# Single Skating Rules, Law 2: Spins and step sequences (ISU Sports Rules)

Figure Skating · Law 2: Spins and step sequences · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/figure-skating/laws/single-skating-law-2-spins-and-step-sequences/)

The three basic spin positions and their variations, how many revolutions a position, a change of foot and a spin need, spin combinations and flying entries, what follows a failed spin, and what a step sequence must do with the ice and the music.

## 2.21 Spins and step sequences

Spin positions and revolutions; spin combinations, changes of foot and step sequences.

### Test 1: Spin positions and revolutions

- There are three basic positions: camel, sit and upright. Layback, Biellmann and similar variations count as upright spins. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- A camel has the free leg backwards with the knee higher than the hip; any position with the skating leg straight or slightly bent that is not a camel is upright. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Layback, Biellmann and similar variations are still considered upright spins, even with the free leg high behind. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- The minimum in a position is two revolutions without interruption; with fewer the position is not counted. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- A spin with fewer than three rotations is considered a skating movement and not a spin at all. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- A spin with no basic position held for two revolutions gets no level and no value. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- A layback is an upright spin leaning head and shoulders backward with the back arched; leaning sideways makes it a sideways leaning spin. In both the free leg is free. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- After a fall when entering a spin, or after any failed spin, a spin or spinning movement is allowed straight away to fill the time; it is not counted as an element. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- When a spin begins with a jump, no rotation on the ice is permitted before the take-off, and the judges reflect a step over in the GOE. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- A sit position needs the upper part of the skating leg at least parallel to the ice. Only C's thigh is level; A, B and D stay above that line. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)

### Test 2: Spin combinations, changes of foot and step sequences

- A spin combination needs at least two different basic positions with two revolutions in each, anywhere in the spin. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Two basic positions make a spin combination; to receive full value it must include all three: camel, sit and upright. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Revolutions in non-basic positions are counted in the total number of revolutions, though changing to a non-basic position is not a change of position. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- A change of foot may be a step over or a jump, and it may come together with the change of position or separately. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- When the centres are too far apart and the criteria of two spins are met, only the part before the change of foot is called and considered for levels. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Only a change between basic positions is a change of position; moving into a non-basic one is not, even though its revolutions count in the total. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Step sequences follow the character of the music, and short stops in keeping with it are permitted; turns and steps should be spread evenly through the sequence. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Any change of foot in a spin must be preceded and followed by a spin position with at least three revolutions. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- In a spin in one position or a flying spin, the concluding upright wind-up does not count as another position, however many turns it has, as long as no extra feature is done in it. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)
- Step sequences must fully utilise the ice surface. B runs the whole length; A stays in one corner, C circles in the middle, D stops halfway. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 610)

Sources: ISU Sports Rules, Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance, effective 12 June 2026, Rule 610 (spins and step sequences) (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the rules, not reproduced)

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