Changes to Regulations and Technical Rules for Singles and Pairs Skating Accepted at the 56th ISU Congress
SYWTW FS
Detailed communication on some important changes for singles and pairs skating (all starting 2016-17, presumably). Changes from the previous rules are underlined in the text. The document does not mention the changes discussed at the ISU Congress that will take effect in the 2018-19 season. (More info on that here.) Summary of important points:
First skater to go in a warmup group will no longer have 1 minute to start and will have 30 seconds like everyone else.
Increased deductions for multiple falls in senior singles skating: -1 for the first and second fall, -2 for the third and fourth falls, -3 for any further falls.
Judges’ scores no longer anonymous on protocols.
Short program length in senior and junior pairs and singles is 2 minutes and 40 seconds, +/- 10 seconds.
Program components renamed to Skating Skills, Transitions, Performance, Composition, and Interpretation of the Music /Timing (for ice dance). Some changes to their definitions as well; see the document for more info.
At ISU Events and the Olympics/Youth Olympics, skaters in the last two groups of the FS will draw their skating order in two subgroups within each group. The higher-placing skaters in the SP will draw in the later subgroups. (Ie. The top skaters after the SP are guaranteed to skate at the end of the FS in some order.)
Spin combinations in singles and pairs must have 3 basic positions to get full value. Combination spins with 2 positions will be marked with a “V” and receive lower BV.
Layback spin now optional in the junior and senior ladies’ SP; seniors can do a camel or sit spin without change of foot instead, and juniors can do a sit spin without change of foot.
If the solo jump in a singles SP is repeated in the combo, only the invalid jump will have no value, instead of the entire combination. If an invalid jump occurs in a combination in the FS, only the invalid jump will have no value, instead of the entire combination.