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ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

About:

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating – is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men’s singles, ladies’ singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Originally called the ISU Junior Series, the Junior Grand Prix was created in 1997 to complement the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which is a series of senior-level competitions. Skaters earn qualifying points at each Junior Grand Prix event. The highest-ranking qualifiers meet at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, which is held concurrently with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Competitions – There are generally seven qualifying events which lead to a final. All seven hold competitions in men’s singles, ladies singles, and ice dancing. Four of the events also hold a pairs competition. The locations of the ISU Junior Grand Prix events change yearly. The eighth event is the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Beginning in the 2008–2009 season, it has been held concurrently with the senior final.

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

Results:

Qualifying:

Qualifying – Skaters who reached the age of 13 by July 1, 2011 but have not turned 19 (singles and females of the other two disciplines) or 21 (male pair skaters and ice dancers) are eligible to compete on the junior circuit. Unlike the senior ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, skaters for the Junior Grand Prix are entered by their national federations rather than seeded by the ISU. The number of entries allotted to each ISU member federation is determined by their skaters’ placements at the previous season’s Junior World Championships in each respective discipline.

For the 2011–2012 season, in singles, the three best placed member nations at the 2011 Junior Worlds are allowed to enter two skaters in all seven events. Member nations which placed 4th through 6th are allowed to enter one skater in all seven events, those which placed 7th through 12th are allowed one skater in six of the seven events, and those with a skater who qualified for the free skate are allowed one skater in five of the events. Member nations which did not qualify for the free skate but placed 25th through 30th in the short program are allowed to enter one skater in four of the events, those which placed 31st and lower in the short program are allowed one skater in three of the events, and those countries which did not participate in the 2011 Junior Worlds are allowed one skater in two events. There are provisions for additional entries per member country if another country does not use all of its allotted entries.

In pairs, member nations which placed in the top five at the 2011 World Junior Championships are allowed to enter three entries in all four events at which the discipline is contested. Member nations which qualified for the free skate are allowed two entries in all four events, and all others are allowed one entry in all four events. The host nation is allowed to enter as many pair teams as it wishes.

In ice dancing, the multiple spots allowance is the same as for singles, through one entry in five events.

The host country is allowed to enter up to three skaters/teams in singles and dance, with no limit on its pair entries..

Qualification rules – At each event, skaters/teams may earn points toward qualification for the Junior Grand Prix Final. Following the 7th event, the top-8 highest scoring skaters/teams advance to the Final. The points earned per placement is as follows:

Placement	Points (Singles/Dance)	Points (Pairs)
1st	15	15
2nd	13	13
3rd	11	11
4th	9	9
5th	7	7
6th	5	5
7th	4	4
8th	3	3
9th	2	–
10th	1	–

There are seven tie-breakers in cases of a tie in overall points:

1. Highest placement at an event. If a skater placed 1st and 3rd, the tiebreaker is the 1st place, and that beats a skater who placed 2nd in both events.
2. Highest combined total scores in both events. If a skater earned 200 points at one event and 250 at a second, that skater would win in the second tie-break over a skater who earned 200 points at one event and 150 at another.
3. Participated in two events.
4. Highest combined scores in the free skating/free dancing portion of both events.
5. Highest individual score in the free skating/free dancing portion from one event.
6. Highest combined scores in the short program/short dance of both events.
7. Highest number of total participants at the events.

If there is still a tie, the tie is considered unbreakable and the tied skaters all advance to the Junior Grand Prix Final.