ISU Judging System

Season 2023-24

The ISU Judging System (or the International Judging System (IJS)), occasionally referred to as the Code of Points (COP) system,[1] is the scoring system currently used to judge the figure skating disciplines of men's and ladies' singles, pair skating, ice dance, and synchronized skating. It was designed and implemented by the International Skating Union (ISU), the ruling body of the sport. This system of scoring is used in all international competitions sanctioned by the ISU, including the Olympic Games. The ISU Judging System replaced the previous 6.0 system in 2004. This new system was created in response to the 2002 Winter Olympics figure skating scandal, in an attempt to make the scoring system more objective and less vulnerable to abuse.[2]

Official ISU documents for the season 2022/23

Requirements 2023-24 Print

Senior

2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A

Junior

Category Senior

Age: since 16 years (born before 30/06/2007)

Requirements:

Women

Short Program

2:40
Duration:
2 minutes 40 seconds

The Senior Short Program shall consist of the following required elements:

Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A

  • Double or triple Axel
  • Triple jump
  • Jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump or two triple jumps

Spins

Steps

  • Step sequence fully utilizing the ice surface.

Free Skating

4:00
Duration:
4 minutes

A well-balanced Free Skating program must contain:

Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A 4T 4S 4Lo 4F 4Lz

Maximum of seven jump elements (one of which must be an Axel type jump).

Spins

Maximum of three spins:

Steps
  • maximum of one step sequence
  • maximum of one choreographic sequence

Men

Short Program

2:40
Duration:
2 minutes 40 seconds

The Senior Short Program shall consist of the following required elements:

Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A 4T 4S 4Lo 4F 4Lz

  • Double or triple Axel
  • Triple or quadruple jump
  • Jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump or two triple jumps or a quadruple jump and a double jump or a triple jump

Spins

Steps

  • Step sequence fully utilizing the ice surface.

Free Skating

4:00
Duration:
4 minutes

A well-balanced Free Skating program must contain:

Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A 4T 4S 4Lo 4F 4Lz

Maximum of seven jump elements (one of which must be an Axel type jump).

Spins

Maximum of three spins:

  • one of which must be a spin combination
  • one a flying spin or a spin with a flying entrance
  • one a spin with only one position
Steps
  • maximum of one step sequence
  • maximum of one choreographic sequence

Category Junior

Age: 13 - 18 years (born between 01/07/2004 - 30/06/2010)

Requirements:

Women

Short Program

2:40
Duration:
2 minutes 40 seconds
Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A
  • Double Axel Paulsen
  • Double or triple Lutz jump
  • Jump combination consisting of two double jumps (2-2) or one double and one triple jump (3-2) or two triple jumps (3-3)
Spins
Steps
  • Step sequence fully utilizing the ice surface

Free Skating

3:30
Duration:
3 minutes 30 seconds

A well-balanced Free Skating program must contain:

Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A

Maximum of seven jump elements (one of which must be an Axel type jump)

Spins

Maximum of three spins:

Steps

Maximum of one step sequence

Men

Short Program

2:40
Duration:
2 minutes 40 seconds
Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A
Spins
Steps
  • Step sequence fully utilizing the ice surface

Free Skating

3:30
Duration:
3 minutes 30 seconds

A well-balanced Free Skating program must contain:

Jumps
2T 2S 2Lo 2F 2Lz 2A 3T 3S 3Lo 3F 3Lz 3A

Maximum of seven jump elements (one of which must be an Axel type jump)

Spins

Maximum of three spins:

Steps

Maximum of one step sequence