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.
