- Here’s a basic description of the general principles using the proper terminology, followed by an easy step-by-step guide for how you too can learn the scoring system and discover how it’s revolutionized and inspired our sport to become better than ever.
Step 1: Establish the element’s Base Value
As the skater performs, a three-person Technical Panel identifies each element, at which point a Data Specialist will tell the computer to assign a base value in points pre-set by the ISU – the Scale of Value can be seen here. All Jumps have a specific point value, whereas other elements like spins, lifts and footwork can have their base values increased depending on four defined “levels of difficulty”, extra things the competitor does that make the element harder. The higher the level of difficulty, the higher the base value! Remember though, points are based on what the skater actually performs, not what they have “planned” in their program.
Step 2: Establish the element’s Grade of Execution
Once the Technical Panel has identified the elements and the base value points have been assigned, the Judging panel must decide how well or how poorly the element was skated. This is the GOE – Grade of Execution – based on a scale of points from +3 for “fabulous” to -3 for “horrible”, points that are added to or taken away from the base value.
Step 3: Assign marks for Program Components
The Judges are each required to assess the overall performance of the skater by providing marks out of 10.0 for five different Program Components. These different categories capture aspects of performance – skating skills, movement between elements, performance, and chorography and how well they tell the ‘story’ of the music. Keep your calculator handy!! To arrive at each Program Component mark, there's another step you must take to maintain a balance between technical and artistic marks: you multiply each Program Component by a factor. Don't panic, it's easy, just check your Skatebag for the numbers, look at each Program Component score and multiply it by the appropriate factor. (In Senior competition, for Men Short, multiply each Program Component by 1.0, for Ladies and Pairs Short multiply by .80. In Free Skating, for Men multiply each Program Component by 2.0, and by 1.6 for Ladies and Pairs.) Are you with us still?! Let’s have a look at how these are calculated.
Step 4: Determine the Final Points score
To find the TOTAL ELEMENT score:
throw out the highest and lowest point score for each element
determine the “mean” (add up all the scores and divide that by the number of scores there are) of the remaining element scores to find one final point score for each element
add all final element point scores together To find the PROGRAM COMPONENT score:
determine the “mean” score of each Program Component
multiply each "mean" Program Component score by its factor (see Skate Bag)
add all factored PC scores together To find the DEDUCTION(S):
subtract falls and other violations (i.e. timing, undone skate lace etc.)
complete falls constitute a -1 point deduction from the final score
THE FINAL SCORE = TOTAL ELEMENT + PROGRAM COMPONENT – DEDUCTIONS
Skating is a difficult sport – and as you can see, scoring it isn’t easy either, but don’t be discouraged. A little time invested in learning the language and studying the process and you’ll be an expert quicker than you can say “Triple Axel” – base value of 8.2! Check out the new Skate Canada Skate Bag for some handy skating terms - It’s worth it to do your homework!
With this new ISU Judging System, the skating world has clearly defined what constitutes “good skating”: judges are more educated, skaters are more empowered to control their result, coaches can strategize more fully and as a result fans are seeing results that reflect what was actually done on the ice.
By understanding the scoring system, your own skating experience will be enhanced. Hope you enjoyed this short lesson on scoring!
|
