What are the penalties in artistic roller skating?
I · Intermediate · The sport and scoring · 1 of 4A fall is when more than half the body's weight rests on anything but the skates. In free skating the first two falls cost 1.0 each and each later fall costs more. Costumes must be one modest piece with no props; anything falling off costs 1.0. A program too short or too long costs 0.5 for every 10 seconds.
How it works
- Fall: more than half the weight not on the skates.
- Falls (Espoir to Senior): 1.0, 1.0, then 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 more each.
- Costume: one piece, modest, no props, feathers or body paint.
- Costume breach or item falling off: 1.0.
- Time outside limits: 0.5 per 10 seconds or part.
- Slow start: over 10 seconds from music to first move costs 0.5.
- Lyrics: explicit lyrics cost 1.0; narration only briefly at start or end.
- Barrier: touching it or leaving the surface costs 0.5.
The glossary has the fall (artistic), the costume rules (artistic), the music rules (artistic), the entry and exit (artistic), the skating surface (artistic) and the kneeling or lying on the floor.
Tricky cases
How much do four falls cost a senior?
5.5 points in total.
A bead comes off a costume. Penalty?
Yes, 1.0, as anything falling off the athlete is a costume deduction.
Can a show team change costumes during the routine?
Yes, if nothing is left on the floor or thrown out.
Are stones allowed on costumes?
Only up to 4 mm; sequins of any size are fine.
Why the rule exists
Rising fall penalties reward clean skating over attempting too much. Costume rules keep the focus on skating and the floor safe.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tots and Minis | Fall penalty rises by 0.3 | AF p28 |
| Espoir to Senior | Fall penalty rises by 0.5 | AF p28 |
| Show and quartet | Costume changes allowed | AG 3.9 |
From the rule book
World Skate, General Rules for Artistic Skating (2026), sections 3.4, 3.7, 3.9 and 3.10, with World Skate, Free Skating Rules for Artistic Skating (2026), Penalizations. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the World Skate artistic technical rules 2026.