Rules

The judges for this event are Spencer Berry, Nathan Crissey, Thad Winzenz, Paul Escolar, Yoshi Mikamoto, Johnnie DelValle, Hironori Mii & Peder Fash judging Diabolo. Serving as our head judge is National Grand Master (and heck of a guy) Bill de Boisblanc.

Freestyle Judging Criteria:

Freestyle scores will be based on the accumulated point total of two components:

Technical Execution 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 three 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. High and low scores will be thrown out, the middle scores will be averaged to reach the players final score. In the extremely unlikely event that there is a tie, the judges have the ability to devise an appropriate tiebreaker, or can declare a tie. The judge's decision is final.

Freestyle Rules:

1A FREESTYLES

Players use one yo-yo to perform intricate string tricks to 2 minutes of music of their choice. The player decides what tricks to perform. The top players receive a spot in the 1 minute semi-finals at their Regional.

OPEN DIVISION
Players may do any style of 2A-3A-4A-5A to 2 minutes of music of their choice. The player decides what tricks to perform, however, 1A tricks will not be scored in this division. The top players receive a spot in the 1 minute semi-finals at their Regional.

FIXED AXLE DIVISION
Players may do any style of yoyoing to 1 minute of music, but only with a fixed axle yoyo. A fixed axle yoyo is where the string is connected directly to a metal or wood axle that remains in a fixed position (hence the name). This results in a highly responsive yoyo that doesn't spin for very long, which provides more of a challenge to complete advanced string tricks.

Music for Freestyles:

All music must be considered appropriate for all audiences. Performers with inappropriate music (obscenities, offensive content, etc.) will be disqualified. If you are unsure about your music please send the title of the song, and the name of the band to the Head Judge at least 1 week prior to the contest.

Music must be provided on a CD. The disc must be clearly labeled as to the contestant's name, the division it is for, and the track number to be used (one track per CD is preferred, but if you label it correctly, one disk per player is permitted) It is the players responsibility to ensure that the music they bring to the contest is compatible with the equipment provided. Incompatibility issues from burned CD's, scratched CD's, or other problems are the players responsibility. If you have a music question or are unsure of compatibility, check with the sound department at the time of registration. If you experience a problem during the contest, there will not be time to get a new CD. Instead, you will be at the mercy of our sound guy, The Atomic Cow, who will have at his disposal only the finest collection of bad/played-out yoyo music. Better off alone, Just like a yoyo, Blue, Fire, Butterfly, Smooth Criminal, Lemon Tree Remix... you get the idea, it'll all be there!

- Mini-Disc, MDLP, CD-RW, and DVD formats are NOT accepted.
- Compressed formats such as MP3 or WMA files are NOT accepted.
- iPods, and other personal music players cannot be used with our system.

All musical CD's must be provided to the sound manager prior to the start of the freestyles for all divisions that a player is planning to compete.

Music must be in one track. Music extended over 2 tracks or over 2 discs is not acceptable. If possible, edit your music to the proper length for the freestyle (2:00 minutes for 1A & open, or 1:00 minute for fixed axle) If not edited, the music in the fixed axle division will be stopped between 1:00 and 1:01. Music in the final will be stopped between 2:00 and 2:01. (volume will not be lowered before stopping the music) Music less than the allotted time will be stopped after 1 track played.

If the music is stopped accidentally, the contestant may choose to continue his or her performance from the point that the music stopped or restart their performance at the end of the division.

Yo-Yo Sports Ladder:

Top 3 overall winners determined by highest combined score. Jr. Division 14-Under. Intermediate Division 15-25. Senior Division 26-Up.

We will be using the 2006 US National Yo Yo Contest Trick Lists.


Diabolo Sports Ladder

This division will be divided into age groups as follows: Jr. Division 14-Under. Intermediate Division 15-25. Senior Division 26-Up.

We will be using the trick list from the 2007 National Yo-Yo Contest found here.

Diabolo Freestyles

- The top 7 contestants with the highest score in the Diabolo Ladder will be able to compete in the Diabolo Freestyle Exhibition.

- Each contestant shall have 2-minutes to perform a freestyle routine to his/her choice of music.

- Any style and/or number of diabolo(s) may be used (bearing or fixed axle).

- Any style of diabolo play may be performed in the freestyle (loop/single string diabolo, 1 diabolo, 2 diabolo, 3 diabolo, etc).

- All music must be considered G rated (appropriate for all audiences). Contestants with inappropriate music (obscenities, ethnic or sexual slurs, etc.) may be disqualified. If you are unsure about your music, a judge will be available to listen to your music and make sure it is appropriate.

Scoring:

Scoring will be based on a criteria system with judges being asked to focus on specific elements of a contestant's freestyle. After a freestyle is over, the judge will record that contestant's score on their criteria score card. All three criteria scores will be worth the same amount in the overall freestyle score. When all judges have their final scores, all scores will be normalized to represent a portion of 100 points.

Criteria:

#1 Proficiency - competency, tricks or elements completed/missed, and overall command of the diabolo. Judges will score positive points and negative points. Positive points are given for completed tricks or elements. Negative points are given for missed tricks or elements and loss of diabolo control. Negative points will not be given to contestants who change diabolo styles with control, such as changing from 1 diabolo play to 2 diabolo play with out loosing control of a diabolo.

#2 Difficulty - originality, creativity, diversity, and newness of tricks and routine. Judges will score positive points only. Points will be given for each completed trick or element. With more points being given for more difficult and creative tricks or elements. Fewer points will be given for a trick or element that is repeated despite its difficulty or originality.

#3 Presentation - smoothness, style, flow and stage presence. Judges will be watching each freestyle for smoothness, style, flow and stage presence. A score will be given to each contestant based on the judge's opinion of their overall presentation.


Registration:

There will be NO registration fee! However, there is a museum entrance fee.

Contestants, print this form, fill it out, and bring it to the Exploratorium for half-price admission. Half-priced admission is for contestants only.