How are spins judged in artistic roller skating?
I · Intermediate · Free skating · 3 of 4A spin counts once the skater completes three rotations in a solo spin, or two in a combination. Basic positions are upright, sit (hips no higher than the skating knee) and camel (free leg at hip height), with heel, broken and inverted spins also valued. Difficult positions such as the Biellmann add value once each, as do difficult entries or changes.
How it works
- Solo spin: one position, foot and edge; three rotations.
- Combination spin: changes of foot, position or edge; two rotations.
- Upright: standing, skating leg straight or slightly bent.
- Sit: hips no higher than the skating knee.
- Camel: free leg at hip height.
- Other positions: heel, broken and inverted.
- Difficult positions: Biellmann, layback, sideways and others; once each.
- Same spin: at most twice in a program.
The glossary has the spin (artistic), the difficult positions and variations, the short program (artistic), the long program (artistic), the quality of the element and the technical panel (artistic).
Tricky cases
A skater does two combination spins but no solo spin in the short program. Result?
The second is starred out and a missing-element penalty applies.
The required sit is attempted but not held. What happens?
The combination gets only half its value.
Are broken spins allowed for espoir skaters?
No. A broken position in espoir is an illegal element.
Do six revolutions in a solo spin earn more?
Yes, a 20 per cent bonus.
Why the rule exists
Minimum rotations make sure a spin is held long enough to count. Bonuses for difficult positions reward flexibility and control.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Combination | Up to four positions | AF p7, p8 |
| Tots | Upright and sit only | AF p10 |
| Espoir | No broken spin | AF p54 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Free Skating Rules for Artistic Skating (2026), Spins and Penalizations. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the World Skate artistic technical rules 2026.