To enhance (we hope) understanding of the big picture for proposals in Coach Proposals for the Improvement of IJS we provide here a summary of what these proposals do and how they work together. 

Cuts the penalty for falls in an element in half.  Leaves the deduction the same for other falls.  Offers a cleared definition of a fall.

Delete the random draw of the judges.

Get rid of the random draw for discard judges and use marks from all the judges to calculate results.  The trimmed mean would still be used.

Delete secret judging. 

The judges would be identified and which marks were given by which judge would be transparent.

Have only one step sequence in the short programs for Junior and Senior Ladies and Men

Have only only one sequence in the free skate for Junior and Senior Ladies and Men,  The men would do a step sequence.  The ladies could do a step sequence or spiral sequence or sequence with a mix fo steps and spirals.

Junior Short Program

Forbid triple Axel in Men's Short Program.  Forbid triple-triple combinations in the Ladies Short Program.

Only two jumps can be repeated in a combination or jump sequence.  Only the first two jumps in a jump combination would receive points.  Skaters could do combinations with more than two jumps, but only the first two would receive points.

If a program has more than one spin in one position, the spins must be in different basic positions.  A program with a flying sit spin and a change foot sit spin would not be permitted.

Defines the basic spin positions in essentially the traditional way, but with sufficient clarity to eliminate the need for the "intermediate" positions which is not a basic spin position at all.  Also makes clear which basic position some of the "odd-ball" positions fall under.

If a sit spin has a weak sit position, the judges would take this into account in the GoEs, not the technical panel in the identification of the spin as sitting or not.  No more agonizing if the buttocks are lower than the knee.  If a sit spin is required in the Short Program, and the position is excessively poor, the judges would go to a GoE of -4, instead of the Technical Panel calling the spin something else with no value.

Concluding revolutions

The concluding upright position at the end of a spin (final wind- up) will not to be considered another position. Up to three concluding upright rotations would be permitted before the upright rotations were considered a position that changed the identification of the spin.

Various edge moves and other moves would be permitted in step sequences to add variety.  Step sequences should reflect the character of the music.  The goal of this rule it to get rid of the footwork tornado and increase variety in the sequences.

Spiral sequence (Ladies)

Ladies would have the choice of a step sequence or a spiral sequence, or a sequence that included both steps and spirals.

One hand hold in death spirals.  In seniors a minimum of 2 full revolutions of the lady while the man remains is in deep pivot position would be required.  In juniors only one revolution would be required.

Levels would be eliminated for most elements.  Elements would receive their base value and a GoE.  Sequences would receive a base value but no GoE, and marked by the judges in skating skills instead.

Upright Spin   Base value   1.5
Cross foot spin, free foot crossed in front   Base value   2.5
Cross foot spin, free foot crossed behind   Base value   3.2
Layback or sideways leaning spin   Base value   3.2
Biellmann spin   Base value   4.0
Sit Spin   Base value   3.0
Camel spin   Base value   3.5

Flying sit spin   Base Value   5.0
Flying sit spin changing the foot of landing   Base Value   5.5
Flying Camel spin   Base Value   4.5

3) Spins with change of foot without change of position.

Upright Spin    Base Value   2.8
Layback Spin    Base Value   4.2
Sit Spin    Base Value   4.0
Camel spin    Base Value   4.5

Base Value 4.5

Base Value 5.5

This increases the value of a flying spin, compared to a non-flying spin.

Added base value if the spin has a change of edge, but the skaters would only get this added value once.

This proposal also increases the base value for the more difficult spins, so a good spinner would see an increase in their scores compared to currently.

The goal is that the quality of spins would be based on  their speed, centering and the basic positions, but not on twisty awkward positions and gimmick features.

Spins would not have levels.

Base value for step sequences

1) Straight line step sequence: base value basic 3.0

2) Circular step sequence: base value basic 3.0

3) Serpentine step sequence: base value basic 3.0

4) Spiral sequence: base value basic 4.0

Step and Spiral sequences will receive no GoEs from the judges and will be scored in the Program Components.

Sequences would not have levels.

1)  in the case of only small hops connecting the jumps, the value of the sequence shall equal the sum of the base values for the two highest value jumps in the sequence;

2)  in the case where a Mohawk is included between any two jumps in the sequence the value of the sequence shall equal to the sum of the base values for the two highest value jumps in the sequence, multiplied by a factor of 0.9.

Backward outside: base value 4.5
Backward inside: base value 4.0
Forward outside: base value 5.0
Forward inside: base value 4.0

Technical Specialists will determine the name and the Level of difficulty (when necessary) of elements.

In the case of a fall, or landing with nearly equal weight on both feet, for any jump or throw jump in Single or Pairs, the jump or throw will be considered not-completed, and called by the Technical Panel a no-value jump or throw with a base value of 0.

It is proposed to abolish the use of "features" in spins and step and spiral sequences in singles, and in side-by-side spins, side-by-side step and spiral sequences, twist lifts and death spirals in pairs. Features would be retained only in pair spins and overhead (group) pair lifts.

Judges would reward added difficulty in the GoE as a positive aspect of the element.

GoEs would be expanded to +4 to allow the judges to better separate elements of different quality.

Rather than an inconsistent hodgepodge of arbitrary value, the Scale of Values tables would be proportional to the base values.

- 4 is 25% of base value
- 3 is 50% of base value
- 2 is 75% of base value
- 1 is 90% of base value
0 is 100% of base value
+ 1 is 110% of base value
+ 2 is 125% of base value
+ 3 is 150% of base value
+ 4 is 175% of base value

This proposals together with the expanded GoE scale and the proposals for falls and downgrades insures that jumps with falls or downgrades receive some credit, but not more credit than a successful jump of one less rotation.

There would now be two Program Components instead of five, consisting of: Skating Skills and Presentation.

Sequences would receive a base value, but no GoE.  They would also be taken into consideration under Skating Skills.

All of the criteria in the current five PCs would still be judged, but they would be organized into the two new PCs.

The PCs would be marked on a 6.0 scale, to the nearest 1/10th point.

Judges would be allowed to mentally compare all the performances in forming their PC marks.

The Program Components would represent 50% of the total score in an event segment.   Skating skills would be 20% of PCS and Presentation would be 30% of PCS.

If a jump is under-rotated by up to ½ rotation, the jump is not downgraded and the judges take under-rotation into account is assigning the GoE.

If the jump is under-rotated by more than ½ rotation, the jump will be downgraded and the judges must mark the jump with a negative GOE.

	1	2	3	4
T S Lo F Lz A	0.40 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80	1.30 1.50 1.70 2.00 2.30 2.70	4.50 5.20 5.90 6.80 7.80 9.00	15.00 16.60 18.30 20.10 22.00 24.00

Set the SoV based on a set of "value principles" from which the Base Values are derived in a fully consistent manner.  Those principles being that for jumps:

• The base values progress in the standard order of perceived difficulty.
• The base value of the solo jumps increases exponentially, to reflect the geometrically increasing difficulty of jumps from singles to quads.
• The base value for the 1A is twice 1T, 2A is roughly twice 2T, and 3A is twice 3T, to control how big the values get.
• The base value of 1A+1Lo is the same as 2T, 2A+2Lo is less than 3T, and 3A+3Lo is less than 4T, so that jump combinations fit into the progression of jump element values consistent with the values of individual jumps.

A suggestion that the ISU study combining the flip and Lutz into one type of jump with a takeoff from any edge.

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Copyright 2009 by George S. Rossano

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