Technical Panel

Handbook 2017
SPINS

SPINS
 Rules – General (1)
• A Spin that has no basic position with 2 revolutions will
receive no Level and no value, however a spin with less
than three rotations is considered as a skating
movement and not a spin.
• The minimum number of revolutions required in a
position is two (2) without interruption. In case this
requirement is not fulfilled, the position is not
counted.
• Variations of positions of the head, arms or free leg, as
well as fluctuations of speed are permitted.

SPINS
 Rules – General (2)
• Positions:
• There are 3 basic positions:
– camel (free leg backwards with the knee higher than the
hip level, however Layback, Biellmann and similar
variations are still considered as upright spins),
– sit (the upper part of the skating leg at least parallel to the
ice),
– upright (any position with skating leg extended or slightly
bent which is not a camel position).
• Any position which is not basic is a non-basic position.

SPINS
 Rules – General (3)
• Layback Spin is an upright spin in which head
and shoulders are leaning backwards with the
back arched. The position of the free leg is
optional.
• Sideways Leaning Spin is an upright spin in
which head and shoulders are leaning
sideways and the upper body is arched. The
position of the free leg is optional.

SPINS
 Rules – General (4)
• In any spin change of edge can be counted only if done in a basic
position.
• The change of foot in any spin must be preceded and followed by a
spin position with at least three (3) revolutions. If this requirement
is not fulfilled, the short part of the spin will be ignored including
any features.
• If the skater falls when entering a spin, a spin or a spinning
movement is allowed immediately after this fall (for filling time
purpose) with this spin/movement not being counted as an
element.
• If the spinning centers (before and after the change of foot) are too
far apart and the criteria of “two spins” is fulfilled (there is a curve
of exit after the first part and the curve of entry into the second
part), only the part before the change of foot will be called and
considered for Levels features.

SPINS
 Rules – General (5)
• Spin combinations:
– Must include a minimum of two different basic
positions with 2 revolutions in each of these positions
anywhere within the spin;
– the number of revolutions in positions that are non-
basic is counted in the total number of revolutions.
– Changing to a non-basic position is not considered as
a change of position.
– A change of foot may be executed in the form of a
step over or a jump. The change of foot and the
change of position may be made either at the same
time or separately.

SPINS
 Rules – General (6)
• Spin in one position and Flying spin (means a spin with
a flying entrance and no change of foot and position):
– positions that are not basic are allowed, counted in the
total number of revolutions required by the Rules, but are
not valid for Level features.
– In spins in one position and flying spins the concluding
upright position at the end of the spin is not considered to
be another position independent of the number of
revolutions, as long as the skater is executing only the final
wind-up without any enhancements.
– When the spin is commenced with a jump, no previous
rotation on the ice before the take-off is permitted and a
step over must be considered by the Technical Panel in the
Base Value & by the Judges in the Grade of execution.

SPINS
 Rules – General (7)
Spin requirements
• For flying spins (with no change of foot and
only one position) of both Short Program and
Free Skating the following are required: a clear
visible jump. The sign “V” indicates that this
requirement is not fulfilled. The base values of
spins with the sign “V” are listed in the
column V of the SOV table.

SPINS
 Rules – Short program (1)
• The Short Program of the season 2017 – 2018 includes the
following 3 spins:
1. Flying spin:
– Seniors: Flying spin with landing position different than in the Spin in
one position;
– Juniors: Flying sit spin; any air position allowed.
2. Spin in one position
– Senior Men: Camel/Sit spin (position different from the landing
position of the Flying spin) with only one change of foot;
– Senior Ladies: Layback/sideways leaning spin or sit/camel without
change of foot (position different from the landing position of the
Flying spin);
– Junior Men: Camel spin with only one change of foot;
– Junior Ladies: Layback/sideways leaning spin or camel spin without
change of foot.
3. Spin combination with only one change of foot.

SPINS
 Rules – Short program (2)
The spins must have a required minimum number
of revolutions:
• eight (8) for the flying spin, the layback spin and a
sit/camel spin without change of foot,
• six (6) on each foot in the spin with a change of
foot and the spin combination, the lack of which
must be reflected by the Judges in their marking.
In the spin combination the change of foot is
required.
Except flying spins, spins cannot be commenced
with a jump.

SPINS
 Rules – Short program (3)
Specific elements in Short Program
Ladies: layback/sideways leaning spin
• Any position is permitted, as long as the basic layback
or sideways leaning position is maintained for eight (8)
revolutions without rising to an upright position.
• The position of a “Biellmann Spin” can only be taken
and considered as a feature to increase the Level after
having successfully rotated these required 8
revolutions in the layback position (backwards and/or
sideways).
• If in this “Biellmann Spin” the skater changes edge,
clearly increases the speed and/or executes (8)
revolutions without any changes, additional level
features can be awarded.
SPINS
 Rules – Short program (4)
Men: spin in one position with change of foot
• Senior & Junior: The spin must consist of only
one change of foot, which may be executed by a
step or a jump.
• Senior: The skater must choose the camel or the
sit position, but this position must be different
from the landing position of the Flying spin.
• Junior: Only the prescribed sit or camel position
is permitted.
• Senior & Junior: The spin must have at least 3
revolutions before and after the change of foot.
SPINS
 Rules – Short program (5)
Spin combination with change of foot
• Must have a minimum of two different basic
positions with 2 revolutions in each of these
positions anywhere within the spin. The number
of revolutions in positions that are non-basic are
counted in the total number of revolutions.
Changing to a non-basic position is not
considered as a change of position.
• Only one change of foot with not less than six (6)
revolutions on each foot. The change of foot may
be executed in the form of a step or a jump. The
change of foot and the change of position may be
made either at the same time or separately.
SPINS
 Rules – Short program (6)
Flying spin
The name of the flying spin corresponds to its landing
position.
• Senior: Any type of flying spin is permitted with landing
position different than in the Spin in one position.
• Junior: Only the prescribed flying spin is permitted.
Senior and Junior: A step over must be considered by the
Judges in the Grade of Execution. The flying position may be
different from the landing position. A minimum of eight (8)
revolutions in the landing position.
No previous rotation on the ice before the take-off is
permitted. The required eight (8) revolutions can be executed
in any variation of the landing position.

SPINS
 Rules – Short program (7)
Flying spin and the spin in one position
• If in Senior Men and Ladies the landing
position of the Flying spin is the same that in
the Spin in one position, the last performed of
these two spins will not be counted, but will
occupy a spin box.

SPINS
 Rules – Free Skating (1)
A well balanced Free Skating program for Men and Ladies
(Senior and Junior) must contain maximum of 3 spins:
- one of which must be a spin combination,
- one a flying spin or a spin with flying entrance, and
- one a spin with only one position.
All Spins must be of a different character. Any Spin with the
same character (abbreviation) as the one executed before will
be deleted by computer (but will occupy a spinning box).
If no performed spin has a flying entrance, or if there is no
spin in one position, or no spin combination, the wrong
executed spin will be automatically deleted by thecomputer.

SPINS
 Rules – Free Skating (2)
• The spins must have a required minimum number of
revolutions: six (6) for the flying spin and the spin with
only one position and ten (10) for the spin
combination, the lack of which must be reflected by
Judges in their marking. This minimum number of
required revolutions must be counted from the entry
of the spin until its exit (except final wind-up in Spins in
one position and Flying spins).
• In the spin combination and spin in one position the
change of foot is optional. The number of different
positions in the spin combination is free.

SPINS
 Level features (1)
1. Difficult variations (count as many times as
performed with limitations specified below)
2. Change of foot executed by jump
3. Jump within a spin without changing feet
4. Difficult change of position on the same foot
5. Difficult entrance into a spin
6. Clear change of edge in sit (only from backward
inside to forward outside), camel, Layback and
Biellmann position

SPINS
 Level features (2)
7. All 3 basic positions on the second foot
8. Both directions immediately following each other in
sit or camel spin
9. Clear increase of speed in camel, sit, layback or
Biellmann position
10. At least 8 rev. without changes in position/variation,
foot or edge (camel, layback, difficult variation of any
basic position or for combinations only non-basic
position)
11. Difficult variation of flying entry in flying spins/spins
with a flying entrance (see Clarifications)
SPINS
 Level features (3)
• Additional features for the Layback spin:
12.One clear change of position backwards-
sideways or reverse, at least 2 rev. in each
position (counts also if the Layback spin is a
part of any other spin)
13.Biellmann position after Layback spin (SP –
after 8 revolutions in layback spin)

SPINS
 Level features (4)
• Features 2 – 9, 11 – 13 count only once per program
(first time they are attempted). Feature 10 counts
only once per program (in the first spin it is
successfully performed; if in this spin 8 revs are
executed on both feet, any one of these executions
can be taken in favor of the skater).
• Any category of difficult spin variation in a basic
position counts only once per program (first time it is
attempted).
• A difficult variation in a non-basic position counts
once per program in spin combination only (first time
it is attempted).
• In any spin with change of foot the maximum number
of features attained on one foot is two (2).
SPINS
 Positions:
Spin with no change of position
• A “spin with no change of position”, in which
another basic position is executed with more
than two (2) revolutions, does not fulfill the
requirements of a spin with “no change of
position” and will be identified as a “spin
combination”.
• However, the concluding upright position at the
end of the spin is not considered to be another
position independent of the number of
revolutions, as long as the skater is executing only
the final wind-up without any enhancements.

SPINS
 Positions:
Spin combination with less than 2
revolutions in basic positions
• In Short Program a spin combination executed
with only 1 basic position with not less than 2
revolutions and in all other positions less than 2
revolutions will receive no Level.
• In Free Skating a clear visible attempt of a spin
combination which results in a spin with only 1
basic position with not less than 2 revolutions will
be called by the Technical Panel as a spin
combination no value.
SPINS
 Positions:
Spin combination with all three basic
positions executed on the second foot
• In the spin combination, in order to be
counted as a Level feature, all three basic
positions must be executed on the second
foot.
• This feature can be awarded only if its
execution is not interrupted by a change of
foot and cannot be awarded after the second
change of foot.

SPINS
 Positions:
Spin combination with only
two basic positions
• A spin combination with and without change
of foot which includes only 2 basic positions
with not less than 2 revolutions will have a
lower base value in comparison with a spin
combination with all 3 basic positions with not
less than 2 revolutions. The corresponding
base values are listed in the SOV in the “V”
column.
SPINS
 Positions:
Abbreviation and Calling procedure

For a spin combination with and without change of

foot with 3 or 2 basic positions (e.g. Level 4) the
abbreviation will be:
• CCoSp4 and CoSp4 or CCoSp4 V and CoSp4 V in
case of 3 or 2 basic positions
• and the call will be “Spin combination
with/without change of foot, Level 4” or ”Spin
combination with/without change of foot, Level 4
V”.
SPINS
 Positions:
Difficult change of position on the same
foot
• Change from a basic position to a different basic
position without establishing a non-basic
position, requiring significant strength, skill and
control and having an impact on the ability to
execute the position change.
• Continuous movement must be performed
throughout the change. May not include a jump
to execute the change. The basic positions before
and after the change must be held for 2
revolutions.
SPINS
 Positions:
Change not considered as difficult

• If a change of position is not considered as

“difficult” by the Technical Panel, it may be
awarded in a later spin.

SPINS
 Positions:
Clear change of position backwards-
sideways or visa-versa (layback spin)

• The feature will be awarded only if this change

is done while maintaining the layback or
sideways leaning position. Two (2) revolution
in each of these positions are required.

SPINS
 Entrance of the spin:
Difficult entrance 1
• “Entrance into a spin” is defined as the
preparation immediately preceding a spin and
may include the beginning phase of a spin.
• The entrance must have a significant impact on
the balance, control and execution of the spin
and must be performed on the first spining foot.
• The intended basic spin position must be reached
within the first 2 revolutions. This position can be
basic or (for spin combinations only) non-basic.

SPINS
 Entrance of the spin:
Difficult entrance 2
• A regular backward entry is no longer
considered as a difficult entry.
• If the entrance of a spin is not considered by
the Technical Panel as “difficult”, it is
considered as a transition and the “difficult
entrance” feature can still be awarded in a
later spin.

SPINS
 Entrance of the spin:
Difficult and flying entrance

• If the entrance is “difficult” and “flying” at the

same time, only the “flying” feature can be
awarded.
• Difficult entrance to a regular flying camel is
not counted as a Level feature and “difficult
entrance” in this case is not considered as
used.

SPINS
 Entrance of the spin:
Difficult and flying entrance

• Any flying spin/spin with flying entry requires at least

three (3) revolutions on the landing foot to be given
credit. If this requirement is not fulfilled and there is no
change of foot this spin has no value.

• Spin with flying entry with change of foot is identified

as flying spin/spin with a flying entry with no change of
foot as long as the second foot has at least three (3)
revolutions. This spin cannot be awarded the "flying"
feature even if the flying entrance was difficult.
SPINS
 Entrance of the spin:
Difficult variation of flying position in
flying spins/spins with a flying entry
The feature for the flying entry can be granted only if there is a clear
visible jump and if the flying position is really difficult. The intended
basic position must be reached within the first two (2) revolutions
after the landing.
The difficulty fly may include, but is not limited to:
- in a flying sit spin/ entry: total sit position in the air (with height and
total movement control) or open butterfly position in the air taking
sit position immediately after landing;
- in a flying camel spin/entry: clear butterfly entrance or almost split
position in the air.
Normal flying camel entry does not block a possibility of counting a
difficult flying entry as a feature.

SPINS
 Variations:
• A simple variation of position is a movement of a body
part, leg, arm, hand or head, which does not have an
effect on the balance of the main body core. A simple
variation does not increase the Level.

• A difficult variation is a movement of a body

part/leg/arm/hand/head, which requires more physical
strength or flexibility and has an effect on the balance
of the main body core.
• Any difficult variation must be held for two (2)
revolutions to be counted.
• Only these variations can increase the Level.

SPINS
 Variations:
Categories of difficult variations (1)
• There are 11 categories of difficult variations:
• For CAMEL POSITION there are 3 categories
based on direction of the shoulder line:
– (CF) Camel Forward: with the shoulder line
parallel to the ice
– (CS) Camel Sideways: with the shoulder line
twisted to a vertical position
– (CU) Camel Upward: with the shoulder line
twisted more then a vertical position

SPINS
 CAMEL POSITIONS
CF
CAMEL FORWARD

CS
CAMEL SIDEWAYS

CU
CAMEL UPWARD

SPINS
 Variations:
Categories of difficult variations (2)

• For SIT POSITION there are 3 categories based

on position of free leg
– (SF) Sit Forward: with leg forward
– (SS) Sit Sideways: with leg sideways
– (SB) Sit Behind: with the leg behind

SPINS
 SIT POSITIONS
SF
SIT FORWARD

SS
SIT SIDEWAYS

SB
SIT BEHIND

SPINS
 Variations:
Categories of difficult variations (3)

• For UPRIGHT POSITION there are 3 categories

based on position of torso:
– (UF) Upright Forward: with torso leaning forward
– (US) Upright Straight or Sideways: with torso
straight up or sideways
– (UB) Upright Biellmann: in Biellmann position
• For LAYBACK POSITION there is 1 category
– (UL) Upright Layback

SPINS
 UPRIGHT POSITIONS
UF
UPRIGHT FORWARD

US
UPRIGHT STRAIGHT
AND SIDEWAYS

UB
UPRIGHT BIELLMANN

UL
UPRIGHT LAYBACK

SPINS
 Variations:
Categories of difficult variations (4)

• For NON-BASIC POSITIONS there is 1 category

(NBP)

SPINS
 NON-BASIC POSITIONS

NBP
NON-BASIC
POSITIONS

SPINS
 Variations:
Crossfoot spin

• A Crossfoot Spin must be executed on both

feet with equal weight distribution. It is
considered as a difficult variation of upright
position (US) and will receive, if correctly
executed, a feature awarded to the foot
before the cross.
• It is not required to stay on one foot for three
revolutions before the cross.

SPINS
 Variations:
Biellmann position
• Biellmann position is a difficult variation of an upright
position (UB) when the skater’s free leg is pulled from
behind to a position higher than and towards the top
of the head, close to the spinning axis of the skater.
Like other categories of difficult spin variations,
Biellmann position counts once per program (Short or
Free) – first time it’s attempted.
• In free skating a spin that starts with layback position
(at least 2 revs) and continues with Upright Biellmann
variation is still called a layback spin.

SPINS
 Variations:
Windmill
• Windmill (Illusion) is considered as a difficult
variation of non-basic position (NBP). This must
be done at least 3 times in a row to be counted as
a Level feature.
• Windmill (illusion) can be considered as a Level
feature for
• difficult variation of non-basic position or
• difficult entry or
• difficult change of position
only the first time it’s attempted.
SPINS
 Variations:
Repetitions

• Any category of difficult spin variation in a

basic position counts only once per program
(first time it is attempted).
• A difficult variation in a non-basic position
counts once per program in spin combination
only (first time it is attempted).

SPINS
 Variations:
Features in repeated variations

• For Short Program and Free Skating once a

difficult spin variation has been attempted
and a difficult variation of the same category
is executed, the variation cannot be counted,
but any additional feature in this difficult
variation can still be counted.

SPINS
 Variations:
What is an attempt?

• A difficult variation is considered as attempted

when this variation is clearly visible,
independent of the fact this variation was
counted or not.

SPINS
 Variations:
Similar variations in basic and
in non-basic positions

• If a difficult variation in a non-basic position of

a spin combination is quite similar to one of
the executed difficult variation in a basic
position, the last performed of these two
variations will not be counted as a Level
feature.

SPINS
 Variations:
Free leg drops

• If the free leg drops down for a long time

while preparing for a difficult camel variation,
the corresponding Level feature is still
awarded, but the Judges will apply the GOE
reduction.

SPINS
 Variations:
Too long to reach basic position

• The reduction will also be applied if it takes a

long time for the skater to reach the necessary
basic position in spins in one position.

SPINS
 Jump on the same foot within a Spin
• In any spin a clear jump started and landed on the
same foot will be counted as a feature only if the skater
has executed at least 2 revolutions in a basic or non-
basic position before and after the jump. The skater
must reach the basic position within the first 2
revolutions after the landing.
• This jump has no requirements to the air position, but
there must be a clear jump. The jump is considered as
a Level feature only when it “requires significant
strength”.
• This jump can be performed even before the required
minimum number of revolutions in a spin in order to
be considered as a feature in both Short Program and
Free Skating.
SPINS
 Increase of speed

• For camel, sit, layback or Biellmann positions,

once the position has been established, a clear
increase of speed will be considered as a Level
feature.
• Increase of speed counts only in a basic position
or while going within a basic position into its
variation. It is not valid as a feature if the increase
of speed happens while going from one basic
position to another basic position.
SPINS
 Edges and directions:
Clear change of edge
A clear change of edge can only be counted as a feature
in Sit from backward inside to forward outside edge:
- Camel position
- Layback position and
- Biellmann position.
Any other attempt of a change of edge will be ignored,
not blocking the possibility to credit it elsewhere. Not
considered as an attempt of a change of edge is the short
phase following a landing of a fly or a step-in (mostly
from flat to edge, or executing a three turn, etc.).

SPINS
 Edges and directions:
Clear change of edge - 2
• A clear change of edge can only be counted as a
feature, if there are at least 2 continuous
revolutions on one edge followed by at least 2
continuous revolutions on the other edge in the
same position (sit, camel, Layback or Biellmann).
• A change of edge within an upright or non-basic
position does not count as a feature.
• The change of edge counts as a feature that can
increase the Level only once in a spin of the Short
Program and once in a spin of Free Skating
Program.
SPINS
 Edges and directions:
Spinning in both directions

• Spinning in both directions (clockwise & counter

clockwise or visa-versa) in sit or camel position or
in a combination of the two immediately
following each other can be counted as a feature.
• A minimum of 3 revolutions in each direction is
required.
• A spin executed in both directions (clockwise &
counter clockwise) is considered as one spin.

SPINS
 Number of revolutions:
8 revolutions

• At least 8 revolutions without changes in position/variation,

foot or edge count as a feature only once per program, in
the first spin it is successfully performed; if in this spin 8
revs are executed on both feet, any one of these executions
can be taken by the Technical Panel in favour of the skater.
• The 8 revolutions to be counted as feature must be
performed in:
1. camel, layback, difficult variation of any basic position –
for all spins;
2. difficult variation of non-basic position – for combinations
only.

SPINS
 Change of foot
• Staying on the same foot
• A change of foot in a spin means spinning on
each foot. Any spin in which the skater
remains spinning on the same foot is not
considered as a change of foot spin.
• Simple change of foot
• A simple change of foot, e.g. a step or a small
hop does not require significant strength and
skill and does not increase the Level.
SPINS
 Change of foot executed by jump

• Such change of foot can be counted as a

feature only if the skater has executed at least
2 revolutions after the landing.
• This jump has no requirements to the air
position, but there must be a clear jump. The
jump is considered as a Level feature only
when it “requires significant strength”.

SPINS
 Change of foot:
Toe Arabian as change of foot
• This change of foot is allowed, will be
considered as a change of foot executed by
jump and will count as a feature only in Free
Skating.
• If performed in Short Program, such change of
foot will be considered as an error, will not
count as a feature and the GOE will be
reduced according to the ISU guidelines for
touching the ice with the free foot.

SPINS
 Change of foot
• Spin with a second change of foot
• A second change of foot (if attempted) in a
spin with change of foot is not allowed in
Short Program (wrong element) and does not
count as a feature for a higher Level in Free
Skating.

SPINS
 Change of foot:
Spinning centres too far apart (spin in one
position and spin combination) - 1
• If in a spin with change of foot there is a curve
of exit after the first part and a curve of entry
into the second part, the consequences are as
follows:
• in Short Program - the spin is not fulfilling the
requirements and no value will be given;

SPINS
 Change of foot:
Spinning centres too far apart (spin in one
position and spin combination) - 2
• in Free Skating - the second part of the spin will
be ignored and the element becomes a spin in one
position with no change of foot or a spin
combination with no change of foot.
If there is only a curve of exit after the first part or
the curve of entry into the second part, this will
result in GOE reduction for “Change of foot poorly
executed” (this reduction does not relate to change
of foot together with change of direction).
SPINS
 Change of foot:
Number of features on one foot for spins
with a change of foot
• The maximum number of features that a skater can get
on one foot is 2.
• The features for difficult entry will be counted in the
quota of the foot before the change.
• The features “Change of foot executed by jump”,”
Spinning in both directions” and “All 3 basic positions
on second foot” will be counted in the quota of the
foot after the change.
• The feature for a crossfoot spin will be counted on the
foot on which the cross position was started.

SPINS
 Change of foot:
Spin in one position with change of foot :
less than 2 revolutions in a basic position
on one foot

• If a spin in one position with change of foot is

executed in Short Program or Free Skating with a
basic position with not less than 2 continuous
revolutions on one foot only and no basic
position with not less than 2 continuous
revolutions on the other foot, it will receive no
Level

SPINS
 SOV:
V sign

V sign can be awarded only in 2 situations:

1) for stepping over and no clear visible jump in
flying spins (only);
2) for only two basic positions in spin
combination.

SPINS