What is a scratch spin and when is it required in USFS tests?

The scratch spin is one variation of an upright spin — the fastest one because the body is fully tucked.

What makes it a "scratch":
- One foot on the ice (typically the back outside edge of the skating foot for a CCW skater)
- Skater starts in an extended position, then pulls arms tight to the chest and crosses the free leg over the skating leg
- The free foot's blade scratches against the ice (where the name comes from), generating the iconic scratchy sound
- Speed of rotation accelerates as the body tucks (conservation of angular momentum)

Where it appears in test requirements:
- Pre-Preliminary Free Skate test requires a one-foot upright spin (minimum 3 revolutions). A scratch spin is a fully valid way to execute this — but the requirement is the position, not specifically the "scratch" name.
- Higher levels increase the minimum revolution count and often add combination requirements that may include upright/scratch positions
- The scratch is one of the easier spins to learn relative to camel and sit, because the upright position is the most natural

Common errors:
- Traveling across the ice (the spin should stay on one spot)
- Body not staying centered over the skating foot — leans tilt the spin
- Arms not pulling in tightly — speed never accelerates

The scratch spin transitions naturally into many other spin variations (sit spin, layback spin, etc.), so getting it clean is foundational.

Want to see whether your child's spin is centered or traveling? SkateMarks tracks the body position over the spin and shows you whether they're holding their spot or drifting.