ISU Changes to Ice Dance Rules
2006 Modifications to Ice Dancing Rules and Regulations
As a result of 2006 ISU Congress decisions, ice dance teams should study their new rule books before heading into the new season.
The International Skating Union has adopted some significant changes in the judging of ice dancing competitions.
First, qualifying rounds have been eliminated for ice dancers. The top thirty compulsory teams will be allowed to perform the OD and free dance.
The value of combination lifts has been downgraded but more clearly defined. All lifts in the combo will be evaluated as one entity, with base values of the first two types of lifts being added together and multiplied by 0.8. Bonus points can then be added for the most difficult lift in the combo. In other words: Make sure you do whatever gets you the most points at the beginning of the combination lift. Otherwise, it's only worth its bonus.
A "fall," in ice dance is determined to be any time there is "loss of control by a skater with the result that the majority of his/her body weight is on the ice supported by any other part of the body other than the blands e.g. hand(s)..." Just as this sport has been struggling to rebuild its fan base after years of controversial and obviously corrupt judging, audience members now may have to sit through playbacks to determine touchdowns. Sound familiar? Yawn.
Don't worry, though. The thrill of body parts on ice isn't completely missing from the sport. It's no longer illegal to skate "with a hand or hands on the ice" during the free dance.
Quality of edges and steps are now a component in the "Grade of Execution of Compulsory Dances," and there has been some other movement of this sort within the GOE. Marking of OD and free dances has also been tweaked, so read that part of the rule book closely.
What, exactly, are the judges looking for in Program Components? In addition to the Technical Score, skaters will be evaluated on "Skating Skills, Transitions/Linking, footwork/movements, Performance/Execution, Composition.Choreograhpy, and Interpretation/Timing." Program Components is the umbrella term for all of that. Skating Skills includes "Overall Skating Quality:.. demonstrated by a command of the skating vocabulary [break out the scantrons]... and use of effortless power..." I like that last one. "Use of finesse" and other phrases (such as "spellbinding") that define PC scores are sure to eliminate subjectivity in judging. Not.
Spectators should basically look for power, confidence, flow and rhythmic knee action, and, in general, great skating. Also, "equal mastery of technique by both partners shown in unison" is another component of skating skills. (Sorry Maurizio Margaglio. If you two hadn't split after your public quarrel in Torino, your two-footed skating while Barbara Fusar-Poli works hard would not be allowed. Okay - To their credit, this Italian team did finally win the compulsory dance at the Olympics, their sixth place finish ending a career that included a bronze medal in Salt Lake City and a silver at 2001 Worlds.)
Lastly, for clarification, at least we understand that OD & FD Program Component scores are out of 10.0 possible, ranging from "Very Poor" to "Outstanding."
Take a look at your rule book or publications and announcements on www.isu.org for further details and explanations.
