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IJS is an acronym for "International Judging System." It is the system used by the ISU to score figure skating competitions in Singles (Ladies and Men), Pairs, Ice Dancing, and Synchronized Skating.
IJS became the official scoring system of the ISU in June 2004. Most member federations of the ISU use IJS in the scoring of their national championship competitions. IJS replaced the system previously used by the ISU, known as the "6.0 System."
Program content rules are about the content that is permitted in a skating program. The scoring rules are about how the content is evaluated, marked and turned into a number that determines the order of finish in a competition. When IJS was adopted, the program content rules did not change substantially, at least no more than they normally do from year to year.
The IJS scoring rule are about how program content is evaluated by the officials, marks given and scores calculated. Skaters have a wide variety of choices for the content they can include in a program. The IJS scoring rules determine how that content is scored.
Because elements and movements have different values, IJS does strongly influence the choices skaters make in picking content for their programs to maximize their points, but the scoring rules do not actually mandate specific content. The program content rules do that.
In addition to elements, programs include other content and movements that are evaluated and scored. The value of this additional content and other aspects the programs are scored using five marks (four for Compulsory Dance) known as Program Components.
Two groups of officials are used to score competitions, the Judging Panel and the Technical Panel.
The Technical Panel is the group of officials responsible for identifying the elements skaters execute in programs, determining if any elements do not meet requirements and should not receive credit, and identifying certain major errors such as downgrades and incorrect jump edges. Elements are the major "tricks" included is a program, such as jumps, spins, step sequences, etc. Refer to the program content guides to find the elements included in each type of program. For more on elements, downgrades and edge calls see below.
The Technical Panel consists of the following officials:
- Technical Controller
- Technical Specialist
- Assistant Technical Specialist
- Data Entry Operator
- Video Replay Operator
In smaller competitions the Technical Panel might not have the Data or Video operators.
The Judges Panel is the group of officials responsible for evaluating the content of programs and assigning marks. From these marks the total program scores are calculated and the results of a competition determined. A Judging Panel consists of the following officials:
- Event Referee
- Assistant Referee (not always used)
- Time Keeper (often handled by the Referee or Assistant Referee instead)
- A group of judges
At an ISU Championships and at the Olympics there are currently nine judges on a panel. All of these judges score the competition by giving marks for the elements and Program Components. Two of these judges are randomly selected to be dropped from the scoring. None of the marks from these two judges are included in the scoring calculation. These two "discard judges" are not identified, so judges do not know if they are a "scoring judge" or a discard judge.
For the scoring judges (seven in number for an ISU Championship and Olympics) the high and low mark for each element and Program Component are also dropped. Consequently, five marks go into the average mark calculated for each element and component. These marks will usually come from different combinations of the scoring judges since it is rare for a given to judge to always be the high judge or the low judge for every element and component. This type of average, with the high and low mark excluded, is called a single trimmed mean.
The more relevant question, actually, is not how many judges determine the results, but how many marks determine the results. Currently five marks are averaged for each element and Program Component to determine the results.
Elements are the most significant technical (athletic) content included in a program. In Singles events these consist of jumps, spins and step/spiral sequences. In pairs, there are additionally lifts, throws, pairs spins and death spirals. Dance elements include lifts, spins, step sequences and twizzles.
Further details on the elements included in programs can be found in our program content guides.
Each element has a base value. It is the point value for the element if it is executed with no significant errors, but also no significant strengths. It is the score for a minimally adequate execution. The base values for all the "listed" elements is in a table of points known as the Scale of Values.
GoE stands for Grade of Execution. If an element is performed in a minimally correct way, with no significant errors or "positive aspects" the GoE for that element would be a 0.
Elements with errors or positive aspects can be awarded GoEs from as low as -3 to as high as +3, in integer steps (-3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3).
Every element is scored with the same -3 to +3 Grades of Execution. The point value for a given Grade of Execution, however, is not the same for every element. A GoE of +1, for example, might have a point value of 0.5 points for some elements and +1.0 for other elements. The GoE values for each listed element is part of the Scale of Values.
Starting with a GoE of zero, the judges reduce the GoE due to errors in the execution and increase the GoE if there are "positive aspects" to the execution. ISU Communications provide guidance for how much the GoE should be reduced or increased for various errors and positive aspects.
In general, for each minor error in the element (there could be more than one) the GoE is reduced by 1. Each major error reduces the GoE by 2 and each catastrophic error reduces the GoE by 3. The minimum GoE, however, is -3 after taking into account all the errors. There are also certain errors for which the judges must give either give a GoE of -3, or must give a negative GoE.
For every 2 positive aspects in an element, ISU Communications recommend the judges should increase the GoE by 1. Several positive aspects in an element are recommended to reach a GoE of +3 according to the guidelines, though the rules do not specifically require the judges adhere to any particular number of positive aspects to increase the GoE.
An element with both errors and positive aspects might end up with a GoE of zero. For example, a jump with both a minor error on the landing but also a better than typical takeoff, good height in the air, etc., might be given a GoE of zero, or even a positive GoE if the strengths outweighed the weaknesses. There is no way to tell from the protocol of marks what positive and negative aspects the judge took into account in assigning their GoE.
Program Components are used to reward other content and presentation aspect of programs. There are five Program Components (four in Compulsory Dance).
In Singles and Pairs the Program Components are named:
- Skating Skills
- Transitions
- Performance and Execution
- Choreography
- Interpretation.
Program Components are marked on a ten point scale from 0.00 to 10.00 in steps of 0.25.
While programs are being performed, the Technical Specialist identifies each element, their level and calls any falls. If the Assistant Specialist or the Controller does not agree with the call, they can ask for a review following the program by saying "review" when the specialist makes the call. If there are no calls to review at the end of a performance, the Controller "authorizes" the elements, and once the judges have finished entering their marks the officials are ready to continue with the next skater. If there are calls to reviews, the Controller works through each of these with the Technical Panel. The Controller directs the review process.
When reviewing an element, if the Assistant Specialist agrees with the Specialist the call stands. If the Assistant Specialist does not agree with the Specialist, the Controller breaks the tie. This process is followed for all reviews of element identifications, level calls, no value elements and fall deductions.
After all the reviews are resolved, the Controller will authorize the elements. Once authorized, and the competition has moved on to the next skater the "field of play" is closed for the previous skater, and the calls cannot be changed even if later recognized to be incorrect, other than if the data operator has incorrectly entered information into the scoring computer system. The voices of the Technical Panel are recorded to resolve any questions concerning what the Data Operator was asked to enter by the Controller.
At major competitions a video replay system is used to view the elements (or falls) under review. The video can be played in slow motion if needed, however, for edge calls the replay is always conducted at normal speed.
Reviews often involve lengthy (sometimes animated) discussion among the Specialist, Assistant Specialist and the Controller as the Controller asks the Specialist and the Assistant Specialist what they think the correct call should be and why. The Data Operator and Video Operator do not participate in the discussion. The Data Operator can, however, participate in discussions of the rules that would require giving an element no credit.
At competitions where instant replay is not available the review takes place based only on the panels' memory of what took place in the program.
Jumps that do not have the required amount of rotation in the air (1 through 4 rotations, with Axels 1 1/2 through 3 1/2 rotations), are referred to as "cheated" or "under-rotated." If the Technical Panel decides a jump was under-rotated by more than 1/4 rotation, the base value of the jump is "downgraded" to the base value of the corresponding jump with one less rotation. For example, a triple Lutz should have three rotations in the air. If the attempt has less than 2 1/2 rotations in the air, the Technical Panel will downgrade the jump, and the attempt will receive the base value for a double Lutz.
The Technical Panel does not inform the judges when a jump is downgraded. The judges must decide for themselves if the jump was under-rotated, and if so they will usually reduce the GoE by 1 or 2 depending on the severity of the under-rotation. Thus, when a jump is downgraded, the skater loses points in both base value for the jump and GoE points.
Nearly all downgrade calls are for under-rotation on the landing. Nevertheless, jumps can also be downgraded for cheated takeoff, though this is rare.
In reviewing downgrade calls, the Technical panel is allowed to examine the video replay in slow motion. The orientation of the blade at the instant it contacts the ice is used to determine if the jump is under-rotated. Thus, skaters who land on the flat of the blade have a little extra time to complete the rotation than skaters who land on an extremely pointed toe.
Jumps are classified (named) by their takeoff edge and whether they takeoff with or without a tap from the other leg. The different jumps are named as follows, and takeoff from the edges listed (for a right handed skater).
- Toe Loop -- right back outside tap jump
- Salchow -- left back inside edge jump
- Loop -- right back outside edge jump
- Flip -- left back inside tap jump
- Lutz -- left back outside tap jump
- Axel -- left forward outside, edge jump
A common error in the Lutz jump is to change from the back outside edge to a back inside edge shortly before the takeoff. Less common, but also seen is a change of edge shortly before the takeoff from a flip jump. These errors are penalized by a reduction in the GoE by the judges, but it is the Technical Panel that calls whether the edge change has taken place. A Lutz with a change of edge is often referred to by the jargon "flutz" and a flip with a change if edge as a "lip." These terms are not official rulebook terms, but are nonetheless commonly use by fans and the skating community.
If the jump has a long, clear, obvious, change of edge the jump receives an "edge call" and is noted by an "e" on the marks detail published following the event. If the change is a short and brief change of edge the jump receives an "edge alert" and is noted by an "!" on the marks detail.
If a jump is reviewed for an edge call, the video replay is examined at normal speed; i.e., not in slow motion.
Jumps with an edge call or edge alert do not receive a lower base value. They are only penalized by the reduced GoE. Judges will typically reduce the GoE by 1 or 2 for this error, depending on it's severity.
Many elements have requirements that must be met for the element to receive credit (points). If an element attempt does not meet the minimum standard it receives no points. Further, if execution of an element is in violation of the rules it will also receive no points. Elements that receive no points due to a violation of the rules are indicated on the marks detail by an asterisk.
Examples of elements that receive no points because they do not meet minimum requirements include: failing to hold any spiral position in a spiral sequence for three seconds; failure to have the required minimum number of rotations in a spin; failure to complete a single rotation in a jump. Examples of elements that receive no points due to a rules violation include: repeating a spin (same spin code); repeating a jump beyond the number permitted; having more jump combinations or sequences than permitted; repeating a step sequence pattern in the Men's event.
In singles, a spin will also receive no value if a spin of a required type is omitted. For example, if a flying spin is required and none of the three spins has a flying entry, one of the spins (usually the last) will receive no value, even if the three spins have different spin codes. In singles the jump elements must include an element with an Axel takeoff. If this is omitted, the last jump element will receive no value.
Certain elements in some programs receive a 10% increase in base value if they are executed (begun) in the second half of the free skating program. The start of the second half is half way though the nominal time for the program. For a Ladies Free Skating program, for example, with a four minute nominal time, half-time begins at the two minute mark.
In Singles Free Skating, jumps receive the time bonus. In Pairs Free Skating, jumps, lifts and throws receive the time bonus. There is no time bonus for elements in Short Programs and in Ice Dancing.
The Base Value for a jump combination is the sum of the base values of the individual listed jumps. (Listed jumps are the jumps that have values in the Scale of Values.)
The Base Value for a jump sequence is the sum of the base values of the two highest value individual listed jumps in the sequence, multiplied by a factor of 0.80. A jump sequence can contain more than two jumps and may include unlisted jumps, but only the two highest listed jumps contribute to the Base Value.
In Ice Dancing, the couple may include a lift that is a combination of two types of shorter lift. The Base Value of this combination lift is the sum of the base values of the two shorter lifts, multiplied by a factor of 0.80.
Certain rules violation result in deduction. These deductions and there value are:
Skaters who execute a new innovative movement in a program may be awarded two bonus points by the Technical Panel. Bonus points are only available in Singles and Pairs. They are not a part of scoring Ice Dancing.
Bonus points have never been awarded to a skater in ISU or Olympic competition.
The main purpose of the Program Component Factors is to give The Total Element Score and the Program Component Score roughly equal importance in the Total Segment Score. This is in an average sense for a large group of skaters. Individual skaters may be more skilled in one or the other and will not have exactly equal TES and PCS.
Program Component factors are also used to allow for different importance among the Program Components. In Singles and Pairs, the five Program Components have equal weight. In Ice Dancing the Program Components are give different weight.
In order to balance the importance of the event segments that make up an event, some event segments have a Segment Factor that is not equal to 1.0. Segment Factors other than 1.0 are used in some Ice Dance events, to give the proper importance to the Compulsory Dances compared to the other dances in the event.
In the Short Programs, Compulsory Dances, and Original Dance, the Total Element Score breaks the tie.
In Free Skating and Free Dance, the Program Component Score breaks the tie.
In events with two or more event segments, the score in the most recently skater segment breaks the tie., except when two compulsory dances are skater, where there is no tie breaker after the second compulsory dance.
The following table gives the maximum possible score for a program that contains the most difficult elements permitted, executed at Level 4, with GoEs of +3, and Program Components of 10.0.
For some event segments there is a true maximum difficulty set of permitted elements. These are the event segments which have the most tightly defined element requirements. For other event segments, however, the maximum score is only an approximation determined by the most difficult elements at least some skaters have executed. For those programs the content assumptions for which the approximate maximum value program is calculated are noted. Although these are not true absolute maximums, they are the current practical maximums for these events.
| Event Segment | Max. Base Value | Max. Score | Notes |
| Ladies Short Program | 39.4 | 98.9 | |
| Ladies Free Skate | 69.9 | 181.4 | Assumes maximum of 3A. |
| Total | 280.3 | ||
| Men's Short Program | 47.00 | 116.50 | Assumes maximum of 4S. |
| Men's Free Skate | 94.4 | 228.90 | Assumes maximum of 4S. |
| Total | 345.4 | ||
| Pairs Short Program | 40.40 | 97.90 | Assumes maximum of 3LzTw, 3ATh, and 3Lz. |
| Pairs Free Skate | 68.70 | 175.70 | Assumes maximum of 3ATw, 3ATh, 3Lz. |
| Total | 109.1 | 273.60 | |
| Dance Short Dance | 32.00 | 81.00 | |
| Dance Free Dance | 51.20 | 124.70 | |
| Total | 83.2 | 205.7 |
Copyright 2011 by George S. Rossano