A course for dance teachers

Understanding the Skating System

How dance competition results are compiled, and how to explain them.

6 modulesAbout 2 hoursFinal quiz and certificate

A clear, practical guide to how dance competition results are actually put together. Across six short modules you will learn what the Skating System is, who does what on the day, how recalls and finals work, how a result is worked out by majority rather than by adding the marks up, and how to read a result sheet and explain an outcome to pupils and parents with confidence.

What you will learn

Describe the Skating System fairly and accurately, in plain words.
Follow how a result is compiled, from the judges’ marks to the final order.
Work a single-dance final by hand using majority logic.
Read a result sheet and explain what it does, and does not, show.
Explain a disappointing result to a pupil or parent with warmth and accuracy.
Know where your explaining stops, and when to check the rulebook or a scrutineer.

The six modules

What the Skating System is, and is not

A clean, neutral definition, and the key correction: it compiles placings, it is not a score of dance quality.

12 to 15 min

Who does what in a competition result

Adjudicator, scrutineer, chairperson and organiser. Why the scrutineer compiles a result rather than choosing it.

10 to 12 min

Recalls, finals, and crosses versus placings

How a competition narrows through its rounds, and why a strong recall does not promise a win.

15 to 18 min

Single-dance finals and majority logic

The heart of the course, worked by hand: a majority for first, then place-or-better logic. Why totals mislead.

25 to 30 min

Ties and multi-dance results

Why ties happen, how they are broken, how an aggregate is built, and when to defer to a qualified scrutineer.

25 to 30 min

Reading results and explaining outcomes

Reading a sheet, explaining disappointment kindly, and handling the rare result that genuinely looks wrong.

15 to 20 min

Who it is for

Written for dance teachers across Ballroom, Latin, solo and street, whatever your competition background. You do not need any maths or scrutineering experience to follow it. If you have ever struggled to explain a result to a disappointed pupil or a frustrated parent, this course is for you.

Knowledge checks, a final quiz, and your certificate

6modules

20 to 25final questions

80%to pass

Each module has a quick knowledge check as you go, with instant feedback and nothing recorded. At the end, a short final quiz earns your certificate, issued once you have completed all six modules and passed. There is no penalty for a retake, so you can review and try again if you need to.

A note on scope: this course helps you understand and explain results. It does not qualify you as a scrutineer or an adjudicator, and the exact rules vary by event and governing body. When the detail matters, check the rulebook and conditions for the competition you are attending. The worked examples throughout are original teaching examples.

Ready to begin? Start with Module 1: what the Skating System is, and is not.

Course Content

Module 1: what the Skating System is, and is not

Module 2: who does what in a competition result

Module 3: recalls, finals, and crosses versus placings

Module 4: single-dance finals and majority logic

Module 5: ties and multi-dance results

Module 6: reading results and explaining outcomes

Understanding the Skating System

Understanding the Skating System

The six modules

Who it is for

Course Content

Course Includes