Pairs Rules and Resources

Latest Updates & Clarifications:

6/6/25 - The 2025-26 Pairs Calling Clarifications for Junior and Below have been posted.

6/5/25 - The 2025-26 Levels of Difficulty, Scale of Values and Marking Guides for Pairs were posted.

ISU Communications and Q&As

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 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

ISU Communication #2656 - Singles and Pairs - Scale of Values 2024-25 (PDF, 7/22/24)
Note: This replaces ISU Communication #2475.

ISU Communication #2623 - Singles and Pairs - Levels of Difficulty, Guidelines for Marking GOE and Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS for 2024-25 (PDF, 6/25/24)
Note: This communication will replace ISU Communication #2558 beginning July 1, 2024.

ISU Q&A - Pair Combination Spin (PDF, 10/9/24)

Scale of Values and Deductions

• 2025-26 Scale of Values (ISU Communication #2707) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
• 2025-26 Singles/Pairs - IJS Deductions and Who's Responsible (PDF, 6/5/25)
   
• 2024-25 Scale of Values (from ISU Communication #2656) (PDF, 5/6/22)
• 2024-25 Singles/Pairs - IJS Deductions and Who's Responsible (PDF, 12/17/24)
   
• Pairs - 6.0 Deductions and Who is Responsible (PDF, 2/9/24)

Levels of Difficulty and Calling Clarifications

• 2025-26 Levels of Difficulty - Pairs (from ISU Communication #2701) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
• 2025-26 Pairs Calling Clarifications for Junior and Below (PDF, 6/6/25)
   
• 2024-25 Levels of Difficulty - Pairs (from ISU Communication #2623) (PDF, 6/25/24)

• ISU Technical Panel Handbook for Pairs (PDF, 7/30/24)
  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.

• 2024-25 Pairs Calling Clarifications for Junior and Below (PDF, 5/4/24)
   

• Spins Difficult Variations Chart Tool - Pairs (PDF, 8/1/14)

Marking of GOEs and Program Components

• 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 Program Component Chart (from ISU Communication #2701) (PDF, posted 6/5/25)
• Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills Charts (PDF, 8/1/24)
• Singles and Pairs Thinking Words for Program Component Scale (PDF, 6/5/25)
   
• 2024-25 Judges Reminders - Pairs (PDF, 7/26/24)
• 2024-25 Guidelines for Marking GOE in Singles and Pairs Short Program and Free Skate (from ISU Communication #2623) (PDF, 6/25/24)
• 2024-25 Changes and Clarifications for GOE and PCS - ALL Singles and Pairs Events (from ISU Communication #2623) (PDF, 6/25/24)
• 2024-25 Program Component Chart (PDF, 8/24/24)
• Composition, Presentation and Skating Skills Charts (PDF, 8/1/24)
• ISU Handbook for Referees & Judges - Singles and Pairs 2024-25 (PDF, 8/24/24)

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

Qualifying Competitions

For information about singles qualifying competitions, click here.