What is required for an error to affect the scoring of the turns/steps?

A turn or step error in synchro skating is considered impactful to the overall performance score when it is executed by a certain portion of the team. Specifically, if 1/4 of the team or more executes the same error, it indicates that the mistake is not isolated but affects the overall cohesion and synchronization of the team. This collective execution of the error can disrupt the uniformity that is crucial in synchro skating, thereby allowing judges to warrant a scoring deduction.

When assessing components like turns and steps, the judges look for the quality and synchronization of the movement. A single skater's error does not carry as much weight on the overall score as that of multiple skaters, because the integrity of the formation is preserved with the remaining members. On the other hand, if a significant portion of the team performs poorly in unison, it affects the presentation and technical merit of the routine, leading to a deduction in score. Therefore, the requirement for 1/4 of the team committing the same error before it affects scoring effectively ensures that the judges are addressing substantial discrepancies in performance that can hinder the team's overall execution and artistic impression.