San Diego Figure Skating Communications
SDFSC-Enews.Org

An Information Resource for
Basic Skating Skills and Figure Skating
MITF Judges Comments 
       
    Judges make every attempt to evaluate the positive and negative performance of each element in an objective process to determine the mark they award.

    Communication between coaches and judges should be an on going process, especially when there are many changes in the MITF elements that will occur on Sept. 2, 2010.

    Judges frequently talk about the following topics:
  • The MITF have specific patterns that can be evaluated using the concept of long and short axis, used in skating figures, when skaters transition from one lobe to another. The consistent placement of the skate blade on the correct edge and on an angle that results in forward and backwards lobes that are equal in size and shape on outside and inside edges.
  • Skaters are not learning how to correctly perform turns using a rise and bending of the skating knee in the necessary coordination to initiate and check rotation to achieve an effortless and controlled turn. Judges observe the core body throughout the performance of a curve or in the transition between two different curves connected by turns.
  • Skaters lack an understanding of the geometry of skating edges and the previous tracings or relationship to future tracings. Skaters also do not seem to be able to perform the curves/lobes in a rhythmic manner necessary to satisfy the Quickness Focus.
  • There is no appreciation of how elegant the body carriage should be when performing MITF. There is no attempt to attain some level of presentation skills in the performance of MITF elements.
  • Failure of skaters to effective use the rulebook patterns as a guide to correctly perform the MITF elements. The ice surface can be divided into four distinctive quadrants of the ice surface that coincide with the lines and circles that are universal in rinks that host a hockey club. This is the most frequent cause of the skater running out of room at the ends of the rink.
  • Skaters seem to be unaware of the need to adjust the size of their lobes and flow to accommodate the edges and turns to correctly fit into each quadrant, especially on clean ice that generally exists for testing. When this is not achieved, the skater realizes they are running out of room and then slows down in an attempt to avoid running into the barrier.
  • A failure to communicate by coaches that the skaters must correct existing problems noted on judging sheets. Judges pass skaters when the elements are performed to a minimum level, not a n error free standard. Two judges passing a test indicates there are problems that need correction. At some test sessions, it is obvious that some coaches place a different emphasis on:
    • What is an acceptable minimum skill level to pass and common mistakes that are observed by judges.
    • That coaches are judges are using different definitions of acceptable skill levels - represented by the notations and abbreviations used by judges to support their marks.
  • Skaters reach a "Brick Wall" when they have failed to correct basic errors on previously passed tests. This ultimately results in skaters reaching a test level where their fundamental skating skills are major obstacles that must be corrected if they expect to pass the next MITF test level.

    Information is an important tool that provides a basis for the articles being developed. The goal is to help facilitate communications between judges and coaches that provides the technical descriptions  coaches use in their teaching and for judges the basis they use to arrive at the minimum standard for passing each level of tests.

    Comments and suggestions are welcomed so a balance of different perspectives can be achieved. Input from coaches and judges will help to achieve a consensus. We hope our efforts will result in skaters who are well prepared to test and receive a uniform evaluation by judges from rink to rink.
San Diego Figure Skating Communications (SDFSC) is a not for profit organization.

The goal of  SDFSC is to provide information that
encourages participation and achievement in the sport of figure skating.

The articles below are currently under development to serve as
 reading/reference materials for seminars for skaters, parents, coaches, and judges.
Reading skills range from 6th grade to post graduate studies.

Your comments and suggestions would be appreciated.
 webmaster@sdfsc-enews.org

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