Welcome to a new blog series, Meet the Panel! In this series, we’ll introduce you to the members of the officials’ panel who evaluate skaters at competitions. Our goal is to clarify the official roles, highlight the collaborative scoring process, and introduce the real live people behind those protocol sheets.

First up, meet Jacki Wilkicki, a nationally ranked International Judging System (IJS) Technical Specialist. Jacki holds a Bachelor’s in Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Figure Skating Science. She has coached skaters, judged competitions, and been a Technical Specialist for four Adult Nationals, the 2023 US Nationals, and many local adult competitions. I recently had the privilege of speaking with Jacki, to discuss the role of the technical specialist so let’s dive into our conversation.

Christina: What made you decide to become a tech specialist?

Jacki: After finishing college and moving back to Massachusetts, I got involved coaching at the Skating Club of Boston across all levels and the Learn to Skate program. I saw an opportunity to make a difference in the sport by becoming an official. The International Judging System (IJS) was new then, so I attended a seminar hosted at the Skating Club of Boston with 17 other participants, learning the new features and rules together. To avoid conflicts of interest, I stopped coaching and said yes to every event I was asked to work on, covering over 20 competitions nationwide due to the lack of specialists at that time. I earned my National Pairs and Singles Tech Specialist appointments and was hooked on serving on the panels, witnessing the evolving relationships between coaches, skaters, and officials under this new system.

Christina: Can you tell us about your role on the officials’ panel and how you contribute to fair and accurate scoring in figure skating competitions?

Jacki: Finding your threshold is crucial. Watching program after program, I strive to balance errors and bonuses. I consider myself a “tough” official, focusing on objective differences between elements presented versus the standard. The tech panel consists of:

• Technical Controller: Oversees the panel, ensures correct rule application, and resolves disagreements.
• Technical Specialist: Identifies and calls technical elements, such as jumps, spins, and steps.
• Assistant Technical Specialist: Assists in identifying and calling technical elements and steps in when needed.
• Data Operator: Inputs technical calls and scores into the system.

We all work as a team to have the best impact on the skaters we evaluate. Over the last decade, collaboration has improved, focusing on making the right decisions based on the skater’s performance. There’s little room for ego, as the panel requires interaction and consideration of diverse opinions.

Christina: Who are some key people you collaborate with during competitions, and how do you ensure correct identification and assessment of all elements?

Jacki: At events, there may be some distance between the tech panel officials and judging officials, but we are working to bridge that gap. We sift through rules and regulations to find our standard as a team for each event. Referees are part of the overall team, ensuring multiple copies of notes for accurate feedback. We often have video replays to review elements and collaborate, maintaining the standard throughout the event.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this interview, where we delve deeper into Jacki Wilkicki’s insights and stories. There’s much more to discover in our Meet the Panel series!