What happens if the second position required for a group lift feature is not maintained?

Maintaining the second position during a group lift feature is crucial for the integrity and execution of the element. If the second position is not maintained, the rules state that the feature will still be recognized, but it will incur a downgrade. This means that while the skaters attempted the feature, the lack of adherence to the required position results in a reduced valuation of that skill within the overall performance.

This system of penalties ensures that skaters are held to a high standard and promotes proper technique and execution, which are fundamental in competitive synchro skating. Conversely, if the second position were completely disregarded, it could lead to the feature being fully dismissed or counted without any downgrade, which would not appropriately reflect the performers' execution challenges.