The participating group of U.S. athletes, coaches and officials feel this system has improved the sport of figure skating in the following areas:
1. It is a more precise system that shifts the emphasis away from the judge and toward the skater.
2. The new system...provides increased feedback to the skaters and coaches...
3. The new system rates, not ranks, a skater's performance. Draw order no longer penalizes the athlete.
4. The new system is more difficult to manipulate
...
Rationale for probationary status:
1. Adjustments still need to be made to improve the system, with particular emphasis on the judging and understanding of the five components.
2. Financial feasibility studies need to be disclosed...
U.S. Figure Skating polled skaters and coaches who participated in the Grand Prix series, and most gave it positive reviews. Many said it gave a better reflection of a skater's performance because judges were solely concerned with the program, not how they would "place" a skater.
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"This system is even more now totally secret," Pfenning said. "You do not know what individual judges have done. There has to be accountability in any sport that uses judges..."
