Puerto Rican Figure Skating Competition Frequently Asked Questions

 We are often asked questions about our National Championships and why we do certain things or run our competition using the chosen set of rules.  Here are some answers to these frequently asked questions.

 “What are the different levels that the Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation uses to hold its National Championships?”  The answer is that we use the rules and levels that are accepted by the International Skating Union, Ordinary Congress in 2004, as shown in our past two National Championships’ announcements.  All members of the ISU follow these rules.  However, these rules do not apply to Novice and below.  For Novice, we use ISU Communications 1288 and 1324 as our guideline. 

 When you read these rules, the one thing you will notice above all else is that there is a larger emphasis on the age of the competitor in relation to the competition level.  All of our members are also citizens of the United States of America.  Accordingly, our figure skaters are generally members of the United States Figure Skating Association.  So we use USFSA freeskate test levels and ISU age limits that breakdown, as follows: 

        To Be Eligible for     You must       and must not            and tested no less than
        the listed Division     be at least      have reached           the FS/Pair/Dance level

Novice FS                10                    15                         USFSA Juvenile

Novice Pair/Dance    10            15 for Ladies

                                               and 17 for Men

Junior FS                  13                    19                     USFSA Intermediate

Junior Pair/Dance      13            19 for Ladies

                                               and 21 for Men

Senior (all)                14           (no upper limit)                 USFSA Junior

In “OPEN” categories, which are not competitively used to determine Puerto Rican representation for international skating competitions, we have used the USFSA Rulebook applicable for that particular year. 

 “Why do we use the ISU rules when most skaters already have programs using standard USFSA rules?”  The answer is simple.  We use the ISU rules because ALL of our National Championship skaters are immediately eligible to attend an international skating competition.  The PRFSF will either (i) potentially send a skater who meets specific competition level criteria to an international event or (ii) allow any National (Senior Division) skater to attend an international “developmental” event at their own cost in accordance with our Campeonato Internacional Principiante” plan.  Since all international competitions are either based entirely or primarily on ISU rules (including age specific limits), we need to know that all National skaters have competitive programs that match the rules for these international events.  If you will review the chronology or history of the US rules, you will see an unmistakable evolution towards the ISU rules.  Even here the US skaters are being required to use the very same rules that will be employed at international events. 

 “Yes, but the primary difference is the age difference between the rules we are accustomed to and the ISU rules.  Don’t you realize that PRFSF skaters will be at a competitive disadvantage when a 12 year is forced to compete as a Novice here in the US?”  Yes, it is true that if the PRFSF were only focused on the “ordinal result” that the PRFSF skater achieved at a US local, non-qualifying competition, then our skaters would be disadvantaged.  A 12 year old skater could potentially compete against an older skater or field of older skaters and be beaten by the experience of this skater or field.  First, it needs to be recognized that our skaters are not “forced” to compete in US competitions at the higher level.  Our Novice skaters only need to have passed US Juvenile FS tests.  Therefore, it is up to the skater, skater’s parents, and skater’s coaches to determine the best level for an individual to compete locally.  Second, our hope is that the skater will develop using the new ISU Judging System (known as Code of Points), and will be able to see an upward trend of scoring in their COP results.  When one of our Novice skaters goes to an International Competition at the ISU Novice level, our skaters will not be competing against 19 year old skaters.  The upper limit will be 14 years of age by the competition selected age date (usually July 1^st whereby the new ISU competition season).  For that matter, even the Junior level skaters will not be competing against other 19 year old skaters in Singles events.  Therefore, a better ordinal result could flow from the improved experience of continual improved COP scores. 

 Please note that there are two directions that a skater could compete.  Besides going up as shown in the examples above, a PRFSF skater can also compete “down”.  A 14 year old Senior skater, can only compete as a Senior at US local events if that skater has passed the US Senior FS tests.  However, that skater is allowed to enter international events as a Junior.  Additionally, the 14 year old (US) Senior skater could be prohibited from entering certain international events as a Senior. 

 “What other requirements does a skater need to meet in order to compete at Puerto Rican Nationals?”  The Puerto Rican National Championship is open to all eligible persons who (1) are of Puerto Rican heritage or residency, as described below (in accordance with ISU Rule 109 and Communication 1117), and (2) are PRFSF members for 2005-06, and (3) shall be eligible to enter events based on USFSA test status as of January 25, 2006.  Single skaters may compete at a free skating test level based on the table listed above. 

 Puerto Rican Heritage:
A skater must fulfill the basic requirement that the skater, and/or at least one parent, and/or at least one grandparent, was/were born in Puerto Rico.  Proof of the aforementioned Puerto Rican birthplace must be made by providing a copy of the Puerto Rican birth certificate to accompany the competition and membership applications.  If Puerto Rican birth is proven through the grandparent, then the application MUST also include both the grandparent AND the intervening parent birth certificate (no matter where that comes from) in order to show that there is a direct link between the grandparent to the parent, and finally to the skater.  All National skaters must be US citizens and will need to have US passports in order to compete internationally.

Puerto Rican Residency:
In lieu of a Puerto Rican birth certificate, a skater must comply with ISU Rule 109 and Communication 1117 in order for a figure skater to represent Puerto Rico in the 2006-07 competition year.  At this time, only a Pair or Dance partner who is teamed up with a skater of Puerto Rican Heritage can represent Puerto Rico or the PRFSF internationally. 

 COMPETITIVE REPRESENTATION DISCLAIMER NOTICE:
The Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation is a provisional member of the International Skating Union.  From time to time, the PRFSF receives invitations from the ISU and other ISU member skating federations to allow Puerto Rican figure skater(s) to enter an international figure skating competition.  Consequently, this National Championship will be used as a primary, but not sole, decision making criteria for Puerto Rican representation in such international figure skating competitions that are sanctioned by the ISU.  Eligibility for such events is still primarily controlled by ISU rules.  Other factors to be used by the PRFSF to determine placement for such representation include, but are not limited to: membership in the PRFSF, existence of a contractual relationship, skater health, skater competitiveness, review of the competition season in total, and available funding.  Non-attendance at this National Championship will reduce the likelihood that a figure skater will be selected as Puerto Rico’s representative in any such international competition. 

 Special Age Notice: Eligibility for events at ISU events is based, in part, on the skater’s age.  Selection by a skater to compete in any specific level at this National Championship does NOT preclude the PRFSF from selecting the skater to represent the PRFSF at a different level.  For example, a 14 year old skater may compete as a Junior at this National Championship.  However, the PRFSF is free to select this skater to represent the PRFSF at an ISU event as either a Novice, Junior, or Senior.  This decision is subject to the sole discretion and judgment of the PRFSF.  However, the skater is free to decide not to represent the PRFSF at the different level.

 “What happens if I do well at Puerto Rican Nationals?  Is that it, and I can just be sent overseas to compete?”  No, the PRFSF expects its skaters to live by a code of conduct and decorum.  We are trying to set up a goal for Puerto Rican youth to aspire to.  Like many other national figure skating organizations, like the one most of our skaters had been associated with, there are rules, codes of conduct that are established in both the organization’s rules and bylaws.  Additionally, just like the national associations that we have familiarity with, we expect our figure skating representatives to sign a contract whereby these expectations are identified.  Failure to live up to these expectations either before or after signing on the dotted line means inability to represent Puerto Rico.