PHILIPPINE SKATING UNION Organization, Rules and Regulations - Manual 2012 Preface. This publication intends to be a guideline for skaters, parents, coaches and officials involved in Ice Figure Skating, Pair Skating, Ice Dancing and Speed Skating in the Philippines. It explains the basic rules and regulations laid down for all PSU-sanctioned competitions. With this publication the PSU attempts to offer a clear insight in its rules and regulations and to avoid confusion and disputes. These pages do not form the by laws or Constitution of the PSU nor are they intended to be used as such. At all times the Philippine Skating Union intends to align itself and its rules and regulations with the International Skating Union in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Philippine Olympic Committee and with its articles of incorporation, by-laws and general regulations. A. General. a. The Philippine Skating Union founded in 2003, is the exclusive national sport federation recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and International Skating Union (ISU) administering Ice Figure Skating, Pair Skating, Ice Dancing and Speed Skating in the Philippines. b. The Philippine Skating Union constitutes an association having its own identity in accordance with Philippine Laws. c. The Philippine Skating Union has jurisdiction over Ice Figure skating, Pair Skating, Ice Dancing and Speed Skating throughout the Philippines. d. The objects of the Philippine Skating Union are the regulation, control and promotion of the sport of Ice Figure Skating, Pair Skating, Ice Dancing and Speed Skating and its organized development on the basis of friendship and mutual understanding between sportsmen. The PSU shall work for broadening interest in the sport by increasing its popularity, improving its quality and increasing the number of participants in the Country. The PSU shall ensure that the interests of all are observed and respected. e. Among the activities of the PSU particular importance is given to organizing the Philippine National Figure Skating Championships and to promote and help organize National and International competitions. Other PSU activities may include, ice skating exhibitions, tours, shows, performances, seminars and clinics. The PSU holds all rights to its events and is entitled to organize events directly or in cooperation with skating clubs or associations. f. The financial year of the PSU begins January 1st and ends December 31st. g. The Philippine Skating Union does not approve of any interference based on political, racial or religious grounds and will make every effort to avoid such interference. h. Addendum 1 lists the current officers of the PSU, its headquarters and contact details. II. Club Recognition a. The members of the Philippine Skating Union are the various skating rinks registered. They are the voting members of the PSU. However, some of its functions, such as recognition and endorsement of the athletes and officials to PSU events and activities are delegated to the recognized clubs as represented by their President and/or their Secretary General. b. Recognition of the Philippine Skating Union may be granted to an ice skating club or association. The granting of recognition shall be decided on and executed by the PSU. In order to be recognized, the ice skating club or association shall present the following: i. A duly accomplished application form. ii. SEC registration with articles of incorporation, constitution and by laws. iii. List of officers iv. List of active members, honorary members and supporting members. c. A minimum of 20 active skaters is required to be considered as a PSU recognized club or association. d. PSU defines an active skater as the one who has participated in at least one official PSU event during the calendar year and must be a holder of a current PSU international passport. e. Coaches and Judges are direct members of the PSU. Other individuals may be considered on a case-to-case basis. f. A list of active members, skaters must be furnished annually by each PSU recognized club or association. g. Annual fees for clubs or associations are to be paid upon joining and thereafter before January 31st of each calendar year. The amount of annual fees is to be decided by the PSU board. h. If annual fees are not paid by the 1st of July of each calendar year, the recognized club or association will lose all privileges until such fees are settled. i. Details of the recognized clubs/associations are in addendum 2. III. Working Committee a. The PSU Working Committee was established on the 18th of July 2003. Its purpose is to establish and develop the rules and regulations that will govern the sport of Ice Figure Skating, Pair Skating, Ice dancing and Speed Skating in the Philippines and to help prepare our athletes for participation in ISU sanctioned competitions throughout Asia and the rest of the world. b. The working committee members were duly sworn in by the former President of the Philippine Olympic Committee Mr. Cito Dayrit. The tenure of the members was set for a 2 and a half-year period leading up to the SEA Games. IV. Competitions a. Competitions held in accordance with the PSU rules may be organized by the PSU member and recognized organizations. The PSU organizes the Philippine National Figure Skating Championships and the Philippine Figure Skating Challenge on an annual basis. All competitions shall be held in accordance with the rules and regulations of the PSU which are mainly in line with the ISU rules and regulations. b. To be eligible to participate in a PSU sanctioned competition in any given level, a skater has to pass the qualifying test of that level organized on a regular basis by the PSU according to PSU qualifying rules. c. Only members of the PSU, recognized clubs or associations can participate in PSU competitions. d. Each PSU recognized club or association must have announced to the PSU by December 31st of the previous year the competitions and/or events they plan to organize during the succeeding year. Such competitions and events will be ruled on and approved by the PSU. e. The Philippine National Figure Skating Championships are only open to Filipino skaters, skaters with dual citizenships and long time residents (2 months minimum). For the Philippine National Figure Skating Championships, a special rule applies in cases where there is only one competitor in any given category. In case there is only one competitor in a category this skater will be asked to perform both the short and the long program. f. The Philippine Figure Skating Challenge is an open competition that brings together eligible and ineligible skaters and is open to foreign nationals. Skaters from outside the Philippines can skate in their actual ISU level, aligned ISI level or in a higher level if they choose to do so. However, participation of an ineligible skater and the level in which he or she participates is at the discretion of the organizing committee. We expect that a constructive dialogue takes place between the skater, coach and the competition’s organizing committee before evaluating participation and level. g. Announcements of competitions are the responsibility of the organizing committee and must include venue, dates, opening and closing times, levels and events in which can be participated, entry fees and deadlines. Announcements must state that the competition is sanctioned by the PSU and held according to the rules of the PSU. h. The entry fee for participation in PSU sanctioned competitions is to be announced with the competition details. If the skater registers after the registration deadline, a hundred percent surcharge will be applied upon acceptance. V. Qualifying Test Guidelines a. In order to participate in a qualifying test for PSU sanctioned competitions the skater has to be a member of the PSU or belong to a recognized club member club or association. b. All skaters who wish to participate in future Nationals or any other PSU sanctioned competitions have to pass the qualifying tests as presented in the test standards of the PSU. Foreign skaters follow the rules specified in (IV.f) c. Test schedules will be published by the PSU in all member rinks. d. Submission of a TEST APPLICATION form and full payment of the test fee must be done by the recognized Club President or its Secretary General within one week prior to the scheduled test date. The current test fee may be adjusted by the PSU from time to time. e. A six-point scoring system will be followed throughout the tests and deductions will be done in accordance with the PSU scoring guidelines further in this manual. f. There will be three (3) PSU accredited judges/examiners from among the list of PSU qualified examiners for every test in each level. g. The test will start with the program containing the compulsory elements of the level (see chapter VI, compulsory requirements for short and test programs). If the skater does not complete or incorrectly executes more than one of the required elements the test is a “Re- Take Test”. If the skater does not complete or incorrectly executes only one of the required elements and all other required elements are executed correctly, he can, at the discretion of the judges repeat that element after the program, but only once. If the element is still in doubt, the test is a “Re-Take Test”. h. No vocals are permitted in the music. However, humming without lyrics is acceptable. i. Judging stops at the end of the maximum allowed time without penalty, provided all required elements are executed. The duration of the test programs is as follows: i. Pre Juvenile - 1 minute and 30 seconds maximum ii. Juvenile – 1 minute and 40 seconds maximum iii.