There are five separate disciplines, or divisions, in competitive figure skating: men's singles, ladies' singles,
  pairs, ice dancing and precision team skating (which is not a part of the Olympic program).
 
      Within singles, pairs and dance there are five different competitive skill levels that are based on USFSA
  proficiency tests: juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior and senior. Each level draws on similar techniques
  but adheres to increasingly more difficult skills as well as different rules and guidelines.
 
      The following information pertains to skaters competing at the senior test or championship competitive
  level the highest level within the USFSA competition structure.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Singles Skating
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Form, style, technique, concentration and the ability to perform under great pressure are the key
  requirements in men's and ladies' singles events. The rules are similar for both men's and ladies' divisions.
  Each competition is composed of two separate parts: the short program is skated first, followed by the free
  skating program. The short program counts for 33.3 percent of a skater's total score for the competition. It
  consists of eight required moves or elements: three jumps, three spins and two fast step sequences or
  footwork. The required elements for the 1997-1998 season are as follows:
 
  Men:
 
 
 
      1.Double Axel 2.Triple Jump 3.Jump Combination:* double jump and a triple jump, or two triple jumps
  4.Flying Spin 5.Camel Spin or Sit Spin with one change of foot 6.Spin Combination with only one change
  of foot and at least two changes of position 7.and 8. Two step sequences of a different nature (straight line,
  circular or serpentine)
 
 
 
 
 
  Ladies:
 
      1.Double Axel 2.Double Jump or Triple Jump 3.Jump Combination:* double jump and a triple jump or two
  triple jumps 4.Flying Spin 5.Layback or Sideways Leaning Spin 6.Spin Combination with only one change
  of foot and at least two changes of position 7.and 8. One spiral step sequence and one step sequence of a
  different nature
 
 
 
  *Jump combination: two jumps without a step in between
 
      The moves may be done in any sequence within a two-minute, 40-second time limit, to music selected by
  the skater. The judges award two marks, one for required elements -- how well each element is performed -
  - and a second for presentation, which evaluates the overall program.
 
      The free skating program is worth 66.7 percent of a skater's total score for the competition. The free skate
  has no required elements, and has a length limitation of four minutes, 30 seconds for men and four minutes
  for ladies. Here skaters select their own music and theme, and choreograph the many difficult jumps, spins,
  footwork and interpretive moves to best display their technical and artistic skills. Change of pace, creativity
  and innovative moves are encouraged. Technical and artistic perfection are paramount to the skater and to
  the judges. Judges consider the difficulty of the moves and jumps and how well they are executed, as well
  as the overall presentation. As in the short program, two marks are given: the first for technical merit, the
  second for presentation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Pair Skating
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Pair skating is essentially free skating performed in unison by partners, with the addition of daring, and
  often dangerous, overhead lifts, throw jumps and spins. The key to pair skating is exact timing and unison.
  Whether the partners are together or apart, their movements should be synchronized with matching body
  lines, gestures and footwork. The pair competition, like singles, has a short program that counts for 33.3
  percent of a team's total score and a free skating program that counts for 66.7 percent of the total score.
  The judges award two sets of marks for each portion as done during singles events: required elements and
  presentation marks following the short program, and a technical merit mark and a presentation mark for the
  free skate.
 
      The pairs short program consists of eight required elements which include overhead lifts, side-by-side solo
  jumps and solo spins done in unison, footwork, pair spins and a death spiral, all performed to music of the
  skaters' choice. The short program is two minutes, 40-seconds in length and the eight required elements for
  the 1997-1998 season are as follows:
 
  Pairs:
 
      1.Hand-to-hand lift take-off 2.Twist Lift (double) 3.Solo Jump (double or triple) 4.Solo Spin with only one
  change of foot and at least one change of position 5.Pair Spin combination with at least one change of foot
  and at least one change of position 6.Death Spiral backward or forward outside 7.and 8. One spiral step
  sequence and one step sequence (straight line, circular or serpentine)
 
 
 
      The free skating program consists of technical and artistic moves choreographed to best display the skaters'
  individual strengths, skills and ability to perform as a team throughout the four minute, 30 second program.
  Difficult double and triple solo and throw jumps will be seen, along with unique lifts and spins, and
  variations on standard moves as well as original moves. Shadow skating, in which partners perform
  identical maneuvers some distance apart, and mirror skating, where the pair's moves are in opposite
  directions and mirror each other, are challenging aspects of pair skating.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Ice Dancing
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Ice dancing, the newest Olympic figure skating event (introduced in 1976), was first seen at the World
  Championships in 1952, despite having been a popular recreational sport since the turn of the century.
  Unlike pair skating which features overhead lifts and jumps, ice dancing, as its name implies, is based on
  the different aspects of dance. The emphasis in ice dancing is on rhythm, interpretation of the music and
  precise steps. Its beauty lies in its limitless creativity, choreography, and its theatrical and innovative
  aspects.
 
      An ice dancing competition is made up of three parts: two compulsory dances, a two-minute original dance
  and a four-minute free dance. In the two compulsory dances (each worth 10 percent of the total score), all
  skaters perform the same two selected dances that have prescribed rhythms and specific steps that must be
  done in an exact manner with exact placement on the ice. The skaters receive one technique mark and one
  timing/expression mark for each dance. For the 1997-98 season two dances will be drawn from the
  following:
 
 
 
  •Golden Waltz •Quickstep •Silver Samba •Argentine Tango
 
 
 
 
 
      For the original dance, which counts for 30 percent of a dance team's total score, skaters are given a
  prescribed rhythm (such as a paso doble or rhumba) with a defined tempo range and must create a
  completely original version of the dance. Teams choose their own music and choreography, but it must
  conform to the specified rhythm and tempo. The original dance must have the character of ballroom
  dancing translated to the ice by flow and use of edges. It is a set pattern dance of two dance sequences and
  vocal music is permitted. Judges look for creativity, good interpretation of the music and rhythm,
  originality and utilization of the full ice surface. Two marks are given for the original dance: one for
  composition, which includes originality and difficulty of steps, and one for presentation, which reflects
  interpretation and artistic impression.
 
      The original dance for the 1997-98 season is the Jive. As the Jive falls within the general term of "Swing,"
  music and movements from the Lindy, Lindy Hop, Double and Triple Swing, Boogie Woogie, Jitterbug,
  Rock 'n Roll and Twist may also be skated.
 
      The free dance, which reflects 50 percent of the final score, allows skaters four minutes to display their full
  range of technical skills, interpretation and inventiveness to music and choreography of their own choice.
  Teams will use changes of position, intricate and varied dance holds, small lifts and jumps and difficult
  footwork to present their best ice dancing skills. Five separations for a maximum of five seconds are
  permitted to execute intricate footwork, and at least one skate of each partner must remain on the ice at all
  times except during the permitted jumps and lifts. However, typical pair skating positions such as hand-in-
  hand positions, skating one after the other, or mirror skating must be avoided. Any tempo or mood can be
  used as long as it is danceable. Two sets of marks are given, one for technical merit and one for
  presentation.