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 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.
[1] Athletes and officials who represent the United States at international figure skating competitions are selected by U.S.
[13] 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).
[14] In 1959, the Eastern and Pacific Coast Sections expanded their qualifying competitions by adding three Sub-Sectionals Championships each.
It wasn't until 1962 that the Midwestern Sectional finally added their regional championships to the qualifying competition cycle.
Collectively these delegates meet annually (typically early May) to review, amend and ratify the actions taken by the Board since the prior year's Governing Council.
The following table shows the Association's permanent committees:[27] “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.”[1] The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of U.S.
He is charged with carrying out the policies, programs, and goals of the association as approved by the Board of Directors.
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 member club (for competitions, the club is sometimes called the local organizing committee or “LOC”) is responsible for many of the ancillary functions of the test session or competition (registration, transportation, event monitoring, hospitality, messengers, copying, etc.).
Figure Skating headquarters staff also provides logistics and event support.
The officials are responsible for actually running the test sessions, competitions, and associated individual events.
Figure Skating after demonstrating a certain level of proficiency, and in some cases, after trialing or taking written examinations.
Figure Skating offers many programs to accommodate a wide range of skill and interest levels.
Tests progress in increasing difficulty and focus on power, strength, speed, quickness, flow, extension, and edge quality and control.
For qualifying competitions, skaters must pass the free skate test at the level for which they intend to compete.
Each member of a synchronized skating team must pass the appropriate test of single's competitor.
[42] Once a free skate test is passed, a competitor may only compete at that level at qualifying competitions.
The Association also selects those athletes and officials that represent the United States at international competitions.
The following regional competitions are held in singles skating:[51] The following sectional competitions are held in singles, pairs, ice dance, adult, and synchronized skating:[51][52][53] The following championship competitions are held in singles, pairs, ice dance, synchronized, adult, and collegiate skating:[54] * Effective September 1, 2012, the U.S.
[56] 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.
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.
Figure Skating also makes available its logo and sanctioned content, primarily competitions, to various licensees.
Figure Skating partnered with MLB Advanced Media to set up Ice Network, LLC.
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.
[68] Within one week of the tragedy, the association announced the formation of a memorial fund in honor of the lost team members.
Figure Skating members in need of financial aid with monetary assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena.
"[70] On January 29th 2025, 14 members of US figure skating community died in the crash of American Eagle flight 5342.