Falls during test

[eonice]

I haven't heard of this happening, but I figured it's best to be prepared. What exactly does one do in case of fall on a pattern-based test like MITF or compulsory dance? Do you get up and go back to the last place you were before the fall? For dance tests they play music, so you can't really do that...but you can't skip part of it either? Automatic fail?

 

[Skittl1321]

I would keep skating. If it's a moves test the judge might call you over and have you stop the move but until they did I would do exactly what you do during a program in just keep going. If it was a program I would definitely get up and just keep going. You'll get a re skate of the element if the test wouldn't otherwise fail. If the test was going to be a fail with or without the element then you won't get a re skate

 

[gkelly]

In MITF, judges have the discretion to ask for a reskate of one move, if the test is otherwise passing quality. If you fall on one move and everything else is good, they may ask you to do that move again, or just the part you fell on.

Reskates are also possible in pattern dances, but it's probably less likely that the judges would ask for one in a dance with a fall.

In any case, your best bet would be to get up and pick up the pattern as quickly as possible and hope for the best. Don't go back -- keep going forward.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

If I'm reading the rules correctly, if you fell during a MITF test on one move, and passed the other moves, the judge could have you reskate that move. So it's not an automatic retry/fail. But if you fell, you'd get up and finish the move.

The dance tests don't allow the judges to let you retry during the same test, right? Or do they?

A friend of mine did fall in his dance test. He was doing great - he just got a bit too enthusiastic. Westminster Waltz. Those familiar with it can probably guess which step he fell on. But what you do (and he did) is get up and finish the test, regardless.

 

[misskarne]

Get back up, continue from that point, and finish the test. The judges can let you reskate that part as long as everything else is okay.

 

[treesprite]

I would be horrified if I fell during a test. How does a person just get up and finish when feeling that way? I haven't taken any tests as a returning adult, and the idea of falling that is now in my head (thanks a lot), makes me more hesitant about possibly doing it.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

I would be horrified if I fell during a test. How does a person just get up and finish when feeling that way? I haven't taken any tests as a returning adult, and the idea of falling that is now in my head (thanks a lot), makes me more hesitant about possibly doing it.

I have only ever seen one person fall during a MITF or dance test, and that was my friend, who is a high level ice dancer who, by his own admission, only fell because he got over excited as his first pattern had gone so well. I have *never* seen anyone else fall. So put this one right out of your mind. You're good.

 

[Willin]

I've fallen once during a test. As @gkelly said, they can have you reskate the move you fell on. You should get up and finish the move after the fall, but the rest of that move won't count. If you fall twice, then it's an automatic fail (at least under the old rules from when I was testing). Generally, though, it won't be an issue on a Moves in the Field or Dance test.

 

[Skittl1321]

I would be horrified if I fell during a test. How does a person just get up and finish when feeling that way? I haven't taken any tests as a returning adult, and the idea of falling that is now in my head (thanks a lot), makes me more hesitant about possibly doing it.

Falls happen (though they are rare on moves tests it seems). They happen to the very best skaters, sometimes even on the simplest things. There is never need to be horrified for a fall. It may be silly but that's what the whole #wegetup thing is. So if it does ever happen to you, think "I'm doing my best" and know just that being out there means you are way ahead of those who wish they could skate but never try.

In the non motivational speaker sense, I find that stumbles or falls are a bit hard to move on from, in an adrenaline sense. I have to really think about breathing and calming myself and about what comes next in the routine. I can totally understand why a fall on a jump can throw off an elite skaters program, even when they get up SO fast.

It's a good idea in your practice and lessons to keep going after a mistake, don't stop and restart, so you know how to recover if your timing is off. I remember especially in synchro we had to practice catching up with the group! Even a crappy adult team moves fast.

 

[Aussie Willy]

If a skater falls they should just get up and keep going. Don't worry it until after the test is complete and then the judges will make a decision about re-skating that part of not.

 

[vesperholly]

I ran into the boards when I took Novice moves, back when they had those stroking patterns with the turns on the end pattern. It was the 3 turn one, ran out of room so I just kept going. They didn't even have me reskate and I passed

 

[Willin]

@vesperholly I hated those end patterns! It didn't help that I took the test on a very small rink...

 

[vesperholly]

@vesperholly I hated those end patterns! It didn't help that I took the test on a very small rink...

Oh yeah, I'm sure practicing half the time on an Olympic rink contributed to that!

 

[Debbie S]

I ran into the boards on a moves test once. Back double 3's on Gold MIF, right after one of the LBI turns (done too early). I saw the wall coming and pushed off with my hand, did the FO turn that followed and just kept going. My coach was impressed that I stayed on 1 foot through all that, lol. But I did not get a reskate b/c I put my foot down on the brackets.

I also had a stumble on a RFI bracket on another Gold MIF attempt, would have fallen if I hadn't had the boards to grab onto. I moved away from the boards and picked up the pattern with the next turn. By then, I knew I wasn't going to pass, b/c I already had a mistake on another move, but I didn't consider not finishing...you always keep going.

 

[treesprite]

Thanks, Eonice, for posting the topic. I am going to make sure I save the thread. Hopefully, it won't disappear into archives or something before I decide to test. I think it will help me a lot if/when the time comes.

 

[hanca]

I have also crushed into the boards during the pattern dance test. It hurt and my ego hurt even more, you immediately feel the adrenalin - my whole body started shaking. But you just pretend it didn’t happen and continue because you don’t really have a choice. If you stop, you know you are definitely not going to pass. If you continue, there is a chance that the judges see enough and will give you a chance. I had to reskate this dance and passed, but I am pretty sure if I stopped it would have been fail.

 

[SherryL]

I’ve seen many moves and pattern dance tests by my girls as well as other skaters, including those with falls and other errors. Of these, some were asked to reskate and others not. Thus, keeping going.

My little one had plenty of falls during her moves tests, some of which she was asked to reskate (and pass) and some not. My other daughter went out of sync with her coach for part of the Quickstep gold dance test. She got a reskate with her coach for one pattern, and passed the overall test. I’ve seen a girl fall dramatically during her 14-step Pre-Silver dance test, and quickly got up to continue the pattern with her coach. She was asked to reskate, and passed that dance test then.

 

[hanca]

I have seen a girl tripping her coach who was partnering her for the test. He fell, twice (both times thanks to her). The funny thing was that both falls were exactly on the same spot, the same step and the judge could not see there very well, so the judge was blaming the coach and she passed! The coach was not very pleased with her.

 

[Skittl1321]

I have seen a girl tripping her coach who was partnering her for the test. He fell, twice (both times thanks to her). The funny thing was that both falls were exactly on the same spot, the same step and the judge could not see there very well, so the judge was blaming the coach and she passed! The coach was not very pleased with her.

Wow I was told during partner tests, even if your partner is a coach they also have to "pass". Or is that just for pairs, not dance?

 

[hanca]

Wow I was told during partner tests, even if your partner is a coach they also have to "pass". Or is that just for pairs, not dance?

I have no idea. It may be different in different countries. Or the judge didn’t see a reason why she shouldn’t pass if it was the coach who couldn’t keep upright. I thought it was hilarious that he fell, I didn’t notice that it was her tripping him. I was a bit surprised by his attitude (storming out clearly not happy) and it was only later the girl admitted that it was her fault.

 

[gkelly]

Wow I was told during partner tests, even if your partner is a coach they also have to "pass". Or is that just for pairs, not dance?

According to the rulebook:

Pair tests need to be taken and passed "as a pair."

Free dance tests need to be taken and passed "as a couple."

Also "All international partnered pattern dance tests may be taken and judged as a couple or as a single test candidate. If the test is taken as a couple, both candidates must be paid and registered candidates for the test."

So the other partnered pattern dance tests are taken as single candidates. Requirements for who can partner test candidates are much looser than they used to be in years passed.

Obviously, none of the above applies to solo dance tests, but that's a separate test track.