Empire State Winter Games - Figure Skating

*Changes/updates since initial posting indicated in Red.

*UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, DATES FOR ALL AGE REQUIREMENTS ARE AS OF FEBRUARY 19, 2010.

1. FIGURE SKATING EVENTS - 2010

INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE COMPETITION
Divisions:
Open Division - any skater that is 18 years of age or older.
Scholastic Division - any skater that is at least 10 years of age but no older than 17 years of age.

Categories and Requirements:
SENIOR - USFS Senior FS or ISI FS test 10, (Ladies – 4:00 min. Men – 4:30 min)

JUNIOR - USFS Junior FS or ISI FS test 9, (Ladies – 3:30 min. Men – 4:00 min)

NOVICE - USFS Novice FS or ISI FS test 8, (Ladies 3:00 min. Men – 3:30 min)

INTERMEDIATE - USFS Intermediate FS or ISI FS test 7, (Ladies & Men – 2:30 min)

JUVENILE (Ages 10 - 13) – USFS Juvenile FS or ISI FS test 6, (Ladies & Men – 2:15 min)

SYNCHRONIZED TEAM COMPETITION
Teams will qualify as follows (using modified USFS & ISI guidelines).

Categories and Requirements:
COLLEGIATE – A team of 12 – 20 skaters. Skaters must be enrolled in a New York State college or degree program as full-time student. Program Duration: 4:00 minutes.

INTERMEDIATE – A team of 12 – 20 skaters. Skaters must be between the ages of 10 - 18. Program Duration: 3:30 minutes

OPEN JUNIOR – A team of 12 – 20 skaters. Skaters must be at least 12 years old and the majority under 19. Program Duration: 4 minutes
*Note: USFS has discontinued the Open Junior Synchro team category. This category will still be available for the 2010 Winter Games.

OPEN JUVENILE – A team of 8 – 12 skaters. Skaters must be at least 10 years old and the majority under 19. Program Duration: 2:30 minutes

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

All Skaters Must:
1. be a domiciled resident of New York State or have status as a full time student in a NY State School (proof of either of these may be required).
2. meet the minimum age requirement of 10 years old.
3. be a registered member in good standing of the USFS or ISI. (club affiliation has been removed).
4. submit their entry so it is received by the deadline date of January 22, 2010 at 4:00pm AND is among the first 200 entries.

3. RULES & REGULATIONS

AGE: Skaters must meet the age requirements for their division based on the first day of competition, February 19, 2010.

NEW YORK STATE RESIDENCY: Skater must be a domiciled resident of New York State or have status as a full time student in a NY State School (proof of either of these may be required).

PHOTO ID: All participants MUST present a New York State government (Driver's License, Non-driver Photo ID) or school issued photo identification that proves NY State Residency in order to participate in the Games. If your school does not issue IDs or you do not have one when submitting an entry you can apply for a non-driver's ID through the NYS DMV or some local sheriff offices. It can take up to 6 weeks for this request to be processed. If you need a photo ID DO NOT DELAY!

BIRTH CERTIFICATE: If a skater has previously participated in the Winter Games a copy of their birth certificate is on file. Any skaters that have not previously participated must include a copy of their birth certificate with their entry. When submitting an entry online please be sure to mail in the birth certificate right way, if one is not already on file, to complete your entry. Your email confirmation will provide instructions.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
• Individual Freestyle Competition: Whichever occurs first; 200 entries or January 22, 2010.
Your completed entry (via online registration or with a paper form) including your entry fee must be among the first 200 entries RECEIVED by the deadline of 4pm, January 22, 2010.
After completing your online entry you will be sent a confirmation email from "No-reply@empirestategames.org" with additional instructions.
If you cannot enter online, you may call the Games office after November 3, 2009 (518-474-8889) to have a paper form mailed to you.

• Synchronized Team Competition: A maximum of 12 (twelve) Synchronized Skating teams will be allowed entry into the 2010 Winter Games. The team roster form, entry form for each team member and their birth certificate (unless already on file with ESG) must be received by 4pm, January 22, 2010. A postmark will NOT count. In the event that more than 12 teams apply, a drawing will be held on January 22, 2010 for the Division with the most entries to determine the competing teams. Teams not selected for the Games will have their entry fee refunded. No checks will be cashed until after the entry deadline. The Games are not responsible for mail lost or delayed by the US Postal Service or other delivery service providers.

CANCELLATION OF EVENTS: If less than three skaters enter an individual event, the event will be cancelled. Skaters will be notified if their event has been cancelled and the entry fee will be refunded. For Synchronized Teams, if only one team in a category enters, that category of competition will be cancelled and the entry fee will be returned.

SANCTION: This competition will be sanctioned by the USFS; as such all skaters, regardless of club or National Governing Body affiliation may participate.

JUDGING CRITERIA: For the 2010 Empire State Winter Games the 6.0 judging system will be used. Freestyle events shall have at least 5 judges; skaters will be marked on Technical Elements and Program Components. The accounting process will be handled in accordance with USFS Rules.

TEST LEVEL: Skater must have passed, at time of submitting their entry, the test level indicated for the event in which they wish to participate. Skaters who submit an entry for a skating category/level for which they have not yet passed the test risk having their entry rejected. Skaters must provide proof that they have passed the test level for which they are entering. Acceptable proof includes a statement of test level and test date from their professional instructor or coach, or a copy of their level as posted on the USFS or ISI website. The statement or other proof must be submitted to the Games office as indicated below under #5 - Event Registration.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL NOTE: Individual skaters are not permitted to compete at the intermediate freestyle level for more than two (2) years in total. This rule is inclusive for any person moving to a new division.

SKATING UP IN CLASS: A skater may not skate up in class, unless he/she placed 1-2-3 in the 2009 Empire State Winter Games Competition.

MUSIC: Music may now contain vocals as per new USFS rule 3502.A.1: "1. for all short and free skate programs up to and including intermediate level and for all events using the 6.0 system of judging, vocal music with lyrics is permitted."

ESG WARM-UP SUIT: Each qualified participant will receive an ESG Warm-up suit, however, to receive the suit the skater must pickup the suit at ESG check-in in Lake Placid and must compete in the Games. No suits will be mailed.

PRACTICE TIME: Individual skaters and synchronized teams will be scheduled into practice ice slots of approximately 15 or 20 minutes, depending on the number of entries, for Friday, February 19 or Saturday February 20. Every effort will be made to avoid conflicts for participants who are participating in more than one skating event. Practice times are based on the competition schedule and individual requests for ice time cannot be accommodated.

PRACTICE AND COMPETITION SCHEDULES: Will be available on the Games’ website after February 12th. If a skater does not have access to the internet to obtain practice and competition schedules and other information, he/she may call the ESG office to have the schedule mailed. NOTE: Skaters are asked to please NOT call the ESG office for practice and competition schedules until after February 12. Schedules cannot be drawn until all information has been accumulated.

ESG CHECK-IN & WARMUP PICKUP: Information regarding ESG check-in and Warm-up pickup, as well as any special event announcements will be posted on the Games website by February 12, 2010. If a skater does not have access to the internet to obtain this information, he/she should call the ESG Office to have the information mailed.

4. ENTRY FEES AND REFUNDS

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION: Entry fee is $50.00 - Please sign up online using the ESG online system.
Instructions for mailing the birth certificate and test level proof will be provided when registration is completed.

SYNCHRONIZED TEAM COMPETITION: Entry fee is $125.00 per team plus an additional $20 per skater. Checks should be made payable to: "ESG" and mailed to Empire State Games Figure Skating, 1 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12238 by the deadline indicated in Section 3 above. If a drawing is necessary, any team that is not selected via the drawing will have their check returned by January 25, 2010. Entries submitted without the proper entry fee will be ruled ineligible and the entry will be returned. You MUST return the team entry form, as well as an entry form for each skater, with a copy of each skater's birth certificate (if it is not already on file in the ESG office), and the entry fee by the deadline date indicated in Section 3 above to be considered entered.

REFUND OF ENTRY FEE POLICY: Skaters or Teams who submit an entry form and fee, and are unable to attend the Games will be entitled to a full refund of their entry fee IF THE GAMES OFFICE IS NOTIFIED IN WRITING to: Empire State Games Refund, 1 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12238, AND the request is received in writing by the Games office by FEBRUARY 8, 2010. NO REFUNDS will be issued after FEBRUARY 8, 2010 unless a doctor's note is provided. Requests for withdrawals may also be faxed to the ESG office by 4pm on Monday, February 8, 2010. The fax number is (518)474-7944.

5. EVENT REGISTRATION

Registration is now closed for the 2010 Winter Games.

1/22/2010