Improvements to USFS Moves in the Field (Sheila Thelen)

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Figure skating coach Sheila Thelen shares three recommendations for improving the US Figure Skating Moves in the Field.  This video is intended to spark a discussion on these topics so please leave comments below.  Coaches and skaters from other countries may offer insights based on similar tests or requirements in their home countries.

The first aspect of Moves in the Field that Sheila believes needs to be changed is the static arm position so common during moves tests.  Many skaters skate the patters with the arms stiff and out to either side of the body.  In a free program no elite skater actually holds their arms like this.  Sheila believes Moves in the Field would be improved by allowing and encouraging skaters to use a variety of arm positions, especially those that are more natural or more visually pleasing.

The second suggestion Sheila makes for the improvement of Moves in the Field is adding a music.  Specifically, she suggests letting skaters put one of the moves patterns in each test to music.   This would showcase the skater’s ability to skate to music.

The final “pet peeve” Sheila brings up is poor presentation.  She talks about presentation with regards to the face, and facial expression during the test.  Presentation is such an important aspect of figure skating that it isn’t too much to ask of higher level skaters.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on this topic and read the comments left by others below.

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19 responses to “Improvements to USFS Moves in the Field (Sheila Thelen)”

  1. Coach Fly

    I love the ideas about adding more presentation. I think adding music would be nice for practice, but for a test session I think it would add time, which would be costly for the club’s budget for ice time.

    Reply
  2. Klaudia

    I do use music for MIF as much as I can. It helps with rhythm and makes it more lively….:).

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  3. Susacoacholsson

    I do moves in Field with music,arm movements and facial expressions to younger skaters the earlier the better.

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  4. Sheila Thelen

    Hahhaha!! I guess I’m not that controversial… WHAT IF I PITCHED: “You shouldn’t have to pass MIF Tests – to take Freestyle, Dance or Pairs Tests!!” (Would everyone lynch me??)

    Reply
  5. chris conte

    As always, love your idea Sheila! 🙂 1. Totally agree with adding upper body to ALL levels! Even if it is hoop, frame, etc at beginning levels. 2. Music can be problematic for running test sessions, although would be fun. Moves put to music already exists. . its called compulsory ice dance. . lol. . and many of us don’t love that music during freestyles . . ha ha. . Imagine 25 skaters wanting to practice their “music move” in addition to Freestyle music. . .forget getting you music played. Nice idea but a logistical nightmare:)

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  6. chris conte

    3. (and then i’ll shut up) . . .Nowhere in the syllabus are skaters taught to . . ahem, SKID and/ or STOP! HUGE HOLE in the curriculum:/ So easily fixed by adding level appropriate stops (on both sides) to the drills. This would have the added bonus of improving the presentation. 1. Skater begins stationary, presents upper body to judges, then commences intro steps. 2.skater performs move including upper body.3 Skater ends move with an gliding extension followed by a stop! Repeat, Repeat. 🙂

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  7. chris conte

    In the original material upper body was encouraged to be added to the drills. One time a had a very high quality test, so I added simple Ballet Port des bras to the bo3/mo figure 8 drill. first 3mo 2nd elonger, 2nd3 left arm, 3rd right, 4rth both arms. The girl had ballet training and did them beautifully complete with following the arms with her head:) . .She was WELL above the standard. To my surprise at the end of the test, she was asked for a reskate of this move without the arms because. . wait for it, “the arms were distracting and the judge could not focus on her feet.” . . . . . 🙁

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  8. chris conte

    HA HA. . Just thought I would share that lovely experience. Food for thought. . should judges education and coaches education be separate programs? 🙂 lol.

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  9. Sheila Thelen

    I love you Chris Conte!!! AMEN!!

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  10. Sheila Thelen

    BTW – Chris! THEY COULD PICK THEIR OWN MUSIC! Stop with the LAME 1930’s dance music!! Ughghhhh. (The Hickory Hoedown – needs to be banned….)

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  11. Sheila Thelen

    Last one Chris: WHAT IF I PITCHED: “You shouldn’t have to pass MIF Tests – to take Freestyle, Dance or Pairs Tests!!” (Would everyone lynch me??)

    Reply
  12. Lisa Skubovius

    In Canada, our MIF are called Skating Skills and have been evolving since their introduction after figures were eliminated. We started using music for exercises, but that went away quickly (I think because of what Chris was saying about a logistical nightmare). Every Skating Skills exercise at every level includes a prescribed stop, and most often they are preceded with an arabesque, or gliding move as Chris suggested. As for arm movements and presentation, I’ve always taught this and always had great response from judges, but I agree with Chris that judges and coaches need to work harder to be on the same page with education/standards for all tests. Finally, (and I don’t mean to sound like Canada is all that because we have lots of room for improvement;), we now have a list of accepted contemporary music that can be used for ice dance tests, so kids can choose between “LAME 1930’s dance music” and modern songs:). I know there are more changes coming to Skating Skills in the next few years — rumour has it the changes represent a semi-return to figures, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s HUGE because in no way, shape, or form has Skating Skills produced better skating skills than figures did!!!!

    Reply
  13. Klaudia

    Just FYI….Unfortunately, none of my skaters can compete at this event – but read below:

    COMPULSORY PROGRAM EVENT
    NEW EVENT
    Each program must contain the specified moves within the time duration specified. The moves may be skated in any order. Music may be vocal or instrumental. Skaters must wear all black. This event will be judged on the 6.0 system. Skaters will
    receive two marks. The technical mark will be based on the focuses of the specified moves. Difficulty of transitional elements will not be rewarded in the technical mark
    . The presentation mark will be based on carriage, projection, style, ice coverage, phrasing of movements to music and creativity of transitional elements. Please note that the time duration is the maximum time – no deduction will be made for
    being under the specified time.

    Novice Sample:

    Inside 3
    –
    turn/rocker
    –
    choctaw sequence
    • Right forward/backward outside counters
    • Forward Outside Loops
    • Backward Inside twizzles

    Reply
  14. Klaudia

    I think that MIF should be pre-req for the FS etc. BUT you shouldn’t pass all MIF tests and none FS, etc. There should be a gap of max. two ahead. or something like that…

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  15. Scott

    Hey there!
    You rock. First of all, I have tried these moves in the field and it did not work. There was grass in my blades afterward and the farmer that owned the land was pretty mad about too.
    (Insert that drum and cymbal noise here.)
    Seriously though, I think the ideas above are great and I am on board with adding a certain amount of expression to the moves in the field. I don’t know about a requirement. Skaters could possibly receive an extra bonus somehow that would help them in case of a tenth or two tenths of a point passing or failing difference.
    I don’t want to see the quality of the figure aspects disappear completely from skaters that are trying harder to wave their arm in the air than stay on an edge.
    Hope all is well and see you soon.

    Reply
  16. Brandii

    1) Music:
    My skating improves *significantly* when I have music. I’m nervous about taking the MIF tests because I know I’ll be worse without the sounds and rhythms to distract..I mean, guide me. =)

    2) Choreography:
    Extra/advanced/innovative choreography should be encouraged and rewarded, not punished. Chris, that poor skater!

    3) Coach/Judge education:
    I would like to see better overall education within our sport. I constantly hear coaches pass on fitness myths that are decades out of date. Furthermore, academic research in optimal training techniques appears to be nearly nonexistent! Many coaches have no concept of technique variation, let alone which techniques best fit a given body type.

    4) Freestyle Only Tests:
    I know many adults who only want to pass MIF tests, why not let people pass only Freestyle tests? The USFSA can require both tests to enter qualifying competitions, while letting the non-qualifiers be more open. For that matter, I’d like to see the tests split into 3 types: MIF, spins, and jumps. Some people excel jumps, some at spins, and some at moves – why not let people progress in an order that suits their body type? (I’m a strong jumper, but I have such long legs that it looks like I’ll be landing doubles before I get a passable sit spin.)

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  17. Sheila Thelen

    Hahahah!! LOVE YOU ALL! (Scott, skating with grass in your blades – from moving in the field is hysterical!) We can do a better job – teaching these skills to younger skaters! Thanks for all your support! Sheila

    Reply
  18. Grace

    As a second to Lisa Skubovius, and also being from Canada working on my skills, correct me if I’m wrong but in the senior silver and gold moves, you HAVE to do arms, or maybe that was just for the stroking. or maybe its just our club…
    There is still music that you can use for moves in Canada, its not the greatest… (understatement) but some kids like it. also each level has 3 different stops. the first was 2 foot hockey stops, and backward t-stop (both directions and feet), the second was both forward tango stops, and right 1 foot hockey stop, the next again is both the tango stops and the left 1 foot hockey stop, and it continues from there… and if you don’t stop well you fail…
    here you the three tests are 3 different systems… you have to take the dances in order, the moves in order, and the freeskate in order, but you can do ONLY freeskate or only skills or only dance…
    Pretty much everyone here jumped for joy when the contemporary tracks came out for the dances…

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  19. TraceyZilkie

    Up here in the great white north (Canada) When moves in the field (skating Skills for us) were first introduced, they were done to music. Over time they ditched the music, opting for the requirement that the skater pick a temp that works for them, and maintain it through out the pattern… I both love and hate this. Maggie and I still teach to the original music so that the skaters have some idea of how to settle themselves into the pattern. I hated doing it to music because the music was cheezy and hard to listen to, but without the music it is quite boring. However, I do like that kids are allowed to set their own tempo – so perhaps a great concession could be to let the skater pick a piece of music they feel works with the pattern, still allowing them to set the tempo, but making it more engaging on the level of individual interpretation of the patterns and moves.

    On that level, if we made it more interpretive, then they could have a lot of fun with their arms, and face, and it would make it a lot more enjoyable to skate to and watch. We’ve kind of started doing something similar to this up here, in that we have skills competitions, where a skater is given a pattern, and some music, and they make up their own moves in the field (based on their skill level) and then are judged. Isn’t it amazing what can come out of kid who is made to be responsible for their own performance 😉

    I agree with Sheila – why not make it more engaging?! Change is GOOD!! Lets give more wiggle room to our youngsters – the worst that will happen is they will explore and perhaps discover their own artistry and ability (maybe even love!) for creating and expression in skating!

    Reply

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