|
|
Email the webmaster
USFS Test Sessions
Our next scheduled test session will be held
TBA - Late Summer 2008
Bourne Skating Club
Test Information and Application Instructions
DEADLINE: Ten (10) days prior to test date. Applications will be accepted by mail only. Mail to: Becky Johnson, BSC Test Chair, PO Box 1006, Monument Beach, MA 02553. Please be considerate of the deadline. This is to allow time to put the schedule together or change the ice reservation if we need to. Applications that are not filled out completely and/or not signed will be returned for resubmission. Any application received/postmarked late will be subject to a $20 late fee and the test will not be scheduled until the late fee is received.
ACCEPTANCE: Only complete and signed applications, with correct payment, will be considered. Priority for testing will be given to Full members of the Bourne Skating Club, then Associate members, and finally USFS members from other clubs. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the BSC Skating Director, especially for Senior level tests and those needing to test for a team or competition deadline, as long as this is noted where indicated on the application.
REFUNDS: Tests withdrawn, in writing, prior to the deadline, will receive a refund. NO refunds will be issued after the deadline. Plan your tests accordingly. If you are taking more than one test and you do not pass the pre-requisite test, you will not receive a refund for the remainder of your tests. Exceptions: Injury/illness, confirmed by a doctor’s note, or a death of an immediate family member. If the session is full prior to receipt of your application, you will receive a full refund.
SCHEDULE: The schedule will be done seven (7) days prior to the test date and will be posted on the clubroom door and the BSC website. If you have provided an email address, an email will be sent to that address. If no email address is provided, it is your responsibility to check for your scheduled time.
ON TEST DAY: You should arrive at the rink no later than 45 minutes prior to your scheduled warm up time; test sessions sometimes run ahead of schedule! Please check in with the Test Chair upon your arrival at the rink.
ADDITIONAL TEST-RELATED INFORMATION
If a test is not passed, a skater must wait at least twenty-eight days before retaking the test. Skaters must reapply for the next available test session if they wish to participate in it. They will not be automatically entered on the next session.
Judges frequently include comments on individual test sheets that the skater, pro, and parents may find valuable.
What is USFS Testing?
United States Figure Skating (USFS) specifies a testing system that qualifies skaters to compete at various levels. Tests are a requirement for competition; skaters pass certain tests to be eligible for particular events. (This helps to sustain a fair level of competition among skaters in a group.)
However, the testing system may also be used by skaters who do not compete, as a means of measuring personal progress. The tests consist of required elements that a skater must perform before a panel of judges. In testing, skaters' skills are judged against a clearly outlined standard, rather than against the performance of other skaters. Because of this, skaters find passing a test to be a positive confirmation of the skills they have attained, and most skaters feel real satisfaction as they progress to more and more advanced test levels.
A skater must be a member of USFS, either through a club or individual member, in order to take these tests. Our Club has a test chair who is responsible for setting up and running test sessions. Depending on the test level, skaters perform in front of a single USFS judge (for lower tests) or a panel of three USFS judges. Judges mark each test as either "pass" or "retry." For a test to pass, the single lower-test judge, or two judges out of the panel of three, must mark the test as passing. If the majority of the judges mark the test as a retry, the skater may take the test again after twenty-eight days.
The USFS Rulebook (updated annually) should be consulted for the most accurate and current information on tests.
A skater's pro (coach) will suggest when the skater is ready to test. BSC usually holds test sessions 3 or 4 times a year. Test session dates will be posted on the website, as well as the club door, as soon as they are scheduled.TEST CATEGORIES
Moves in the Field
Moves in the field require footwork in patterns around the ice surface
that involve turns and edges used in figures, freestyle, pairs, and ice
dance. These tests are performed in silence, rather than to music. The
first level, the Pre-Preliminary test, is followed by Preliminary,
Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior/Gold
for a total of eight different test levels. (Adult moves in the field
test levels are Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, although adults
may additionally choose to participate in the eight standard tests.)
Each test has several required moves in the field patterns that focus on
power, edge quality, quickness, and/or extension. Once all patterns are
performed, the judges may ask a skater to perform one of the patterns a
second time (that is, if an error was made, but the remainder of the
test was passing).
Freestyle
Freestyle elements such as jumps, spins, footwork, and connecting steps
including moves in the field are required for freestyle tests. No music
is used for the Pre-Preliminary level. Programs choreographed to music
with specified elements are required for the following tests:
Preliminary, Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and
Senior/Gold. (Adult freestyle testing levels are Pre-Bronze, Bronze,
Silver, and Gold, although adults may additionally choose to participate
in the eight standard tests.) In order to qualify to take a freestyle
test, the skater must first pass the moves in the field test at the
corresponding level. A skater may be asked to demonstrate competency in
up to two missed elements at the completion of a freestyle program. This
decision will be made by the judge(s) only if the remainder of the test
was passing.
Pairs
Pair skaters are judged for degree of unison as well as for completion
of skating elements. Pair test levels are Preliminary, Juvenile,
Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior/Gold. All tests are performed
to music, except the Preliminary test, for which music is optional.
Ice Dancing
Ice dancing is the interpretation of flowing steps to music with a focus
on rhythm, expression, and technique. Compulsory dances involve a
specified pattern performed to pre-selected music, and free dance
requires individualized choreography of specified elements to music
chosen by the skater. The dances can be taken either Standard (with a
partner) or Solo-Track (without a partner). The testing levels are
Preliminary, Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Pre-Silver, Silver, Pre-Gold, Gold, and
International. There are also Adult and Masters levels.
WHAT TO WEAR FOR TESTING
You should be neat and clean when taking any test. Skating apparel for
tests should normally be modest, with simple, clean lines. Girls and
women should wear skating dresses or skirts with unblemished tights.
Boys and men should have pant pockets stitched so that they do not gape
open. Wearing a competition outfit, if available, is often a good idea.
The same outfit can be used for all varieties of tests. Boots should be
polished or recently taped, and laces should be new or at least clean.
Hair should be neat and off the face. Makeup should be kept to a
minimum. You do not need to have a special or decorated outfit made for
testing if you have a nice-looking practice outfit.
MISCELLANEOUS
As mentioned above, detailed rules for all tests are described in the
official USFS Rulebook, which is updated each year. If you want a copy
of the Rulebook, you may order one online at
www.usfsa.org.