What do you like/not like about the ISU judging system?

[Mathman]

Like: I like the way they distinguish between a downgraded quad and a plain triple. Both receive the base value of the lower jump. However, if you really go for a quad toe, but it’s underrotated, the “box” for that jumping pass is designated “4T<” and it does not count as a 3T for Zayak purposes.

On the other hand, if you just don’t feel right on the jump and decide to bail, doing a simple 3T instead, then you get a further penalty, because you run into problems later on if you had planned something like a 3Lz/3T or 3F/3T.

Don’t like: It seems to me that the penalty for underrotation is much more severe than the penalties for other equally bad errors.

If you underrotate your triple Lutz by more than 90 degrees, you end up with 1.9 points for a double (or less, depending on GOE).

But if you do the worst Lutz of all time, with a terrible flutz, a goofy air position, and a fall on the landing, you still get 2.0 points provided you somehow make it around two-and-three-quarters times.

 

[slutskayafan21]

Do like: everything with regards to ice dancing where the judging has improved 5x over.

Dont like: everything with regards to mens, womens, or pairs. I dont like even one thing about the new system in any of the events outside of ice dancing.

Did I make my feelings clear enough.

 

[flying camel]

I don't like the way its making everyone in singles look like they are doing the same stuff. Everyone has the same jumps spins & spirals. No one really stands out as an idividual anymore. Skating is becoming boring.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Since I've decided to be a more overall positive person, I shall start with what I like:

I like that techinal difficulty is rewarded and skaters are being pushed to do more in terms of steps and transitions. I also like that more athletic skaters are no longer penalized for having stronger jumps vs. looking pretty on the ice (yes, I'm one of those who has never gotten over Elvis not winning the olympic gold medal)

I don't like is that falls don't count as heavily as w/ 6.0 ala Jeff B's faux quad. I also don't like that all long programs look alike... esp. the ladies and the spins look awful. Gimmie a fast, blurry scratch spin without the wacky positions anyday. Same with spirals... One more doggy at hydrant sprial and I just might lose it! I also don't like the lack of clean skating. Since when did skating cleanly become an afterthought?

 

[Spirit]

Not like: That Speedy is in charge of it.

 

[Tinymavy15]

i dislike that it is making tha skaters change position every second in a spin... so every spin becomes a combo... and when the positions are not done well the spin gets slow and labourus.

I like the way that it has pushed the ladies to do triple triples... i don't think that they got enough credit before and that's why almost nobody did them reguaraly. I like that now each program has to have a spiral sequnece and step sequence instead of the just do whatever you feel like of the 6.0 system... you just didn't see as as many spirals and step sequences.

 

[Hsuhs]

I like: ppl actually skate/ move more.

I don't like: awarding all those wooden tech skaters with PCSs they absolutely don't deserve. I know, they constantly work on their artistic side, the result is pathetic though, most of the time.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I like that they downgrade a jump that has not been completed. I do not like that they do not upgrade an overrotation. Joubert has a tendency to overrotate from what I noticed.

I don't like any attempt of an element as reason to give partial credit. either the skater does the jump by definition or the jump failed to score. No problem, the skater has many other elements to make up for it. Of course, zooming total points will decline.

technical ability should be taken out of the PCS scoes.

All judges must write an explanation of their scores and meet in a Press Conference after a championship.

Joe

 

[gkelly]

In theory, I think this kind of system can do a very good job of rewarding skaters appropriately for exactly what they do best, well, not so well, and so on much more accurately than just ranking with two marks.

In practice, I don't think it's there yet. Primarily because 1) the well-balanced program rules for the LPs and some of the level descriptions are much more restrictive than they need to be and reward skaters as much for following the rules as for what they actually do, and 2) the judging community is still figuring out the appropriate strategy for awarding program component scores.

I think 1) could be solved by rewriting some of the specific rules -- I have my own suggestions and I'm sure many others do as well. Some of it just depends on what the rule-makers and the technical committee want to reward and their opinions may not necessarily agree with mine. But each year some of the rule changes move in directions I'd like to see (while others may move further away).

2) will take experience and continued training and discussions about how to conceptualize each mark separately and developing a consensus about the standards expected for 4.0, 6.0, or 8.0 in each. Already, though, I think TES and PCS are judged much more independently than the technical and presentation marks were under the old system.

So it's still very much a work in progress and I'm hopeful that as the new system evolves it will find ways to accommodate flexibility and precision at the same time.

Meanwhile, I think the best thing about the new system in its current state is the detailed feedback in the protocols, so skaters can see exactly what they are and aren't getting credit for.

 

[gkelly]

But each year some of the rule changes move in directions I'd like to see

For example, when the latest changes to the singles/pairs rules came out, with 8 revolutions in position without change added as a spin feature and loops added to the list of turns counting toward varied/complex footwork, I wondered whether anyone had been reading some thoughts I'd typed up.

 

[Hsuhs]

All judges must write an explanation of their scores and meet in a Press Conference after a championship.

I too would love to see it happen.

 

[Ladskater]

I am from the old school of figure skating. To me a six is still a perfect mark. I don't know how to gage "perfection" under the new marking system. Figure skating is still the same no matter how it is judged.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I am from the old school of figure skating. To me a six is still a perfect mark. I don't know how to gage "perfection" under the new marking system. Figure skating is still the same no matter how it is judged.

There is a lot of truth in that. It is so rare that points make the difference between a winner in CoP, and a judges' Ordinal. However, there is, at least, a reason for debate with CoP.

 

[Jo1]

I absolutely do not like anonymity of the judges and the non-accountability to the public. And calling Cinquanta "speedy". I know it's a nickname due to his previous speed skating but the nickname connotes something cute and likable neither of which he is.

 

[Mathman]

I absolutely do not like anonymity of the judges and the non-accountability to the public. And calling Cinquanta "speedy". I know it's a nickname due to his previous speed skating but the nickname connotes something cute and likable neither of which he is.

I always thought the name "Speedy" sounded more sly and slick than cute and cuddly.

Actually, I kind of like the guy. He inherited a sport whose popularity was in decline due to global societal trends far beyond anyone's control (ice princesses -- out; Serena Williams -- in). He inherited an unwieldy organization of bickering special interests whose culture and history of cheating, corruption and back-room shenanigans was so ingrained that everyone just took it for granted.

Although he is the CEO, he serves at the pleasure of the very National Federations that he is supposed to rein in. He is expected somehow to stir up public interest in a sport that the public has become apathetic about, and to keep the sport solvent when there is no money coming in and little prospect of things improving in the future.

Maybe Mr. C. will figure out a way to latch on to Apolo Ohno and use his new fame as a ballroom dancer to stir up interest in speed skating.

Famous Speedys:

http://www.familycourtchronicles.com/people/gonzalez/speedy-gonzalez-loves-cheese.jpg

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/naa/siasc/images/archives_center_tn.jpg

PS. I agree about anonymous judging.

 

[SeaniBu]

Like - it is "trying" to improve.

Dislike - seem to be looking at things from the inside out, not the outside in. A balance does not seem to be the approach.

I am still undecided about anonymous judging.

Personal / subjective to "taste" aspects should be treated as a requirement to be in the sport and perform, not subjected to judging IMO. Choreography can support the scoring for "putting on a show" being necessary.

There has got to be a way to score in a "10" (or 100) style of system. I think that would help too. JMO

My main concern with Speedy, and the comments in reference, is the Future of FS does not seem to be a big concern. Just fix the moment - four year plans? By the time it is instigated it is the future and they are left trying to adjust again. It seems like a company that is "concerned with it's employees - which is good - but not about the consumer, or potential customers," giving it a poor forecast of future growth.

 

[Jo1]

I always thought the name "Speedy" sounded more sly and slick than cute and cuddly.

Actually, I kind of like the guy. He inherited a sport whose popularity was in decline due to global societal trends far beyond anyone's control (ice princesses -- out; Serena Williams -- in). He inherited an unwieldy organization of bickering special interests whose culture and history of cheating, corruption and back-room shenanigans was so ingrained that everyone just took it for granted.

Although he is the CEO, he serves at the pleasure of the very National Federations that he is supposed to rein in. He is expected somehow to stir up public interest in a sport that the public has become apathetic about, and to keep the sport solvent when there is no money coming in and little prospect of things improving in the future.

Maybe Mr. C. will figure out a way to latch on to Apolo Ohno and use his new fame as a ballroom dancer to stir up interest in speed skating.

Famous Speedys:

http://www.familycourtchronicles.com/people/gonzalez/speedy-gonzalez-loves-cheese.jpg

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/naa/siasc/images/archives_center_tn.jpg

PS. I agree about anonymous judging.

Very inbformative post mathman. However, isn't 'Mr. C" contributing to the corruption and cheating? What about the "toe tapper" at Nagano Olys! That was under his authority. That same judge is again judging. What about Michelle Kwan's "overtime" deductions at, I believe Worlds. Has anyone else in history ever received a deduction like that. (I know I am opening up a whole can of worms here.) Have you read Sonia Biachetti's book revealing how he was elected president? Since it is published data, I shall repeat; Sonia Bianchetti had the entire Russian Federation suspended for a year due to cheating (year?) Therefore the Russian Federation strongly backed Cinq. and voted her out and Cinquanta in. (There can't be more than one official ofo the same nationality.) Interesting stuff.

 

[chuckm]

I hate the secrecy surrounding the judging, and I hate the fact that many of the judges who were suspended for cheating are still judging, and they can now cheat with impunity.

Today, the outcome of many competitions is highly dependent on which judges were chosen for an event rather than on the skill of the competitors, particularly in ice dancing. And the fact is that quite often there are more than one Russian judge on a panel because Russia 'lends' judges to former SSRs like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Armenia. And it is positively amazing to me that tiny countries with limited active skaters like AZE and UZB are present on SO many judging panels.

 

[Eddie Lee]

Like: Discourages bland, endless crossovers. Added weight to fast and varied spins (though I wish there weren't so many different positions in one spin sequence.). Improvement seen in spirals (though again, too many positions.)

Dislike: JUDGE ANONYMITY!!!!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I really don't know from whom he inherited the job As far as I know, he's been around since 1994 when I got back to the States, and there was already talk of crooked judging. When did he begin his present position?

He has been aware of crooked judging for sometime, and his solution to that problem was to hide what scores the individual judges were giving out. I know he is fearful of another blast from the IOC President so the judges scores for the CoP are hidden in the results. We don't even know which of the judges are scoring both SP and LP.

From his point of view, there will never be another type of SLC scandal, and the honesty in judging be damned.

Joe