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National governing body for figure skating

U. S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating Union (ISU). Although the official name of the organization is "the United States Figure Skating Association," it is now known as and conducts business under the name "U. S. Figure Skating." Founded in 1921, U. S. Figure Skating regulates and governs the sport and defines and maintains the standard of skating proficiency. It specifies the rules for testing, competitions, and all other figure skating related activities. U. S. Figure Skating promotes interest and participation in the sport by assisting member clubs, skaters, and athletes, appointing officials, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and other figure skating pursuits, and offering a wide variety of programs. Athletes and officials who represent the United States at international figure skating competitions are selected by U. S. Figure Skating. The Association is a non profit organization.

In 1921 the United States Figure Skating Association was formed and became a member of the International Skating Union. At the time of its formation, the Association was composed of seven (7) charter member clubs including: Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club, The Skating Club of Boston, Chicago Figure Skating Club The Skating Club of New York, Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, Sno Birds of Lake Placid, and Twin City Figure Skating Club (which became the Figure Skating Club of Minneapolis in 1929). Since its inception through 1947, the governance activities of the Association were centered in New York City. The annual Governing Council meetings, as well as the annual Executive Committee meetings, were all held in New York City. In 1949 the Association transferred its offices to Chicago, Illinois. The offices were again moved, this time to Boston, in 1950. In 1979, the Association moved into its current headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This followed the USOC's move to Colorado Springs a year earlier in July 1978. In the 1930s, the Association made an effort to increase the number of competitive events by creating the three sectional championships, Eastern (1938), Midwestern (1933), and Pacific Coast (1936). In 1959, the Eastern and Pacific Coast Sections expanded their qualifying competitions by adding three Sub Sectionals Championships each. The Eastern Section created the New England, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic Regions, while the Pacific Coast Section established the Central Pacific, Northwest, and Southwest Pacific Regions. It wasn't until 1962 that the Midwestern Sectional finally added their regional championships to the qualifying competition cycle. The abbreviated name, "USFSA" was first used in April 1921 and trademarked in 1972. The distinctive shield logo was adopted in 1964 and used until 2003 when U. S. Figure Skating instituted its current logo. In 2006, the Executive Committee was eliminated. At the same time the Board of Directors was reduced to sixteen members from its previous 29 members. As of May 5, 2007, the Association officially adopted the name "U. S. Figure Skating" and dropped the abbreviated name of "USFSA".

U. S. Figure Skating is an association of clubs, governed by its members and its elected officers at national, regional and club levels. As of June 2011, U. S. Figure Skating had 688 member, collegiate, and school affiliated clubs and a membership of 180,452.

The Board of Directors is charged with the management of the business and affairs of U. S. Figure Skating. It is currently composed of sixteen (16) members including: the president, three (3) vice presidents (one from each section), the secretary, the treasurer, four (4) group coordinators, two (2) coaches, and four (4) athletes.

Samuel Auxier is the current president of U. S. Figure Skating. He began his term in 2022. The prior presidents are listed below.

Committees, in particular the Permanent Committees, are responsible for proposing and enforcing the rules of the U. S. Figure Skating. Other special committees may undertake other projects, such as nominations and other ad hoc matters.

“As the national governing body, the mission of the United States Figure Skating Association is to provide programs to encourage participation and achievement in the sport of figure skating on ice.”

The Association is a non profit organization. As of June 30, 2011, U. S. Figure Skating had revenue, support, and gains of approximately $24.9 million derived primarily from dues, admissions and activity fees, skating events, sponsorships, broadcast and licensing, publications, grants, and other sources. The association expended approximately $12.9 million on its various programs and services plus an additional $2.4 million on management and general administrative expenses, under which the departments listed under the “Operations – Departments” are included.

U. S. Figure Skating's members, clubs, and qualifying competitions are divided into three (3) geographical sections, that are further divided into nine (9) regions.

U. S. Figure Skating has nine (9) types of membership:

Testing allows figure skaters to demonstrate that they have achieved a certain level of skating proficiency. Tests progress in increasing difficulty and focus on power, strength, speed, quickness, flow, extension, and edge quality and control. Tests are conducted under the auspices of member clubs and administered during test sessions. Usually, three (3) test judges (the judge panel), of appropriate level, determine the outcome of the tests on a pass / retry basis. Tests up to a certain level may be judged by a single, sufficiently qualified, judge. U. S. Figure appoints test judges at various levels (bronze, silver, and gold) based on trial judging and their judging experience. According to their level, test judges are qualified to determine the outcome of increasingly difficult tests. Test judges are invited by the member club to participate in a given test session. Skaters’ testing levels passed determines at what level they may compete. For qualifying competitions, skaters must pass the free skate test at the level for which they intend to compete. U. S. Figure Skating still offers tests in compulsory figures, however, this discipline was last competed at a national championship competition in 1999. Singles and adult skaters must show they are proficient at a given level by passing two (2) tests at each level, moves in the field ("MIF") and free skate ("FS"). Additional test are conducted in the pairs skating, free dance and pattern dance discipline. Each member of a synchronized skating team must pass the appropriate test of single's competitor. Tests must be completed in the order of increasing difficulty. They may not be taken out of turn. However, a singles skater may take as many moves in the field tests before taking any free skate tests. Once a free skate test is passed, a competitor may only compete at that level at qualifying competitions. There are four (4) test levels specific to adult figure skating. Adult skater must be twenty one (21) years of age or older.

The Compulsory dance was renamed pattern dance. while gold level skaters must pass the Viennese Waltz, Westminster Waltz, Quickstep, and Argentine Tango. There are currently ten dances at the international level. Level Panelex. Solo1 PanelSolo2 Preliminary, Solo Preliminary Bronze3 Bronze Pre Bronze, (Standard, Adult, Masters and Solo) Bronze4 Bronze Bronze (Standard, Adult, Masters and Solo) Bronze Bronze Pre Silver (Standard, Adult, Masters and Solo) Bronze Bronze Silver (Standard, Adult, Masters and Solo) Silver Silver Pre Gold (Standard, Adult, Masters and Solo) Silver Silver Gold (Standard, Adult, Masters and Solo) Gold Gold International (Standard, Adult and Masters) Gold
1The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher. 2The test panel consists of one or three dance test judges of these levels or higher. 3A single bronze or higher dance test judge may also judge this level. 4A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level.

Every year, U. S. Figure Skating sanctions numerous non qualifying competitions, shows, and carnivals. In addition, it annually sanctions qualifying regional and sectional competitions, in various disciplines, that lead up to championship competitions. The Association also selects those athletes and officials that represent the United States at international competitions.

U. S. Figure Skating selects the athletes and officials that represent the United States at international figure skating competitions (Team USA). These competitions include the ISU Junior Grand Prix, Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, the ISU Grand Prix, the World Synchronized Skating Championships, the World Figure Skating Championships, and the Olympic Games. Although the participants for Worlds and the Olympics are most often the top placers at US Nationals, there have been several times when other skaters have been selected due to injuries preventing them from competing at Nationals; Nancy Kerrigan being selected for the 1994 Olympics over 2nd place finisher Michelle Kwan is one example. Most recently 2014 4th place finisher Ashley Wagner was selected over 3rd place Mirai Nagasu ostensibly because of Wagner's more consistent international record; however, because of Wagner's many endorsement contracts, her selection has raised concerns about the fairness of the process (since U. S. Championships are not used as a straightforward Olympic trials).

U. S. Figure Skating has a number of sponsors, suppliers, and licensees that provide support to the association either financially or by supplying other goods and services. U. S. Figure Skating also makes available its logo and sanctioned content, primarily competitions, to various licensees. Sponsors Suppliers Licensees Hilton WorldwideUnited Airlines icenetwork. com The J. M. Smucker Co. Main Event NBC Sports Prudential EVC US Bank Alka Seltzer Plus Ex3 AT&T Puffs

Skating magazine is the official publication of U. S. Figure Skating. Established in 1923, 11 issues are published annually. The association also houses the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame in its headquarters building in Colorado Springs, Colorado. U. S. Figure Skating maintains two Internet domains, usfsa. org, established in 1997 and usfigureskating. org, established in 2003. U. S. Figure Skating also has Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace accounts as well and a YouTube channel and Flickr website. The association has an RSS feed and can push alerts and content via text messaging.

In 2005, U. S. Figure Skating partnered with MLB Advanced Media to set up Ice Network, LLC. Ice Network, LLC is a wholly owned by U. S. Figure Skating. In 2018, Ice Network's website closed.

On February 15, 1961, the entire United States figure skating team was killed when Sabena Flight 548 crashed en route from New York City to Brussels, Belgium. The team was going to participate in the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Among the team members that perished were 18 athletes, seven coaches and managers, three judges and referees, and six team family members. Within one week of the tragedy, the association announced the formation of a memorial fund in honor of the lost team members. "The mission of the Memorial Fund is to provide qualified U. S. Figure Skating members in need of financial aid with monetary assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena. The fund is committed to awarding skating and academic scholarships to those athletes who have demonstrated excellent competitive results and/or academic achievements, and who have potential in national and international competitions."

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