a set factor and the results are rounded to two decimal places.
4. Final score
The final score is calculated by adding the total Technical Score and the Program Component Score and subtracting any Program deductions (for example 1.0 for a fall). The scores of the Short Program and Free Skating are added and the result constitutes the final score of a skater or couple in an event.
In Ice Dancing the scores of the Compulsory Dance, Original Dance and Free Dance are added. The participant or couple with the highest total score wins.
5. Officials Accountability
All of the scores are recorded and analysed by computer software program that checks and identifies possible anomalies. The skaters performances are furthermore recorded by video and can be reviewed on DVD.
Officials have to follow strict criteria in awarding scores making it very difficult to manipulate results. Nevertheless, for an utmost accountability, the Officials’ Assessment Commission (consisting of ISU Referees or ISU Judges) and ISU Technical Committees jointly investigate the identified anomalies. They can review video evidence if necessary and take action if there is evidence of significant error. Officials repeatedly found incompetent are demoted or removed from the List of ISU Officials.
6. Availability of Data and Statistics
At the end of each segment, a so called 'Score Sheet' in PDF format will be published which includes all relevant scoring data for skaters.
Under the ISU Judging System there is far more data available than before to analyse. This data is analyzed by National Federations, athletes and coaches to help improve performance. The media, skating fans and general public can find statistics and detailed data on the ISU website.