What are the USFS Moves in the Field requirements for Pre-Preliminary?

Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field

At Pre-Preliminary, your skater is building foundational power and edge control—the quiet work that makes everything else possible. The USFS requires mastery of basic skating skills: forward and backward crossovers, progressives, and edges on both sides. Your skater will also demonstrate turns like three-turns, which teach them how to change direction while maintaining flow across the ice.

These movements might seem simple compared to what comes later, but they're essential. A skater with solid Pre-Preliminary edges will have an easier time with spirals and Axels down the road. You'll notice the focus is on consistency and control rather than speed or complexity—your child should be able to repeat each move cleanly multiple times without wobbling or losing their line.

The real win at this level? Building confidence on unfamiliar edges and teaching your skater that technique, not just athleticism, matters in figure skating.

If your skater sometimes rushes through these movements or you're not sure if their edges are truly solid, it's worth filming a session and watching frame-by-frame. Small corrections now prevent bad habits from hardening later.

Want to see this in your child's skating? SkateMarks analyzes every jump with per-second AI coaching notes.