Law 5: The Short Program and the Free Skating

A Senior or Junior Short Program is made of a maximum of six required elements; the Free Skating allows more.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.1 · recall

The rules leave the sequence of the elements to the team; nothing ties them to the list or to the draw.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.1 · recall

Any music is permitted, songs with words included; what the team must do is skate in time to it.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · recall

An element that falls short of its minimum Basic requirements counts as not attempted, whatever its level would have been.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · recall

The team must act mainly as one unit; it may split during the Creative Element and connections, and briefly before an element that needs it.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · recall

Features and Additional Features are counted only once per element, though different Features may be skated at the same time.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · recall

Creative innovations and variations are not Features; they are permitted and are rewarded through the GOE and the Program Components.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · recall

The Senior Short Program has at most six required elements; the Free Skating allows nine for novices, ten for juniors and eleven for seniors.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.1 · applied

Several units may be used as a short connection when the element that follows needs it, such as the preparation for an intersection.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · applied

B faces up, right, down and left; A always faces the same end, C only the two ends, D one side. Choreography and elements should face all sides of the rink.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2 · applied

Un-prescribed or additional elements, and repeats of failed ones, are not permitted in the Short Program: they get no marks and draw a deduction.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.3 · recall

Basic element shapes up to Level 1, Creative Elements and Artistic Elements of any level are not treated as un-prescribed or additional.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.3 · applied

Each Short Program element has its prescribed Features; others may be left out of account when the Technical Panel sets the level.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.3 · recall

Lifts belong only to the Senior Short Program, and only when required as an element or used to execute a Feature.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.3 · recall

Other elements may be put into the Free Skating; they are judged as connections within the Composition component.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.4 · recall

Back spirals and split jumps through the axis of intersection are illegal in all categories, as are illegal lifts and solo back flips.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 843.2 · recall

Novices may not skate lifts, vaults or gymnastic moves such as cartwheels; solo back flips and split jumps or back spirals through the axis are illegal for everyone.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 843.2 · applied

A Senior Free Skating may hold lifts that are not illegal; the Senior Short Program only when required or for a Feature; novices may skate no lifts at all.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.3, 843.2 · applied

Each season the required elements are selected from the list in the rules and published in the Well-Balanced Program, an ISU Communication.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 843 · applied

C holds eleven elements, the senior maximum; a Junior Free Skating has at most ten. A has nine, B ten and D eight.

Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.1 · applied