programs

Synchronized Skating

Scroll down for the latest synchronized skating news.

Synchronized skating is a popular discipline both within U.S. Figure Skating and around the world. U.S. Figure Skating held the first U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in 1984 and also hosted the first World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2000. There are approximately 525 synchronized teams registered with U.S. Figure Skating, and nearly 5,000 athletes participate annually in the synchronized skating sectional championships.

Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a program together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs and dance and is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior level perform a short program consisting of required elements.

Elements in synchronized skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, moves in the field, moves in isolation, no-hold blocks, spins and pairs moves. The variety and difficulty of elements require that each team member is a highly skilled individual skater. The typical senior-level athlete has passed a senior or gold test in at least two disciplines.

• Synchronized Skating Required Elements (PDF)

Synchronized teams in the U.S. can compete in 15 different levels according to the age and skill level of the team members.

Teams competing at the Basic Skills (beginner) level may compete at any U.S. Figure Skating synchronized skating nonqualifying competition or U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills competition.

Teams competing at the developmental levels of preliminary, pre-juvenile, open juvenile, open junior, open collegiate or open adult may also compete at the Eastern, Midwestern or Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, held annually at the end of January.

Teams at the competitive levels of juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, collegiate, adult or masters compete first at their respective sectional championships. A placement in the top four at sectionals earns them a spot at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. Top-performing teams at the junior and senior levels at have the opportunity to earn a berth to the U.S. Synchronized Skating Team, with the top two senior teams going on to represent the United States at the World Synchronized Skating Championships.

(For more information about the U.S. Synchronized Skating Team, visit the Synchronized Skating page in the "Athletes" area of the web site.)

There are so many benefits to participating in a team sport, and synchronized skating is a great way for figure skaters to compete in a sport they love while enjoying all of the aspects of working with others in a team-oriented sport.

U.S. Synchronized Skating Training Festival & National Coaches College

The U.S. Synchronized Skating Training Festival & National Coaches College returns to the University of Delaware, in Newark, Del., in the summer of 2010! The National Coaches College will be held Thursday, July 29 and Friday, July 30, with the Synchronized Training Festival taking place Friday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 1. The 2010 dates reflect coordination with the International Skating Union (ISU) Congress so that all athletes and coaches receive the most accurate and up-to-date information on rule changes for the 2011 season.

A new addition this year will be a Team Managers Track, held Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, Aug. 1, and a Technical Panel Training School. Tracks for athletes, coaches, team managers, parents and officials will make this the most comprehensive synchronized skating program ever!

For detailed information on each program, please download the appropriate brochure:

• Synchronized Skating Training Festival - Athletes (PDF)
• Synchronized Skating Training Festival - Team Managers (PDF)
• Synchronized Skating Training Festival & National Coaches College - Coaches (PDF)

Once you have read the information on the program you want to attend, all participants should register online at https://fs12.formsite.com/USFSAIT/SynchoFest2010/secure_index.html.

The registration deadline is May 4, 2010, so register now to hold your spot! Online payments are secure and will not be processed until the entry deadline.

U.S. Figure Skating Challenge Series

U.S. Figure Skating is pleased to announce the 2010 Synchronized Skating Challenge Series! Open as a pilot program last year to Eastern Section teams only, the program is being extended to the Midwest Section this year. U.S. Figure Skating plans to expand the program to include the Pacific Coast Section once more competitions are available.

Entries are now closed for the 2010 Synchronized Skating Challenge Series. Thank you to all teams for your extraordinary response! This year's series has a total of 1,158 participants on 98 teams. The Eastern series has 667 participants on 58 teams, and the Midwestern series has 491 participants on 40 teams. Check below for the list of competitors in each section.

• 2010 Eastern Synchronized Skating Challenge Series Competitors (PDF)
• 2010 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Challenge Series Competitors (PDF)

New! 'Synchronized Skating in College' Tip Sheet

If you are a high school student who is interested in skating on a synchronized team in college, U.S. Figure Skating has a created a tip sheet with the following helpful information:

• The first steps in looking for colleges with synchronized skating
• The different levels of competition, and skills expectations
• Scholarships and pay for synchronized skating
• Tips for choosing a school

Download the 'Synchronized Skating in College' Tip Sheet (PDF).