Last month we described the short program deductions used in singles skating. This month we discuss the deductions for pair skating. Like for single skating, the short program for pairs makes up 1/3 the total score in the event. The short program consists of required elements that must be completed within a time not to exceed 2 minutes 40 seconds. Elements that are not completed in the manner specified in the rules result in required deductions that are subtracted from a team's first mark. The table below lists the typical deductions for the different elements in the pairs short program (Note: it is not a list of the required elements for any one short program). Following the table are descriptions of what the entries in the table mean. Many of these are similar to the errors discussed last month for singles skating, but are described her again so you can find them all in one place.
| Element | Error | Both Partners | One Partner Only |
| Overhead Lift | Omission Fall Lady takes off or lands on two feet Lady collapses on partner Not according to rules |
0.5 0.4 0.1-0.2 |
0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2-0.3 |
| Twist Lift | Omission Fall or single Lady lands on two feet Lady not caught in air before landing Lady collapses on partner Lady not caught at the waist Man exits on two feet Split position not attained in the air |
0.5 0.4 |
0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2-0.3 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.2 |
| Side-by-Side Solo Jump | Omission Fall or single jump Rotation not complete Takeoff or landing on two feet Takeoff on wrong edge Touch down with the free foot or hand(s) |
0.5 0.4 0.3-0.4 0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2 |
0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2 0.1-0.2 0.1 |
| Side-by-Side Spin | Omission Fall Less than required revolutions Re-centering the spin Required position not attained in air in flying spin Incorrect takeoff or landing in flying spin Touch down with free foot or hand(s) |
0.5 0.4 0.2-0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2-0.3 0.2 0.2 |
0.3 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.2 0.1 0.1 |
| Pair Spin Combination | Omission Fall Less than required revolutions or positions Touch down with the free foot or hand(s) |
0.5 0.4 0.2-0.3 0.2 |
0.3 0.1 |
| Death Spiral | Omission Fall Wrong pivot position by man Lady assisted by any part of the body other than the skate of the skating foot Less than one revolution after the pivot position attained by the man (Junior and Senior only) |
0.5 0.4 |
0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1-0.2 |
| Step Sequence Spiral Step Sequence |
Omission Fall Pattern not correct Jumps with more than half a turn Stumble during sequence Retrogressions Less than two changes of position |
0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1-0.2 0.2 |
0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 |
| Extra or repeated element | 0.1-0.2 | ||
| Not according to requirements | 0.1-0.2 |
An omission means the element wasn't even tried. The maximum deduction that can be taken if an element is attempted, no matter how badly, is 0.1 less than the deduction for an omission. For example, the deduction for omitting the overhead lift is 0.5, but if the team attempts the lift, no matter how badly, the maximum deduction is 0.4. When an element has more than one error, the maximum error is the sum of the individual errors up to a maximum of 0.1 less than the deduction for an omission.
An extra element is any extra lift, death spiral, jump-like move that exceeds 1/2 a rotation, or any spin-like move that exceeds 1 rotation.
A repeated element is one of the required elements executed, or attempted, a second time. If a team misses an element on the first try it cannot be attempted again.
Not according to requirements is a catch-all term for any other error not explicitly listed on the deduction sheet the judges use that is not considered a quality error. Minor errors that are considered quality errors do not result in deduction but result in a lower baseline score from which the deduction are taken.
Some errors are considered an error of the team as a whole, others can be made by either or both partners. When an error can be made by either one or both partners a greater deduction is taken when both partners commit the error. For example, there is a greater deduction if both partners fall on the side-by side jump compared with only one partner falling.
Fall - Obvious error. Error can be by one or both partners.
Lady takes off or lands on two feet - The lady must take off and land on one foot.
Lady collapses on partner - The man must lift the lady and place her back on the ice. She cannot fall on the man, otherwise smack into his body, grab his neck or shoulders, etc. during the lift.
Fall or single - A fall can be by either or both partners. The twist must be a double twist (1 1/2 rotations of the lady in the air).
Lady lands on two feet - The lady must land on one foot.
Lady not caught in air before landing - The man must catch the lady and place her back on the ice.
Lady collapses on partner - The lady cannot support herself by pushing off the man's shoulders or body, or otherwise bounce off the man during the lift.
Lady not caught at the waist - The lady must be caught by the man with his hands at her waist level, either at her sides or her front and back.
Man exits on two feet - the man must exit from the lift on a back outside edge, on one foot.
Split position not attained in the air - In a split twist lift the lady must do the split in the air before being released by the man.
Fall or single jump - Fall is an obvious error. Jump cannot be a single.
Rotation not complete - Commonly called a cheated jump. Jumps are cheated by doing part of the rotation of the jump on the ice either before the takeoff or after the landing. Jumps cheated on the landing are usually cheated by 1/2 a turn - jumps cheated by 1/4 turn usually result in the skater crashing instead.
Takeoff or landing on two feet - Jumps must takeoff and land on only one foot.
Takeoff from wrong edge - Certain required jumps must take off from a specific edge. For example, axels must take off from a forward outside edge, Lutz jumps from a back outside edge.
Touch down with the free foot or hand - Generally obvious. Reaching for the ice but not actually touching it, however, is not a required deduction but instead a quality issue.
Fall - Usually occurs in a flying spin, but can also occur from the spinning position.
Required position not attained in air in flying spin - In a flying spin the spin position must be attained in the air; i.e., before the skater lands. In a flying sit spin, for example, the skater must be in the sit spin position before they land.
Incorrect takeoff or landing in flying spin - The flying spins have required takeoffs and landings. If the takeoff and landing is incorrect but the spin is otherwise completed this is the deduction taken.
Re-centering spin - If the skater makes an error landing a flying spin or stepping into a normal spin and the spin isn't going to rotate they cannot push in, step in, etc., a second time. This is not the same a traveling where the spin drifts in position on the ice as it rotates. Traveling is a quality error.
Less than required revolutions - All the spins have a required number of rotations in position. The rotations are counted only while the skaters are in the required position. A skater might turn many more times than the required number of turns and still receive a deduction if the turns are not in the correct position. In a camel spin, for example, you don't start counting the turns until the skater gets the free leg above hip level, and you stop when it is dropped below hip level at the end.
Touch down with the free foot or hand - Like in jumps. a skater must actually touch the ice to take a deduction. Reaching for the ice but not touching it is a quality issue.
Fall - Usually occurs in a flying spin, but can also occur from the spinning position (e.g., if feet get tangled up in changes of foot or position).
Less than required revolutions or positions - The pair spin combination has a required number of rotations,positions, and changes of foot. The rotations are counted only while the skaters are in the required position. When the skaters change foot in a change foot spin, both skaters must change at the same time.
Touch down with the free foot or hand - Same requirement as for side-by-side spins.
Fall - Either one or both skaters might fall. Once a team enters a death spiral, if the man falls the lady will usually fall with him. Once in the pivot position, however, the lady might fall without pulling the man down with her (or they both might well end up in a heap).
Wrong pivot position by man - The man must be in the correct pivot position.
Lady assisted by any part of the body other than the skate of the skating foot - While in her death spiral position the lady can only be supported by the blade of the skating foot. The use of any part of her body to support her weight is not permitted. The lady's hair wiping the ice is not a deduction since it does not support her weight. The lady slipping off her edge and revolving on the side of her boot is a deduction since her weight is being supported by her foot and not her blade.
Less than one revolution after the pivot position attained by the man (Junior and Senior only) - The man must maintain the pivot position for at least one full revolution. The rotation is counted only while the man is in the correct pivot position.
Fall - Not common but always possible.
Pattern not correct - Sequences can include 1/2 jumps but not single rotation jumps or greater. The sequences have required patterns; such as, straight line, circular/oval, or serpentine. Straight line sequences must go from one end of the rink to the other. Circular/oval sequences must cover the full width of the rink, and must complete a full circle or oval.. Serpentine sequences must include several bold curves that cover the length of the rink. During sequences pay attention to where they start and stop and how much of the ice they cover.
Jumps with more than half a turn - Jumps of more than half a rotation are extra elements. They are most likely to occur in a step sequence; e.g., single Whalleys are sometimes used in free skating step sequences, but cannot be used in short program step sequences.
Stumble during sequence - Obvious error.
Retrogressions in sequence - Sequences cannot have places where a skater backtrack from whence they came.
Less than two changes of position - There must at least two changes of position. In step sequences the skaters should make steps that turn both clockwise and counter-clockwise. In spiral sequences the skaters must be in the spiral position the majority of the time but can takes steps when changing position to maintain speed. Only one member of the team must be in a spiral position at any time.