Editing Figure skating (section)

==Competition format and scoring==
{{Main|Figure skating season|Figure skating competition}}
[[File:2012 WFSC 06d 452 Maylin Hausch Daniel Wende.JPG|thumb|upright|Pair skaters performing crossovers]]

The [[International Skating Union|ISU]] is the governing body for international competitions in figure skating, including the World Championships and the figure skating events at the [[Winter Olympic Games]]. Medals are awarded for overall results; the standard medals are [[Gold medal|gold]] for first place, [[Silver medal|silver]] for second, and [[Bronze medal|bronze]] for third place. [[U.S. Figure Skating]] also awards [[pewter]] medals for fourth-place finishers in national events. Additionally, at the World, European, Four Continents, and World Junior Championships, the ISU awards ''small medals'' for segment results (short and free program) (Since 2009). A medal is generally attributed to only one country, even if a partnership is composed of skaters with different nationalities. A notable exception was the pair skating partnership between [[Ludowika Eilers]] and [[Walter Jakobsson]]; their 1910–11 medals were attributed to both Germany and Finland.<ref name=WCP/> Beyond the early 20th century, no skaters have been allowed to represent two countries in the same competition.

In singles and pairs figure skating competition, competitors perform two programs: the [[Short program (figure skating)|short program]], in which they complete a set of required elements consisting of jumps, spins and steps; and the [[Free skating|free skate]], also known as the ''long program'', in which they have a slightly wider choice of elements. Under both the 6.0 system and the ISU Judging System, the judges consider the "complete package" when evaluating performances, i.e. the best jumper is not always placed first if the judges consider the difference in jumping execution to be outweighed by another skater's speed, spins, presentation, etc.<ref name=nyt970216/><ref name=CBS981202/>

Ice dance competitions formerly consisted of three phases: one or more [[compulsory dance (ice dance)|compulsory dance]]s; an [[original dance]] to a [[Ballroom dance|ballroom]] rhythm that was designated annually; and a [[Free dance (figure skating)|free dance]] to music of the skaters' own choice. Beginning in the [[2010–2011 figure skating season|2010–11 season]], the compulsory and original dances were merged into the [[short dance]], which itself was renamed the ''[[rhythm dance]]'' in June 2018, before the [[2018–19 figure skating season|2018–19 season]].

===Medals===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.soyouwanttowatchfs.com/guides/competition-overview |title=Introduction to Figure Skating Competitions |access-date=January 11, 2024 |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325212812/https://www.soyouwanttowatchfs.com/guides/competition-overview |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Overall Medals (Stage 1 + Stage 2)====
Medals awarded to the skaters who achieved the highest overall placements in each discipline.

====Small Medals====
Small Medals awarded only at ISU Championships since probably 2009:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/short-program-medal-at-worlds.103810/ |title=Short Program medal at worlds |date=April 8, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |archive-date=February 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201215136/https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/short-program-medal-at-worlds.103810/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Stage 1 =''' Small medals awarded to the skaters who achieved the highest [[Short Program (figure skating)|short program]] or [[rhythm dance]] placements in each discipline.

'''Stage 2 =''' Small medals awarded to the skaters who achieved the highest [[free skating]] or [[free dance (figure skating)|free dance]] placements in each discipline.

Small Medals awarded only at ISU Championships:

#[[World Figure Skating Championships]]
#[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships]]
#[[European Figure Skating Championships]]
#[[Four Continents Figure Skating Championships]]

Small Medals not awarded in:

#[[Figure skating at the Olympic Games]]
#[[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating]]
#or any other international competitions

===6.0 System===
{{Main|6.0 system}}

Skating was formerly judged for "technical merit" (in the free skate), "required elements" (in the short program), and "presentation" (in both programs).<ref name=CBS981202/> The marks for each program ran from 0.0 to 6.0, the latter being the highest. These marks were used to determine a preference ranking (or "ordinal") separately for each judge; the judges' preferences were then combined to determine placements for each skater in each program. The placements for the two programs were then combined, with the free skate placement weighted more heavily than the short program. The highest placing individual (based on the sum of the weighted placements) was declared the winner.<ref name=6.0>{{cite web|url=http://www.usfsa.org/programs?id=84139|title=The 6.0 System|access-date=November 21, 2018|website=usfsa.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121161756/http://www.usfsa.org/programs?id=84139|archive-date=November 21, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===ISU Judging System===
{{Main|ISU Judging System}}

In 2004, in response to the [[2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal|judging controversy]] during the [[2002 Winter Olympics]], the ISU adopted the International Judging System (IJS), which became mandatory at all international competitions in 2006, including the [[2006 Winter Olympics]]. The new system is sometimes informally referred to as the ''Code of Points'', however, the ISU has never used the term to describe their system in any of their official communications.

Under the IJS, points are awarded individually for each skating element, and the sum of these points is the ''total element score'' (TES). Competitive programs are constrained to include a set number of elements. Each element is judged first by a technical specialist who identifies the specific element and determines its ''base value''. This is done using instant replay video to verify features that distinguish different elements; e.g. the exact foot position at take-off and landing of a jump. A panel of nine judges then each award a mark for the quality and execution of the element. This mark, called the ''grade of execution'' (GOE), is an integer with a minimum value of −5 and a maximum value of +5.<ref name=isu2168/> The GOE mark is then translated into another value by using the table of values in ISU rule 322. The GOE value from the nine judges is then processed with a computerized random selection of nine judges, the highest and lowest values are then discarded, and finally the average of the remaining seven is calculated. This average value is then added to (or subtracted from) the base value to determine the total value for the element.<ref name=judging/>

Note: The IJS previously used a GOE scale of −3 to +3, but this was changed for the [[2018–19 figure skating season|2018–19 season]].<ref name="isu2089" />

The ''program components score'' (PCS) awards points to holistic aspects of a program or other nuances that are not rewarded in the ''total element score''. The components are:

:* '''''Composition ''''': This evaluates how the program is designed in relation to the music; how are the different elements connected; how is the available space used; how does the choreography reflect musical phrase and form?

:* '''''Presentation''''': This evaluates how the program is performed; what does the skater express and project; what energy is created; what is the musical sensitivity and timing; for Pair, Ice Dance and Synchronized skating is the skating appropriately synchronized and showing awareness of space?

:* '''''Skating skills''''': This mark assesses the skater's command of the blade over the ice, including the ability to skate with power and ease. The judges look at variety and clarity of edges, balance, body control, turns, steps, flow, power and speed.<ref name="ISU Media Guide 23-24">{{cite web | title=ISU Figure Skating Media Guide 2023/24 | url=https://www.isu.org/media-centre/guides/media/32039-figure-skating-media-guide-2023-24/file | date=20 September 2023 | access-date=12 October 2023 | archive-date=December 9, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209012313/https://www.isu.org/media-centre/guides/media/32039-figure-skating-media-guide-2023-24/file | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="US Rulebook 22-23">{{cite web| title= THE 2023-24 OFFICIAL U.S. FIGURE SKATING RULEBOOK| url= https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2023-24%20Rulebook.pdf| access-date= 2023-09-19| archive-date= September 28, 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230928020928/https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/2023-24%20Rulebook.pdf| url-status= live}}</ref>

A detailed description of each component is given in ISU rule 322.2. Judges award each component a raw mark from 0 to 10 in increments of 0.25, with a mark of 5 being defined as "average". For each separate component, the raw marks are then selected, trimmed, and averaged in a manner akin to determining a ''grade of execution''. The trimmed mean scores are then translated into a factored mark by multiplying by a factor that depends on the discipline, competition segment, and level. Then the five (or four) factored marks are added to give the final PCS score.

The ''total element score'' and the ''program components score'' are added to give the total score for a competition segment (TSS). A skater's final placement is determined by the total of their scores in all segments of a competition. No ordinal rankings are used to determine the final results.

===Other judging and competition===
There are also skating competitions organized for professional skaters by independent promoters. These competitions use judging rules set by whoever organizes the competition. There is no "professional league". Well-known professional competitions in the past have included the [[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|World Professional Championships]] (held in Landover, Maryland), the Challenge Of Champions, the Canadian Professional Championships and the [[World Professional Figure Skating Championships|World Professional Championships]] (held in Jaca, Spain).

The [[Ice Skating Institute]] (ISI), an international ice rink trade organization, runs its own competitive and test program aimed at recreational skaters. Originally headquartered in Minnesota, the organization now operates out of Dallas, Texas. ISI competitions are open to any member that have registered their tests. There are very few "qualifying" competitions, although some districts hold Gold Competitions for that season's first-place winners. ISI competitions are especially popular in Asian countries that do not have established ISU member federations. The [[Gay Games]] have also included skating competitions for same-gender pairs and dance couples under ISI sponsorship. Other figure skating competitions for adults also attract participants from diverse cultures.