What's in store for the SISA pre-Preliminary competition?

The 2006 Singapore National Figure Skating Championships will be held on 11 and 12 March. As a coach, I have two students entered this year, in the pre-preliminary category.

Recently, I have been trying to reason out what the SISA pre-Preliminary level is really meant to be. The test itself is rather easy - yes, to encourage the newer skaters to join the National competition. It does bridge the gap between beginners and Preliminary, which consists of all single-rev jumps (except the Lutz) and even the camel spin.

However, since the abolishment of the "no Axel" rule in Preliminary competition for this year's competition, certain coaches are not testing their students up to Preliminary for fear that they cannot compete if they "don't have" the Axel. From what I know, some coaches are making sure their skaters in pre-Preliminary will be doing all single jumps (including the Lutz) and all spins including the camel. Hey, doesn't that sound like they should have passed the Preliminary test, though???

What's more, upon careful scrutiny of the announcement for the National competition, I have come to the conclusion that there is no "no Axel" rule for pre-Preliminary. Heck, there no restrictions whatsoever! What is to prevent a pre-Prelim skater from staying at pre-Prelim and doing the Axel there too??

I am complaining. I am sour-graping. But actually, no, I will be happy if my students work hard and put up a good program for the competition. Whether they place well or not is secondary to what they will learn form working towards this competition.