Figure Skating's New Judging System

▪ 2006

      The tidal wave of criticism spawned by the judging scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, prompted the International Skating Union (ISU) to devise a reformed judging system that went into effect in 2005. The new system, based on cumulative points, replaced the traditional 6.0 scoring system that had been used for more than a century. The addition of technical experts to assist in the judging process was a part of the new reforms, as was the use of videotape replays. There were also changes in the way scores were tabulated and displayed. Skaters under the new system were to be awarded points for a technical score combined with points for five additional qualities—skating skills, transitions, performance/execution, choreography/composition, and interpretation. Ice dancing included an additional component—timing. When the new system was first tested in the U.S., on Oct. 21, 2004, at Reading, Pa., some skaters complained that it did not necessarily prize the performance of difficult jumps but rather rewarded doing easier jumps well. Nevertheless, the ISU felt that its reforms would result in more objective judging and an end to controversy.

      Key aspects of the new system included:

● A technical specialist who identifies each of the skating elements.

● A technical controller overseeing the judging panel who can ask for video reviews of specific elements if there is uncertainty about what has been identified.

● A panel of 10 judges that gives numerical marks for every element of a skater's program. Judges would no longer be responsible for ranking each skater relative to the other skaters in the competition. They would now be responsible for simply evaluating the qualities of each performance.

● A base value for each element, from spins to footwork to jumps and—for pairs and dance—lifts. A triple toe loop has a 4.8 base, for example, while a quadruple loop is worth 9.0. A judge can add from +3 points to –3 points to the base value of a jump or element and +1.5 to –1 for a spin.

      While the 6.0 system tended to award higher scores to skaters who started late in the competition, starting order would not have an impact on skaters' scores in the new system. Competitors should have a greater opportunity to win by coming from a lower position than was the case under the 6.0 system. Hoping to reduce the risk of outside influences on judges, the ISU also ruled that the names of judges working ISU championships and senior Grand Prix events would not be linked to their scores. In addition, the scores that counted in the final tally were to be randomly selected from among the panel of judges. Separate scores would be posted for technical elements and for program components, and the winner would be determined by the highest combined score. Although the ISU expressed confidence in the new judging system, a number of skaters and coaches voiced concerns. The anonymous scoring, in particular, gave corrupt judges greater protection from scrutiny, some believed, and might inhibit the ability of competitors to get crucial feedback from judges.

Ron Reid

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