PSA on Virtual Tests
I wanted to vent and provide a PSA (Public Service Announcement) for anybody who is a coach or skater that tests within the US Figure Skating structure.
Please, please, please, go into the “Members Only” section of the USFS website and download the test forms prior to registering and taking a virtual test. Review the requirements and memorize the order of the elements.
I am losing count of the number of times skaters submit virtual test where:
- Elements are skated out of order
- Skater pauses in between elements (example: final element on Gold skating skills explicitly states that there cannot be a pause in between sides)
- Skater does not pause in between elements (example: the backwards loops pattern on Pre-Gold skating skills requires the element to start from a standstill)
- Skater takes more than 7 introductory steps
In many/most of these situations, the judges can use their discretion and automatically deduct one point from the skater’s overall score. In fact, the judges’ training content dictates that some of these are automatic deductions (example: the >7 intro steps being one of them). These are silly errors that can easily be avoided if the skater and/or coach knows the rules and the requirements for the tests. These forms aren’t secrets – anybody who is a USFS member can download them. Don’t let these mistakes be the reason your skater does not pass the test!
/End PSA