Synchronized skating is now well-established as an organized sport in several European countries with several of them having produced teams who frequently win championships at the international level.

[2] Synchronized skating currently uses a judging format similar to singles, pairs and ice dancing.

The discipline is primarily judged on skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, interpretation and difficulty of elements.

[4] Teams are required to perform turns and step sequences, ranging in difficulty with each level.

There are many different levels including Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Beginner, Pre-juvenile, Open juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, Senior, and Adult.

[5] In the highest-ranking levels, Junior and Senior division teams are required to perform a short program in addition to the free skate.

Situations warranting deductions in synchronized skating include elements where one-quarter of the team or more fails to execute a maneuver in congruence with the majority of the team, falls, interruptions, illegal maneuvers (such as cartwheels), and violations of the rules concerning time, music, and clothing.

Teams developed more creative and innovative routines incorporating stronger basic skating skills, new maneuvers and more sophisticated transitions with greater speed, style and agility.

Due to the increased interest in the sport in North America, the first official international competition was held between Canadian and American teams in Michigan in March 1976.

With the internationalization of the sport, it has evolved, with increasing emphasis on speed and skating skills, and "highlight" elements such as jumps, spirals, spins, and lifts that originally were not permitted in competition.

Characterized by rotating around a common center with even distance from the midpoint and spacing from teammates, circles can be connected or disconnected.

This element is a sequence of movements that must include free skating moves such as spirals, biellmanns, or 180's.

The team can be split into units to execute additional features for levels of difficulty, such as ducking under each other's legs, changing edge, or transitioning from one position to another.

Done in a block formation, the skaters are disconnected but maintain even spacing while executing step sequences and changes of configuration.

Done in block, or line formations, programs can include both pivoting and linear elements though they would be done in separate shapes.

The skaters must execute their twizzles while maintaining the chosen shape or transitioning from one configuration to another, and rotating simultaneously.

For added levels of difficulty teams can attempt the aforementioned change of place or configuration, different rotational directions for each twizzle, and certain difficult arm and free leg positions.

ISI (Ice Skating Institute) is another governing body which focuses on a more recreational form of competition and does not have the same divisions as those of the USFSA.

Since 2000, it is during these events that the senior teams can qualify for the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.

[citation needed] In 2007 synchronized skating was selected to be part of the Universiade or World University Games as a demonstration sport.

Teams from several countries competed in Turin, Italy with Sweden, Finland, and Russia coming out on top.

[73] "Why Not Synchro" is an ongoing campaign on social media through the hashtag #whynotsynchro and #whynotsynchro2018 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

During the medal ceremonies, teams gathered on the ice and created the shape of the Olympic rings.

This image was then shared over social media as skaters petitioned to raise awareness of the sport.

The petition states "The time has come to add this incredible event to the pinnacle of the sport of figure skating.

"[73] Due to the abrupt appearance of COVID-19, the 2019–2020 season was cut short to ensure safety of all teams.

Elite US teams like the Haydenettes,Skyliners and Miami university were not able to compete internationally due to travel restrictions set in place in late March and early April.

In the event of a tie, the team with the highest free program score wins the competition.

Judges do not have to use their memory to compare all aspects of every skater and figure out where to place them, but simply evaluate the qualities of each performance.