I guess we can call this a reiteration and further refining of my previous thread last year (part of it anyway) about what needs to change within CoP.
The Long Program is not actually called the "Long Program" according to the ISU. It is still called the "Free Skate". That title, however, is not at all an accurate representation of this portion of figure skating competitions under CoP. There is nothing about the current "Freeskate" that allows skaters much freedom at all. They have to complete the exact structure of technical elements that is prescribed or else they are losing points, the same as in the Short Program.
When every skater is doing mostly the same thing, and when you KNOW exactly how many jumps a skater is going to attempt, etc, programs begin to lose part of their individual flavor and competitions as a whole become less exciting. Programs become less about trying to figure out which technical elements best interpret the music and more about simply choreographing the technical elements themselves so that they are worth the most points.
Here is what every female program is "required" to have:
*7 jumping passes, 2 of which are two-jump combinations, one of which is a three-jump combination
*3 spins
*1 footwork sequence, 1 spiral sequence
The requirements for Men's programs are basically the same, just an extra jumping pass and 2 footwork sequences rather than a footwork sequence + spiral sequence.
Skaters should be able to pick layouts that feel more personal. The 1998 Olympic podium is a perfect example of brilliant programs that utilize different technical structures. Tara Lipinski had 6 jumping passes (3 combination jumps), Lu Chen had 7 (2 combination jumps), and Michelle Kwan had 8 (2 combination jumps). Michelle Kwan's program did not have a footwork sequence.
This should be the "base" requirement for a Free Skating program:
*6 jumping passes, with 2 of them being a two-jump combination (7 jumping passes for male programs)
*3 spins
*1 footwork sequence or (for a female program) spiral sequence
From there, skaters would have 3 optional slots available. They can use these flexible slots to add anything they want to the program - spins, footwork sequences, spiral sequences (males included), jumping passes, or extra jumps done in combination (doing a 3-jump combination instead of a 2-jump combination would count as a slot and a 3-jump combination would be a maximum a skater can attempt in a single combination...additionally note that something like a 3Toe/half loop/3Sal would count as a 2-jump combination).
The limitations would be as follows:
*No more than 3 footwork sequences in a program (skaters may not repeat the same type of footwork pattern and could do 1 circular, 1 straightline, and 1 serpentine at most).
*No more than 2 spiral sequences in a program.
*A maximum of 2 slots can be used to add additional combination jumps to the program (and only 1 three-jump combination may be attempted).
*A maximum of 2 slots can be used to add additional jumping passes to the program. If 2 slots ARE used for extra jumping passes, the skater forfeits their last optional slot (adding this many extra jumping passes can make it too easy to gain points, so there has to be a balance).
*Additional addendum to the Zayak rule: from this group of jumps -- Triple Axel / Triple Lutz / Triple Flip -- Females are only allowed to repeat one of them in a program. Why? Because we've seen too many female programs try and load up on these jumps under CoP at the cost of ignoring other Triple jumps. Well-rounded technique should be encouraged.
I firmly believe individual programs would look better, competitions would be more exciting, and entire seasons would be more dynamic if these rules were in place. We need to be left guessing what a skater will do next. We need to see different skaters doing different technical layouts. We need to see programs change more throughout the season, as skaters experiment with different elements and ideas. CoP currently does not allow people to make as many choices as they should be able to. Choices are interesting.
Here's the sample layout of a skater like ALISSA CZISNY, who has difficulties with the jumps but excels at spinning:
Camel-change-Camel spin
3Lutz-2Toe
3Flip
Flying Sit spin
3Loop
Combination spin
----------
3Toe-2Toe
2Axel
Flying Camel spin
3Lutz
Spiral Sequence
Layback spin
Change-of-foot Combination spin
She has just as many spin elements as she has jump elements. And why not? That area of skating is certainly difficult and you need to be able to do a vast range of spin variations if you want to put this many spins in a program and still gain extra levels.
Then take someone like MIKI ANDO. Her layout would be completely the opposite - she wants to maximize the jumps and avoid spiral sequences:
3Lutz-3Loop
4Sal
3Flip
Change-of-foot Combination spin
----------
2Axel-3Toe
3Lutz
3Loop
3Sal-2Loop-2Loop
Flying Sit spin
Footwork Sequence
Combination spin
And of course, a quintessential MICHELLE KWAN program:
3Loop
3Toe-3Toe
Flying Camel spin
3Lutz-2Toe
Change-of-foot Combination spin
----------
3Flip
2Axel
Spiral Sequence
3Sal
Layback spin
3Lutz
Footwork Sequence
Combination spin
Yet another possible layout would be from YUKA SATO, who has admitted to enjoying jumps the least (especially toepick jumps) when it comes to skating. That's okay, though, because her glorious speed and edging gives her a big advantage in Footwork Sequences! She could do something like:
3Lutz
3Flip
3Loop-2Loop
Serpentine Footwork Sequence
3Toe
Change-of-foot Combination spin
----------
2Axel-3Sal
3Loop
Circular Footwork Sequence
Flying Camel Spin
3Sal
Straightline Footwork Sequence
Combination spin
Hurray for variety.
Also, although I wanted to save the discussion about other CoP changes for another thread (perhaps it's unavoidable), here is a quick overview of some of the changes that are related to the way the Freeskate would be changed:
Skaters wouldn't be trying to achieve level 4 on everything. The other change to CoP that would need to happen for this to work would be a change in the base values and GOE values of elements. A quick summation is:
*The 2Axel would be worth less points (other jumps would also be worth less points, and difficult jump combinations would be worth more points, but it's mainly the 2Axel that would take the biggest hit).
*Spins would receive higher +GOE and gaining extra levels would be worth less points, meaning you want to aim for the best quality of spin you can achieve, not the most variations you can put in (although well-done variations are of course always welcome). The current rule of 8 revolutions in a single position counting as a level feature would also be abolished, except in the cases where a significantly difficult position is held for that long.
*Footwork sequences would have the same +GOE regardless of level (+1 point at every level) and there would be an extra guideline for determining the GOE of footwork sequences: how well the sequence adheres to the pattern (straightline, circular, serpentine). Most people wouldn't try Level 4 footwork because almost nobody can do that kind of footwork without traveling all over the place. Clean, fast footwork that is Level 2 or Level 3 would be the ideal most of the time.
The Long Program is not actually called the "Long Program" according to the ISU. It is still called the "Free Skate". That title, however, is not at all an accurate representation of this portion of figure skating competitions under CoP. There is nothing about the current "Freeskate" that allows skaters much freedom at all. They have to complete the exact structure of technical elements that is prescribed or else they are losing points, the same as in the Short Program.
When every skater is doing mostly the same thing, and when you KNOW exactly how many jumps a skater is going to attempt, etc, programs begin to lose part of their individual flavor and competitions as a whole become less exciting. Programs become less about trying to figure out which technical elements best interpret the music and more about simply choreographing the technical elements themselves so that they are worth the most points.
Here is what every female program is "required" to have:
*7 jumping passes, 2 of which are two-jump combinations, one of which is a three-jump combination
*3 spins
*1 footwork sequence, 1 spiral sequence
The requirements for Men's programs are basically the same, just an extra jumping pass and 2 footwork sequences rather than a footwork sequence + spiral sequence.
Skaters should be able to pick layouts that feel more personal. The 1998 Olympic podium is a perfect example of brilliant programs that utilize different technical structures. Tara Lipinski had 6 jumping passes (3 combination jumps), Lu Chen had 7 (2 combination jumps), and Michelle Kwan had 8 (2 combination jumps). Michelle Kwan's program did not have a footwork sequence.
This should be the "base" requirement for a Free Skating program:
*6 jumping passes, with 2 of them being a two-jump combination (7 jumping passes for male programs)
*3 spins
*1 footwork sequence or (for a female program) spiral sequence
From there, skaters would have 3 optional slots available. They can use these flexible slots to add anything they want to the program - spins, footwork sequences, spiral sequences (males included), jumping passes, or extra jumps done in combination (doing a 3-jump combination instead of a 2-jump combination would count as a slot and a 3-jump combination would be a maximum a skater can attempt in a single combination...additionally note that something like a 3Toe/half loop/3Sal would count as a 2-jump combination).
The limitations would be as follows:
*No more than 3 footwork sequences in a program (skaters may not repeat the same type of footwork pattern and could do 1 circular, 1 straightline, and 1 serpentine at most).
*No more than 2 spiral sequences in a program.
*A maximum of 2 slots can be used to add additional combination jumps to the program (and only 1 three-jump combination may be attempted).
*A maximum of 2 slots can be used to add additional jumping passes to the program. If 2 slots ARE used for extra jumping passes, the skater forfeits their last optional slot (adding this many extra jumping passes can make it too easy to gain points, so there has to be a balance).
*Additional addendum to the Zayak rule: from this group of jumps -- Triple Axel / Triple Lutz / Triple Flip -- Females are only allowed to repeat one of them in a program. Why? Because we've seen too many female programs try and load up on these jumps under CoP at the cost of ignoring other Triple jumps. Well-rounded technique should be encouraged.
I firmly believe individual programs would look better, competitions would be more exciting, and entire seasons would be more dynamic if these rules were in place. We need to be left guessing what a skater will do next. We need to see different skaters doing different technical layouts. We need to see programs change more throughout the season, as skaters experiment with different elements and ideas. CoP currently does not allow people to make as many choices as they should be able to. Choices are interesting.
Here's the sample layout of a skater like ALISSA CZISNY, who has difficulties with the jumps but excels at spinning:
Camel-change-Camel spin
3Lutz-2Toe
3Flip
Flying Sit spin
3Loop
Combination spin
----------
3Toe-2Toe
2Axel
Flying Camel spin
3Lutz
Spiral Sequence
Layback spin
Change-of-foot Combination spin
She has just as many spin elements as she has jump elements. And why not? That area of skating is certainly difficult and you need to be able to do a vast range of spin variations if you want to put this many spins in a program and still gain extra levels.
Then take someone like MIKI ANDO. Her layout would be completely the opposite - she wants to maximize the jumps and avoid spiral sequences:
3Lutz-3Loop
4Sal
3Flip
Change-of-foot Combination spin
----------
2Axel-3Toe
3Lutz
3Loop
3Sal-2Loop-2Loop
Flying Sit spin
Footwork Sequence
Combination spin
And of course, a quintessential MICHELLE KWAN program:
3Loop
3Toe-3Toe
Flying Camel spin
3Lutz-2Toe
Change-of-foot Combination spin
----------
3Flip
2Axel
Spiral Sequence
3Sal
Layback spin
3Lutz
Footwork Sequence
Combination spin
Yet another possible layout would be from YUKA SATO, who has admitted to enjoying jumps the least (especially toepick jumps) when it comes to skating. That's okay, though, because her glorious speed and edging gives her a big advantage in Footwork Sequences! She could do something like:
3Lutz
3Flip
3Loop-2Loop
Serpentine Footwork Sequence
3Toe
Change-of-foot Combination spin
----------
2Axel-3Sal
3Loop
Circular Footwork Sequence
Flying Camel Spin
3Sal
Straightline Footwork Sequence
Combination spin
Hurray for variety.
Also, although I wanted to save the discussion about other CoP changes for another thread (perhaps it's unavoidable), here is a quick overview of some of the changes that are related to the way the Freeskate would be changed:
Wouldn't doing three step sequences or six spins take a really long time, if you would try to achieve level 4 on all of them?
Skaters wouldn't be trying to achieve level 4 on everything. The other change to CoP that would need to happen for this to work would be a change in the base values and GOE values of elements. A quick summation is:
*The 2Axel would be worth less points (other jumps would also be worth less points, and difficult jump combinations would be worth more points, but it's mainly the 2Axel that would take the biggest hit).
*Spins would receive higher +GOE and gaining extra levels would be worth less points, meaning you want to aim for the best quality of spin you can achieve, not the most variations you can put in (although well-done variations are of course always welcome). The current rule of 8 revolutions in a single position counting as a level feature would also be abolished, except in the cases where a significantly difficult position is held for that long.
*Footwork sequences would have the same +GOE regardless of level (+1 point at every level) and there would be an extra guideline for determining the GOE of footwork sequences: how well the sequence adheres to the pattern (straightline, circular, serpentine). Most people wouldn't try Level 4 footwork because almost nobody can do that kind of footwork without traveling all over the place. Clean, fast footwork that is Level 2 or Level 3 would be the ideal most of the time.
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