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

The Scratch Spin: Basics & Test Requirements

A scratch spin is that beautiful, fast spinning move where your skater pulls their free leg in close to their body, creating a tight spiral. It's one of the most visually impressive moves in figure skating—you'll notice how much faster they rotate compared to other spins.

The scratch spin becomes required starting at Pre-Preliminary level, where it's one of the three mandatory spins (along with a forward spin and backward spin). From there, it stays part of every single test through senior levels, though the specific requirements evolve—judges expect cleaner positions, better centering, and longer duration as skaters advance.

What makes it tricky for younger skaters is the body awareness it demands. They need to pull that free leg in without shifting their weight or losing center, which is genuinely harder than it looks. Many Pre-Preliminary skaters struggle with either wobbling or spinning too slowly at first—that's totally normal.

The good news? Once they nail the scratch spin, it becomes their confidence builder. It's the spin that feels fast, which kids love.

Next step: Watch your child's free leg during their scratch spin. Is it tucked in close, or does it drift away from their body? That one detail often explains whether they're spinning efficiently or fighting against themselves.

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