| Prior to the nineties, figure-skating competitions included | | | | According to the review of literature, the judges |
| a segment known as compulsory figures, in which the | | | | sometimes used the school figures as a means of |
| skater traced a set pattern on the ice, or the figure | | | | marking up or marking down skaters. The figures |
| eight. Competitors had to skate the figures using a | | | | were also used by some judges as a basis for down |
| prescribed part of the blade, which included change of | | | | grading newer skaters. Typically, a skater in his/her |
| edge, steps and turns that were performed at specific | | | | first appearance at an international competition would |
| points on the skating surface. Compulsory figures | | | | not expect high marks in the school figures, even if he |
| trained skaters to be faster, more quick-feet, and | | | | or she might have felt that they had skated solid |
| allowed them the ability to flow on the ice as well. | | | | figures. |
| School of figures was the very foundation of skating. | | | | Even after the school figures were reduced from sixty |
| Figure Skating was named for the art form which | | | | percent to thirty percent of the overall score, with the |
| involved creating intricate patterns on the ice with the | | | | new short program weighing twenty percent and the |
| edges of the blades. As a result, compulsory figures | | | | long program fifty percent by the 1980s, skaters who |
| became a must for training and competitions. | | | | built a vast lead in figures had a strong chance of |
| Compulsory figures were based on the figure eight | | | | winning the competition. Figures still had a great impact |
| and its variations. Skaters traced identical patterns on | | | | on the final outcome. |
| the ice three times and were judged on their ability to | | | | The omission of compulsory has also taken a toll on |
| replicate the exact figures in the same place. They | | | | the sport; compulsory figures are needed to teach |
| made circles on the ice with one foot, then retrace | | | | skaters basic skills. Abolishing the compulsories has |
| those circles with the other foot. The circles are the | | | | resulted skating into jumping contests and in turn may |
| actual figures from which the term figure skating is | | | | cause more injuries. Skating is about control, centering |
| stemmed. | | | | and balance. Those are the things school of figures |
| The completed tracings left by the skater's blades | | | | brought. Now that we don't have school of figures, |
| were evaluated by judges. Judges would study and | | | | skaters are turning to ice dance instructors to teach |
| grade the patterns. Points were deducted if the skater | | | | them what they need to maintain speed and flow on |
| skated outside of the line; or if there were additional | | | | the ice. |
| tracings or wobbling. These intricate patterns into the | | | | Compulsory is different from free skating. It is very |
| ice, were designed to assure the judges that the | | | | difficult and has kept many skaters from the top of |
| skaters had mastered the fundamentals of their sport. | | | | the podium. Many competitors feel that compulsories |
| Skaters spend hours skating patches- Patch practice | | | | have no place in modern skating; they think it to be |
| sessions were usually one-hour in length. Most skaters | | | | tedious, and boring to watch. Denise Bielman, like many |
| usually practiced at least two hours of patch time per | | | | skaters, did not like to practice figures. She preferred |
| day. These patches of ice were completely clean | | | | the free skate which gave her the freedom to bounce |
| pieces of ice with not a mark or skid on them. The | | | | spin and dance to the music. |
| skater's objective was to trace perfect circles on | | | | Now that figures are a thing of the past, skaters are |
| these clean pieces of ice | | | | flocking to dance instructors to teach them what they |
| Figures allow them to learn edge control, good posture, | | | | need to do to maintain speed, and flow on the ice. The |
| and balance. Ideally, edges were supposed to be clean | | | | omission of figures has impacted the art in the sport |
| without scratches, undesired changes of an edge, or | | | | as well. Figures gave skaters the foundation they |
| without evidence of no edge tracing. Now figures are | | | | needed to balance, control, and command the ice. A |
| no longer part of elite competition. With these changes, | | | | skater cannot be an artist if those skills are lacked. |
| the emphasis in the free skate shifted to an increase in | | | | This quality of skating is paramount to the art of |
| athleticism or a jumping contest. | | | | skating. In the end, the sport will remain a jumping |
| Up until 1990, compulsory figures were part of the | | | | contest among prepubescent teens. The compulsories |
| singles figure skating competition. Skaters had to | | | | give students the quality of edges, technique, and |
| execute figures which were then measured by judges. | | | | control they need. |