ISU Judging System
Introduction
The ISU Judging System (IJS) is designed to measure athletes’ performances in an objective manner and has replaced the old 6.0 system. The IJS has been used at Sub-Association and National level in New Zealand since 2006.
Technical Elements
In the IJS, every important element an athlete, couple, pair or team might perform has been assigned a value, called the base value. For example, a double Axel in singles skating has been assigned 3.3 points, while a single toeloop has a base value of just 0.4 points.
Athletes are also judged on how well they perform each element with the judges assigning a grade of execution (GOE) from -5 to +5. The GOE adds points to the base value or takes points away from the base value, the amount added or subtracted can be found in the Scale of Values (see the Rules & Regulations section).
For instance a single toeloop with a GOE of -3 earns only 0.28 points (0.4 points base value minus 0.12 points for the -3 GOE), while a single toe loop with a GOE of +5 earns 0.6 points (0.4 base value plus 0.2 for the +5 GOE).
For spins, footwork sequences, lifts, and all synchronised skating elements, the technical panel also assigns a level of difficulty to each element. The higher the level of difficulty, the higher the base value. For spins, variations and number of revolutions are some of the important aspects that allow an athlete to earn a higher level of difficulty.
There are limits on the number of elements athletes can perform and in the short programme there are many specific requirements regarding the elements an athlete must perform.
The points for all the valid individual elements are added up to get the Total Element Score (TES).
Programme Components
In addition to the technical elements, athletes are awarded points for other important aspects of skating. These three aspects are called components and are each awarded a value between 0.00 and 10.00.
- Composition - multidmensional movement, connections between elements, choreography reflecting musical phrase and form, pattern and ice coverage, unity
- Presentation - exoression and projection, variety and contrast of energy and of movements, musical senitivity and timing, oneness and awareness of space (pairs, dance & synchro)
- Skating Skills - variety of edges steps turns movements and directions, clarity of edges steps turns movements and body control, balance and glide, flow, power and speed, unison (pairs, dance & synchro)
The Total Component Score (TCS) is determined by first adding up the three component marks. This total is then factored. For example for the junior short programme by multiplying by 1.33 for women and 1.67 for men. For the junior free skate programme, this total is multiplied by 2.67 for women and 3.33 for men to get the Total Component Score. In pairs and synchronised skating, similar factoring is used. Factoring is used to ensure a balance between the technical score (TES) and the component score (TCS).
Deductions
Athletes can lose points for falling, performing illegal elements, skating over the maximum time allowed, and for costume or music violations.
Total Score
For each programme, the Total Segment Score (TSS) is determined by adding up the Total Element Score, the Total Component Score and then subtracting any deductions. In compulsory dance the TSS is factored (divided by the number of compulsory dances to be skated.)
The final score is a sum of all the Total Segment Scores for the athete, couple, pair or team.
Panel Makeup
There are two distinct panels under the IJS, each with a different function:
- A "Technical Panel" consisting of a Technical Controller, two Technical Specialists, Data Operator and Video Replay Operator who decide which elements were performed and assign levels of difficulty.
- A "Judges Panel" consisting of a Referee and up to nine judges (overseas) which determine the Grade of Execution (GOE) of each element and assign the Programme Component marks.
A computer system for entering marks, replaying video of elements, and controlling the scoreboard is managed by the accountant.