Rule Book Updates Effective July 1, 2026

The Skate Canada Rule Book has been updated for the 2026-2027 season. These rule updates include (but are not limited to):

Competition Program Requirements – Adult:

Updated requirements for 2026-2027 season, including pattern dances, spin requirements in singles categories, and synchronized skating.

Addition of solo free dance.

Competition Program Requirements – Podium Pathway:

Updated requirements for 2026-2027 season – changes outlined in separate Notice Board Article.

Updated ages for junior pair category domestically

Addition of Pre-Novice Solo Ice Dance

Competition Program Requirements – STAR:

Updated requirements for 2026-2027 season – changes outlined in separate Notice Board Article.

Addition of STAR 6 and Gold Solo and Partnered Free Dance.

Competitions:

3.1 Panel of Officials: clarity added to pattern dances with no key points and requirements for STAR 6 Free Dance added.

3.5 Pattern Dance Sequences: number of sequences for solo ice dance added.

3.9 Warm-up periods: the following categories and segment warm-up times have been updated to 5 minutes:

STAR 6 to Gold Freeskate

Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Pre-Novice, and Novice Singles (all segments)

Juvenile Pair Free Program and Pre-Novice and Novice Pair Short Program

4.2 and 4.3 Judge Qualifications for STAR and Adult: solo ice dance added

8. Sectional Championships and 10. Skate Canada Trophy: solo ice dance added, including quotas.

Housekeeping.

Officials:

Coaches with a CanSkate or PowerSkate NCCP status may now be any type of official provided they meet the pre-requisites for the promotion. Coaches with a Regional or higher NCCP status may only act as STAR 1-4 Event Assessors, Base Level Technical Officials, Technical Controllers and Technical Specialists.

4. Conflict of Interest – updates for clarity.

Scoring of Skate Canada Competitions:

Bonuses updated per 2026-2027 requirements

Program Component (PC) Factors: updates to move all categories to be assed with three PCs. Novice Solo Ice Dance updated to align with Novice Partnered.

Falls: In Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance

Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, STAR 5-8 (including STAR 4/5 and 8/9 categories), STAR Solo Rhythm Dance, STAR Pairs, Showcase, and Creative Improv: deduction reduced from 0.20 to 0.10

Pre-Novice and STAR 9-Gold: deduction reduced from 0.50 to 0.25.

Pattern Dance Factors: Novice Solo Ice Dance updated to align with Novice Partnered.

STAR Assessments: updates to STAR 5 and Gold Free Skate requirements.