Communication 2474: Levels of Difficulty and Guidelines for marking Grade of Execution and Program Components, Season 2022-23
Notable changes to level guidelines:
Step sequences (singles): “Two combinations of 3 difficult turns on different feet executed with continuous flow within the sequence. Only one difficult turn may be repeated in the two combinations.”
Step sequences (pairs): “Two different combinations of 3 difficult turns: One of the combinations must be executed in a hold. Only the first two combinations can be counted.”
Spins (singles): “Difficult exit” added as level feature. “Difficult entrance and Difficult exit are two different features. To get credit for both features they must be executed in two different spins and the movements must be of different nature.”
Solo spins (pairs): “Difficult entrance and/or difficult exit: Only one of them can be accepted as a level feature in the solo spin.”
Pair spins (pairs): “Lifting the woman while the man is on 1 foot is a level feature when executed for at least 2 revolutions.”
Pair lifts (pairs): “No carry is considered as a feature for Juniors. A difficult carry will be awarded for Seniors in Free Skating. Inside Axel take-off is no longer awarded as a difficult take-off in 5ALi or 5SLi. Group 4 Lift can also start with a hand to arm grip to allow difficult variation of take-off. In lifts with one arm hold the second point of contact can only be given if it is not used for support. Difficult take-off must be executed before full extension of the arms.”
Jump sequences (singles & pairs) (pending ISU Congress decision): “A jump sequence consists of two or three jumps of any number of revolutions, in which the second and/or the third jump is an Axel type jump with a direct step from the landing curve of the first/second jump in to the take-off curve of the Axel jump. One full revolution on the ice between the jumps (free foot can touch the ice, but without weight transfer) keeps the element in the frame of the definition of a jump sequence. Jumps executed in a jump sequence receive their full value.”
Choreographic sequence (singles) (pending ISU Congress decision): “A Choreographic Sequence consists of at least two different movements like steps, turns, spirals, arabesques, spread eagles, Ina Bauers, hydroblading, any jumps with maximum of 2 revolutions, spins, etc.”
Notable changes to GOE guidelines:
Step sequences (singles & pairs): “Good ice coverage or interesting pattern” added as +GOE feature
Jumps (singles & pairs): “Changes of edge in between jump combo: The reduction in GOE is -1 to -2. Poor take-off: For example a toe-assisted jump is taken off from the full blade, Toe Loop is executed like a Toe Axel or there is excessive rotation on the ice at the take-off. The reduction in GOE is -1 to -3. Touch down of the free foot in between jumps: The reduction in GOE is -1 to -2.”