# Single Skating Rules, Law 3: The Short Program (ISU Sports Rules)

Figure Skating · Law 3: The Short Program · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/figure-skating/laws/single-skating-law-3-the-short-program/)

The seven required elements of the singles Short Program for senior men and women, the junior groups that rotate by season, what happens to unprescribed, extra and repeated elements, and the special rules for Axels, quads, flying spins, spins in one position and step sequences.

## 3.31 The Short Program

The seven elements and the senior programs; the junior groups; jumps, spins and repeats.

### Test 1: The seven elements and the senior programs

- The singles Short Program for seniors and juniors consists of seven required elements: three jump elements, three spins and a step sequence. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.1.a)
- The sequence of the seven required elements is optional. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.1.a)
- Senior men skate a double or triple Axel, a triple or quadruple solo jump and a jump combination. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.2)
- Senior women skate a combination of a double and a triple jump or of two triples. Two doubles are allowed only to junior women. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.2)
- Senior women choose a layback or sideways leaning spin, or a sit or camel spin, without a change of foot; senior men skate a camel or sit spin with one change of foot. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.2)
- He chooses camel or sit, different from his flying spin's landing position, with one change of foot by step over or jump and at least six revolutions on each foot. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.d)
- Unlisted or additional elements and repetitions, even of failed elements, are not marked and do not block a box of another type of element. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.1.d)
- A position counts after two revolutions; the spin combination needs at least six on each foot; the flying spin at least eight in the landing position. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rules 610, 611.4.c, 611.4.f)
- If an unprescribed or additional element substitutes a required element that was not performed, the box is blocked and the performed element counts as not meeting the requirements. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.1.c)
- Senior men need a double and a triple, two triples, or a quadruple with a double or triple. Two doubles (D) fall short. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.2)

### Test 2: The junior Short Program

- The junior requirements form three groups, each in force from 1 July of its season; the rule prints those for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.3)
- For 2026/27 the junior men and women skate a double or triple Lutz; the Flip comes in 2027/28 and the Loop in 2028/29. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.3)
- Juniors skate the prescribed flying spin only: a flying camel in 2026/27 and 2028/29, a flying sit in 2027/28. Seniors may choose any type. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rules 611.3, 611.4.c)
- Junior women skate a double Axel in every season's group; junior men and seniors may choose a double or triple Axel. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.3)
- A pair of doubles is the junior women's extra option; senior women start from a double plus a triple. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rules 611.2, 611.3)
- Juniors may skate only the prescribed double or triple jump; senior women may choose any triple and senior men any triple or quadruple. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.a)
- For 2026/27 junior men skate a sit spin with only one change of foot; the camel position comes in 2027/28. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.3)
- The junior groups prescribe the Lutz for 2026/27, the Flip for 2027/28 and the Loop for 2028/29. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.3)
- The spin has only one change of foot, by step over or jump, with not less than six revolutions on each foot in the prescribed position. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rules 611.3, 611.4.d)
- D pairs a single with a triple, which no junior women's list allows; A, B and C are all within it. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.3)

### Test 3: Jumps, spins and repeats in the Short Program

- For senior and junior men and senior women, a triple Axel done as the Axel element cannot be repeated as the solo jump or in the combination. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.a)
- For senior men, when a quadruple is done in the combination, a different quadruple may be the solo jump, and the same holds the other way round. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.a-b)
- For senior women and juniors the combination may consist of the same jump or another double or triple, as long as its jumps differ from the solo jump. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.b)
- If the same jump is a solo jump and part of the combination, the repeated jump is not counted; in a combination only the individual jump that breaks the rule loses its value. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.b)
- Except for flying spins, spins in the Short Program cannot be commenced with a jump. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4)
- Unlisted jumps of any revolutions and listed jumps of up to one and a half revolutions may be part of the step sequence without penalty; they are not called and take no box. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4)
- Quint jumps are not allowed in any discipline. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.a-b)
- If the flying spin's landing position is the same as the spin in one position, the last performed of the two is not counted but occupies a spin box. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.e)
- Any variation is allowed while the basic layback or sideways position is kept for eight revolutions without rising; after that a Biellmann may follow. No change of foot is allowed. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.e)
- The combination's jumps must differ from the solo jump. B repeats its solo triple Lutz in the combination, so that Lutz would not count. (Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 611.4.b)

Sources: ISU Sports Rules, Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance, effective 12 June 2026, Rule 611 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the rules, not reproduced)

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