Synchronized Skating

Synchronized
Skating
2006-2007 Fact Sheet
SYNCHRONIZED SKATING is a growing
discipline of figure skating. It is a highly
technical form of skating characterized by
speed, accuracy, intricate formations
and breathtaking transitions performed
by teams of 8-20 athletes.
“Synchronized skating provides challenging
and exhilarating team experiences for skaters
of all ages. From the rigors of national and
international competition to the camaraderie
of beginner, developmental and adult
teams, synchronized skating offers
skaters the opportunity to stay
in the sport for a lifetime.”
The newest discipline of figure skating,
synchronized skating started approximate- Ron Hershberger
ly 50 years ago. What began with a group
U.S. Figure Skating President
of skaters organized to perform at University of Michigan ice hockey games has
since grown into a competitive discipline with thousands of athletes participating all over
the world. In the 2006 competitive season, 445 synchronized teams registered with U.S. Figure
Skating, and the majority competed in the qualifying competitive system. There are approximately 8,000 active synchronized skaters in the United States in addition to many officials,
supporters and alumni.
The competitive structure of U.S. synchronized skating rises through the U.S. Figure Skating
Basic Skills Program presented by Marshalls through sectional championships to the U.S.
Synchronized Team Skating Championships. The top team or teams on the senior level
are selected to represent the United States at the World Synchronized Skating Championships. There is also potential for participation in the World University Games. Synchronized skating may even becoming the first figure skating discipline recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Chicago Jazz (pictured below) had a great season in 2006. The team
reclaimed its U.S. junior title at the 2006 U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships and went on to win a bronze medal at the 2006 World
Challenge Cup for Juniors. This was the first World medal for Team USA
since the Superettes won bronze at the 2001 event.
Numbers & Demographics
Geography
U.S. Figure Skating divides the country into three
competitive sections:
The 2006 U.S. juvenile champion Starlights perform
at the U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships.
Skaters of All Ages
Synchronized skating is a lifetime sport. Skaters on beginner or preliminary teams are as young as 5, while
athletes enjoy competing on masters teams well into
their 70s.
Last season, approximately 35 percent of all synchronized teams registered in the beginner, preliminary,
pre-juvenile and juvenile levels. Skaters on these
teams are predominantly younger than 13 years old.
Another large group of teams — 42 percent — competed in the open juvenile, open junior, intermediate,
novice and junior levels. Skaters on these teams are
typically 13-17 years old.
The senior level is the highest and most competitive
level of synchronized skating. Like singles skating,
reaching this level is a huge accomplishment realized
by a relatively few number of athletes. In 2006, just
three percent of synchronized teams competed at this
level. Skaters are typically late high school or college
age, 16-23 years old.
The collegiate level remains one of the fastest growing parts of synchronized skating. The athletes on the
28 teams registered in 2006 were all full-time
college students.
With more than 50 synchronized teams participating
in three adult levels, synchronized skating truly is a
sport for everyone!
Pacific Coast
The Pacific Coast Section was home to 45 teams, or 10
percent of the total.
Midwestern
215 teams, or approximately 50 percent of the total, were
registered as members of figure skating clubs in the
Midwestern Section.
Minnesota contributed the most number of teams of any
state in the nation: 49.
Eastern
Figure skating clubs in the Eastern Section were home to
182 teams, or 40 percent of the total.
Around the World
Synchronized skating began in the United States, but
it has spread rapidly around the world. Since the first
World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2000, 20
countries on five continents have entered a team in the
competition.
U.S. Figure Skating names 10-12 synchronized teams to
Team USA each season to represent the United States at
international competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU).
In the past few years, the United States has joined Finland and Sweden as one of the top three countries in the
world, winning medals at major ISU events.
Memorable Moments in Synchronized Skating History
The first official synchronized
skating competition is
held in Ann Arbor, Mich.
1975
1976
Sweden
internationa
skatin
The first U.S. Synchronized
Team Skating Championships are held
in Bowling Green, Ohio
1980
1985
1984
Competitive Pipeline
Team Competition in the U.S.
Synchronized skating teams compete in U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned competitions in 14 levels,
differentiated by age, skill level and the number of skaters on each team.
Teams participating in the BASIC SKILLS PROGRAM build the
skills they need to compete in future. The Synchro 1-4 badge curriculum teaches the fundamentals of the sport, while beginner
combines these skills into a program that can be used at nonqualifying and Basic Skills competitions.
JUVENILE
INTERMEDIATE
NOVICE
JUNIOR
SENIOR
SYNCHRO 1-4 any number of skaters, any age
BEGINNER 8-16 skaters, any age
Teams competing in COLLEGIATE LEVELS are comprised of
college students. Open collegiate teams compete only at
sectionals; collegiate teams advance to the U.S. Synchronized
Team Skating Championships by placing fourth or better at
sectionals.
OPEN COLLEGIATE
8-16 skaters, part/full-time students
COLLEGIATE 12-20 skaters, all full-time students
Teams competing in DEVELOPMENTAL LEVELS may participate in their respective sectional championship (except beginner) but do not progress to the U.S. Synchronized Team Skating
Championships.
PRELIMINARY
PRE-JUVENILE OPEN JUVENILE
OPEN JUNIOR
8-16 skaters, all under 12
8-12 skaters, mostly under 12
8-12 skaters, mostly under 19
12-20 skaters, all at least 12
Teams competing in COMPETITIVE LEVELS compete at their
respective sectional championships, with the top four advancing to the U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships.
The top teams at the novice, junior and senior levels may be
selected for international and world competitions.
12-20 skaters, all under 13
12-20 skaters, all under 18
12-20 skaters, all under 16
12-16 skaters, all at least 12 and under 19
16 skaters, all at least 14
Teams competing in ADULT LEVELS are comprised of skaters
who are continuing in the sport or skating for the first time.
All adult levels compete at sectionals, and the top four in each
sectional in adult or masters compete at the U.S. Synchronized
Team Skating Championships.
OPEN ADULT 8-12 skaters, the majority at least 19
ADULT 12-20 skaters, all at least 21
MASTERS
12-20 skaters, all at least 25
Success at every level,
beginner through World champion
WORLD SYNCHRONIZED SKATING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Synchronized Skating
Challenge Cup for Juniors
ISU sanctioned international
synchronized skating competitions
U.S. Synchronized Team
Skating Championships
Eastern, Midwestern or Pacific Coast
Synchronized Skating Sectionals
Nonqualifying U.S. Figure
Skating Competitions
U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program
presented by Marshalls
The International Skating
Union (ISU) officially recognizes
synchronized skating as the fifth
discipline of figure skating
n holds the first
al synchronized
ng competition
1989
1990
The first World
Synchronized Skating
Challenge Cup is held
in Boston, Mass.
1995
1994
1996
Looking Toward the Future
Collegiate
Synchronized
Skating
In the 2006 season, 27 collegiate
teams around the country registered
with U.S. Figure Skating. The collegiate level debuted in 1997 with
three teams.
While the opportunities for synchronized skaters at the collegiate level
are widespread, scholarships are not
yet available even at schools with
varsity programs.
The next step for synchronized skating is recognition as an emerging
NCAA sport for women. This could
potentially open the door for more
varsity teams and possibly open the
door for scholarship opportunities.
U.S. Figure Skating is working on a
proposal to the NCAA Committee
for Women’s Athletics.
Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio,
became the first school to recognize
synchronized skating as a varsity sport.
The ISU holds
the first World
Synchronized Skating
Championships in
Minneapolis, Minn.
2000
2000
The Haydenettes competed at the 2006 World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Though not an Olympic sport, synchronized skating teams will travel to seven
different countries to compete internationally this season for Team USA.
What About the Olympics?
It’s every synchronized skater’s dream that someday the sport will be included in the Olympic Winter Games.
In order for a sport to be added, it first must be recommended by the sport’s
international governing body — in this case the International Skating Union
(ISU) — to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This has not yet happened, as the sport needs further development and exposure around the
world.
U.S. Figure Skating’s approach is to do everything possible to continually improve the quality, popularity and participation of synchronized skating in the
United States, so that when it does become an Olympic sport, our teams will
be in the best position possible. U.S. Figure Skating is also proud to put more
resources into synchronized skating than any other ISU member federation.
Some of the programs, projects and funding supported by U.S. Figure Skating include:
Coaches education: National seminars, sectional seminars, mentor programs,
international coach development programs
Team & athlete development: Sports science workshops and high performance testing, synchronized training festival, sectional monitor program
International envelope program: Monitoring program, training grants, travel
and uniform grants. In fiscal year 2006, U.S. Figure Skating provided approximately $350,000 in support of international synchronized teams
Resources for synchronized teams: U.S. Figure Skating Online, sponsorship
and promotional materials, guides to manage a team.
Promotion: SKATING magazine, U.S. Figure Skating Online, media guide, supporting collegiate programs, club education, Basic Skills and PSA seminars
The Chicago Jazz junior team
wins a bronze medal at the 2006
World Challenge Cup
2005
2006
U.S. Figure Skating holds
the 24th U.S. Synchronized
Skating Championships in
Colorado Springs, Colo.
2007
2010