What is a mandatory fail in testing?

[jjane45]

What does "mandatory fail" in testing mean in each USFS discipline, if any?

From what I understand, if the overall test is close enough to passing, the tester can reskate some elements on FS and MITF. Is it possible to do one particular thing that causes a mandatory fail? What about a misstep in ice dance or crash on twist in pairs tests?

[Skittl1321]

I don't know if this answers your questions, but you might enjoy reading this: http://www.usfsa.org/content/00S-PSchool%20Manual2-02.pdf
Search for the term "serious error" those require automatic retry (well, if not corrected in the reskate.)


Also, I found it interesting that both pairs must pass a pairs test, even if one isn't testing.  So if your already tested up partner falls on the SBS camel spin, and then again during the reskate, you don't pass, despite making no mistake.

[Skittl1321]

The rulebook actually lists all the serious errors:

MITF:

TR 20.01 In order to pass a moves in the field test, a candidate must have received
a passing total or a "pass" for the entire test from a majority of the judges.
TR 20.02 In order for a moves in the field test to pass, no serious errors, following
reskated elements, as defined below may be present. See TR 23.01.
A. Serious errors in moves in the field tests are:
1. A fall;
2. A touchdown of the hand or free foot needed to save the skater from
falling;
3. Omission of an element.
B. Certain errors in moves in the field tests require a mandatory deduction of 0.1
and do not require a reskate of the element in question in order to pass the test.
Such errors are:
1. Exceeding the seven introductory steps;
2. Not starting from a standing, stationary position.

Singles Freeskate

TR 27.00 Requirements for Passing Free Skate Tests
TR 27.01 In order to pass a free skate test, a candidate must have received a passing
total or a "pass" for the entire test from a majority of the judges.
TR 27.02 In order for a free skate test to pass, no serious errors as defined below
may be present following reskated elements. See TR 30.01. If only one serious
error is present after the test has been skated, judges have the option of using
the second (presentation) mark to pass the test, if warranted, or of requesting a
reskate.
A. Serious errors in free skate tests are:
1. A fall;
2. Incomplete rotation of a jump, either on the landing or the takeoff;
3. Two-footed landing on jumps;
4. A touchdown of the hand or free foot needed to save the skater from
falling;
5. A blatant change of edge before a jump (such as turning a Lutz into a flip);
6. When a combination jump is required, a turn between the two jumps of
that combination;
7. Failure to hold spins for the required revolutions or to attain the required
position(s) in the spin(s). See TR 27.02 (B)(5);
8. Omission of a required element.
B. Quality errors for free skate tests not necessitating failure of the test:
1. Incidental touchdown of the free foot;
2. Improper change of edge shortly before the takeoff of a required jump
(very short change of edge);
3. Turns after the landing of a required jump or similar difficulties in holding
the landing;
4. Traveling in required spins;
5. Spins short less than one revolution.

Pairs

TR 34.00 Requirements for Passing Pair Tests
TR 34.01 In order to pass a pair test, a candidate must have received a passing total
or a "pass" for the entire test from a majority of the judges.
TR 34.02 In order for a pair test to pass, no serious errors as defined below may be
present following reskated elements. See TR 37.01. If only one serious error is
present after the test has been skated, judges have the option of using the second
(presentation) mark to pass the test, if warranted, or of requesting a reskate.
A. Serious errors for pair tests are:
1. Lifts:
a. A fall;
b. Collapsed lift;
c. Lift does not go up;
d. No catch on twist lifts.
2. Death spirals:
a. A fall;
b. Man does not attain a pivot position;
c. Lady's foot collapses.
3. Pair or solo spins:
a. A fall;
b. Either partner does not perform the spin;
c. Fewer than the required revolutions.
4. Single skating elements such as jumps, spins, footwork:
a. The same as for the single free skate tests in TR 27.02 (A)(1–8).
B. Quality errors for pair tests not necessitating failure are:
1. The same as for the single free skate tests in TR 27.02 (B)(1–5).
C. The serious errors outlined above require reskates by both partners.
TR 34.03 In all pair tests, the pair will be judged and will "pass" or "retry" as a
pair. A partner in such tests who has already passed the test being tried will not be
affected if a subsequent attempt of the same test with a different partner has been
marked "retry."

Dance:

TR 52.04 Requirements for Passing Partnered Free Dance Tests
In order for a free dance test to pass, no serious errors as defined below may be
present following reskated elements. See TR 53.50. If only one serious error is
present after the test has been skated, judges have the option of using the second
mark to pass the test, if warranted, or of requesting a reskate.
A. Serious errors for free dance tests are:
1. All required elements:
a. Omission of a required element
b. A fall or stumble entering into or during a required element causing
any portion of the element to be missing or the element not to be
completed
c. A touchdown of the free foot or hand needed to save the skater from
falling
2. Lifts:
a. Collapse of a lift
b. Lift fails to go up
c. Incorrect type of lift
d. Same type of lift repeated
3. Spins:
a. Collapse of a spin
b. Execution on two feet by test candidate(s) upon entering the spin or
after the commencement of the spin
c. Fewer than required rotations if short by one or more rotations
d. Unequal number of rotations (greater than one rotation)
e. Re-centers spin completely (combination spin)
4. Synchronized Twizzles:
a. Unequal number of rotations; greater than one rotation
b. Execution of turn incorrect (novice and above)
Note: Item (4)(b) provides acknowledgement that twizzles are a
developmental element. Juvenile and intermediate competitors are not
always competent with these turns. It would be over penalizing a test
skater to ask for proficiency of a turn that is probably too early in their
development to master.
5. Step Sequences:
a. Pattern incomplete
6. A serious error by the testing and/or non-testing partner requires a reskate
of the element by both partners
B. Quality errors for free dance tests not necessitating failure are:
1. Awkward pose(s) within lift or spin
2. Speed lacking or diminishing within element(s)
3. Little variety in dance holds (taking into consideration test level)
4. More than three steps in between synchronized twizzles
5. Incidental touchdown of free foot during spin or twizzle
6. Fewer than required number of rotations in spin if less than one revolution
7. Unequal number of rotations within a spin if less than one revolution
8. Unequal number of rotations during a twizzle if less than one rotation
9. Execution of twizzle incorrect (intermediate and below)
C. Illegal element(s): An illegal element is not grounds for a test to fail. However,
if there is a predominance of illegal elements within a free dance test, the
judge is required to determine if the program meets the definition of a free
dance or is more closely aligned to a pair, adagio or exhibition program.

Solo Dance:

TR 62.04 Requirements for Passing Solo Free Dance Tests
In order to pass a test, a candidate must have received a passing total or a "pass"
for the entire test from a majority of the judges. If only one serious error is present
after the test has been skated, judges can use the second mark to pass the test
(if warranted) or request a reskate (see TR 63.00). No serious errors, as defined
below, may be present following reskated elements.
A. Serious errors for free dance tests are:
1. All required elements:
a. Omission of a required element
b. A fall or stumble entering into or during a required element causing
any portion of the element to be missing or the element not to be
completed
c. A touchdown of the free foot or hand needed to save the skater from
falling
2. Edge Elements:
a. No edge attained
b. Incorrect type of edge element
3. Spins:
a. Collapse of a spin
b. Execution on two feet by test candidate upon entering the spin or after
the commencement of the spin
c. Fewer than required rotations if short by one or more rotations
d. Re-centers spin completely (combination spin)
4. Step Sequences:
a. Pattern incomplete
5. Twizzles/Twizzle Series:
a. Less than required rotations
b. Execution of turn incorrect (novice and above)
Note: Item (5)(b) provides acknowledgement that twizzles are a
developmental element. Juvenile and intermediate skaters are not
always competent with these turns. It would be over penalizing a test
skater to ask for proficiency of a turn that is probably too early in their
development to master.
B. Quality errors for free dance tests not necessitating failure are:
1. Awkward pose(s) within edge elements or spin
2. Speed lacking or diminishing within element(s)
3. Little variety in dance steps (taking into consideration test level)
4. More than three steps in between twizzles in the twizzle series
5. Incidental touchdown of free foot during spin or twizzle
6. Fewer than required number of rotations in spin if less than one rotation
7. Execution of twizzle incorrect (intermediate and below)

So if you have only one serious error, you can pass on artistic.  But it appears if they have you reskate, you have to pass on the element.  I think a judge on the board has said that before.

[icedancer]

This is all outlined in the rulebook!

For Moves a fall or touchdown of a hand or foot to keep the skater from falling is considered a "serious error" - if there is one Move that has a serious error the skater may be asked to re-skate the element.  If there is a serious error in the re-skate then the test cannot pass.  Also if a Move is omitted from the test - it can be "reskated" but that will count as the one reskate for the test and if there are other serious errors then the test cannot pass. (TR 20.02 2011-2012 Tests book).

For freestyle the following are considered serious errors:  a fall, incomplete rotation of a jump on either the take-off or landing, two-footed landings on jumps, a touchdown of the hand or free foot needed to save the skater from falling, a blatant change of edge before a jump (like on a lutz or a flip), when a combination jump is required, a turn between the two jumps of that combination and failure to hold spins for the required revolutions or to attain the required positions in the spins and omission of a required element.

If there is only one serious error the judges have the option of using the presentation mark to pass the test.  If there are two serious errors then the judges can ask for a re-skate of that element and the skater can choose to do a different element than what was in the program as long as the skater chooses something that satisfies the requirement for elements in that test.  If the error is not corrected on the re-skate then the test cannot pass.  (TR 27.02).

Pairs is similar to freestyle in that only two elements can be re-skated.

Dance is a little more wishy-washy in that there are no serious errors listed in the rulebook but you can bet your life that if you do the wrong steps or fall you will be asked to skate another pattern UNLESS you recovered so well from the fall or got the step corrected on the 2nd and 3rd patterns then you might just pass without a re-skate.  

Pairs

[VAsk8r]

That's interesting that traveling in a spin is considered a serious error. Obviously, a centered spin is preferred, but I had no idea it was a serious error necessitating a reskate or fail. One more thing to worry about!

[sarahspins]

That's interesting that traveling in a spin is considered a serious error. Obviously, a centered spin is preferred, but I had no idea it was a serious error necessitating a reskate or fail. One more thing to worry about!

It's not a serious error.. it's simply a quality error and does not even necessitate a reskate.

[jjane45]

Thank you very much! Don't know why I never noticed them in the rulebook

So if a skater falls on a required jump, s/he rekates that jump. What if the skater falls on an optional connecting element AND has another serious error?

[techskater]

I fell on a non required element on my Silver FS test and didn't have to reskate that element and passed.

[icedancer]

Thank you very much! Don't know why I never noticed them in the rulebook

So if a skater falls on a required jump, s/he rekates that jump. What if the skater falls on an optional connecting element AND has another serious error?

A random fall on a non-required element is not a big deal but it may affect the performance mark.  Freestyle dance and pairs still get two marks - one for the technical and the other for performance.

If the random fall affects the performance mark then the judges probably should let the skater re-skate the element with the serious error.  It is up to the judge in charge to make that call.

[Kitten23]

Interesting.  I don't ice dance, but witnessed a girl fall on a dance, slide across the ice on her rear, get up and continue the dance.  She passed.

Of course, that was the same day I failed my freestyle test, but that was my own fault; I left out an element.  Haven't skated that program that well since... yet.

[taka]

Dance is a little more wishy-washy in that there are no serious errors listed in the rulebook but you can bet your life that if you do the wrong steps or fall you will be asked to skate another pattern UNLESS you recovered so well from the fall or got the step corrected on the 2nd and 3rd patterns then you might just pass without a re-skate.

I'm not sure exactly what the rules are in the UK however we can't re-skate a pattern dance test. You have to start on the correct bar (and beat) and if you skip a step or 2 or do the wrong step on top of any other more minor problems there may be, the presentation mark can't really save you... We do 2 patterns for most lower dances, no idea on the higher ones!

[fsk8r]

I'm not sure exactly what the rules are in the UK however we can't re-skate a pattern dance test. You have to start on the correct bar (and beat) and if you skip a step or 2 or do the wrong step on top of any other more minor problems there may be, the presentation mark can't really save you... We do 2 patterns for most lower dances, no idea on the higher ones!

Apparently you're allowed to be out of time for 30% of time, but generally I've been told not to try to use that rule as it's very difficult to get back in time. I think it's two patterns on most of the lower dances and possibly 3 on some of the higher ones. I know there's more sequences of the Killian because that's so small but I can't remember what the rules are.

[taka]

Does the NISA dance manual tell you this sort of info fsk8r? I've only ever seen the free dance part of it when I was asking odd questions! I've never actually seen the official NISA pattern dance info for the dances I'm working on! We have access to it on patch but I'm usually too busy trying to skate and don't want to spend my precious on ice time staring at sheets of info in folders!

I should really buy the manuals for dance and field moves but I sort of begrudge paying that much for them (£27 and £31 respectively) on top of the high costs of joining NISA and actually testing them!

[fsk8r]

Does the NISA dance manual tell you this sort of info fsk8r? I've only ever seen the free dance part of it when I was asking odd questions! I've never actually seen the official NISA pattern dance info for the dances I'm working on! We have access to it on patch but I'm usually too busy trying to skate and don't want to spend my precious on ice time staring at sheets of info in folders!

I should really buy the manuals for dance and field moves but I sort of begrudge paying that much for them (£27 and £31 respectively) on top of the high costs of joining NISA and actually testing them!

I've never seen the dance manual but I've been told that other than for obscure dances like the Riverside it refers you straight to the ISU manual! Generally there's a copy of the FM manual and the free manual on the boards so you can look at them, but the dance coaches do everything from memory. They might check for free dances but at the lowest levels there's nothing required so the coaches are pretty certain they've covered everything if the put in a spin, step sequence, twizzles and some pose or other.