ISU

Why people argue about this

People often assume that figure skating boots are primarily for comfort during long routines, forgetting about their crucial role in providing lateral support above the ankle, which is essential for executing jumps and precise footwork. This oversight leads to misunderstandings about why these specialized footwear are required by the ISU.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that ISU Rule 501 only covers costume designs in figure skating competitions, when in reality it's much broader - encompassing attire for both men and women skaters, including shoes, undergarments, and even makeup guidelines to ensure fairness across all aspects of their performance.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the ISU's music requirements are strictly about timing and tempo, thinking it means they can't use copyrighted songs unless royalty fees are paid. Actually, the focus is more on ensuring skaters perform to a pre-approved musical selection without interruptions or cuts, regardless of whether the song itself has been licensed.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that all figure skating competitions are held on ice rinks of exactly 60 meters in length and 30 meters in width, but actually, while ISU guidelines specify these dimensions as a regulation, many competitions use slightly different sizes to accommodate various venues or conditions. The exact measurements can vary, leading to misunderstandings about the official standard.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that "regulation ice rinks" means perfectly smooth and level surfaces for figure skating competitions, which they think guarantees optimal performance conditions. However, the actual meaning is more nuanced: it refers to rinks that meet specific size, shape, and structural standards set by the ISU, not necessarily perfecting every surface detail like a polished mirror.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the ice hardness is solely determined by temperature, forgetting that thickness plays a crucial role too. The misconception arises because they overlook how different temperatures at varying ice thicknesses can produce similar grip levels, leading to debates on whether the ice should be harder or just warmer for optimal performance.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that ice temperature is just about comfort for spectators, forgetting that it's crucial for maintaining a smooth glide on the blades. The actual misunderstanding lies in thinking that warmer or cooler temperatures are acceptable as long as they're within -3°C to -5°C, which can lead to skating difficulties and affect performance dramatically.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the age requirement only applies to Olympic Games and Senior Championships, forgetting that it also affects Junior competitions. This leads to misunderstandings about which skaters are eligible to compete at ISU Junior Championships, causing confusion among younger athletes and their coaches who might not be fully aware of all age-related regulations.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that in pairs skating, a single pair is competing as two individuals rather than one man and one woman working together, leading to misunderstandings about how scores are calculated and who exactly is being scored on. The confusion arises because this rule specifies each pair should be treated as a unit of one male and one female competitor.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that age eligibility is based strictly on a skater's actual birthday, leading them to argue about whether they're old enough for their next competition. However, the ISU actually uses July 1 of the preceding year as the cutoff date, which can cause confusion and disputes among athletes who might have turned 17 or 19 just before this deadline.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the nine judges chosen for each competition are randomly picked from ISU member federations without considering their expertise in figure skating, leading them to misunderstand how impartiality is maintained within such a diverse panel of scores.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the nine judges are chosen based solely on their skating ability, forgetting that they're selected for their impartiality across different nationalities to ensure a fair assessment from diverse perspectives.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that other officials are explicitly named in the ISU rules for figure skating, thinking it's a given like judges, but actually, the term "other officials" is intentionally vague to allow flexibility and can encompass various roles depending on the specific competition or event.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that all quad jumps are automatically considered standard in men's competition just because they're mentioned last, forgetting that their inclusion is a decision made by the ISU based on current competition standards, not a given fact of these jumps' nature.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that a skater can get away with omitting just one of the required elements without penalty, thinking it's okay as long as they do at least six out of seven. But actually, the rule clearly states zero value for an omitted element, meaning even if they manage to perform all other elements perfectly, losing one is still disastrous in terms of scoring.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the base value of a jump is solely determined by its difficulty level, which leads them to misunderstand why some jumps are valued higher than others in figure skating competitions. Actually, the ISU's "5.2 Singles Free Skating" rule specifies that base values also consider other factors like execution and creativity, not just the inherent difficulty of the jump itself.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the base value system for jumps in figure skating is purely based on difficulty, thinking it's a straightforward measure of how hard a jump is. However, they overlook the fact that judges also consider factors like execution and artistic impression when assigning scores, leading to debates about which jumps are truly more difficult under these complex scoring systems.

Why people argue about this

People often think that the level of a spin is solely determined by how many revolutions it completes in one position without changing edges or feet, but actually, judges consider multiple factors including variations, edge changes, and footwork throughout the spin to assign levels from Base through Level 4.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that step sequences in figure skating are merely about using both feet with deep edges, but they overlook the requirement for them to cover the full ice surface and incorporate a variety of turns like threes, brackets, and counters—this is where many misunderstandings stem from.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the required elements are rigidly set in stone, forgetting that while lifts have strict duration and type restrictions, the other elements like twizzles, step sequences, and choreographic components are more open to interpretation and creativity within the context of a pair skater's unique style and performance.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that in Figure Skating's Ice Dance, the 5.7 rules allow for creative freedom without boundaries, thinking there are no restrictions on lifts or choreography duration. However, the confusion arises because these elements do have specific limitations to ensure fairness and safety across all skaters, regardless of their creativity level.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that all competitors in a group must skate together for their 6-minute warm-up period, which leads them to misunderstand how the groups are formed and who gets what time on ice. Actually, the rule allows each competitor in a group of up to six to have individual warm-ups as needed within those 6 minutes, not that they all skate at once during their allotted time.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that each program component is scored out of 10 without decimals, leading to a common misunderstanding about how precise scoring works in figure skating under the ISU Judging System (IJS). Actually, scores are given on a scale from 0.25 to 10, reflecting the system's precision and complexity intended for assessing skaters' performances.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the GOE is solely for penalizing a skater's performance during an element, forgetting that it also contributes positively to the Base Value of that element, thereby affecting their overall score calculation. This oversight leads to misunderstandings about how much impact each part of the scoring system truly has on the final result.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that each technical element is scored independently of others in a program, leading them to believe they can maximize their score by focusing solely on one aspect at a time. However, actually, judges consider all elements together and evaluate the overall performance, including transitions between elements, which complicates the idea of scoring each individually.

Why people argue about this

People often argue that they don't understand how edge calls are scored within under-rotation deductions, thinking it's a straightforward deduction based on rotation speed alone when in fact, judges must evaluate both the degree of under-rotation and whether the skater maintained proper edges throughout their spin – two distinct elements that can vary significantly.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that each of the five program components in figure skating is scored on a scale of 0.25 to 10 out of 10, but actually, it's per half-draw (or rotation) within those scores—so if you're getting 4 points for one component, you’re breaking it down into four equal parts, each worth 0.25 to 1.0 out of that 0.25-1.0 range.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that each segment score is simply added together without considering their relative importance, forgetting that judges typically give higher scores for Free Skating or Free Dance compared to Short Program or Rhythm Dance segments, leading to a misinterpretation of which skater is truly the best overall.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that a fall in figure skating is simply about touching ice with parts other than blades, but they misunderstand that it’s actually defined by losing control of their body, leading many to argue over whether certain falls should have been penalized based on how the skater appeared mid-air or during a spin.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that a fall automatically means a -1.0 deduction from the total segment score without considering other factors like the skater's overall performance or difficulty of the jump. They overlook how judges might mitigate this penalty by awarding positive Grade of Execution (GOE) to balance out the fall, especially if the landing was clean and controlled afterward.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that time violations only apply during the actual performance, forgetting about the warm-up period before the competition starts. However, the ISU's "7.2 Time Violations" rule extends to both the pre-competition warm-up and the actual program duration, leading to confusion when judges deduct points for timing issues outside of the actual performance sequence.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that illegal elements are just about performing moves outside of allowed categories like spiral sequences, but they overlook the fact that invalid elements can be due to technical issues like a fall or loss of connection between steps during a spin - it's not just about what you're doing, but how you're doing it.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that a -1.0 deduction for costume or music violations means it's an automatic disqualification, which is incorrect. In reality, these penalties are meant as warnings or minor deductions to ensure skaters adhere strictly to ISU guidelines without completely invalidating their performance.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that a late start in Figure Skating only affects their score by adding time penalties, forgetting entirely about the -1.0 deduction for each fall on elements they perform. They overlook how this rule can severely impact their total segment score if multiple elements are affected by both lateness and falls.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the 6-minute warm-up period applies only to each skater individually before their performance, rather than as a collective group session between Zamboni resurfacing intervals, leading to misunderstandings about how much time they actually have for preparation.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the Ice Marshal's role is only to ensure no actual collisions happen during warm-ups, but they overlook the importance of teaching skaters how to maintain spatial awareness for practicing jumps safely, leading to misunderstandings about what constitutes "dangerous behavior" in their eyes.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that ice attendants are only responsible for clearing loose debris like flowers or trash, but they also need to clear anything a skater might throw on the ice during their routine, which can lead to confusion about what exactly constitutes "thrown objects.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that medical support under 8.3 in figure skating means ISU will send a doctor to every practice where an athlete is injured, which isn't accurate. The rule actually stipulates that if a skater needs medical assistance during a competition or practice due to injury, ISU can provide it as needed, but doesn’t guarantee constant medical presence at all practices.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that just because there's an Ice Marshal present during warm-ups, all safety concerns are automatically addressed. But they overlook how the Marshal’s presence is contingent on their availability and when they're available, which can lead to misunderstandings about continuous safety coverage throughout competitions.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the requirement for spatial awareness during warm-up means skaters must avoid touching other competitors on the ice; however, the actual intent is to ensure they're aware of their surroundings in a general sense, which could mean staying clear of bystanders or obstacles rather than avoiding direct contact with others.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the stiffened leather boots are solely for aesthetic purposes, forgetting that they're crucial for providing the necessary lateral support and stability during jumps and spins, which is why the official rules mandate them to be above the ankle.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that all figure skating competitions are held on ice rinks exactly as specified by ISU standards without realizing there might be variations in size or condition due to local hosting requirements, leading them to believe every competition is played on pristine regulation surfaces when it's not always the case.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that the age limit change only affects Olympic Games and ISU Senior Championships, forgetting that it applies equally to Junior competitions as well, leading to confusion about which events are now restricted for younger skaters.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that as long as they complete all 7 required elements within their allotted time, they're good to go. However, the actual confusion lies in the fact that omitting even one element results in zero value for that element, not just a deduction from their score; this can be catastrophic if missed on such an important program.

Why people argue about this

People often think that a score of 0. 25 means you can get fractions like 9. 875 as a component score, but actually, scores are rounded up or down to the nearest quarter, so it's more about understanding how those decimal points translate into whole numbers on the final score sheet.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that a fall in figure skating is just about falling down, but actually, it's defined as losing control resulting in any part of their body touching the ice except for their blades - which leads to a penalty of one point deducted from their score. They overlook how minor movements or missteps can be categorized as falls if they meet this technical definition.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that just because there's a safety monitor present during warm-up sessions, they're solely responsible for preventing all collisions and dangerous behavior. However, the confusion arises because in reality, skaters are expected to exercise spatial awareness and avoid risky maneuvers on their own initiative, with the Ice Marshal observing and intervening as needed.