What is a 'pre-rotation' and why do judges deduct for it?

Pre-rotation is a common technical fault on toe-pick jumps and the Salchow, especially as skaters work on doubles and triples.

What's actually happening on the ice:
- A "clean" jump takeoff lifts off the ice before any rotation begins
- A pre-rotated jump turns 1/4, 1/2, or even more of the rotation on the blade before liftoff
- This effectively reduces the rotation needed in the air, which can mask under-rotation

How it's deducted under IJS:
- IJS judges score each jump's Grade of Execution (GOE) on a scale from −5 to +5
- Pre-rotation is one of many factors in GOE — the deduction depends on the DEGREE of pre-rotation, not the skater's level
- Severe pre-rotation (180°+) can result in the jump being downgraded — meaning the base value is reduced as if the skater attempted a jump with one fewer rotation
- The deduction amount is set by ISU/USFS technical panel guidelines and varies by case

Important context:
- Lower-level USFS tests (Pre-Preliminary through Preliminary) historically use the 6.0 system, not IJS, so deduction mechanics differ. At those levels, pre-rotation is generally noted as a technical issue but not penalized in the same itemized way.
- Pre-rotation is especially problematic on Lutz, Flip, and Toe Loop because the toe pick can mask the rotation that's already happened

Why it's hard to fix:
- Pre-rotation is usually a symptom of weak takeoff mechanics — the skater isn't generating enough rotational force in the air, so the body compensates by rotating earlier on the ice
- The fix is usually about edge quality and timing, not "spin slower" — coaches will work backward from the symptom

Want to see whether your child's jumps are pre-rotating? SkateMarks captures the takeoff frame and shows the body angle at the moment of liftoff so you can spot it.