Exciting Rule Updates for Adaptive Skating! By Courtney Fecske, PhD, CTRS
T
he Adaptive Skating Subcommittee has been hard at work advocating more inclusive and equitable rules for skaters with disabilities within U.S. Figure Skating. Part of this process included more clearly defining the scope of programming options for skaters with disabilities. Adaptive Skating is the umbrella term that includes all of the programming and opportunities that U.S. Figure Skating is providing for skaters with any type of disabilities or health conditions. Within this umbrella there is Special Olympics, for skaters with intellectual disabilities and Skate United, for skaters with physical disabilities. U.S. Figure Skating recognizes that skaters with disabilities are a diverse population with a wide range of needs and to be inclusive of everyone they have designed opportunities for skaters with different classifications of disabilities/health conditions. Skate United is a new program that they are very enthusiastic to offer! Being that Skate United is new, the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee and Rules Committee needed to write some new rules and they are very excited that these rules passed at Governing Council! The rationale for the newly approved rules is to support the inclusive development of athletes with disabilities, as well as establish a space for skaters with disabilities to actively engage in figure skating. The new rules will impact both testing and 6.0 non-qualifying competition opportunities! Testing and 6.0 Non-qualifying Competitions and Compete USA Testing For moves in the field (MIF) testing, skaters with physical disabilities may choose to test on the standard track, Skate United track, or adult track if applicable. The
Skate United track is the same required elements but at a passing standard as one level below the standard similar to the adult testing track. It is important to note that a Skate United test would not meet the prerequisite requirements for a standard MIF test, so a skater cannot switch from the Skate United track to the standard track, but a skater could switch from the standard track to Skate United. Likewise for free skate, testing skaters with physical disabilities may choose to test on the standard track or Skate United track or adult track. The Skate United track is the same required elements, but at a passing standard as one level below the standard similar to the adult track. It is important to note again that a Skate United test would not meet the prerequisite requirements for a standard free skate test, so a skater cannot switch from the Skate United track to the standard track, but a skater could switch from the standard track to Skate United. The rationale for this is to create a track specifically for skaters with physical disabilities and to encourage testing and sense of accomplishment for these skaters. Currently the Skate United testing track is only available for MIF and free skate tests; however, the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee will examine how these new rules are working and aims to expand the track option to the other test disciplines soon. 6.0 Non-qualifying Competition and Compete USA For non-qualifying and Compete USA competitions, Skate United has been added as an additional grouping at each level. A skater may choose to compete at their respective test level in either the standard competition group or the Skate United competition group. Competitions
should provide the opportunity for skaters to choose, which competition grouping best meets their competitive needs. The rationale for this is that the Skate United track is new and there is no current competition category for skaters with physical disabilities to compete against like peers. Additionally, skaters with physical disabilities may choose to compete in their appropriate level within a standard group should they choose. This encourages equitable competition and increased opportunities for skaters with physical disabilities to compete. It is important to be aware that at this time Skate United is only available for non-qualifying 6.0 singles events, however, the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee is working on developing equitable Internatoinal Judging System competition for Skate United skaters and they are hopeful to have this available in future competitive seasons! Following Up Please reach out to the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee with inquiries about these new and exciting rules! The Adaptive Skating Subcommittee aims to recruit and support skaters with disabilities in their skating journey and strongly feels these rules will provide a strong foundation to do so. You can find more information about Adaptive Skating and the new rules in the members only area of the website. The Adaptive Skating Subcommittee chair is Mary Johanson: coachmaryjohanson@gmail.com If you have any Skate United specific questions you can email Courtney Fecske at courtneyjweisman@gmail.com Author Bio Courtney Fecske, PhD, CTRS is a member of the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee and serves as the Skate United lead. Dr. Fecske is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at Indiana University-Bloomington in the School of Public Health, is a former Team USA Synchronized skater, and current official for US Figure Skating. She has founded and worked with adaptive skating programs and conducts research focused on examining the impact of participation in adaptive sports.
PS MAGAZINE
9
