# Synchronized Skating Rules, Law 4: Elements and shapes (ISU Sports Rules)

Figure Skating · Law 4: Elements and shapes · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/figure-skating/laws/synchronized-skating-law-4-elements-and-shapes/)

The basic shapes of synchronized skating and their forms (blocks, circles, lines, wheels), the six kinds of intersection and their three phases, and when each other element begins and ends: artistic, creative, creative dance, group lift, mixed, move, no hold, pair, pivoting and linear, synchronized spin, travelling and rotating, Twizzle.

## 4.41 Elements and shapes

Basic shapes and their forms; intersections; the other elements.

### Test 1: Basic shapes and their forms

- A block, closed or open, has all skaters in one block configuration with a minimum of three lines. A line element, by contrast, has at most two lines. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Block))
- A closed block is outlined and filled in with skaters; an open block is only outlined. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Block))
- In a diamond the centre line or lines must be the longest; in a pyramid the back line is longer than the front, and in a three or four line block the lines are as equal as possible. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Block))
- A circle has a minimum of three skaters; the basic forms are one circle, two or more side by side, and circles inside circles. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Circle))
- A line must have a maximum of two lines; with three or more it becomes a block. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Line))
- The basic wheels are one, two (the 'S' wheel), three, four or five spoke wheels, multiple wheels, and two- or three-line parallel wheels; spokes may be straight or curved. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Wheel))
- The requirements are described for a team of sixteen skaters but can be adapted for teams of other numbers; all skaters must take part in the shapes and movements. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7)
- An artistic circle or wheel begins once the configuration is recognised and starts rotating with all skaters; a block or line begins once it progresses across the ice. It ends when it breaks apart or a connection into another element begins. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Artistic Element))
- The 'S' wheel has two spokes; the basic wheels run from one to five spokes, each spoke of at least two skaters. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Wheel))
- B widens from a short front to a long back. A is widest in the middle, C has three lines of one length, and D is only an outline. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Block))

### Test 2: Intersections

- All skaters must intersect and/or pass through during the intersection element. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- In a collapsing intersection the skaters pass each other at different times using at least two different axes; box, triangle and 'L' intersections are examples. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- In a whip intersection the lines approach from a curve until the lead skaters are back to back with the axis of intersection, then start to straighten before intersecting. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- In a 'V' intersection two or more straight lines pivot and skate towards each other and the axis from opposite sides or ends, passing at the same or different times. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- The number of skaters in each line or part of an intersection must be as equal as possible. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- A combined intersection is one in which two different types of intersection are combined. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- In an angled intersection two parallel lines approach from opposite sides; the approach begins as they move towards each other and ends once the lead skaters start to pass. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- Each of the three phases must be included: the approach towards the axis, the point of intersection, and the exit away from it. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- The curve comes first; only once the leaders stand back to back with the axis do the lines straighten and cross. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))
- B is a box closing in from four sides, the skaters passing at different times over two axes. A shows two lines meeting head on, C a 'V' of pivoting lines, D lines coming in on a curve, a whip. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Intersection Element))

### Test 3: The other elements

- A pair element begins once pairs are formed by the entire team and ends when the pairs break apart and a connection into another element begins. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Pair Element))
- A No Hold Element begins when the skaters form one block in no hold, and ends when the block breaks apart, a connection begins, or some or all skaters deliberately touch each other. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (No Hold Element))
- All skaters must attempt to take part, either as a lifted skater or by supporting one; the element begins as they form their groups and ends when the lifted skaters are set down. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Group Lift Element))
- In a mixed element two or more different elements, chosen from block, circle, line and wheel, interact: crossing paths, intersecting, circling, mirroring or passing by; pairs may take part with at least two pairs. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Mixed Element))
- The creative element is chosen by the Synchronized Skating Technical Committee; all or part of the requirements of that element may be suspended for the season. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Creative Element))
- The skaters may use the same or different rotational directions in a synchronized spin element. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Synchronized Spin Element))
- Both begin once a circle or wheel is recognised and starts to rotate; a rotating element must attempt to rotate, a travelling element to rotate and travel. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Traveling and Rotating))
- Each of the three phases must be included: the entry onto the entry edge or Feature, the rotations, and the exit when the skaters stop spinning. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Synchronized Spin Element))
- The creative dance element uses all the vocabulary of skating on one continuous axis, from a barrier to the opposite barrier, matching the music. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (Creative Dance Element))
- A No Hold Element is one block with nobody holding or touching (B). A, C and D all have holds between skaters. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 841.7 (No Hold Element))

Sources: ISU Sports Rules, Synchronized Skating, 2026, Rule 841.7 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the rules, not reproduced)

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