How to read the elements boxes on a figure skating score sheet

A figure skating score sheet can look like a dense block of abbreviations, numbers and symbols. Each box, however, records a specific decision: what the skater attempted, whether the element was completed correctly, how difficult it was, and how well it was performed. Once those layers are separated, the protocol becomes much easier to follow.

The elements section is different from the programme component score. Elements cover jumps, spins, step sequences and lifts in ice dance or pairs. Programme Components assess skating skills, composition and presentation. The final result combines both parts, after deductions such as falls have been applied.

This guide uses the kind of terminology found in ISU results and technical panels, including the protocols associated with the Grand Prix Final in Turin. The same basic reading method is useful when following Australian competitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, whether the results are printed at the rink or viewed on a phone.

For Australian viewers, time zones can add another layer. A European event may finish late at night in Australia, so many fans check the official protocol the next morning with a coffee before watching the replay. Reading the elements boxes lets you understand the result even when you have not seen every programme live.

Start with the element name

The first part of a box identifies the planned or recognised element. Jump codes include 3T for a triple toe loop, 3Lz for a triple Lutz and 2A for a double Axel. The number indicates rotations, while the letter identifies the jump. An “A” is an Axel, which takes off facing forwards and therefore includes an extra half rotation compared with other jumps of the same listed number.

Spins and sequences use different abbreviations. A combination spin may appear as CCoSp, while variations such as flying camel or flying sit spin have their own codes. StSq identifies a step sequence. In pairs and ice dance, the element name may include a lift code, a twist, a throw jump or a dance pattern.

The box records what the technical panel determined was performed, not simply what appeared in the skater’s planned programme. A skater might intend a triple Lutz but receive 3Lz<< if the landing shows a serious lack of rotation. A planned triple-triple combination can become a triple-single combination if the second jump is downgraded or interrupted.

Read the element code before looking at the points. This tells you what is being valued. A high score for a difficult jump is not directly comparable with a high score for a choreographic sequence because each element has a different base value and different judging criteria.

Separate base value from quality

Every element begins with a base value listed in the current ISU Scale of Values. This is the starting number for the difficulty. The technical panel determines the element and any quality markers, while the judges award the Grade of Execution, commonly shortened to GOE.

GOE ranges from negative to positive. A well-controlled jump with a clean edge, strong height, good flow and an effortless landing may receive positive GOE. A shaky landing, unclear edge, poor take-off or visible loss of control can lead to negative GOE. The judges’ GOE marks are processed according to ISU rules, with the highest and lowest marks removed in the relevant judging system before the score is calculated.

The number displayed beside the element may therefore be higher or lower than its original base value. A clean triple jump has a base value linked to its rotation count, but a triple jump with excellent execution can earn several additional points. A jump with a fall may retain much of its technical value while losing GOE and receiving a separate fall deduction.

This distinction matters when comparing skaters. One athlete may attempt a more difficult element and receive a lower score because of poor execution. Another may perform a slightly easier element with excellent speed, height and landing flow. The elements box shows both the risk taken and the quality delivered.

Learn the technical-panel symbols

Small symbols after a jump code often explain why the awarded value changed. An “e” indicates an incorrect edge on a Lutz or flip. The two jumps are identified by their take-off edges, and the technical panel can penalise a skater when the free foot uses the wrong edge. A “!” signals an unclear edge rather than a definite error.

A “q” indicates that a jump landed on a quarter under-rotation under the applicable rules. The symbols “<” and “<<” indicate progressively more serious under-rotation calls. These marks do not mean exactly the same thing as a fall. They concern the amount of rotation completed before landing, while a fall concerns the outcome and control of the landing.

A protocol may also show “V” for a reduced-value spin feature, “!” for a technical concern, or other discipline-specific indicators. The precise application can vary with the season’s regulations, so the event’s published technical panel rules remain the best reference. This is especially relevant when comparing a 2019 protocol with a modern result, because the Scale of Values and judging provisions can change.

Do not treat every symbol as a visual verdict. A jump can look fast and impressive on a replay while still receiving an edge warning. Conversely, a small mark may reflect a technical detail that is difficult to identify from the stands. The score sheet is the official technical record, not a replacement for the full performance.

Read combinations and sequences correctly

A combination is written as a chain of elements, such as 3Lz+3T. The plus sign means the jumps were performed directly one after another, without a step or turn that breaks the combination. Each jump has its own base value, and the total is then adjusted through GOE.

If a skater puts a hand down on the first jump, the element may still be recorded as a combination if the second jump follows correctly. If the second jump is missing, the protocol may show only the completed element. A later solo jump can sometimes be used to satisfy the programme requirements, but repetition rules limit which jumps may be repeated and how often.

A sequence is different from a combination. In a jump sequence, connecting steps or turns separate the jumps, and the rules apply a percentage of the combined base values. A step sequence, shown as StSq, receives a level and GOE rather than a jump rotation code. Its score reflects features such as difficult turns, use of edges, coverage of the ice and quality of movement.

Spins also require more than simply counting revolutions. The level records recognised features, while GOE reflects centring, speed, position and control. A spin can have a high level but lose points for travelling across the ice or slowing noticeably. When reading a protocol, compare the level and GOE together instead of assuming the highest level automatically means the best score.

Understand levels, deductions and invalid elements

Many spins, step sequences and ice-dance elements receive levels, commonly shown from Level 1 to Level 4. A higher level means the skater completed more required features or achieved greater technical complexity. Level 4 is not a quality mark by itself; quality is reflected by GOE.

A fall is usually shown with a “F” or a fall-related notation and produces a deduction from the segment total. The element may still receive a positive technical value if enough of it was completed, though the GOE will normally be heavily affected. A fall during a spin or sequence can affect the element differently from a fall on a jump, so the protocol should be read with the event’s rules in mind.

An “*” or other invalid-element marker can be decisive. It may mean an element was not counted because it exceeded a repetition limit, was performed in the wrong place, or did not meet a required programme condition. An invalid element contributes no base value, even if the movement looked technically demanding.

There can also be deductions for time violations, costume or equipment problems, interruptions and other rule breaches. These are separate from the element boxes and should be located in the deductions area of the protocol. A skater can therefore have strong element scores and still lose ground through a deduction that does not belong to any single jump or spin.

Connect the protocol with the final result

The technical score is formed from the element scores after the judging system processes the GOE marks. The programme component score is calculated separately. Those component marks assess skating skills, transitions, performance, composition and interpretation, according to the terminology and rules used for the relevant event.

A protocol may show a technical score, a component score, deductions and a final segment score. In a short programme or rhythm dance, the requirements are tightly specified. A missing required element can affect the score much more seriously than a modest error on an optional feature. In a free skate or free dance, there are more opportunities for difficulty, but also more chances to lose points.

The result sheet is particularly useful when a placement seems surprising. Start by checking whether a planned element was downgraded, whether a jump received an edge call, whether a combination was incomplete and whether a fall deduction was applied. Then compare the programme components. Two skaters with similar technical scores can separate themselves through skating quality, structure and performance.

Australian fans buying event tickets or official merchandise should also keep score information separate from commercial terms. Prices are generally displayed in Australian dollars when sold locally and may include GST, while ticket conditions and refund rights are governed by the Australian Consumer Law and relevant state or territory rules. Those details do not alter the protocol, but they are useful when planning a trip to a rink or screening event.

Practical habits for reading a protocol

• Identify the element code before judging the number beside it.
• Check for edge, rotation, fall and invalid-element symbols.
• Compare base value with GOE instead of treating the final element score as pure difficulty.
• Read combinations from left to right and confirm whether every planned jump was completed.
• Look at level and GOE together for spins, steps, lifts and dance elements.
• Review deductions and programme components before explaining the final ranking.

The protocol becomes much more informative when paired with video. Watch the take-off edge in slow motion, check the landing direction and then return to the score sheet to see whether the technical call matches the recorded symbol. For younger spectators, practice sessions with children can also make these details easier to recognise because a quiet rink offers a clearer view of entries, exits and repetition drills.

Families attending Australian skating events should plan around ordinary rink realities: public transport in Sydney and Melbourne, warmer travel conditions in Brisbane and Perth, and limited seating or parking at smaller venues. Children may need breaks between warm-up groups, and many local rinks have strict food, photography or rinkside access policies. A printed protocol or saved PDF can be more practical than relying on mobile reception inside a crowded arena.

Use the official results page as the authoritative record, then annotate it with your own observations from the replay. Mark the elements that changed the technical score, note the highest and lowest GOE patterns, and compare the technical and component totals. With that routine, the symbols stop looking like code and start telling the story of how each performance was built. Check the next event protocol, follow every box from the first element to the final deduction, and turn the score sheet into a clear record of the skating you watched.