Further to previous announcements, NISA are happy to be able to announce the next stage in the roll out of IJS to Open Competitions. We have now taken the IJS from National Championship level and NISA IJS events, to Club/Rink Open events. It is hoped that in the future this can be expanded further to internal club and inter-rink competitions.

The intention of NISA is that Competitive test pass scores will be achievable through IJS Open competitions in the future. This will initially be at levels 8, 9 and 10 (Novice, Junior and Senior) and expanded to all other levels over a period of time. However, there needs to be a settling in period for officials as the IJS system is rolled out to Club/Rink Open level and hence test passes are unlikely to be considered at Club/Rink IJS Open events before July 2011 at the earliest.

As an exception, NISA reserves the right, subject to appropriate experience of panels, to consider certain Open competitions for competitive test passes, and these passes would be subject to satisfactory management and running of various aspects of the event. Ratification of these will be required and details will be available through individual Club/Rink Open Announcements.

We are in the process of revamping the permit paperwork and procedures for both RJS and IJS Open competitions to become operational after 1st July 2010. It will be a requirement of the new permit system that written agreement from all officials is available at submission of the new E1, due 6 months in advance of the event. This is to ensure that all Open competition planning is in a generic, standardised fashion and that events registered on the NISA calendar will be guaranteed to take place. The difficulties with organising IJS events are acknowledged, and this procedure prevents disappointment to skaters at a late stage in the process.

IJS will NOT be compulsory, and, at this stage Clubs and Rinks can opt to continue to run an RJS event, again following the new permit system.