# Synchronized Skating Rules, Law 7: Falls, interruptions and marking (ISU Sports Rules)

Figure Skating · Law 7: Falls, interruptions and marking · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/figure-skating/laws/synchronized-skating-law-7-falls-interruptions-and-marking/)

Falls and stops in a team, the deductions for them, where a team resumes after an interruption, substitutes, how illegal moves and wrong shapes are called, the deductions table, and what the elements and Program Components look for in synchronized skating.

## 7.71 Falls, interruptions and marking

Falls, interruptions and substitutes; marking and deductions.

### Test 1: Falls, interruptions and substitutes

- In synchronized skating the fall deduction is 1.0 for every fall of one skater, called by the Technical Panel, so three falls cost 3.0. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 811.1, 856.1.l)
- An interruption of the whole team longer than 40 seconds brings the Referee's acoustic signal, and the team is withdrawn; injuries, equipment and outside conditions follow their own rule. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 811.2)
- Resuming within the three additional minutes costs 5.0 in Synchro12-16 and 4.0 in Synchro9, and nothing if medical attention was needed. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.4.b)
- After 20 seconds the team resumes at the point just before an interrupted element; the Technical Panel deletes the call and the team may skate it again. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.2.b)
- For a problem with a skater or the equipment, the team goes on from the point just after an element already called, and that call remains. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.4.b)
- No substitution is allowed once a segment has started without a visible reason, but a registered alternate may come in when the Referee stops the segment for injury or equipment problems. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.9)
- Substituting a skater without the Referee's authorization disqualifies the team. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.9)
- After 40 seconds the Referee has the music stopped and allows three additional minutes; a Synchro12-16 team resuming within them is deducted 5.0. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.4)
- The Referee stops the performance and the music, follows the Medical Protocol and asks the physician; if the skater may not resume within three minutes, another skater may be substituted. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 822.5)
- Each fall of one skater costs 1.0. C has two skaters ringed, so 2.0; A has one, B three and D none. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 811.1, 856.1.l)

### Test 2: Marking and deductions

- An element executed in the wrong shape is penalised by being called No Value. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 842.2, 856.1.l)
- When the illegal movement is in a Feature, the element is called, the Feature is not counted and a deduction applies; when it is the element itself, the element is No Value. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 857.1.f)
- An illegal movement during a connection draws a deduction alone; no element is touched. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 857.1.f)
- The rules give the Step Sequence as an Additional Feature of the No Hold Element, and the Point of Intersection as one of the Intersection. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 857.1.e)
- Any element beyond the prescribed number is not counted, and only the first attempt, or the allowed number of attempts, of an element is taken into account. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 856.1.i)
- For synchronized skating the component criteria must be demonstrated equally by all skaters. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 857.2.a)
- Unison is listed among the Skating Skills criteria, with variety and clarity of edges, balance, flow, power and speed. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 857.2.a)
- An un-prescribed, additional or repeated element costs 1.5, an illegal element or movement 2.0, and a resumption within three extra minutes 5.0. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 856.1.l)
- The Technical Panel calls the element and its level, the Scale of Values gives its Base Value, and the panel's GOE is added to make the element's score. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 856.1, 857.1)
- Over 10 seconds up to 20 costs 1.0, over 20 up to 30 costs 2.0, over 30 up to 40 costs 3.0. B lasts 25 seconds; A (15) costs 1.0, C (8) nothing and D (35) 3.0. (Source: ISU SR SYS 2026, Rule 811.2, 856.1.l)

Sources: ISU Sports Rules, Synchronized Skating, 2026, Rules 811, 822, 855-857 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the rules, not reproduced)

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