League | Museum | Spintop

Freestyle Judging – Preliminary

Freestyle scores in the preliminary will be determined by technical execution exclusively. See the prelimaries section for more info.

Freestyle Judging - Finals

Freestyle scores in the finals will be calculated in two components, technical execution and performance style.

Technical Execution - 75% of total score

A net score will be calculated for each contestant based on the algebraic sum of the plus and minus scores as determined below.

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. 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 obvious 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. No points shall be awarded for any tricks or antics done before the start of the 3-minute freestyle or after the three minutes has elapsed.

Performance Style - 25% of total score

Each judge may grant a maximum of 25 points for performance style of a freestyle routine. 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, shall not add to the performance style points.

Final Score

Points for performance and technical shall be independently normalized then added together with the compulsory points to produce the contestant's score.

Ties will be broken based on which contestant has the highest technical score. If a tie still exists performance points will be used. 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.