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...What Is A Short Program and Long Program?

The skater just finished their "Freeskate (aka. Long Program)" and have gotten their marks for their long program, and now that point total is being added to a "Short Program" score to come up with their final score.  What's the short program (and when did that happen...)?

Competitors actually skate two programs - a Short Program*, and a Long (or Freeskate) Program*.  Each program is a different length with different technical/required elements. The Short Program is usually skated 2 days prior to the Long Program. The Short Progam is judged in a similar manner to the Long Program with Elements and their execution making up the Technical Mark, and a Program Component Score.  The total (Segment Score) from the Short is added to the point total (Segment Score) from the Long Program for the final score.  The highest total score wins.

*In Dance it's the Short Dance and Free Dance

The short program requirements (Singles):

Length: 2:40 minutes +/- 10 seconds

These are the elements that make up the technical portion of the score:

• Double or Triple Axel
• Any Triple Jump (May not repeat Triple Axel or either jump in combo) (*For Men: Any Triple or Quadruple Jump)
• Jump Combination (Double/Triple or Triple/Triple | For Men:Double/Triple, Triple/Triple, Quad/Double, or Quad/Triple) (May not repeat Triple Axel or solo jump performed)
• Flying Spin (Landing position different than 1 position spin) - min. 8 revolutions
• For Women: Layback, Sidways Leaning, Sit or Camel Spin (no change of foot) - min. 8 revolutions
• For Men:Camel or Sit SpinWith only 1 change of foot,No flying entry,Min. 6 revs. each foot
• Spin Combination with only 1 change of foot, Min. 2 different basic positions. Must have all 3 basic positions to receive full value. No flying entry - Min. 6 revs. each foot Min. 2 revs in pos
• Step Sequence fully utilizing the ice surface

The long program requirements (Singles):

Ladies:  Length: 4:00 minutes +/- 10 seconds

These are the elements that make up the technical portion of the score:

• Max 7Jump Elements
  • 1 must be an Axel-type jump*
  • Jumps can contain any number of revolutions
    • Of all the triples or quads, only 2 can be executed twice
    • No double jump, including double Axel, can be included more than twice in total as solo jump or part of a combination/sequence
  • Max 3 jump combinations or sequences
    • Combinations limited to 2 jumps
    • One 3-jump combination is permitted
    • Number of jumps in a sequence is not limited
• Max 3 spins
  • 1 spin combination; with or without change of foot*
    • Min 10 revs
    • Min 2 revs in each position
    • Must have all 3 basic positions to receive full value.
  • 1 spin with a flying entry*
    • Min 6 revs
  • 1 spin with only 1 position*
    • Min 6 revs
  • All spins may change feet and start with a flying entry
  • Spins must be of a different character
• Max 2 Step Sequences
  • One leveled step sequence*
    • Must fully utilize the ice surface
    • One choreographic sequence

Men:    Length: 4:30 minutes +/- 10 seconds

These are the elements that make up the technical portion of the score:

• Max 8Jump Elements
  • 1 must be an Axel-type jump*
  • Jumps can contain any number of revolutions
    • Of all the triples or quads, only 2 can be executed twice
    • No double jump, including double Axel, can be included more than twice in total as solo jump or part of a combination/sequence
  • Max 3 jump combinations or sequences
    • Combinations limited to 2 jumps
    • One 3-jump combination is permitted
    • Number of jumps in a sequence is not limited
• Max 3 spins
  • 1 spin combination; with or without change of foot*
    • Min 10 revs
    • Min 2 revs in each position
    • Must have all 3 basic positions to receive full value.
  • 1 spin with a flying entry*
    • Min 6 revs
  • 1 spin with only 1 position*
    • Min 6 revs
  • All spins may change feet and start with a flying entry
  • Spins must be of a different character
• Max 2 Step Sequences
  • One leveled step sequence*
    • Must fully utilize the ice surface
    • One choreographic sequence

Review: How Does Scoring Work: PGM. COMP. score (Program Component Score)PGM. COMP. score (Program Component Score) | How Does Scoring Work: Technical Score (Elements)

Play Along:

Ashely Wagner's 2017 US National's Short Program:

Championship Ladies / Short Program Scores:

(this will give you the element abbreviations: USFSA ie. 2A is a Double Axel). (J1, J2, etc... stands for Judge 1, Judge 2)

Championship Ladies Final Results 2017 Nationals