Loading...
Loading...
A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding ISU Protocols — From Element Rows to Final Scores
Last updated: February 21, 2026
Figure skating scorecards — officially called protocols — show every element a skater performed, its base value, the GOE given by each of the nine judges, the trimmed mean GOE, the final element score, the three Program Component Scores, and any deductions. Reading one tells you exactly why a skater scored what they did: which jumps gained or lost points, how the judges rated the program as a whole, and whether falls or violations reduced the total.
After every skater finishes their program at an ISU competition, officials publish a document called a protocol (also called a judges' details sheet or scoring sheet). It is the full, transparent record of every scoring decision made during that performance.
A protocol is not a simple number — it is a detailed table that breaks the final segment score down to its smallest components. Anyone can download protocols from the ISU results website within minutes of a performance and verify exactly how each judge scored each element.
Protocols exist for both the Short Program (or Rhythm Dance in ice dance) and the Free Skating (or Free Dance). The segment score shown on the protocol is added to the other segment's score to produce the skater's total score, which determines their final ranking.
Understanding protocols is the fastest way to move beyond "why did the commentator say that was controversial?" to understanding precisely what happened in the judging room.
Every ISU protocol is divided into three main scoring panels, plus a header with the skater's name, starting number, nation, and rank.
Panel 1 — Technical Element Score (TES) This is the top section of the protocol and contains one row for every technical element the skater performed. Elements are listed in the order they were executed during the program. The TES total is the sum of all individual element scores.
Panel 2 — Program Component Score (PCS) Directly below the TES panel, this section shows the three program components that measure the overall quality and presentation of the performance. Each component is scored by all nine judges on a scale of 0.25 to 10.00.
Panel 3 — Deductions A simple row near the bottom showing any point deductions applied to the segment — most commonly for falls, but also for time violations, costume violations, and illegal elements.
Final Segment Score Formula:
Segment Score = TES + PCS − Deductions
For example: TES 42.18 + PCS 31.75 − Deductions 1.00 = Segment Score 72.93
The TES panel is a table where each row represents one technical element. Reading left to right across a single row tells you everything about how that element was scored.
Column 1 — Element Number A sequential number (1, 2, 3...) showing the order in which the element was performed.
Column 2 — Element Abbreviation The ISU shorthand for the element. For example:
3Lz = Triple Lutz3A = Triple AxelCCoSp4 = Change-Foot Combination Spin, Level 4StSq3 = Step Sequence, Level 32A+3T = Double Axel combined with Triple Toe LoopSymbols or flags (like <, e, !, x) may appear after the abbreviation — see the Special Symbols section below.
Column 3 — Info Flag
A cell that may contain a flag set by the Technical Panel (not the judges). The most common is < (under-rotation) or << (downgrade). An asterisk * means the element is invalid and scores zero.
Column 4 — Base Value
The point value assigned to this element by the ISU Scale of Values before any quality adjustment. If a second-half bonus x applies, the base value shown is already multiplied by 1.1.
Columns 5–13 — Individual Judge GOE Nine columns, one per judge, each showing that judge's Grade of Execution from -5 to +5. This is where you can see how unanimously or controversially an element was judged.
Column 14 — Trimmed Mean GOE The highest and lowest of the nine judge GOE marks are dropped. The remaining seven are averaged to two decimal places. This is the GOE value used in the calculation.
Column 15 — Final Element Score The base value plus the trimmed mean GOE converted to points. Because GOE is proportional to base value, a +3 GOE on a quad Lutz (base value 11.50) is worth far more than a +3 on a double Axel (base value 3.30).
Reading a row in plain language: If you see 3Lz with base value 5.90, individual judge GOE marks of +2, +2, +3, +2, +3, +2, +3, +2, +3, and a final element score of 7.48, you know the triple Lutz was well-executed, unanimously positive, and earned roughly 1.58 points above its base value.
Below the TES panel, the protocol shows the Program Component Score (PCS) section. Since the 2022-2023 season the ISU uses three components, reduced from the previous five.
The Three Components:
Skating Skills — The foundation of skating ability: edge quality, power generation, ice coverage, multi-directional skating, and flow between elements.
Composition — How the program is structured and uses the ice: spatial use, pattern design, purpose and intentionality of movement, and the relationship between music and choreography.
Presentation — The delivery of the performance: musicality, timing, performance quality, expressiveness, and the ability to draw the audience into the program.
How PCS Is Calculated: For each component, all nine judges give a score from 0.25 to 10.00 in increments of 0.25. The highest and lowest marks are trimmed, and the remaining seven are averaged. That average is then multiplied by a factor that varies by discipline and segment:
The three multiplied component scores are summed to produce the total PCS.
Example: A Ladies' Free Skating program where the trimmed mean for each component is Skating Skills 8.50, Composition 8.25, Presentation 8.75. PCS total = (8.50 + 8.25 + 8.75) × 1.60 = 40.80 points.
In practice, PCS scores tend to be correlated — a judge who rates Skating Skills at 9.00 will rarely rate Presentation at 6.00 for the same skater. However, notable gaps between components can reveal specific strengths or weaknesses a skater is known for.
ISU protocols use a set of standardized symbols placed after element abbreviations or in the info flag column. These are set by the Technical Panel (not the judges) and affect base values before judge GOE is applied.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| < | Under-rotation: the skater landed between a quarter and a half revolution short of full rotation. The element receives approximately 75% of its listed base value. A jump with < is still credited as the same jump but at a reduced base value. |
| << | Downgrade: the skater landed short by more than a quarter turn (roughly half a rotation short). The element is treated as a jump of one fewer rotation — for example, a triple Lutz called << is scored as a double Lutz base value. |
| e | Wrong edge on a flip or Lutz. A flip should take off from the inside edge; a Lutz from the outside edge. An 'e' flag means the wrong edge was used, triggering a GOE reduction from the judges. |
| ! | Unclear edge on a flip or Lutz — less severe than 'e'. The skater's edge was ambiguous rather than clearly wrong. A warning for judges to factor into GOE; no automatic base value change. |
| Invalid element. The element does not meet ISU requirements and receives zero base value and zero GOE. Usually applied when an illegal element is attempted. | |
| q | Quarter under-rotation: the skater landed slightly short of full rotation (approximately a quarter revolution short, less severe than <). The base value is not reduced, but judges must apply a GOE deduction. |
| x | Second-half bonus: this jump element was performed in the second half of the program. The base value is multiplied by 1.1 (10% bonus). The bonus is limited to the last jump element in the Short Program and the last three jump elements in the Free Skating. This incentivises skaters to attempt difficult jumps later when they are more tired. |
| V | Used in ice dance to flag unclear rotation in a twizzle — a warning for judges to consider in GOE. |
| SEQ | Sequence: the jump was performed as part of a jump sequence (not a combination). In a sequence, jumps are connected by non-listed jumps or turns. Since the 2022-2023 season, sequences receive 100% of the total base value of the component jumps (previously 80%). |
| COMBO | Combination: jumps performed in direct succession with only a standard landing edge between them. Combinations receive 100% of the sum of each jump's base value. |
Deductions appear at the bottom of the protocol and are subtracted from the combined TES + PCS total. They are separate from GOE — a fall costs points in two ways simultaneously.
Falls Each fall during the program results in a -1.0 deduction from the segment score under ISU rules, in addition to the negative GOE already applied by the judges to that element. This flat -1.0 deduction applies to each fall regardless of how many falls occur in the program.
Note: Some national federations (such as U.S. Figure Skating) use a progressive scale where later falls carry higher deductions, but the ISU international standard is -1.0 per fall.
Time Violations If a program runs over or under its allowed time limit, a deduction is applied. Short programs and free skating have specific time allowances defined by the ISU.
Interruptions If a program is interrupted for reasons within the skater's control (e.g., a costume malfunction caused by the skater), a deduction may apply.
Costume and Prop Violations If a costume accessory falls to the ice, a -1.0 deduction is applied. Props are not permitted in most events.
Illegal Elements
An element that is not permitted in the program (for example, a somersault) receives zero base value (shown with *) and may incur an additional deduction.
Important distinction: When a skater falls, the judges apply a large negative GOE (typically -5, reducing the element score by 50% of base value) AND the Technical Panel applies a -1.0 deduction to the segment total. These are independent penalties from two different parts of the judging system.
ISU protocols are publicly available and typically uploaded within minutes of each skater's performance.
Primary sources:
isuresults.com — The ISU's dedicated results website. Navigate to the event, select the competition and segment, and look for 'Judges Details' or 'Protocol' links next to each skater's result. This is the most reliable source for all ISU-sanctioned events.
isu.org — The ISU's main website links to results pages for major championships including the Grand Prix Final, European Championships, Four Continents Championships, and World Championships.
National federation websites — Federations such as US Figure Skating (usfigureskating.org) and Skate Canada post results for their own national and international events.
Competition-specific sites — Major events often have their own dedicated results pages that aggregate ISU data.
Protocols are published as PDF files and as interactive HTML tables depending on the platform. The PDF version is the official document; the HTML version is easier to read on screen but contains the same data.
Let's walk through a realistic Ladies Short Program protocol step by step. The Short Program for Ladies has a maximum of 7 elements.
TECHNICAL ELEMENT SCORE (TES) Panel
| # | Element | Info | Base Value | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 | J7 | J8 | J9 | GOE | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3Lz | 5.90 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +2.14 | 8.16 | |
| 2 | 3A | 8.00 | -2 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -3 | -2.29 | 5.17 | |
| 3 | CCoSp4 | 3.50 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +2.29 | 5.30 | |
| 4 | StSq4 | 3.90 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +2.86 | 5.01 | |
| 5 | 2A+3T | x | 8.47 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1.14 | 9.44 |
| 6 | FSSp4 | 3.00 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1.86 | 4.56 | |
| 7 | LSp4 | 3.00 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +2.71 | 4.81 |
TES Total: 42.45
Reading the key rows:
Element 1 (3Lz, Triple Lutz): Base value 5.90. All nine judges gave positive GOE (+1 to +3). Trimmed mean +2.14 adds approximately 1.26 points. Final score 8.16. A clean, well-executed Lutz.
Element 2 (3A, Triple Axel): Base value 8.00. The triple Axel is the hardest element in a Ladies Short Program. Here the judges gave mostly -2 and -3, indicating a poor landing — perhaps a two-foot landing or step-out. Trimmed mean -2.29 reduces the score by roughly 1.83 points. Final score 5.17. Instead of a potential ~9.60 on a perfect Axel, this mistake cost nearly 4.5 points.
Element 5 (2A+3T with x bonus): The x symbol means this combination was performed in the second half of the program. The base values of both jumps (3.30 for 2A + 4.20 for 3T = 7.50) are multiplied by 1.1, giving a boosted base of 8.25. The judges gave modest positive GOE (+1 to +2), reflecting a solid but not spectacular combo.
PROGRAM COMPONENT SCORE (PCS) Panel
| Component | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 | J7 | J8 | J9 | Trimmed Mean | Factor | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skating Skills | 8.00 | 7.75 | 8.00 | 7.75 | 8.25 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 7.75 | 8.00 | 7.93 | ×0.80 | 6.34 |
| Composition | 7.75 | 7.50 | 7.75 | 7.50 | 8.00 | 7.75 | 7.50 | 7.75 | 7.75 | 7.68 | ×0.80 | 6.14 |
| Presentation | 8.00 | 7.75 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 8.25 | 8.25 | 7.75 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | ×0.80 | 6.40 |
PCS Total: 18.88
Note: Ladies Short Program uses a factor of 0.80 per component.
DEDUCTIONS Panel
| Fall(s) | Time Violation | Other | Total Deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| -1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -1.00 |
One fall was recorded (likely on the Triple Axel — the negative GOE confirms a significant error). The -1.00 deduction is applied on top of the negative GOE the judges already gave.
Final Segment Score Calculation:
TES (42.45) + PCS (18.88) − Deductions (1.00) = Segment Score: 60.33
What this protocol tells us: The skater is technically ambitious (triple Axel in the short program is rare) but paid a heavy price for the failed triple Axel — losing roughly 4+ points from the element itself via negative GOE, plus the -1.00 fall deduction. The spins and step sequence were excellent (Level 4, positive GOE across the board), and the PCS reflects a skater with strong presentation. Cleaning up the triple Axel would push this score into the mid-to-upper 60s.