Moves in the Field Diagrams

from the USFSA rulebook

Mastering moves in the field is essential for every competitive figure skater pursuing USFS test advancement. These official ice skating moves diagrams provide a complete visual reference for all required patterns — from Pre-Preliminary through Senior levels. Whether you're preparing for your first USFS test session or refining advanced turns for championship competitions, these clear ice skating moves diagrams help you understand edge quality, pattern geometry, and proper execution. Each moves in the field diagram is extracted directly from the official USFSA rulebook, ensuring you study the correct patterns expected by judges. The collection includes comprehensive visuals for forward and backward crossovers, three-turns, brackets, counters, rockers, loops, twizzles, spirals, and complete step sequences. Adult skaters will find dedicated diagrams for Adult Pre-Bronze through Adult Gold USFS test requirements. Coaches and skaters alike use these ice skating moves diagrams as a trusted training resource to visualize complex patterns before stepping on the ice. Bookmark this page and share it with your skating community — accurate moves in the field patterns are the foundation of strong skating skills and successful USFS test outcomes.

Complete list of USFS figure skating patterns

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USFS Moves in the Field Diagrams — Complete Visual Guide for Every Level

Moves in the Field are the foundation of competitive figure skating in the United States. Every skater pursuing U.S. Figure Skating test progression — from a five-year-old in their first Pre-Preliminary test to a senior-level athlete preparing for sectionals — must master a specific sequence of patterns, edges, and turns at each level. These are not arbitrary exercises. They are the technical building blocks that determine whether a skater can land a triple jump, hold a layback spin, or transition cleanly between elements in a free program.

This page provides every official Moves in the Field diagram from the U.S. Figure Skating rulebook — Pre-Preliminary through Senior, plus complete coverage of Adult tracks (Pre-Bronze through Adult Gold) and Adaptive Skating tracks. Each diagram is paired with the official pattern description and the specific judging focus that examiners look for.

But diagrams alone are not enough. Most skaters who fail their first Moves test fail not because they don't know the patterns — they fail because they don't understand what the judges are actually evaluating. That's what this guide is built to fix.

This page covers:

  • Every official Moves in the Field pattern from Pre-Preliminary through Senior

  • Complete Adult MITF curriculum: Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold

  • Adaptive Skating MITF for inclusive and accessible programs

  • The four core scoring criteria USFS judges use to evaluate every move

  • Coach's notes from a 2-time Olympian on the most common mistakes at each level

  • Practice strategies that actually work for pre-test preparation

  • Frequently asked questions for skaters and parents

Whether you're a parent trying to understand what your child is being tested on, an adult skater starting your USFS journey, or a competitive skater preparing for your next test session, bookmark this page. It's updated regularly to reflect the most current USFS rulebook (always confirm specific test requirements with your coach and the official rulebook before any test session).

How USFS Moves in the Field Tests Are Scored

Every Moves in the Field test is judged on four core criteria. Understanding these criteria is the difference between passing on the first attempt and retesting.

1. Edge Quality

The depth, control, and clarity of the skate's edge against the ice. Judges look for clean, sustained edges without slipping, wobbling, or two-footing. A "clean edge" means the skater is unmistakably on either an inside or outside edge throughout the move — not flat, not switching unintentionally. Edge quality is the single most heavily weighted criterion at lower levels (Pre-Preliminary through Juvenile) and remains critical through Senior.

2. Power

How much speed and energy the skater generates from the patterns themselves — not from extra pushes or stroking. Power in MITF is about efficient energy: the right body position, the correct angle of the blade, and a deep knee bend that translates into glide and acceleration. A skater who muscles their way through patterns will exhaust quickly and lose marks. A skater with true power makes the moves look effortless.

3. Extension

The line and reach of the free leg, the lift through the upper body, and the projection of the skater's posture. Extension is what separates a technically correct move from a beautiful one. At lower levels, extension is most visible in spirals and edges. At higher levels, it shows in every transition between elements.

4. Continuous Flow

The seamless connection between elements without unnecessary stops, hesitations, or recovery steps. A skater with continuous flow moves through their entire test as if it were a single, unbroken phrase of skating. Judges actively look for "the catch step" — the small recovery step skaters use when they lose balance — and deduct accordingly.

Each move in the rulebook lists its primary judging focus (you'll see "Focus: Edge quality" or "Focus: Power" beneath each diagram below). When you practice, prioritize whatever the rulebook lists as the focus for that specific move. Skaters who try to "look pretty" on a move that's being judged for power will underperform compared to skaters who execute the prioritized criterion cleanly.

Coach's Notes: The 5 Most Common Mistakes at Every Test Level

After two decades of preparing skaters for USFS tests — from Pre-Preliminary through international competition — certain patterns of failure repeat themselves at every test session in America. Here are the five we see most often, and what to do about each.

Mistake #1: Treating the test like a performance instead of an exam.

Skaters arrive at test sessions in full performance mode — big smiles, dramatic arm movements, performance music playing in their head. Then they get marked down because they rushed through the move trying to look impressive. Moves in the Field is a technical exam. Judges want to see clean execution, not personality. Save the performance energy for your free skate. On a Moves test, your only job is to execute the pattern as the rulebook describes it, with the specific focus criterion as your priority.

Mistake #2: Underestimating the difficulty of "introductory steps."

The rulebook frequently says "introductory steps are optional." Many skaters take this as permission to start sloppy. But your introductory steps tell the judge everything about your skating quality before you've even begun the actual move. A weak entry — bent posture, unclear edge, hesitant push — sets a negative impression that carries through the entire pattern. Treat your introductory steps as the first thing being judged, because they are.

Mistake #3: Not knowing the size and orientation of the rink you're testing on.

Most Moves patterns are designed around a standard NHL-size rink (200×85 feet). If you've trained on an Olympic-size rink (200×100 feet) and test on an NHL rink, your pattern coverage will be wrong, and vice versa. Every move that says "covering the length of the rink" or "across the width" requires specific spatial awareness. Skate on the test rink at least once before your test session if at all possible.

Mistake #4: Using catch-steps to recover from poor edges.

A "catch step" is the small extra step skaters take when they lose their edge or balance. Each catch step is a deduction. The temptation is enormous — your edge is dying, you wobble, you instinctively put down the free foot to save it. Train yourself out of this habit during practice by deliberately holding edges longer than you think you can. The discomfort of nearly-failing-but-recovering on a sustained edge is exactly the muscle memory you need on test day.

Mistake #5: Skating the lower-level moves without intention.

Skaters chasing higher tests often phone in the foundational moves. Forward Perimeter Stroking? Boring. Basic Consecutive Edges? Already passed Pre-Preliminary years ago. But these foundational moves are where edge quality is built. Every elite skater I've worked with — including the international medalists — returns to basic edges and stroking patterns regularly. The skater who stops practicing fundamentals stops improving, no matter how high their test level.

How to Use This Guide

The diagrams above are the official patterns. They tell you what to skate. But knowing the pattern is only the first step toward passing your test. Here's how to actually use this guide for test preparation.

For each test you're preparing for:

  1. Print or save the diagrams for your level. You should be able to draw your patterns from memory before you ever attempt them on ice. Many skaters use whiteboards in the locker room before sessions.

  2. Read the official description aloud to yourself. The rulebook language is precise. Every word matters: "approximately four seconds," "four to six half circles," "may start on either foot." These details determine pass/fail. Don't paraphrase them in your head.

  3. Identify the focus criterion. Each move lists one or two priority criteria (Edge Quality, Power, Extension, Continuous Flow). When you practice, your coach should be giving you feedback specifically against that criterion — not generic feedback.

  4. Walk through patterns off-ice. This is the most underused training tool in figure skating. Walk the floor pattern in sneakers — the directional changes, the turns, the spatial coverage. Your body will remember spatial logic faster off-ice than on it.

  5. Practice in test conditions. No music. No coach calling out adjustments. No multiple attempts. One try, just like the test. Most skaters never simulate test conditions and then panic when they face them for the first time.

  6. Test the rink size. Get on the actual ice surface where you'll test if at all possible — even one practice session helps your spatial calibration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often does USFS update the Moves in the Field requirements?

The U.S. Figure Skating rulebook is updated annually. Major curriculum changes happen less frequently, typically every 3-5 years. Always confirm current requirements with your coach and the official rulebook before any test session. The diagrams on this page are reviewed regularly but the official USFS rulebook is always the final authority.

Q: What's the minimum age to take a USFS Moves test?

There is no minimum age for most levels. A skater can attempt any test as soon as their coach believes they are ready. Some skaters pass Pre-Preliminary by age 6; others begin testing in their 30s through the Adult track. Both paths are equally valid.

Q: How long should I prepare for a Moves test?

It varies by level and skater, but a general guideline: lower levels (Pre-Preliminary through Pre-Juvenile) typically require 3-6 months of focused preparation after the previous test passed. Higher levels (Intermediate through Senior) often require 6-12 months or more per test. Adult skaters should expect their preparation timeline to be slightly longer than youth skaters at equivalent levels.

Q: Can I retake a test if I fail?

Yes. There is no limit on retests. Most rinks hold test sessions every 4-8 weeks. A failed test is not a setback — it's data. Your judges' feedback sheet will tell you exactly which criteria need work before you retest.

Q: Do I need to pass Moves tests to compete?

For USFS-sanctioned competitions, yes. Each competitive level has corresponding Moves test requirements. You cannot compete at Juvenile freestyle, for example, without having passed your Juvenile Moves test. This is one of the main reasons Moves in the Field is mandatory for any serious competitive path.

Q: Are the Adult Moves easier than the standard track?

The Adult curriculum is designed for the realities of adult skaters — slightly different physical demands, different practice schedules, different training histories. The patterns are not "easier" so much as differently structured. Adult Gold is a substantial accomplishment requiring true mastery of edge work and power.

Q: My child failed their Moves test. What should we do?

First, get the judges' feedback sheet and read it carefully with your coach. Identify specifically which moves and which criteria were marked down. Most failed tests are failed on one or two specific moves, not the whole test. Build a focused plan to address those specific issues, give yourself 6-8 weeks of dedicated work, and re-test. Failure on a Moves test is normal and not a reflection of long-term potential.

Q: How do I find the next USFS test session near me?

Use our USFS Test Session Finder to locate upcoming test sessions in your region.

Need Personal Coaching for Your Next Moves Test?

Krigor Studio prepares skaters for every level of USFS Moves in the Field testing — from Pre-Preliminary through Senior, plus the complete Adult track. Coached by 2-time Olympian Igor Lukanin and World Championship performer Kristina Fraser, with over 20 years of test preparation experience.

We offer private lessons, semi-private group preparation, and intensive pre-test camps for skaters at any level. Online video review available for skaters outside the New Jersey area.

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