Making the Move: Transitioning your team from 6.0 to IJS 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Synchronized Skating National Coaches College Presented by Karin Sherr and Jeanette Davey
Overview Why make the move? What s the difference? 6.0 vs. IJS Judge s Rank vs. Technical Panel & Judges Total Points Before you decide Do your homework learn the rules Know your skaters abilities be realistic Getting Started FAQs Building your score it s all about the strategy During your first season Q&A
Why do teams move to IJS? Skater s Ages Skater s Ability Have stronger skaters Looking to challenge your skaters more Pressure from Parents Might not be worth the agony to stay in a 6.0 division Want to try to qualify for Nationals??????? There are as many reasons as there are teams!
What s the difference? Rating vs. Ranking Officials Judges and Referees only Judges, Referees, Technical Panel 2 marks vs. GOEs and Components Report Card vs. Ordinal Sheet
Who awards the marks? Technical Panel Identifies elements and levels Each called element has a Base Value Identifies falls Judges Assign GOE to each called element which can cause Base Value to go up or down Assign 5 Component Scores Referee Deductions for violations such as timing, hand holds, costumes
Review of IJS: Multiple Roles Technical Panel IJS Panel Judges Panel Referee Tech. Controller Tech. Specialist Asst. Specialist Data Entry Video Operator Determines Base Value (BV) of Technical Element Score Judge 1 Judge 2 Judge 3 Judge 4 Judge 5 Judge 6 Judge 7 Judge 8 Judge 9 Determines any deductions not covered by Technical Panel or Judges Panel Determines Grade of Execution (GOE) of Technical Element Score and all 5 aspects of Program Component Score
Getting Started: How to be prepared Learn the rules Know what levels you are attempting and have a plan to get there Be honest about your team s abilities Calculate and know your Base Value Get help if you need it! Understand risk vs. reward given in Scale of Values Set goals
Getting Started: FAQs Rules, Rules and MORE Rules! Where can I find the rules? US Figure Skating web site ISU web site & Communications USFS Rulebook
FAQs con t How do I know which levels to attempt? team s abilities BE REALISTIC do the math you might be surprised! make your season a work in progress if it isn t getting called, maybe it needs to change
Doing the Math Scale of Values Base Value Level 2 with a +1 GOE could be higher than a Level 4 with a -2 GOE It s not always the best strategy to go for the highest level QUALITY counts!
FAQs con t I don t even know where to start, it s so overwhelming. What should I do? Look up well balanced program requirements to get a list of the elements for your division The basic elements are the same (circle, line, block, wheel, etc. and you know those!) Watch videos (on YouTube, etc.) Take it element by element Eat the elephant one bite at a time!
FAQs con t How do I know what was called? Protocol or Report Card
Technical Panel calls executed elements (determining Base Value) and any element deductions Parts of a Protocol Additional deductions may be taken by the Tech. Panel or Referee for falls, music or costume violations, etc. * Judges assign GOEs to each element. * A trimmed mean GOE is calculated for each element. * Judges assign the Program Component Scores * A trimmed mean is calculated for each program component.
Building Your Score: it s all about the strategy Understand the parts of an IJS score How each mark is assigned and calculated Extent to which they are interrelated or independent Consider each Element independently Understand risk vs. reward based on Scale of Values (SOV) Honestly assess your team s capabilities Set realistic goals for the season Consider the program as a whole Are goals realistic when combined? Do you have a complete package?
Understanding IJS Scores: Ways to earn points The Marks All Add Up Earn Base Value points for executed elements (Tech. Panel) Positive GOE points for executed elements (Judges Panel) add to Base Value points Earn points for Program Components (Judges Panel) Ways to lose points Negative GOE points for executed elements (Judges Panel) reduce Base Value points Element deductions (Tech. Panel) subtract from Base Value points Falls (Tech. Panel) subtract from overall score and impact GOEs and component marks Additional deductions (Referee) subtract from overall score
Understanding IJS Scores: Key Features of Each Mark Program Component Scores All 5 components are independent of one another Total Program Component Score statistically correlates with final placement Base Value Element difficulty level based on number and type of features executed (not attempted, executed!) GOEs Element difficulty not considered by Judges when assigning GOEs
Program Components: Skating Skills Balance, rhythmic knee action and precision of foot placement Flow and effortless glide Cleanness and sureness of deep edges, steps and turns Power/energy and acceleration Multi-directional skating Balance in skating ability of individual skaters
Program Components: Transitions Variety Difficulty Quality (including Unison) Intricacy Variation of speed of linking steps/formations Variation of changes of directions and holds Difficulty and Variety of entrances/exits from elements/ Preparation phase
Program Components: Performance / Execution Physical, emotional and intellectual involvement Carriage and body alignment Style and teams personality Clarity of movements Variety and contrast Projection Unison, synchronization and spatial awareness Balance in performance within a team; relationship between skaters
Program Components: Choreography Purpose (idea, concept, and vision) Proportion (equal weight of parts) Unity (purposeful threading) Utilization of personal and public space Pattern and ice coverage Phrasing and form (movements and parts structured to match the phrasing of the music) Originality of purpose, movements and design Shared responsibility in achieving purpose
Program Components: Interpretation Effortless movements in time to the music (timing) Expression of the music style, character and rhythm Use of finesse to reflect the nuances of the music Relationship between the skaters reflecting the character of the music
Maximizing your Program Components Scores The strategy: Consider Components in decision-making and expectations throughout the season When to use it: Always! Total Program Component Score generally correlates with final placement and leads to higher GOEs How to do it: Consider music, theme, costume carefully Choreograph transitions into the program Push for performance and interpretation by the skaters throughout the season Utilize drills to improve skating skills throughout the year, even if certain skills aren t part of the program You already know how to do this
Maximizing your Program Components Scores Improve Skating Skills Design drills for steps and turns focusing on clean and secure edges Practice in both directions multi-directional skating Improve knee action and power Help weaker skaters come up to the level of the rest of the team balance in skating ability of team
Maximizing your Program Components Scores Improve Transitions/ Linking Footwork Stay away from telegraphed transitions Follow-the-leader line out of circle 3-Spoke wheel into triangle intersection Use a variety of entry and exits Do something other than just crossovers Crisp re-grasps and changes of hold
Maximizing your Program Components Scores Improve Performance/ Execution UNISON! UNISON! UNISON! Circles round and lines straight simple but true Connection to audience Relaxed, confident vs. deer in headlights Good carriage and body alignment Strength training for a strong core
Maximizing your Program Components Scores Improve Choreography/ Composition Choreograph to your team s abilities Show off your teams strengths Know your skaters and be realistic
Maximizing your Program Components Scores Improve Interpretation Choose music with an obvious beat Can t stay on a beat that they cannot find Choose age appropriate music Hard to interpret what they don t understand (also hard to judge what we don t understand!) Make sure skaters understand story line Movie night (soundtracks) Videos of ballroom dancers (Tango, etc.)
Maximizing your Program Components Scores 6 th -highest Base Value in the event 2 nd -highest Technical Element Score based on high GOEs Highest Program Component Score in the event
Maximizing your Technical Element Score The strategy: Maximize the combination of Base Value and GOEs How to do it: Focus on improving Base Value Increase Element difficulty Increase Feature difficulty Focus on improving GOEs Decrease Element difficulty Decrease Feature difficulty Scale of Values (SOV) is the tool necessary to deciphering these tradeoffs
Scale of Values: Your new Best Friend! GOE -3-2 -1 0 1 2 3 LEVEL 1 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 LEVEL 2 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 LEVEL 3 2.00 2.60 3.30 4.00 4.70 5.40 6.00 LEVEL 4 2.20 3.20 4.20 5.20 6.20 7.20 8.20
During your first season Be flexible adjust as you go Watch USFS and ISU sites for clarifications Get feedback early and often Bring in a Controller or Specialist Grassroots/Sectional Monitoring Pacific Coast Anaheim Midwest Kalamazoo East Coast Plymouth Attend competitions Know how to read and interpret the protocol
Using Protocols to Adjust Your Strategy Program Component Scores What are your team s strengths and weaknesses? Base Value Are you getting credit for everything you are attempting? GOEs Are you earning or losing points due to execution? Finally, compare marks across the field to see where you should focus your energy
Summary Follow a well-reasoned path in developing a strategy for your IJS program: Understand the SOV well for each element Honestly assess the abilities of your skaters Set realistic goals Choreography should reflect your strategies Choreograph to the abilities of your skaters and the goals you have set for them Choreograph with Program Components Scores in mind Integrate Program Components into every aspect of the program and into training early on Use protocols to assess the impact of your strategies and adjust accordingly
Questions?