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CONTEST DIVISIONS
Beginner | Intermediate | Junior 1A
Single A | Offstring (4A) | Counterweight (5A)
X-Division (2A,3A) | Freestyle Judging Criteria

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BEGINNER DIVISION

First time ever entering a yo-yo contest?! You have found the right division for you!

Age Divisions are 5-9, 10-15, 16 and up.

The Tricks Are As Follows:

 

 

 

Tie Breaker: Most consecutive Trapeze. (NO flip over allowed)

For Trick Descriptions and Video visit www.MasterMagic.NET

Rules:
Yo-Yo Contestant receives two tries per trick. They receive five points if made on the first attempt, and three points if made on the second attempt, for a maximum of 50 points. Highest placing contestants win.

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INTERMEDIATE / SPORTS LADDER

The Intermediate division is built for yo-yo players that are still learning but are ready to show off their skills and possibly win a prize!
NOTE: You may not enter both the Beginner Division and the Sports Ladder. The only other division you can enter with Sports Ladder is the Junior 1A.

How it Works:
This division is divided into three age categories: 9 and under, 10 -15, 16 and up
To be fair you only compete against other yo-yo players that are in your age category so everyone has a chance!
Look at the list below and before you worry realize that most players don't actually get through the full list (sometimes not even half the list). If you are a beginner there is a very good chance that you can do well even if you only know the first six tricks. You get one attempt per trick - after two misses you are scored and are done with the ladder. The String Trick ladder and Looping Ladder scores will be combined for a final total and will be used to award the champions. More general rules below as well as the trick lists:

Each trick is linked to a small video clip showing how the trick is expected to be done for the contest.

A player may change yo-yo's once during the long spin trick ladder. It it at the players discretion at which point they change yo-yo's.

  1. Sleeper (3 seconds)
  2. Side Throw
  3. Tower
  4. Rock the Baby (3 full rocks)
  5. Elevator
  6. Braintwister (1 somersault)
  7. Trapeze
  8. Split the Atom (3 somersaults)
  9. Double or Nothing
  10. Mach 5 (3 reps)
  11. Cold Fusion
  12. Poppin Fresh (2 reps)
  13. Gerbil
  14. Plastic Whip
  15. Eli Hop (3 reps)
  16. Boingy Boingy (5 reps)
  17. Gyroscopic Flop
  18. Kwijibo
  19. Hook (Hidemasa Hook)
  20. Suicide Catch (2 reps)
  21. Iron Whip (2 reps)
  22. Kamikaze
  23. Spirit Bomb
  24. Throwhand Grind
  25. Black Hop

All tricks in One Video Link>>
Written trick Descriptions are Here>>

A player may change out yo-yo's once during the looping trick ladder. This may occur while changing from a single looping yo-yo to a pair of yo-yo's following the completion of trick 15.

  1. Forward Pass
  2. Around the World
  3. Breakaway
  4. Tidal Wave
  5. Inside Loop (3 reps)
  6. Outside Loop (3 reps)
  7. Time Warp
  8. Hop the Fence (3 reps)
  9. Planet Hop (3 reps)
  10. Sidewinder (both sides)
  11. Warp Drive (3 regenerations)
  12. Inside Outside Loop
  13. Reach for the Moon
  14. Vertical Punch
  15. Punching Bag
  16. 2-hand Loop
  17. Milk the Cow
  18. Ride the Horse (Loop Hop)
  19. Loop Moon
  20. 2-hand Vertical Punch
  21. Sword and Shield
  22. Staircase
  23. Kurukuru Milk
  24. Loop-Wrap
  25. 2-hand Moon

    Please note that tricks 24 and 25 have not yet been filmed for this list.

Sport Division General Rules

For the Sport Ladders, one attempt per trick is allowed. One missed trick will be allowed on each ladder, the second miss retires the player from that ladder. The score will be based on the combined highest number of completed tricks on both ladders, with the highest first missed trick breaking ties.

A trick is complete when the string is fully wound around the axle and back in the hand. The yo-yo may return to the throwing hand by utilizing a bind. An unsuccessful bind will be considered a miss. The yo-yo must be caught with one hand, the hand that originally threw the yo-yo, and not trapped against the body. More than five inches of string remaining outside the yo-yo when caught is considered a miss. String misses or significant loss of control of a yo-yo will not be allowed on any tricks.

A trick starts and finishes within the trick box. A player must keep feet planted unless the trick requires movement. If a player's feet leave the trick box during a trick it is considered a miss.

A throw made within the trick box counts as an attempt. Outside the trick box a player may only toss a throw-down, spinner, forward pass, a single loop, a single hop the fence, or string adjustments. Practicing a contest trick outside the trick box during the judging session is considered a miss.

A player may adjust the yo-yo and string. An unintentional broken or knotted string may be replaced. A yo-yo may not be dismantled during the judging session.

Any yo-yo may be used. You may change out a yo-yo only one time on a ladder. A judge has the discretion to allow a replacement yo-yo if the original yo-yo is damaged.

Good sportsmanship is expected. Interfering with another contestant may be cause for disqualification.

An appeal must be discussed with the judge before the end of the judging session. No video challenges will be allowed. A judge's decision is final.

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Specific Rules for Junior Single A and Single A

  • You must be between the ages of 6-14 years old to compete in this division.
  • In a 1A freestyle, at no time shall there be more than one yo-yo in play (including slave or prop yo-yos)
    at the same time. During any periods of time that this rule is violated, the judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style but shall deduct points for any mistakes, loss of control restarts, yo-yo replacements, etc.
  • In a 1A freestyle, at no time shall the yo-yo be removed from the string (i.e. no offstring tricks are allowed). During any periods of time that this rule is violated, the judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style but shall deduct points for any mistakes, loss of control restarts, yo-yo replacements, etc.
  • In a 1A freestyle, Mobius style is allowed. Skyrocket type tricks are also allowed. In a 1A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: mounts, dismounts, string hits, hops, grinds, lacerations, release catches (like suicides/Iron Whips), slack catches, regenerations and binds.

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Specific Rules for Offstring (4A) Freestyles

  • In a 4A freestyle there is no restriction on the number of yo-yos that may be in play at the same time.
  • In a 4A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: launches, tosses, catches, regenerations, grinds, intentional bounces off body parts or the stage back to a catch, boingys or other types of bounces between strings.

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Specific Rules for Counterweight (5A) Freestyles

  • In a 5A freesstyle there is no restriction on the number of yo-yos that may be in play at the same time.
  • In a 5A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: launches, tosses, catches, regenerations, grinds, intentional bounces off body parts or the stage back to a catch, boingys or other types of bounces between strings.
  • In a 5A freestyle, points shall only be awarded only while the counter weight (or multiple counter weights) is in play, or in the act of being moved from hand to hand. Any trick done while the counterweight is being held for the entire duration of the trick shall be considered 1A trick, and shall not be scored.

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Specific Rules for X-Division (2A + 3A)

  • In a 2A freestyle, the judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style unless both yo-yos are in play simultaneously.
  • In a 2A freestyle, typical scoring elements include looping style tricks but transitions between tricks may involve tanglers, worlds, grinds, wraps and similar elements.
  • In a 3A freestyle, the judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style unless both yo-yos are in play simultaneously.
  • In a 3A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: 1A type string tricks, however transitions between tricks may involve tanglers, worlds, grinds, wraps and similar elements.

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CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISIONS (Junior 1A, 1A, 5A, X-Division)
JUDGING CRITERIA

The MA State Contest will not use one-minute preliminary freestyles for any division.

Freestyle scores will be based on the accumulated point total of two components: Technical Exectution and Performance Style. A net score will be calculated for each contestant based on the algebraic sum of the plus and minus scores as determined below.

Technical Execution - approximately 85% of total score

Positive points may be awarded for advanced level tricks performed successfully, including string hits, pops, wraps, transitions, regenerations, release catches, whip catches, and other yo-yo maneuvers. The styles of tricks should be representative of the division in which the player is competing. Tricks, which a contestant has already completed, will not be scored in a second attempt.
Additional points may be awarded for difficulty, originality, long sequences on same spin, extreme amplitude of a maneuver, and similar yo-yo moves.
Negative points may be deducted for trick misses, loss of control, and restarts. The substitution of a yo-yo for another will count as a multiple deduction if the yo-yo string becomes jammed or knotted. Generally a single point deduction is taken for each miss, loss of control, unsuccessful bind, or similar error. Two points are generally deducted for rewinding/restarting the yo-yo. Three points are deducted for changing out a yo-yo.
No points shall be awarded for any tricks or antics done before the start of the 2-minute freestyle or after the two minutes has elapsed.

Performance Style - approximately 15% of total score
A contestant, while performing advanced level trick elements, may earn points for, but not limited to:
  • Stage Presence
  • Choreography
  • Amplitude
  • Elegance of control and line
  • Maturity of yo-yo maneuvers
  • Originality
  • Movement (and use of "yo-yo space" up, down, back and forth)

Crowd reaction, entertaining antics, or other elements, which occur when not performing with a yo-yo, do not add to the performance style points.
Final Score
The total points accumulated from the combination of technical and performance points (minus any deductions) will be independently normalized for each judge. Ties will be broken based on which contestant has the highest preliminary score. In the extremely unlikely event that there is still a tie, the judges have the ability to devise an appropriate tiebreaker, or can declare a tie. The judge's decision is final.

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2009 Massachusetts State Yo-Yo Contest | All Rights Reserved
Contact: MAStates@gmail.com