My proposal, which I'm only musing about as part of an ongoing armchair discussion:
Eliminate the first step sequence in the men's FS entirely (the one that actually gets level calls). Instead, substitute a choreographic spiral sequence element, just like the women have, although I would adjust the requirement that the spirals be on one foot (men do better spread eagles due to anatomy, just as women do better flexibility spirals).
And in the last years of 6.0, men were required to do a "field moves sequence" rather than a second step sequence in the long program.
So basically, in the FS, there will be no more step sequence with levels and all those convoluted requirements under my proposal. There will just be one choreographed step sequence with the same basic score.
That could work. The short program can be the place for step sequences with levels based on difficulty.
Or tweak the definitions of the features, the base marks for each level, and the values of the GOEs, so that skaters can make a strategic choice whether to aim for higher levels or higher GOE . . . or other ways of rewarding higher difficulty vs. quality.
E.g., let the tech panel just identify yes or no for the step sequence and give the judges more than 3 pluses to reward difficulty as they see it as well as quality. The judges will be less consistent/precise at identifying specific turns while also watching for quality, each with their own two eyes instead of the six-eyed three-brained tech panel. But they'll also be less picky and able to reward unique areas of difficulty or intersections of difficulty + quality that don't neatly fit the level rules.
If the tech panel determines "yes" -- that step sequence did meet the definition of a step sequence, then it defaults to -1 or -2 GOE. To get 0 or higher the skater will have to earn a pluses from the judges. The bullet points for the pluses can include everything that's already in the positive GOE guidelines and also things like "variety of steps and turns" "difficulty of steps and turns" "turns in both directions" "quick reversals of direction" "extended sequence on one foot" "expressive use of upper body" etc., but leaving it up to each judge to determine whether the skater meets their own definitions for those points.
Between the difficulty bullets and the quality bullets it would common for the skaters who are already getting +2s and +3s for level 3 and 4 to get +2s and +3s on the defaults-negative choreo sequence.
Then, there will be an entirely new element in the technical elements called Steps and Turns. It will have levels and features somewhat like the old step sequence (or the step sequence in the SP). So for instance, if a skater executes 5 different kinds of turns and 3 different kinds of steps at least once in each direction throughout the FS (steps and turns executed during the choreographed step sequence do not count), he'll be eligible for a level 4 S&T if he fulfills some other level features, too. The panel of judges gives this new element a GOE just the same.
That would be really hard to keep track of. It's one thing for the tech panel to say "here's the step sequence -- start counting now" and count until the skater gets to the other end of the ice or closes the circle. If necessary, they can also go back and review just that element.
It would be much more difficult to keep track of steps and turns sprinkled throughout the program with any accuracy, and it wouldn't be possible to review without watching the whole program again just counting the steps and turns, which would seriously prolong the wait for scores in those cases. Definitely expect the members of the same panel to disagree with each other but not have time to review, and for different panels to disagree with each other from one competition to the next, depending which turns or steps they happen to miss or which ones the skater executed less clearly each time.
Do normal entries into elements (threes and mohawks into jumps, including the bad-direction mohawk, cross step that many skaters use into lutzes; choctaw from back crossovers into forward spin) count toward the total for that kind of step or turn?
Then what happens if, e.g., the tech panel decides that a skater's intended three turn into a flip never got onto an inside edge and they give an edge call for the "lip"? Do they also give the skater credit for executing a rocker there?
I do think that variety and difficulty of the steps and turns between the elements should be rewarded, as well as within the step seqeunces. But if they're going to be quantified, it's much easier to do so during a discrete steps-and-turns element with a defined start and stop.
For myself, I'd rather say either that
*the short program should have more strictly defined technical requirements that are precisely defined and rewarded for difficulty and correctness, but the free program only gives difficulty points for jumps and maybe spins and then leaves the rest of the scoring up to judges' individual evaluations of the content, quality, and artistry
or
*define several different types of non-jump, non-spin elements complete with levels and let each skater choose whichever two best suit their music, program concept, and skills
The choice for long programs could be any two of the following:
-straight-line step sequence
-circular step sequence
-serpentine step sequence
-figure eight step sequence (i.e., two connected circles or serpentines)
(all of the above have to adhere more strictly to their nominal patterns, the base values for the different patterns increase in the order listed above, and there are more than four possible features so skaters get to pick and choose which ones to use for higher levels)
-spiral/spiral sequence
-field move/field move sequence
(both of the above can earn a high level with only one position or edge if it's held long enough and has enough other features, or they can use three or four different positions/edges to earn features)
-school figures variation
-small-jumps sequence (if it doesn't fill a jump slot instead)
Surely from the above options skaters can find two point-earning elements that will showcase their individual strengths and fit their chosen music better than the current requirements of everyone doing one step sequence for levels and one choreo step or spiral sequence
I would also make more possible features for the various elements, especially step sequences, so that there would be a variety of choices in how to earn level 4. Choose what you think works best for you, and then at each competition we'll see whether you get full credit and +GOE for your execution. But you won't have to make the same choices as a different skater. Or the same choices you made last year when you were using very different music.
