Qualification to Apply for Virtual Test Credit

 

In lieu of taking a free skate, moves in the field, pattern dance, or free dance test at an in-person test session, candidates may elect to submit a video of the test for evaluation. Tests will be subject to the protocols as defined in the requirements within this technical notification. Skaters must have met the prerequisites for the test by the date the test was skated.

​

A. Test Proctor – In order to guarantee the integrity of the virtual test environment, athletes must confirm a proctor for their performance. The proctor must be an impartial person of authority (i.e., rink management, skating school director, or local skating official) but may NOT be a coach/choreographer who has worked with the athlete, training mate, or a parent/guardian (of the athlete or any training mates). Athletes are responsible for choosing the proctor and setting up the logistics. Proctors must watch the program performance, verify that the full performance was completed on the date and time indicated in the athlete’s recording and complete the Performance Affidavit, verify that the submitted video was executed in one continuous videotaped sitting without stopping, and verify that the submitted video has not been altered and is the stated performance.

B. Prior to the test candidate starting the test, the videographer will announce the test candidate’s name, home club name, test name, and date the test was skated.

C. A performance affidavit stating that the video is in its original format and has not been altered in any way must be signed by the test candidate, the test candidate’s coach, the videographer, and the test proctor, and must accompany the video submission.

D. The video, performance affidavit and applicable payment must be submitted to the test chair or duly authorized representative of their home club.
1. Individual members may submit these documents to any member club that has announced a submission deadline.

E. The video and supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline set by the test chair. Video must have been taken within 30 days of the submission deadline.

F. Results of the test submission must be returned to the skater and coach within one week of the video submission deadline.

G. Figures are excluded from virtual test credit.

Requirements for Virtual Testing

The following requirements must be followed for a virtual test to receive credit:

A. Each test must be executed in one continuous videotaped sitting without stopping the video.

B. The test candidate must be clearly identifiable in the video and free from other skaters interfering with the test.

C. Restarts are not allowed.

D. Reskates are not allowed.

E. For purposes of virtual testing only, there will be no judge-in-charge.

F. Virtual tests are not eligible for trial judge credit.

G. Moves in the field tests:
    1. The skater may stop between moves briefly (no more than 10 seconds); however, the videographer must continue to record.
    2. Background music is not allowed for virtual tests.

H. Free skate, pairs, pattern dance and free dance tests:
    1. Music must be played loud enough to be captured on the video.

I.  Any video submitted that is found to have been edited or modified from its original format will invalidate the test, but the 28-day retry rule will still apply.

J. All other test rules will remain intact.

Implementation dates: January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021
 

Note: The Tests Committee will request feedback from test chairs at the end of February to see where improvements may be needed and to assess the feasibility of proposing this as a permanent addition to the rules.