Each jump has a base value to which a GOE value is added to or subtracted from. In some cases the GOE value is actually higher than the base value. Based on the you may be better off planing a jump that you can perform at a high GOE rather than trying one with a high base value that you do not perform well. Also there are severe penalties for cheated jumps. How the judges eveluate the grade of execution for figure skating jumps is explained below.

Under-Rotated
Jumps and Throw Jumps may, in execution, be lacking intended rotation on the landing
and/or take-off. The elements with lacking rotation will be defined as "Under-rotated" or
"Downgraded" and treated as follows.

• A Jump/Throw with accepted rotation has "missing rotation of ¼ revolution or less".
• This element will receive full Base Value with GOE at the discretion of every Judge.
• A Jump/Throw will be considered as "Under-rotated" if it has "missing rotation of more
  than ¼, but less than ½ revolutions".

An under-rotated jump/throw will be indicated by the Technical Panel to the Judges
and in the protocols with a "<" symbol after the element code.

• A jump or throw identified as under-rotated will receive a reduced base value - 70% of the base value of the intended jump/throw rounded to one decimal place. (i.e., if the base value of a jump is 6.0, then the value of the under-rotated jump is 4.2).
• The GOE values applied to the under-rotated jump or throw will be the same as for the intended jump or throw.

• A downgraded jump/throw will be indicated by the Technical Panel to the Judges and in the protocols with a "<<" symbol after the element code.
• A jump or throw identified as downgraded will be evaluated using the scale of values (SOV chart) for the element of one rotation less (i.e., a downgraded triple will be evaluated with the scale of values for the corresponding double).
• Both under-rotated and downgraded jumps will count as the intended jump in the application of Well Balanced Program regulations.
• Twist Lifts with lacking intended rotation on the landing can also be downgraded if they
  have "missing rotation of ½ revolutions or more".

A: Under the IJS, jumps that are cheated receive a real penalty in the number of points they are worth. There is no way to overlook cheated jumps under the IJS. Remember that all phases of a jump are evaluated in the new system: preparation, take-off, air position/rotation and landing, so a cheated landing is only part of the process to assign a score for the element. It is a very important part, however, if the skater cannot adequately rotate the jump.

Cheated jumps are marked down by the judges in their grade of execution (GOE) mark. That is the mark given by the judge for the technical elements in a skater's program. Each element receives a GOE mark from the judge. The GOE mark ranges from -3 to +3. The high and the low GOE are dropped and the average of the remaining GOE marks from the judges will constitute the GOE for that particular element. This is called the "trimmed mean."

At the same time, a specialized official, the technical specialist, identifies each element as the skater skates. The technical specialist "calls" the element and this determines how many points the element will receive based upon the degree of difficulty of the element. This is referred to as the "base value" for the element. (The base values for the elements are listed in a Scale of Values, along with the numerical value for the judges' GOE marks. The numerical value for the judges' GOE is added or subtracted from the element's "base value" to determine the score for that particular element. Sounds complicated, but thanks to a computerized calculation program, this works smoothly and quickly inside the calculation computer.

Here's where the real penalty for a cheated jump may come in: If the technical specialist determines that the jump is cheated more than one-quarter of a turn, the jump itself is "downgraded." (In events using video replay, the technical specialist will be able to examine the landing with super slow motion instant replay.) For example, if the skater tries a triple Salchow and cheats it more than one-quarter turn, the jump will be "called" a downgraded triple Salchow by the technical specialist and will receive base value points for a double Salchow rather than a triple. This is only fair. A skater who is that short on the rotation is not really close to executing the triple. The base value for a triple Salchow is 4.5; the base value for a double Salchow is 1.3. So this big cheat will cost the skater 3.2 points! The judges mark how well the jump was executed, and of course, a cheated jump will not be scored as well by the judges as a clean jump. The skater loses more points there.

The skater and his or her coach will have to decide whether to chance a "downgrade" if the skater is not quite consistent on the rotation of a particular jump. That is where the new system really relies on you to develop a program that you think can achieve the most points based upon your ability. If the skater does a lovely double Salchow, the GOE may be in positive numbers and actually outpoint a cheated, downgraded triple Salchow attempt.

Jumps may also be cheated on take-off, as well as on landing. Three types of jumps are presently evaluated by the technical panel for cheats on the takeoff. A toe loop cheated on takeoff is evaluated to see the impact of the cheat on its rotation. If it is determined to be a "toe Axel", the toe loop will be downgraded. Starting in the 2007-2008 season, the takeoffs for the flip and the Lutz will also be closely scrutinized by the technical panel. If the edge is "significantly" changed before takeoff, the jump will be called as the skater intends it, but an alert is sent to the judges that the edge is significantly incorrect; the judges will then be obliged to deduct points in their GOE mark.

Bottom line: skaters will be penalized for cheated jumps. Landing and takeoff edges must be as clean as possible or skaters risk severe loss of points for the element.