Compulsory figures

Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight. They have mostly disappeared from competitions but retain some influence, having evolved into moves in the field (MIF).

Until 1947, competitors at figure skating events were required to skate a total of twelve figures (six different figures skated on both feet) which were worth 60% of the total score. With the increasing number of entrants, figures competitions (which were then skated outdoors) began to take a very long time, so in 1948 the number of figures was reduced to six (alternating left and right foot starts) while retaining their weight at 60%. This competition format continued until 1968.

Pressure to reduce the weight of compulsory figures began when the Olympic Games and other skating competitions began to be widely shown on television. Figures were not considered appealing or exciting to television audiences. Completion of the figures and their analysis by the judges could last eight hours at the World Championships. In addition, skaters who excelled at compulsory figures were often not the most talented at free skating, but sometimes accumulated such a large lead from the school figures that they won the competitions overall. Such results would often leave general viewers stunned because they had watched only the free skating and had little or no knowledge of the compulsory figures.

A reform was undertaken to put more emphasis on the free skating. The first step was taken in 1968, when figures were reduced to 50% of the total score. In 1973, the number of figures was reduced from six to three, and a new segment, the short program, was added to competitions. Despite the reduction, figures often began at 8 am at ISU Championships, such as 1975 Worlds and 1983 Europeans. In 1983, skaters would often spend almost twice as much time practicing figures, up to five hours a day, as they did practicing their free skating.

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