Terms used:

Base Level Technical Official

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for accurate technical panel process and for authorizing, correcting, deleting and adding elements to the list of elements performed during an event. The BLTO assists with the identification of elements in competition. The BLTO also assists with the identification of falls and illegal elements where appropriate to the level. The BLTO is qualified to act on a panel at or below a specified level of competition in singles only and can only be assigned to events where elements can be called no higher than base level and juvenile singles.

Board

The board of Directors of Skate Canada.

Challenge

A championship that qualifies athletes toward and including, but not limited to, the Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

Club

A not-for-profit organization that is operating for the general purpose of providing Skate Canada skating programs and is managed by a volunteer board of directors.

Data Specialist

An individual sixteen years of age or older who has been trained and appointed to calculate the results of sanctioned figure skating competitions.

Data Specialists

An individual sixteen years of age or older who has been trained and appointed to calculate the results of sanctioned figure skating competitions.

Evaluator

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for evaluating assessments in the STAR 6-Gold structure.  Evaluators are qualified to assess in one or more disciplines.

Evaluators

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for evaluating assessments in the STAR 6-Gold structure.  Evaluators are qualified to assess in one or more disciplines.

Event

The name given to a group of skaters entered in a category.  There may be one event per category or several events per category depending on the number of total entries.  Each event is independent of the other events within the category. 

International Skating Union

The International Skating Union (ISU) is the exclusive international sport federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee administering the sports of Figure Skating and Speed Skating throughout the world. The ISU is composed of a number of national associations called ISU Members that administer ISU sports at the national level and recognize that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU.

Interruptions

The period of time starting immediately when the competitor stops performing the program or is ordered to do so by the referee, whichever is earlier, and ending when the competitor resumes the performance.

Judge

An individual sixteen years of age or older who has been trained and appointed to officiate at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Judges

An individual sixteen years of age or older who has been trained and appointed to officiate at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Membership

The status of being in one of the classes as outlined in section 3.1 hereof [of the bylaws].

Referee

A referee of an event within a competition is an experienced judge who has received further training to conduct an event and monitor the performance of the panel of judges. Referees are qualified to referee or judge at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Registration Year

September 1 to August 31 of any given year.

Rhythm

The regularly repeated pattern of accented and unaccented beats which gives the music its character.

Section

An organization incorporated or organized in a particular province or territory (and in some cases, a combination thereof) strategically aligned with Skate Canada, that may receive funds from provincial or territorial Governmental Authorities and be subject to applicable sport recognition programs and transfer payment arrangements. Each Section is held to the governance and operating requirements of their respective province and / or territory(ies) and is responsible for skating in their respective jurisdictions.

Skating School

An organization other than a Club that is operating for the general purpose of providing Skate Canada skating programs.

Technical Controller

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for accurate technical panel process and authorizes, corrects, deletes and adds elements to the list of elements performed during an event. Technical controllers are qualified to act on panels at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Technical Controllers

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for accurate technical panel process and authorizes, corrects, deletes and adds elements to the list of elements performed during an event. Technical controllers are qualified to act on panels at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Technical Specialist

An individual sixteen years of age or older who identifies elements and levels of difficulty of elements in competition. The technical specialist also identifies falls and illegal elements. Technical specialists are qualified to act on panels at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Trial Judge

A person who is training to become qualified as a judge or a judge who is training to become qualified at a higher level.

Trial Judges

A person who is training to become qualified as a judge or a judge who is training to become qualified at a higher level.

Welcome to Skate Canada's Officials’ Guide, where you can find pertinent information and links to resources, education and promotion requirements.

Section Contact List

Individuals seeking to become officials should contact their section.

Officials Pathways

All qualification requirements are outlined in the Officials Appointment and Qualification Procedure.

Access Officials Appointment and Qualification Procedure

The links below will direct you to specific pathways contained within the Officials Appointment and Qualification Procedure.

Judge

Evaluator

Coach Assessor

Referee

Technical Official

Data Specialist

Officials Pathway Resources

Judge Assessments

These forms are to be used by trial judges and judges on panel who require a report. The reflections form is to be completed by the trial judge or judge on panel and shared with the report writer or assessor.

Technical Panel Phase II Assessments

Data Specialists

  • Materials Catalogue
    • Data Specialist Manual
    • Promotion Workbooks
    • Assessment Forms and Rubrics
  • eLearning
    • Level I Exam
    • Level II Exam
  • The following resources can be found on a separate site, by data specialists who have been granted access by their Section.
    • CSS Software
    • CSS User Manual
    • Data specialist/CSS Message Board

Officials Registration

Officials must register through a Skate Canada club or skating school on an annual basis. The Skate Canada registration year runs from September 1 to August 31 each year. Officials can confirm their registration through their Membership Site account profile or their account’s officials Dashboard.

Eligibility to Officiate Resources

Officials must meet the outlined conditions set out in the Eligibility to Officiate Rule in order to officiate at a competition or assessment day sanctioned by Skate Canada.

Officials must check with their section for any additional requirements.

Rules Pertaining to Officials

Access Skate Canada Rule Book

Officials Resources

Competition Resources

All resources related to competitions such as Skate Canada and ISU technical documents, forms, quick reference guides, competition standards and other event resources are found through the Competitions Resource Guide.

Access Competitions Resource Guide

Additional Resources:

Assessment Resources

All resources related to assessments for evaluators and coach assessors including assessment resource guides, assessment sheets, resource videos and more can be found through the Assessment Guide.

Access Assessment Guide

Video Resources

Access Skating Development Video Library

Officials Worksheets

The following worksheets are use by judges and technical panel officials during competition.

Judge

STAR

Technical Panel

Special Olympics

Online Learning

There are many eLearning opportunities for officials wishing to further their education. Officials are encouraged to explore and take advantage of the wide range of courses available on the eLearning site. Courses can be completed multiple times and can serve as a refresher.

Access Officials Courses

Promotional Tools

Got Questions?

Officials are encouraged to connect with their section for any officiating inquiries. Officials may also contact Skate Canada at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.