The ISU approved rule updates at their recent Congress, June 4-8, 2018. Many of these have been incorporated into Skate Canada rules. In addition, and following an internal review, additional rule changes have been made. Below is a summary of these updates, all of which take effect July 1, 2018
Competitions Rule
Throughout document: updated name of Short Dance to Rhythm Dance
1.2 Competition Announcements:
- now includes a requirement that announcements for competitions held between January 1 – June 30 include specific reference to which season’s competitive competition requirements will be used
2.9 Music:
- updated to confirm that all programs are to be skated to music and in harmony to the music
3.2 Draws:
- updated to confirm that initial draws may be done manually or by computer
- updated to confirm that for subsequent segments of Sectionals, Challenge, and the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, that the draw will be in reverse order unless otherwise stated either by Skate Canada or in the competition announcement
3.3 Starting Orders
- update to reflect number of couples permitted in Pattern Dance warm-ups
3.5 Pattern Dance Sequences
- updated to reflect the decision to match the number of Sequences performed in both STAR and Competitive Ice Dance Pattern Dance events to ISU number of Sequences
3.6 Withdrawal of a Competitor
- updated to provide further definition of process around start position for alternates.
3.8 Call to Start – For Synchronized Skating
- updated definition of procedure to be followed when a team does not take their starting position within the time allotted.
3.9 Warm-Up – Warm-Up Periods
- updated to show Pattern Dance warm-up is now decreased to 3 minutes, and maximum number of couples is increased to 6.
3.10 Duration of Skating
- updated to include the requirement that in Pattern Dance, the couple must reach their final pose within 20 seconds.
3.11 Interruptions
- significant updates to rules that govern interruptions, as well as further definition and process around music deficiencies and incomplete programs.
8 Practice Ice for Qualifying Competitions
- updated to remove this item
9.6 Re-allocation of Unused Section Quota Entries
- updated to remove this item
9.7 Filling of Warm-Up Groups
- updated to remove this item
Additional housekeeping as required.
Scoring of Skate Canada Competitions Rule
Throughout document: updated name of Short Dance to Rhythm Dance
2.2 Specific Element Evaluation – Singles
- updated to include change to Junior and Senior 2nd half jump bonus as recently approved by the ISU
2.2 Specific Element Evaluation – Ice Dance
- updated to include Combination Turns and process of evaluation as recently approved by the ISU
2.3 Bonuses
- updated to include bonus for a fully rotated triple as the 3rd jump in a combination in Novice Singles Free program
2.4 Program Components
- updated to include Open Rhythm (previously Short) Dance
- updates to Transitions and Composition factors for Intermediate Category, Synchronized Skating
2.5 Deductions – CompetitiveSkate
- updated to include deductions for Pattern Dance time violation for every five seconds in excess of permitted time after the last prescribed step in the Pattern Dance to the ending movement/pose
2.5 Deductions – STARSkate
- updated to include deductions for choreography restrictions, music requirements, and violation of tempo specifications (all ice dance only).
2.5 Deductions – AdultSkate
- updated to include deductions for choreography restrictions, extra elements, music requirements, violation of tempo specifications, and lifts exceeding permitted duration (all ice dance only).
2.5 Deductions – Synchronized Skating
- updated to include deductions for late start, falls, as well as updating the deduction definition for un-prescribed or additional element/repeated element shape to remove reference to Short Program only.
3.1 Element Score – Level of Difficulty of Elements – Ice Dance
- updated to state that all elements can be evaluated using all levels of difficulty from Base to level 4 and as approved by the ISU.
3.1 Element Score – Grade of Execution (GOE)
- updated to confirm use of the 11 grades of execution scale (+5 to -5) as approved by the ISU
- updated to confirm that combination step sequence, combination turns (both ice dance) are evaluated as one unit as approved by the ISU.
3.1 Element Score – Illegal Elements/Movements – Singles and Pairs
- updated to match illegal elements/movements definition recently approved by the ISU
3.1 Element Score – Illegal Elements/Movements – Ice Dance
- updated to match illegal elements/movements definition recently approved by the ISU
3.1 Element Score – Choreographic Restrictions – Ice Dance
- updated to include definition of choreographic restrictions.
3.2 Program Component Score – Performance
- updated to show projection as its own criterion as approved by the ISU
3.2 Program Component Score – Marking of Program Components
- updated to show descriptions of degrees of components as approved by the ISU
4 Marking of Pattern Dances – 4.1 Element Score – Scales of Values/Base Value
- updated to show pattern dances without key point are assessed as either level base (50% of the section/sequence performed by both partners) or level 1 (at least 75% of the section/sequence performed by both partners).
4 Marking of Pattern Dances – 4.1 Element Score – Grade of Execution (GOE)
- updated to confirm use of the 11 grades of execution scale for Pattern Dance (+5 to -5) as approved by the ISU
4 Marking of Pattern Dances – 4.1 Element Score – Marking of Program Components
- updated to show descriptions of degrees of components as approved by the ISU
Additional housekeeping as required.