Tips from a Test Judge
Now that I am officially a test judge, I wanted to share some tips and tricks that I’ve picked up along my trialing journey. I began this adventure in mid-February and have judged close to 100 tests so far. I wanted to share these with you, in hopes that it can help you or others who are aiming to take their US Figure Skating tests. Note that the experiences I am sharing are solely for the Singles track, which consists of the Skating Skills and Singles (Free Skate) tests. I have no trialing experience with the other disciplines, but I imagine many of the same statements I will make here will also be true for those.
Here we go!
- Read the requirements for your tests thoroughly before testing. A copy of the Rulebook is easily available, and it includes diagrams and detailed descriptions of each test. Additionally, the test forms that judges complete are also online (it’s not a secret!). Log into USFS with your member number and you will see the exact forms that will be used for your test.
- Does the element allow intro steps? Most of the elements permit the skater to take up to 7 intro steps, but you need to check the specific test and the specific element. There are some that require the skater to start from a standstill. I can’t tell you how many tests I’ve trialed where the skater takes 8 or 9 intro steps, or they don’t begin the element from a standstill. Unfortunately, in these situations, the judges have to take a mandatory -1 deduction. Don’t lose points on something as silly as this!
- Which side does the element begin from? If the requirements say to start on the outside edges, please don’t begin on the inside edges. Again, this is a silly mistake that can be easily avoided.
- How big does the element need to be? If the requirement says that the tracing needs to be 3 times the skater’s height, then that’s the rule. If the skater traces something that is much smaller than that, then it doesn’t meet the requirement and the judge may enforce a deduction.
- What are the key focus areas for each element? If you go to the test form, there is a section in italics on each element that indicates what the focus areas are. If the focus area is extension, then make sure you stretch that free leg out, straighten it, and point the toe.
- Have another coach or skater watch a runthrough of the test before committing to test. Testing is not cheap (at least $50 for each test), so before you spend your hard-earned cash, make sure that your test is passable. While your judging panel are your biggest cheerleaders and genuinely WANT you to pass, you still need to demonstrate that you are competent enough for the elements you are hoping to pass. It pains me when a coach puts a skater on the ice for a test, and we can clearly see that the skater isn’t ready.
- The judges will look at your test as a whole. A passing mark is 0 (except for the Pre-Preliminary skating skills and singles tests, plus Adult Pre-Bronze) so if you have one or two weaker elements but are superb in a few others, you can still pass. One phrase that I’ve heard a lot of seasoned judges is that they are looking for “egregious” errors. What’s an example of an egregious error, you ask? Putting your foot down multiple times. A fall. Executing the test in the wrong order. Omitting a required pattern. If your entire test is pretty strong, but one element is a bit iffy, you could still be good enough to pass. The judges are looking at the overall test and should not focus on the one thing you might have trouble executing consistently (unless it’s an egregious error and is bad enough to offset the rest of the test).
- For Singles (Free Skate) tests:
- Create a diagram of your program. Are you skating to all four corners of the rink? How is your ice coverage? Are all of your jumps in the same spot? I once judged a Gold/Senior level singles test where the first 6 elements were all in the same spot on the ice. That was not a fun program to watch, and the skater ultimately did not pass. Make sure that you are spacing out your elements so they are not repeated in the same spot.
- Spins: Count your revolutions. The judges are also counting, and they need to ensure that you hit the minimum number of revolutions.
- Jumps: Double check the requirements. If the test forms says that you need X number of jumps, make sure you hit that number. If you only execute X-1, then you haven’t met the minimum requirement.
- Musicality: How connected are you to the music? Are you just trying to get this program over with? Or are you genuinely enjoying yourself and performing? Just because this isn’t a competition doesn’t mean that you should skate with a blank expression on your face. Be confident and let us see that you’re having fun!
As you can see, most of these common mistakes that I’ve pointed out can easily be avoided by having a good understanding of the rules and following them. There have been occasions where a skater could have passed a test had they not taken the extra intro step or started their move from a standstill.
Hope these tips were helpful!