Rules & Resources - Singles, Pairs, Excel

SINGLES, PAIRS, EXCEL: RULES & RESOURCES

U.S. Figure Skating provides marking guides for women’s and men’s singles, pairs, and excel. This page includes the latest guides, updates, and clarifications to support athletes and coaches in competition.

SINGLES SKATING

Latest Updates & Clarifications:

7/23/26 – The ISU Technical Panel Handbook for Singles for 2026-27 was posted.

6/3/26 – The 2026-27 Domestic Singles Calling Clarifications were updated.

6/3/26 – ISU Communication #2786 – Singles and Pairs Scale of Values – was updated.

Ilia Malinin skates forward with his arms outstretched in front of him. He is a young man with short blonde hair wearing a dark blue long sleeve shirt with black stripes and black pants.

ISU Communication #2788 – Singles and Pairs – Levels of Difficulty, Guidelines for Marking GOE, and Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS for 2026-27 (PDF, posted 5/26/26)
Note: This communication will replace ISU #2701 beginning June 1, 2026.
ISU Communication #2786 – Singles and Pairs – Scale of Values 2026-27 (PDF, posted 6/3/26)
Note: This communication will replace ISU #2707 no earlier than July 1, 2026, and no later than the start of NQS for singles and/or pairs, which is July 23, 2026.
2026-27 ISU Q&A 2 – Step Sequence Feature 5 (PDF, posted 5/29/26)
2026-27 ISU Q&A 1 – Choreo Elements (PDF, posted 5/4/26)
ISU Communication #2769 – Singles and Pairs – New Choreo Elements for 2026-27 (PDF, posted 3/19/26)
ISU Communication #2701 - Singles and Pairs - Levels of Difficulty, Guidelines for Marking GOE and Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS for 2025-26 (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
Note: This communication replaces ISU Communication #2623 with the only changes being clarifications to the difficult blade feature in singles spins.
2025-26 Scale of Values (ISU Communication #2707) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
2025-26 Singles/Pairs - IJS Deductions and Who's Responsible (PDF, 10/1/25)
Singles - 6.0 Deductions and Who is Responsible (PDF, 2/9/24)
2026-27 Scale of Values (ISU Communication #2786) (PDF, posted 6/3/26)
2026-27 ISU Technical Panel Handbook - Singles, opens in new tab (PDF, posted 7/23/26)
Note: This document has been prepared for ISU technical panels for all international events, and U.S. Figure Skating technical panels will follow it for its events. Any further ISU changes to these documents will be posted on this website.
2026-27 Levels of Difficulty – Singles, opens in new tab (from ISU Communication #2788, effective June 1, 2026) (PDF, posted 5/26/26)
2026-27 Domestic Singles Calling Clarifications for Novice and Junior, opens in new tab (PDF, 7/9/2026)
2026-27 Domestic Singles Calling Clarifications for Juvenile and Intermediate, opens in new tab (PDF, 7/9/2026)
2026-27 Domestic Singles Calling Clarifications for Pre-Juvenile and Below, opens in new tab (PDF, 7/9/2026)
2026-27 Domestic Singles Calling Clarifications Euler Addendum, opens in new tab (PDF, 7/9/2026)
Calling Clarifications for Aspire, Adult Beginner and Adult High Beginner, opens in new tab (PDF, 6/18/2026)
Spins Difficult Variations Chart Tool - Singles, opens in new tab (PDF, 7/31/14)
Marking Guides for the Component Judging System
2025-26 Guidelines for Marking GOE in Singles and Pairs Short Program and Free Skate (from ISU Communication #2701) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
2025-26 Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS - Singles and Pairs Events (from ISU Communication #2701) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
2025-26 Judging Reminders - Singles (PDF, posted 8/5/25)
2025-26 Program Component Chart (from ISU Communication #2701) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
2025-26 Domestic Weighting for Singles Components (Novice, Intermediate and Juvenile) (PDF, 6/5/25)
2026-27 Guidelines for Marking GOE in Singles and Pairs Short Program and Free Skate (from ISU Communication #2788) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
2026-27 Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS - Singles and Pairs Events (from ISU Communication #2788) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
2026-27 Program Component Chart (from ISU Communication #2788) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
2026-27 Domestic Weighting for Singles Components (Novice, Intermediate and Juvenile) (PDF, 5/18/26)
Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills Charts (PDF, 8/1/24)
Singles and Pairs Thinking Words for Program Component Scale (PDF, 6/5/25)
ISU Handbook for Referees & Judges - Singles and Pairs 2025-26 (PDF, 6/6/25)
Note: This handbook pertains to international competitions. For referee information for U.S. Figure Skating Competitions, please click here.

PAIRS SKATING

Latest Updates & Clarifications:

7/23/26 – The ISU Technical Panel Handbook for Pairs for 2026-27 was posted.

6/3/26 – ISU Communication #2786 – Singles and Pairs Scale of Values – was updated.

6/2/26 – The 2026-27 Pairs Calling Clarifications for Junior and Below were posted.

5/18/26 – ISU Communications Nos. 2786 and 2788 for pairs were posted.

5/4/26 – 2026-27 ISU Q&A for Choreo Elements has been posted.

3/19/26 – ISU Communication 2769 – New Choreo Elements for 2026-27 – has been posted

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, hand in hand, perform at 2024 Skate America, with American flags in the background

ISU Communication #2788 – Singles and Pairs – Levels of Difficulty, Guidelines for Marking GOE, and Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS for 2026-27 (PDF, posted 5/26/26)
Note: This communication will replace ISU #2701 beginning June 1, 2026.
ISU Communication #2786 – Singles and Pairs – Scale of Values 2026-27 (PDF, posted 6/3/26)
Note: This communication will replace ISU #2707 no earlier than July 1, 2026, and no later than the start of NQS for singles and/or pairs, which is July 23, 2026.
2026-27 ISU Q&A 1 – Choreo Elements (PDF, posted 5/4/26)
ISU Communication #2769 – Singles and Pairs – New Choreo Elements for 2026-27 (PDF, posted 3/19/26)
ISU Communication #2707 - Singles and Pairs - Scale of Values 2025-26 (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
Note: This replaces ISU Communication #2656 beginning July 1, 2025.
ISU Q&A No. 1 - Pairs Jumps (PDF, posted 10/1/25)
2025-26 Scale of Values (ISU Communication #2707) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
2026-27 Scale of Values (ISU Communication #2786) (PDF, posted 6/3/26)
2025-26 Singles/Pairs - IJS Deductions and Who's Responsible (PDF, 10/1/25)
Singles - 6.0 Deductions and Who is Responsible (PDF, 2/9/24)
2026-27 ISU Technical Panel Handbook for Pairs, opens in new tab (PDF posted 7/23/26)
Note: This document has been prepared for ISU technical panels for all international events, and U.S. Figure Skating technical panels will follow it for its events. Any further ISU changes to these documents will be posted on this website.
2026-27 Levels of Difficulty – Pairs, opens in new tab (from ISU Communication #2788, effective June 1, 2026) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
2026-27 Pairs Calling Clarifications for Junior and Below, opens in new tab (PDF, posted 6/2/2026)
Spins Difficult Variations Chart Tool - Pairs, opens in new tab (PDF, 8/1/14)
2025-26 Judging Reminders - Pairs (PDF, posted 8/5/25)
2026-27 Guidelines for Marking GOE in Singles and Pairs Short Program and Free Skate (from ISU Communication #2788) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
2026-27 Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS - Singles and Pairs Events (from ISU Communication #2788) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
2026-27 Program Component Chart (from ISU Communication #2788) (PDF, posted 5/18/26)
Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills Charts (PDF, 8/1/24)
Singles and Pairs Thinking Words for Program Component Scale (PDF, 6/5/25)

EXCEL SKATING

Latest Updates & Clarifications:

Check back on this page regularly during the season for posted clarifications and updates to the requirements.

2026 Excel Free Skate Requirements (updated 3/24/2026)
2026 Excel Series competition selections (updated 11/18/2025)
2026 Excel Series Athlete Handbook (updated 03/23/2026)
2026 Excel Technical Info (updated 3/24/2026)
Excel Choreographic Spin (updated 3/24/2026)
2026 Excel Q&A (posted 03/24/2026)
2026-27 ISU Q&A 1 - Choreo Elements (posted 5/4/2026)

Excel Competition in 2024 for Senior Ladies podium shot

Looking for other rule information? Access the Skating Rules and Resources main page here.