I am trying to learn some things. I am a bit confused about test track free skate track qualifying, non qualifying. I am on the site for usfsa and found a chart http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/FlowChart.pdf but is this qualifying or non qualifying. The site is large and I just feel like I am clicking in circles!

The chart you've linked to says "non-qualifying" at the top. I think this is because they're showing all the levels that might be offered at a regular club (non-qualifying) competition. Juvenile is the lowest level offered at qualifying competitions. The first qualifying competition of the season is Regionals. Skaters advance from there to Junior Nationals (Juvenile and Intermediate levels) or to Sectionals and then Nationals (Novice level and up). A Regional competition might included some of the levels below Juvenile as non-qualifying events. Test track events are only offered at non-qualifying competitions.

Does that help at all?

helps yes

Why would a skater chose the test over the balanced, if they are both non qualifying?

So nothing is qualifying before Juvenile, so does it matter which track you chose?

"Sandbagging" occurs at a great extent in the lower levels - preliminary free requires a flip as the most difficult jump on the test, but competitors may be doing axels and lutzes, and even axel/combos in their competitive programs.

Test track allows skaters to compete at a newly passed level without the frustration of coming up against kids doing axel combos. It levels the playing ice.

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ok

Don't the skaters get a deduction for each element they skate that is above the level? I read that in a cometition enrollment form. Or is that because it is a test track competition?

Thanks for being patient.

In the well-balanced track, the only restrictions on elements are requirements of not going higher than a certain jump, or including certain jumps in the program. For example, preliminary allows two different types of double jumps (though the test requires at its highest a flip jump) and pre-juvenile allows (I think) 4 types of double jumps. Spins are not restricted.

In test track, only the elements on the test (or sometimes slightly higher) are allowed. So, using the above examples, a preliminary skater could only do through flip and spins would be restricted to certain types of spins similar to those on the tests. Pre-juvenile would only allow those jumps from lower levels and that level. You do get a deduction for elements that are not allowed.

Even though both tracks are non-qualifying (and you can skate well-balanced juvenile on up as non-qual as well so long as you don't go to regionals) there are different reasons for skaters choosing each.

Skaters generally choose test track when they don't have the jumps required to be competitive in the well-balanced track. Some skaters don't have double flips or double lutzes but still want to take their tests and compete at a higher level (such as pre-juv or juv) so they choose test track. Others are able to get their jumps consistent and clean at a younger age or don't mind coming in lower in the pack, so they may choose well-balanced track.

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Yes, my then 8 yo dd (this summer) just started competing pre-pre and it was really quite expected to have an axel and an axel combination and she only did half jumps for the pre pre FS test.

wow.

So to me it seems test track is a curriculum and you study what is in your grade level and show competence in only up to that level. Kind of like getting a 100 on a school test But the well balanced has the curriculum but you get "extra credit" if you can do a couple of higher elements. Kind of like getting a 105 on a school test. But a skater does not compete at the higher level because she does not have all the elements, but can throw a few into the lower as extra credit. Like if it was regular school 4th grade, just because she knows some 5th grade work, she doesn't know enough to pass 5th grade. Am I getting the idea or am I off base? Also before I was assuming that the competitions (programs with music) are for well balanced. And the test are "go do a crossover" and the skater does a crossover. We attended a basic skills competition and there were some skaters that did that, others that did a music program. So I drew I guess the wrong conclusion. Or was it?

"Grading" is a good way to look at it. ISI competitions are similar to the Test Track competitions with the restrictions on elements.

I always teach my students to think of "skating against the book" as a grade - you have to get an "A" against the perfect scoring competitor in order to win first place.

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You're describing two different events at a Basic Skills competition. Skaters can enter an "Elements" event, where they demonstrate a list of elements for their level. Sometimes this is done by the judge calling each element (go out and show me a whatever), but can also be a short program with no music (which is how I've more commonly seen it done). It's equivalent to the compulsory events at higher levels. Basic Skills skaters can also enter a "Program With Music" event, which is a regular free skating program. They're given a list of elements that must be included in the program, but they can do anything else from their level or lower.

Your school analogy is a pretty good one. The thing is, though, that skaters can stay at a lower level simply by not taking the next test, even if they have the skills to pass it. It's a matter of whether you can really be competitive at that level. This would only apply to Well-Balanced programs, because Test Track is limited to the test elements. But for Well-Balanced, a skater will often stay at a level until they have the skills necessary to be competitive at the next one. For instance, an axel jump isn't required until the Juvenile test, but Pre-Preliminary skaters do them, and you need a couple of doubles to be competitive at Preliminary. A skater who doesn't have those jumps mastered yet but still wants to test might choose to compete Test Track for a while. Chances are they'll have skills they won't be allowed to use, though.

yes, everything everyone said is true. But please know there are tons of comps that offer pre pre no axle, even limited prelim with no doubles ect.People get all worked up if a pre pre doesnt have an axle , and there are comps that dont require that jump.Even at regionals, there are pre pre no axles offered.
I would just take it one step at a time :}

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I am thinking the test track may be better for my dd because she really needs a "you need to be able to do this and that at whatever level" approach. She also likes to "move up", so she actually may get discouraged if kept at a level for too long. Now for perception. Is the test track or well balanced one more accepted? And she has her heart on competing "like those skaters she sees on tv". Program, dress etc. Is that done on test track? I am still comfused as to what kind of competition we saw. I did not know to look whether it is test track or well balanced at the time. And I don't have the handouts that they gave out when we went. I did not think I would need them. Darn it!

It sounds like she is still in basic skills?They dont offer test track until pre pre.They also dont offer it at alot of comps.I really would just wait and she what her new coach says. You can tell the new coaches she would like to compete and see what she says.
Good luck!

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Actually, they have it at most competitions around here (test track), at least the open ones. And yes they wear dresses etc just like any other.

yes basic skills. Her coach is really excited about putting her in a local competition so I started really reading up on it over the past few days. DD gave her some music and she liked it all for her. She is skating less than a year and has only completed 2 group sessions, is on her third group session and since she really is into it, I started privates too. I hope it not too soon for that . I guess I got a little ahead of myself. In her first 2 sessions, they had a "test" at the end to move up. I guess that is not "the" tests.

But they dont offer it at all comps.Maybe where you live.I know none in our state and I dont think many even in the Northwest region. I dont know where the op lives but she really doesnt need to worry right now about test track vs well balanced programs yet.:}

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Those were most likely basic skills tests or tests in the Learn to Skate program - it is very confusing actually.

"The" tests come after that, when the skater is taking private lessons - this is what everyone is talking about when they say "test track" vs. "competitive track"--

You can tell her that all of the skaters she sees on TV started in the same place - as beginners in group lessons - This year we see Ashley Wagner - now a "Skater on TV" who 10-12 years ago was in Learn to Skate at my rink!!

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You are right, she definitely doesn't!

THAT is cool!

yes really cool.

Its a relief I don't have to worry about tests now. I now feel like I have some time to learn!

Enjoy this time! It's fun watching them advance.

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