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:

10/13/26 – ISU Q&A 3 was posted.

8/11/26 – The 2026-27 Judging Reminders for Singles were posted.

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 3 – Jump Combinations, Jump Sequences and Difficult Camel Variations (PDF, posted 10/13/26)
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)
2025-26 Singles/Pairs - IJS Deductions and Who's Responsible (PDF, 10/1/25)
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)
Element Codes for Singles, opens in new tab (PDF, 9/4/26)
Marking Guides for the Component Judging System
2026-27 Judging Reminders - Singles (PDF, posted 8/11/26)
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)

PAIRS SKATING

Latest Updates & Clarifications:

10/13/26 – ISU Q&A 3 was posted.

8/11/26 – The 2026-27 Judging Reminders for Pairs were posted.

7/23/26 – The ISU Technical Panel Handbook for Pairs for 2026-27 was 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 3 – Choreographic Pair Lift (PDF, posted 10/13/26)
Note: 2026-27 ISU Q&A 2 pertained only to singles skating.
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)
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)
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)
Element Codes for Pairs, opens in new tab (PDF, 9/4/26)
2026-27 Judging Reminders - Pairs (PDF, posted 8/11/26)
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.

2027 Excel Resources

2027 Excel Series LOC Handbook (posted 09/15/2026)
2027 Excel Free Skate Requirements (in effect 1/1/27 - 12/31/2027)

2026 Excel Resources

2026 Excel Free Skate Requirements (in effect until 12/31/2026)
2026 Excel Series Competition Selections (updated 11/18/2025)
2026 Excel Series Athlete Handbook (updated 03/23/2026)
2026 Excel Technical Info (in effect until December 31, 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.