Free Dance Deductions

The free dance makes up 50% of the total in the ice dance event. The dance icludes some required elementsand has a time allowance of 3 minutes 50 seconds to 4 minutes 10 seconds. Vocal music may be used.

Violation	Deduction	Mark
Lifts: Omission of required or specified lift Longer than time permitted (5 seconds) Lifting partner's hands higher than the head Sitting or lying on partner’s shoulders or back Displaying feats of strength or acrobatics Violation of other specification for a specified lift More or less than the required number	0.5 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 per lift	Technical Merit
Dance Spins: Omission of required or specified spin Incorrect position(s) or hold(s) Executed on two feet by one partner Executed on two feet by both partners Travelling Violation of other specification for a specified spin More or less than the required number	0.5 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 per spin	Technical Merit
Step Sequences: Omission of required step sequence Pattern or placement incorrect or incomplete Incorrect position(s) or hold(s) Stop or retrogression if not permitted Inclusion of forbidden element	0.5 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 0.1	Technical Merit
Series of Twizzles: Omission Execution not simultaneous Incorrect turn by one partner Incorrect turn by both partners	0.5 each series 0.1 0.1 0.2	Technical Merit
Jumps: More than one rotation Simultaneous Thrown or lifted Dance Jumps: Not in dance position More than 1/2 rotation More than 2 arm lengths apart Other Technical Restrictions Stops longer than 5 seconds Separations longer than 5 seconds (10 seconds at beginning and end) Both skates of either partner off the ice (except in permitted lifts or jumps) Standing, sitting, leaning on partner’s boots or legs without having at least one skate on the ice Pushing or pulling partner by the boot, blade or leg except in required lifts or spins Sitting or lying over partner’s legs with both feet off the ice Skating with a hand or hands on the ice Lying on ice Body used as main support for sustained position in lifts Excessive short jerky movements,unless characteristic of the music Excessive non--skating moves such as sliding on one knee, or toe steps Use of pair skating positions such as hand-in-hand, leading-following, mirror skating, etc.	0.1 for each violation of the technical restrictions	Technical Merit
Incorrect music Incorrect timing (maximum for whole performance out of time) Skating on weak beat (maximum for whole performance on weak beat) Incorrect Interpretation Poor style and unison Unsuitable choreography Inappropriate costumes	0.1 - 0.4 0.1 - 1.0 0.1 - 0.5 0.1 - 0.4 0.1 - 0.4 0.1 - 0.4 0.1	Presentation
Overall predominance of pair skating moves and/or positions	0.1 - 0.4	Technical Merit
Stumble or brief interruption Fall of one partner Fall of two partners	0.1 0.2 0.3	Technical Merit
Fall of 6-15 seconds	0.4-1.0	Technical Merit (see note below)
Fall of more than 15 seconds	1.1-1.5	Technical Merit (see note below)

Deductions for fall are taken from the first mark only (Technical Merit) unless it affects the presentation in which case it may also be reflected in the second mark; i.e., the deduction is always taken in the first mark, but the second mark (Presentation) can also be reduced if the fall affects the presentation.

If a fall makes it impossible to recognize a required element then the element is treated as omitted and the deduction for an omission is taken (0.5) from the first mark.

Deductions in Free Dance