Test Chairs' Tips

• Dance Tests - Which Dances Can Be Soloed or Not? • Codes Used in the WO Evaluators'/Judges' List • Single Panel Judges' List - Competitive Tests • Sample Forms for Your Test Day • Contact the WO Judges' Committee

Test Chairs: Questions? Or if you would like to share ideas or hints, please let us know. (memberservice@skating-wos.on.ca)

Special Announcements

Dance Tests - Which Dances Can Be Soloed or Not?

There have been a few instances of these rules being misinterpreted at test days, so please read carefully!

The following information is in regards to Skate Canada Dances - which dances are allowed to be skated as a solo dance only, or soloed after being skated with a partner.

Under NO circumstances can a dance test be only soloed, unless it is one of the dances that has been identified as having this option - as follows (Skate Canada Rule 4303):

1. Preliminary Creative Dance (may be skated with partner, solo or shadow)
2. Bronze Creative Dance (may be skated with partner, solo or shadow)
3. Keats Foxtrot (partner or solo)
4. American Waltz (partner or solo)
5. Blues (partner or solo)
6. Kilian (partner or solo)
7. Silver Creative Dance (may be skated with partner, solo or shadow)
8. Quickstep (partner or solo)
9. Silver Samba (partner or solo)
10. Gold Creative Dance (may be skated with partner, solo or shadow)

In addition to solo dancing as described in Rule 4303, a candidate for a compulsory dance test, after skating the dance with a partner may subsequently also skate the dance alone at the request of the Evaluator under the circumstances specified below. When a solo occurs, the Evaluator shall not record an additional evaluation, but use this as a check on the candidate's knowledge of the steps, accuracy in timing and sureness of skating. A candidate who is 25 years of age or older will not be required to skate a solo.

1. Requests for solo NOT permitted: in the Preliminary Dance Test and Diamond Dance Test.
2. Junior Bronze Dance Test: the Evaluator may request a solo under extenuating circumstances.
3. Senior Bronze Dance Test: the Evaluator may request a solo as indicated above.
4. Junior Silver Dance Test: the Evaluator may request a solo of any of the dances after the dance is skated with a partner. Or the American Waltz and Keats Foxtrot may be skated as a solo dance.
5. Senior Silver Dance Test: the Evaluator may request a solo of any of the dances after the dance is skated with a partner. Or the Blues and the Kilian may be skated as a solo dance.
6. Gold Dance Test: the Evaluator may request a solo of any of the dances after the dance is skated with a partner. Or the Quickstep and the Silver Samba may be skated as a solo dance.

Judges' / Evaluators' List Updates

• Updated Judges' List - A new list, dated Aug. 14, 2006, was sent to every WO Club. All promotions/changes to the list following that date are listed below and will be updated ongoing, so please update your Judges' List accordingly. Contact the Section Office for judge contact information as we cannot post that personal information here.
• Club Test Chairs - Thank you for your ongoing assistance and encouragement of our judges and evaluators seeking promotion. You can make a big difference in the advancement of our judges, as you are probably aware of the shortage of these officials!

Codes Used in the WO Evaluators'/Judges' List

All Clubs have received a copy of the 2006-2007 Judges' List. It is being updated constantly, as we are adding and subtracting people as well as updating judging qualifications.

Please advise the Section office of your e-mail address and any updates will be forwarded to you.

The following codes should help you understand the judging qualifications of our officials.

1. Codes for Evaluated test qualifications are:

• PRE - Preliminary
• JB - Junior Bronze
• JS - Junior Silver
• GLD - Gold
• DIA - Diamond Dances, which no longer require a panel

2. Under Interpretive, you will see “Y” which indicates they are qualified to evaluate interpretive tests. There are no longer levels there, and either they have a “Y” or they are not qualified.

3. Codes for Judging (competitive tests/competitions) qualifications are:

• PRI - Primary
• JUV - Juvenile
• PN - Pre-Novice
• NOV - Novice
• JR - Junior
• SR - Senior
• CDN - Canadian
• INT - International
• ISU - International Skating Union

You must use a panel of three (3) judges for all Competitive tests. Single panel judging requires permission from the Judges’ Chairperson, and will be granted only under emergency circumstances.

4. Codes for Referee levels are:

• SEC - Sectional Level
• CDN - Canadian
• INT - International
• ISU - International Skating Union

5. Under Synchro you will find either a “Y” meaning they are qualified, or an ISU for the next level.

Single Panel Judges' List - Competitive Tests

• Please note!! These judges may only single panel ANY competitive test with the advance permission of Pat LeBlanc, WO Judges' Chair.
• Apologies! There may have been changes to this list, but it's a starting point...

Sample Forms for Your Test Day

With special thanks to Lori Mackey, Parkhill Silver Blades. These have been adapted from the forms she has used at her Club. They are available in Word so that you may download from here and adapt further to suit your needs.

• Test Permission Form - permission for a skater from your Club to try a test at another Club
• Mileage Reimbursement Form