ISU Tightens GOE rules and Refines Judging Criteria for 2026–27 Season

The International Skating Union (ISU) has released Communication No. 2788, updating Levels of Difficulty and revising Grade of Execution (GOE) and Program Components for singles and pair skating ahead of the 2026–27 season.

At first glance, the update looks routine. In reality, it sends a clear message: reward clean execution, reduce gray areas, and tighten judging standards.

The new guidelines replace Communication No. 2701 and work alongside the updated Scale of Values (SOV). Together, they define how judges will score performances throughout the 2026–27 season, including Skate America and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

The System Stays the Same—The Standards Do Not

The ISU did not rebuild its judging system. It tightened how officials apply it.

• Levels of Difficulty set the base value
• Grade of Execution (GOE) adjusts for quality
• Program Components evaluate the overall performance

What changed is the margin for interpretation.

In recent seasons, judges could reward ambition even when execution faltered. Communication 2788 reduces that flexibility.

The ISU is making its priority clear: consistency over interpretation.

GOE Gets a Reality Check

The most significant change affects how judges score errors.

Under the new guidelines, visible mistakes do more than reduce GOE—they limit how high it can go, as outlined in Communication 2788.

• Falls
  Example: A quadruple toe loop with strong height, rotation, and flow but finished with a fall might once have received moderate negative GOE.
  Now, the fall places a clear limit on the maximum GOE. The jump’s quality no longer offsets the mistake.
• Step-outs and Two-Foot Landings
  Example: A triple flip with good speed and clean take-off but landed on two feet or with a step-out.
  Before, judges could still reward the entry and height. Now, the landing error limits the GOE range and prevents high positive scores.
• Edge Errors
  Example: A triple Lutz with strong height and distance but taken off from the wrong edge.
  ISU guidelines require judges to reflect the error in GOE, limiting how highly the jump can score.
• Under-Rotations and Downgrades
  Example: A triple loop that looks strong in the air but lands slightly short of full rotation.
  Under ISU criteria, the under-rotation reduces GOE and limits the maximum score, even when the jump has strong qualities.
• Weak or Unstable Take-offs
  Example: A double Axel with a clearly flawed or unstable take-off but a clean landing.
  Judges must reflect the poor take-off in GOE, limiting the overall score regardless of the landing.

Across all cases, the pattern is clear: strong qualities still matter, but visible errors now define the scoring ceiling under ISU guidelines.

Judges can no longer balance mistakes with positives.

Execution errors no longer compete with quality—they define the limit.

Levels of Difficulty: No More “Almost” Features

The structure of levels—Basic through Level 4—remains unchanged, but skaters must now earn them more clearly and completely, as emphasized in Communication 2788.

The updated guidance tightens what counts as a valid feature, especially in step sequences and spins.

• Greater Emphasis on Complexity and Variety
  Example: A step sequence that repeats similar turns or relies on a narrow set of movements may have previously approached Level 4.
  Now, skaters must show a clear range of turns and steps with visible variation. Without that diversity, the sequence is unlikely to reach the highest level.
• Clear Use of Both Rotational Directions
  Example: A spin or step sequence performed mostly in one direction with only a brief change may have previously met requirements.
  Now, skaters must clearly demonstrate both directions. A token change no longer counts.
• More Deliberate Body Movement and Control
  Example: A step sequence with limited upper-body involvement or simple arm movements may have previously passed as complete.
  Now, skaters must show sustained, intentional full-body movement to meet difficulty requirements.
• Stricter Recognition of Valid Features
  Example: A spin that attempts difficult variations but lacks full control or position may have previously received credit.
  Now, judges credit only clearly achieved and controlled features.

Without clear variety, direction changes, and full execution, the level does not increase.

Partial completion no longer earns full credit under current ISU standards.

Program Components: Drawing Clearer Lines

If GOE tightens execution, Program Components shape how judges evaluate the performance as a whole.

Program Components—Composition, Presentation, and Skating Skills—remain the same in structure, but judges must now apply them more distinctly.

• Stronger Distinction Between Categories
  Example: A program with strong choreography but average skating skills may have previously received similar scores across categories.
  Now, judges must separate program design from skating quality.
• Reduced Overlap in Scoring
  Example: A powerful performance might once have raised all component scores, even where criteria did not overlap.
  Now, judges must evaluate Presentation, Composition, and Skating Skills independently.
• Greater Expectation of Score Variation
  Example: A program with strong skating but simpler choreography may have previously received tightly grouped scores.
  Now, judges should reflect those differences more clearly.

Overall Example: A program with strong choreography but weaker skating skills should no longer receive nearly identical marks across all components.

Judges are expected to reflect those differences clearly, in line with ISU guidance.

A Clear Move Toward Accountability

This latest update does not change the judging system—it tightens it. By reducing interpretation, defining clearer limits, and placing greater emphasis on accountability, the ISU raises expectations without altering the structure. As the 2026–27 season unfolds, one message stands out: quality is no longer negotiable.

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