Types of Officials

Officials are valued members of the Association. They are volunteers who donate their time, knowledge and expertise to assist in the development of our athletes. In figure skating there are many different categories of officials – evaluators, technical controllers, technical specialists, judges, referees, and data specialists each with a specific job to do.

Skate Canada officials must be at least 16 years old, meet certain criteria and complete certain task and activities to become qualified. Activities include:

– Clinics and seminars,
– Skill and Knowledge Assessments and Exams,
– Trial officiating,
– and actual officiating

The training Skate Canada provides to its officials is held in high regard around the world. Officials are required to attend clinics, write examinations and complete practical assignments. As their knowledge and experience increases, officials qualify to officiate higher levels of competition.

Evaluators assess skaters at assessment days arranged periodically by Skate Canada member clubs, so that their skaters can be assessed and move on to the next level or test. Evaluators are responsible for assessing the following levels:

STAR 6 – Gold Free Skate Assessments
STAR 6 – Diamond Dance Assessments
STAR 6 – Gold Skills Assessments
STAR 7 – Gold Artistic Assessments

At an assessment session, the evaluator coordinates and evaluates the assessments to which they have been assigned. During the assessment session, the evaluator acts as the assessor and referee controlling the on-ice activities. Candidates training to become an evaluator will be taught how to manage assessment days where the importance of making decisions in the best interests of the skater is emphasized.

Base Level Technical Officials, Technical Specialists and Technical Controllers are recruited from present or former athletes, coaches, Skate Canada judges or referees. They are trained and appointed to the following roles:

Base Level Technical Officials

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for accurate technical panel process and for authorizing, correcting, deleting and adding elements to the list of elements performed during an event. The BLTO assists with the identification of elements in competition. The BLTO also assists with the identification of falls and illegal elements where appropriate to the level. The BLTO is qualified to act on a panel at or below a specified level of competition in singles only and can only be assigned to events where elements can be called no higher than base level.

Technical Specialists

An individual sixteen years of age or older who identifies elements and levels of difficulty of elements in competition. The technical specialist also identifies falls and illegal elements. Technical specialists are qualified to act on panels at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Technical Controllers

An individual sixteen years of age or older who is responsible for accurate technical panel process and authorizes, corrects, deletes and adds elements to the list of elements performed during an event. Technical controllers are qualified to act on panels at or below a specified level of competition in one or more of singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating.

Data Specialists are the individuals responsible for calculating the marks awarded by the judges and tabulating the final result. If open marking is used at an event the data specialists are normally found at ice level. At other events, they will be in the result calculation centre. Generally, each event will have a Chief Data Specialist who ensures all accounting rules are followed when determining the result of an event. They work with the technical representative or referee and technical controller to post results, attend draws and to answer questions regarding results calculation.