← Ask the AI Coach
What jumps are required for the Juvenile USFS test?
TL;DR
At the Juvenile Free Skate test, the Single Axel is the headline new element — it's the first time it appears as a required jump in the USFS test track. Pre-Juvenile, which comes between Preliminary and Juvenile, requires more from the existing single jumps and a jump combination, but does not yet require the Axel.
A quick clarification, since this is a common source of confusion: USFS uses two parallel structures — the Singles Test track (Pre-Preliminary → Preliminary → Pre-Juvenile → Juvenile → Intermediate → Novice → Junior → Senior) and competitive levels (which share many of the same names). The Juvenile test and Juvenile competition are related but not identical.
At the Juvenile Free Skate test specifically:
- The Single Axel becomes a required jump — a 1.5-rotation jump from a forward outside edge, the only jump in figure skating with a forward takeoff
- Skaters perform a well-balanced free skate program that includes solo jumps and jump combinations
- Spins and step sequence requirements increase in difficulty
The Single Axel is a major milestone — it usually takes a year or more after passing Preliminary to land cleanly. Many skaters are stuck working on the Axel for a long time, and that's normal.
Doubles are not required for the Juvenile test. Double jumps typically appear at the Intermediate Free Skate test (Double Salchow and Double Toe Loop are commonly required there).
Want to see what's holding your skater's Axel back? SkateMarks analyzes the takeoff edge, free leg position, and landing alignment so you can see exactly where to focus.