Guildford Ice Coaches Website

Upon completion of the Gold Level in Skate UK Star skaters may wish to continue their skating development by entering the NISA National Tests.

When you are ready to take the National Tests or compete in any UK competition you will need to become a National Ice Skating Association - NISA member. You can do this by downloading the application form from the NISA members section. Here you will also find the application form for applying for tests, which can be sent in at the same time as you apply for membership.

Remember when you apply for your first level of National Tests to include your Registration Document, signed by your NISA Licensed Coach, to show you have passed the Gold level of Skate UK Star. This will be returned to you as soon as it has been checked by the NISA office.

National Ice Skating Association Website

The NISA National Tests are split into various sections depending on which discipline you are undertaking.

Singles	Descriptions
Field Moves	Field Moves are a series of footwork exercises designed to teach control, power and strength. The focus of these tests is edge quality, power, extension, and quickness. The Field Move section must be completed in both singles, pair skating and ice dancing.
Elements	The elements section consists of jumps, spins, spirals and other skating moves. Each element is performed individually within the test. The jumps and spins increase in difficulty as the tests get higher.
Free Program	This section is where the skater skates a routine to their chosen music (the music must be non-vocal). The routine is a chance to showcase various jumps, spins and steps in a choreographed routine of their choice.

Free skating test system
There are three sections to the free skating test system. You must complete all three sections to gain the full test level.

Level 1	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 2	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 3	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 4	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 5	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 6	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 7	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 8	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 9	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test
Level 10	Field Move Test +	Elements Test +	Free Program Test

Ice Dance	Descriptions
Field Moves	Field Moves are a series of footwork exercises designed to teach control, power and strength. The focus of these tests is edge quality, power, extension, and quickness. The Field Move section must be completed in both singles, pair skating and ice dancing.
Compulsory Dances	The compulsory dance section is a series of prescribed steps which must be completed in a set pattern to a piece of ice dancing music. This section is very similar to ballroom dancing.
Variation/Original Dance	The original dance is very similar to the free dance section. The main difference is that the skater must skate a choreographed routine to a designated rhythm chosen by the ice coach or ISU (International Skating Union) The skater must also adhere to more rules than the free dance section.
Free Dance	The free dance is a section where the skater performs a choreographed routine to a piece of music of their choice. The routine can include lifts, spins and steps.

Ice Dance test system
There are four sections to the ice dance test system. You must complete all four sections to gain the full test level.

Level 1	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Variation Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 2	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Variation Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 3	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 4	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 5	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 6	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 7	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 8	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test A & Compulsory Dance Test B +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 9	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test A & Compulsory Dance Test B +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test
Level 10	Field Move Test +	Compulsory Dance Test A & Compulsory Dance Test B +	Original Dance Test +	Free Dance Test

Other sections include:
Pair skating - where a skating couple perform jumps, spins and the impressive over head lifts.

Synchronised skating - for mixed-gender groups of 12 to 20 skaters. This discipline resembles a group form of ice dance with additional emphasis on precise formations of the group as a whole and complex transitions between formations. The basic formations include wheels, blocks, lines, circles, and intersections. The close formations and need for the team to stay in unison add to the difficulty of the footwork performed by the skaters in these elements.