Synchronized Skating Technical Elements
Synchronized team skating involves a team of 8-20 athletes performing together. It has been an emerging discipline within U.S. Figure Skating and around the world.
Synchronized skating is a highly technical form of figure skating characterized by speed, accuracy, intricate formations and transitions.
On the junior and senior levels, teams are required to perform a short program and a free skate. At all other levels, teams only perform a free skate. Like all disciplines of figure skating, synchronized skating is moving to be judged under the ISU judging system.
Synchronized team skating competitive programs consist of the following elements:
Block An element where the skaters are arranged in a minimum of three lines and a maximum of five lines. It may be skaters on a straight line, diagonal, curved or circular pattern and teams should cover the entire ice surface. The lines of skaters should be straight and all of the skaters evenly spaced. Features that make block increase in difficulty are step sequences, changes of hold and changes of configuration.
Circle There are several variations of the circle, as it can be skated in one circle, several circles or a circle inside a circle. The element may consist of two different shapes as long as they are continuous and each revolves a minimum of 180 degrees. The shape should be round and spacing between skates should be even. There should not be any visible pulling or tugging between skaters. Features that increase the difficulty include step sequences, changes of hold, traveling and changes of rotation.
Intersection Any element where one half of the team intersects the other half of the team. Skaters may do turns, steps, dance jumps or free skating movements at the point of intersection to increase the difficulty.
Line There are several variations of the line. It can be skated in one straight line, parallel lines, diagonal lines, etc. Teams may skate two different formations in their line element, providing they are continuous and each cover ½ of the ice. Features increasing the difficulty include step sequences and changes of hold.
Wheel An element where all of the skaters rotate around a common center point. It can be done in many different formations including 2,3,4 and 5 spoke wheels and parallel wheels. Wheels must revolve a minimum of 360 degrees, and teams can have up to two continuous shapes in their wheel element. All spokes of the wheel should be straight and the lean of the skaters should be in the same direction. Teams increase difficulty by including step sequences, changes or hold and direction and by traveling the formation.
Movement in Isolation An element where some skaters are isolated from the rest of the team performing free skating elements. These movements must show a relationship to the rest of the team and enhance the musical interpretation. A minimum of three skaters, up to a maximum of less than half of the team must perform the free skating movement.
Moves in the Field A sequence of movements that must include free skate elements and other flowing moves with strong edges, connected with linking steps. A moves in the field element must have at least three different free skating elements.
No-Hold Step Sequence An element that looks similar to a block, except that none of the skaters are connected to one another. They must perform a step sequence in four or five lines that covers at least 2/3 of the ice surface on a diagonal or straight line. The skaters must hold their spacing without connecting and everyone must do the steps in unison.
Spin All skaters must perform the same spin in unison. They may perform the element in any formation on the ice they choose.
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