Freestyle Judging – Preliminary

Championship Divisions 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A:
Preliminary Freestyle Information

In the Championship divisions (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A) there will a 1-minute preliminary freestyle to qualify the top players into the freestyle finals. The top qualifying players in each division will be advanced to the 3-minute Freestyle Final. Each competitor will have 1-minute on stage to perform a freestyle in the style of play in the division they have entered. Players may enter more than one division.

All players are reminded that they must pre-register if they intent to compete in any of the Championship divisions. Please go to the registration page.

Players who will be competing in the preliminary freestyle of any championship division must be prepared with an appropriate music CD if they wish to use their own music. This CD must meet all of the requirements shown in the general rules for the championship divisions.

The preliminary freestyle replaces the "Compulsory Tricks" used in previous contests.

For 2005 there will be no required elements for the preliminary freestyles. Scoring will be based entirely on the technical execution of the tricks performed by the player. Judging criteria for the preliminary freestyles will be the same as the technical execution portion of the finals freestyles.

Freestyle Judging - Finals

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 3-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.

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.