Terms used:
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.
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.
Fall
Defined as a loss of control by a skater with the result that the majority of the skater's body weight is on the ice being supported by any other part of the body other than the blades. e.g. hand(s), knee(s), back, buttock(s) or any part of the arm.
Falls
Defined as a loss of control by a skater with the result that the majority of the skater's body weight is on the ice being supported by any other part of the body other than the blades. e.g. hand(s), knee(s), back, buttock(s) or any part of the arm.
Grade Of Execution
The mark given by a judge to evaluate the quality of an element in a program. There are 11 GOEs ranging from +5 to -5.
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.
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.
Level Of Difficulty
The term given to certain features of elements that increase the value of an element. There are 5 levels of difficulty ranging from Level Base to Level 4.
Levels Of Difficulty
The term given to certain features of elements that increase the value of an element. There are 5 levels of difficulty ranging from Level Base to Level 4.
Program Component
The mark given by a judge to assess the different aspects of a skater’s performance. There are three PCs: Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills. The Program Components marking range is from 0.25 to 10.0.
Program Components
The mark given by a judge to assess the different aspects of a skater’s performance. There are three PCs: Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills. The Program Components marking range is from 0.25 to 10.0.
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.
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.
Segment
The name given to a portion of an event. Some categories have two segments (e.g., short program and free program) and some categories have only one segment.
Style
Characteristics of levels of step sequences in ice dance.
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 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.
Results of figure skating competitions should, when possible, be calculated using computers. All electronic results calculations done at Skate Canada sanctioned competitions in Canada must be done using approved Skate Canada software.
Online Marking
- An electronic marking system shall consist of the following:
- One touch panel, laptop computer or other such compatible input device for each judge and the referee
- One touch panel, laptop computer or other such compatible input device for the technical panel. A second device may also be used that mirrors the input screen for verification by the technical panel
- One computer equipped with the most up-to-date version of the Skate Canada competition scoring system software (rinkside). A second such equipped computer may be used for the printing of results, general database maintenance and as a backup to the calculation computer
- One router/controller unit to facilitate the harmonious operation of all scoring system hardware
- One touch panel, laptop computer or other such compatible device may be used for video replay if possible. See paragraph 4 for specifications
- Whenever possible, the technical panel should be equipped with a “party line” style, two-way intercom system. Headsets should be provided to the technical controller, technical specialist, assistant technical specialist, data input operator and video replay operator (if present). If possible, the referee should also be provided with a headset to communicate with the Technical Controller. Audio from the intercom system may be recorded.
- The individual screens for officials shall display the following information and have input functions as described.
- Each judge’s screen shall display the elements as identified by the technical panel/technical judge (without levels of difficulty) and shall allow for the input of GOE scores for each of these elements. The screen shall also allow for the input of each program component score and any deductions under the discretion of the judge
- The referee’s screen shall display all information and contain all the inputs of the judge screen plus inputs for all deductions under the discretion of the referee. The screen may also contain a mechanism for the referee to signal judges to finalize their marks
- The technical panel screen shall contain inputs for all elements and levels of difficulty relative to the discipline and segment being skated. The screen shall also contain inputs for all deductions that fall under the discretion of the technical panel.
- The technical controller shall verify that the program meets the specific well balanced program rules for the event. This shall also be verified by the calculation software
- The Data input operator shall verbally call back the list of all elements, deductions and bonuses. The technical controller, assisted by the technical specialist and assistant technical specialist shall confirm that the list is correct. When this verification is complete, the technical controller shall authorize the elements
- Simultaneous to the reviews by the technical panel, and at the conclusion of the performance, each judge and the referee shall independently enter their program components
- The judges shall enter any deductions under their authority
- The referee shall enter any deductions under their authority
- Judges and the referee may finalize their scores once the technical controller has authorized elements.
- If a discrepancy arises between the verification of well-balanced program content by the technical controller and the calculation software, the data specialist shall confirm the correct outcome with the technical controller.
Offline Marking with a Technical Panel
- A manual marking system with a technical panel shall consist of the following:
- One standardized judges’ worksheet per skater, per judge and one for the referee
- One standardized referees’ summary of deductions sheet
- Two standardized technical panel worksheets per skater. One for the technical controller and one for the assistant technical specialist. One such sheet may also be provided to the technical specialist when possible and requested
- One computer equipped with the most up to date version of the Skate Canada Competition Scoring System software (rink side or in the data specialists room). A second such equipped computer may be used for the printing of results, general database maintenance and as a backup to the calculation laptop. Calculation may also be done manually should no computer facilities exist
- One laptop computer or other such compatible device may be used for video replay if possible. See paragraph 4 for specifications
- Whenever possible, the officials’ panel should be equipped with a “party line” style, two way intercom system. Headsets should be provided to the technical controller, technical specialist, assistant technical specialist, video replay operator (if present), the referee and all judges. Judges shall not communicate with each other, or the technical panel. The use of the intercom system for judges is to verify the order of elements only. Audio from the intercom system may be recorded.
- The standardized sheets shall contain the following information:
- Judge sheets shall contain a place for the identification of elements and a corresponding place for GOE scores. There shall be boxes for Program Component scores (as required), a section for recording deductions and a section for taking personal notes
- Referee summary of deductions sheets shall contain a place for each skater and any deductions assessed
- The technical panel worksheet shall contain a place for each element executed and its level of difficulty (if required), a place to record the number of falls, a place to record the number of bonus points, a place to record illegal elements, a place to record additional element deductions and a place to record well balanced program violations. There shall also be sections for personal notes.
- The process for judging shall be as follows:
- During the performance, the technical specialist shall state the name and level of difficulty (if applicable) for each performed element in the program as well as identify any falls or illegal elements. The technical controller and assistant technical specialist shall note the work of the technical specialist on their sheets
- Each judge and the referee shall write the name of each element as stated by the technical specialist on their individual sheet then assign a corresponding GOE score
- Upon conclusion of the performance, the technical panel shall review elements as necessary. The technical controller shall inform the judges and referee of any changes, additions or deletions to the list of elements as required. All changes to elements as well as deductions or bonuses shall be listed on the technical controllers’ worksheet
- The technical controller shall verify that the program meets the specific well balanced program rules for the event. This shall be verified by the calculation software later
- The technical controller shall verbally state the list of all elements, deductions and bonuses. The technical controller, assisted by the technical specialist and assistant technical specialist shall confirm that the list is correct. When this verification is complete, the technical controller shall authorize the elements
- Simultaneous to the reviews by the technical panel and at the conclusion of the performance, each judge and the referee shall independently write the program components on their standardized sheets
- At the conclusion of the program, the judges shall record any deductions under their authority on their standardized sheets
- The referee shall list any deductions under their authority on their summary sheet, as required
- Judges and the referee may finalize their scores once the technical controller has authorized elements. The technical controller, the referee and the judges shall sign their sheets before being collected by the referee and transferred to the data specialists for the determination of the result. The marks so recorded shall be considered the official marks for the event
- If a discrepancy arises between the verification of well-balanced program content by the technical controller and the calculation software, the data specialist shall confirm the correct outcome with the technical controller.
- The elements and marks from each official shall be entered into the calculation computer by a data specialist. A second data specialist shall verify that the input is correct and then authorize the calculation of scores. The calculation may also be done manually should no computer facilities exist. No alterations may be made to the written listing of elements, deductions, GOE scores or Program Component scores once each official has signed their sheet and provided it to the referee unless expressly permitted under Section 7000 – Protests/Field of play.
Offline Marking without a Technical Panel
- A manual marking system without a technical panel shall consist of the following:
- One standardized judges’ worksheet per skater, per judge
- One standardized referees’ summary of deductions sheet
- One computer equipped with the most up to date version of the Skate Canada Competition Scoring System software (rink side or in the data specialists room). A second such equipped computer may be used for the printing of results, general database maintenance and as a backup to the calculation computer. Calculation may also be done manually should no computer facilities exist.
- The standardized sheets shall contain the following information:
- Judge sheets shall contain a place for the identification of elements and a corresponding place for GOE scores. There shall be four or five boxes for Program Component scores (as required) and a section for taking personal notes
- Referee summary of deductions sheets shall contain a place for each skater and any deductions assessed.
- A minimum of three officials must be used in a panel. If there are less than six officials present and no technical panel has been appointed, the following process shall be used.
- One judge shall be the “technical judge/technical controller,” the remaining officials shall be judges. If the panel exceeds three judges, two of the judges may be technical judges with one filling the role of technical controller. One of the judges who is not a technical judge shall also be the referee
- The technical judge(s) shall identify all elements and verify that the minimum requirements for each element are met. No element shall be assigned a Level of difficulty higher than 1. The technical judge(s) shall also assign a GOE score to each identified element. The elements and GOE scores are recorded on a standardized judging sheet. If there are two technical judges, they shall work together to confirm the identification and Level of each element. If agreement cannot be met, the decision of the designated technical controller stands. Each technical judge shall mark GOE scores independently
- The remaining judges shall assign GOE scores for each element as well as Program Component scores
- At the conclusion of the performance, the technical judge(s) shall confirm the identification and order of elements with the remaining judges
- Necessary deductions will be taken by the judges who fill the role of referee and technical controller
- The judges shall sign their sheets before being collected by the judge also serving as the referee and transferred to the data specialists for the determination of the result. The marks so recorded shall be considered the official marks for the event.
- The elements and marks from each official shall be entered into the calculation computer by a data specialist. A second data specialist shall verify that the input is correct and then authorize the calculation of scores. The calculation may also be done manually should no computer facilities exist. No alterations may be made to the written listing of elements, deductions, GOE scores or Program Component scores once each official has signed their sheet and provided it to the referee unless expressly permitted under Section 7000 -Protests/Field of play.
Video Replay
Video replay may be used at all competitions using panel configurations as described in paragraphs 2 and 3 above. Video replay can be made available for the technical panel and referee only. The video replay device must be equipped with the most up to date version of the Skate Canada Competition Scoring System software or ISU “Cutter” software. Other software products may be approved upon request to Skate Canada.
