Rules

  • Czech Yoyo Nationals is an open contest.
  • Czech Champion titles will be awarded only to the Czech citizens in Advanced 1A, 5A and X division.
  • Competitors can register to the one of the three basic divisions (Beginners, Advanced, Elite(1A)) and/or to the X division, 5A.

General Trick Rules

•  For the Trick Ladder Division, one attempt per trick is allowed. Two missed tricks will be allowed on the ladder, the third miss retires the player from the ladder. The score will be based on the highest number trick completed. Last completed trick will be used as a tie breaker if needed. If players complete whole ladder, trick number 20 (Suicide) will be used as tie breaker. In Beginners division two attempts per trick allowed, first successful is scored 5 points, second 3 points.

•  Area for the tricks is the trick box sized 75×75 cm. A throw made within the trick box counts as an attempt. Practicing a contest trick outside the trick box during the judging session will be considered a miss. In all divisions, the yo-yo may be returned to the throw-hand utilizing a bind if you so desire. However, an unsuccessful bind attempt 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 10 cm 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.

•  Only one yoyo should be used, but specific division rules may apply. An unintentional broken or knotted string may be replaced. A judge has the discretion to allow replacement of a yo-yo if the yo-yo is unintentionally damaged.

General Freestyle Rules

•  Each contestant shall have 1:00 or 3:00 minutes (depends on the division) to perform a freestyle routine to his or her choice of music. The time period starts when music starts. No points shall be scored for either Technical Execution or Performance Style for any reason before the music starts, or after the 1:00 or 3:00 minutes (depends on the division) have elapsed.

•  Music must be uploaded prior to the contest (free) or provided on CD or thumb drive (special fee applies – see info).  All music must be considered G-rated (appropriate for all audiences) and shall not contain offensive lyrics including but not limited to: obscenities, ethnic or sexual slurs, violence advocacy, etc. If you are unsure about your music, a judge will be available to listen to your music and make sure it is appropriate. With the concurrence of the Contest Director and the Head Judge, use of inappropriate music by a contestant will result in their disqualification.

•  All actions of a performer must take into account the safety of the audience, facility, and the contestant himself. With the concurrence of the Contest Director and the Head Judge, dangerous or inappropriate behavior by a contestant will result in their disqualification.

•  No assistants are allowed on stage while a contestant is performing except for AP division.

•  All extra yo-yos that are to be used by a contestant shall be ready to use and must be brought on stage, before their freestyle starts on a tray supplied by the Contest. Contestants will not be allowed to prepare any yoyos while on stage. Using yoyos that weren’t brought on the tray will be classified as a yoyo provided by the audience – see below.

•  Yo-yos that leave the stage during a freestyle shall not be returned to the stage and no others shall be accepted by the contestant from the audience or an assistant. If a contestant uses a yo-yo in violation of this rule, the judges will not award any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style while that yo-yo is in play, but shall deduct points for any mistakes, loss of control restarts, yo-yo replacements, etc…

•  No props are allowed without the prior approval of the Contest Director and the Head Judge. Hats and Caps are the only pre-approved prop.

•  Yo-Yos with Hub Stacks (hub bearings) and similar spinning pog devices are allowed.

 

Freestyle scoring system

 

1A Open, Advanced, Elite :Technical execution 80% and Performance 20% for both qualification and final freestyles.

5A: Technical execution 70% and Performance 30% for both qualification and final freestyles.

X Division: Technical execution 60% and Performance 40% for both qualification and final freestyles.

 

Technical Scoring:

•  To score technical part of freestyle judges use a positive and negative clicker system. Tricks performed on stage are assigned a specific amount of points based on aspects and components of the tricks.

•  Basic and repeated tricks and tricks element are scored lower than difficult and risky tricks and trick elements. Other factors, besides difficulty level, that may increase the basic value of a trick element include but are not limited to: speed, amplitude, control, blind catch etc.

•  In all divisions points are deducted for each trick or trick element missed including but not limited to: missed string hits/catches, missed slacks, missed lacerations, missed binds, missed 5A counterweight/string catches, failed 4A launches, loss of control, repeated unsuccessful binds, repeated unsuccessful launches, and excessive uncontrolled loops or punches shall result in additional deductions. In 2A and 3A (and in 4A and 5A when two or more yo-yos are in play), each yo-yo is judged separately. Points are also deducted for restarts, yoyo replacements etc. Intentionally launching, throwing or otherwise discarding a yo-yo off the stage or into the audience shall result in a mandatory 5-point deduction. Repeated violations of this rule may lead to a disqualification if the actions are considered disruptive or dangerous. Note that this rule is in effect before, during, and after the freestyle time period.

Performance Scoring:

•  Performance score will be tabulated using a 5-item categorized list for finals and 3-item categorized list for qualification. Each of the categories will score from 0 to 3 points for a total of 15 or 9 points available for the performance score.

•  The 5 performance style categories that will be scored in final freestyles are:

1. Interaction with the audience

2. Freestyle Presentation (Choreography, Stage use, Appearance)

3. Body Control

4. Cleanliness

5. Variation and Risk of Tricks

•  The 3 performance style categories that will be scored in qualification freestyles are:

1. Overall Quality

2. Cleanliness

3. Variation and Risk of Tricks

 

Specific Division Rules

Specific Rules for 1A Freestyles:

•  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.

•  At no time shall the yo-yo be removed from the string (i.e. no off-string 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.

•  At no time shall a yo-yo with a counter-weight be used. 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.

•  Mobius style is allowed. Skyrocket type tricks are allowed.

•  Typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: mounts, dismounts, string hits, hops, grinds, lacerations, release catches (like suicides/Iron Whips), slack catches, re-generations and binds.

 

Specific Rules for 2A Freestyles:

•  The judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style unless both yo-yos are in play simultaneously.

•  At no time shall there be more than two yo-yos 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.

•  Typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: loops, punches, wraps, tanglers, moons, hops, stalls, worlds, transitions, re-generations and various combinations and/or variations of these elements.

Specific Rules for 3A Freestyles:

•  The judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style unless both yo-yos are in play simultaneously.

•  At no time shall there be more than two yo-yos 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.

•  Typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: 1A type string tricks performed with two yo-yos, however transitions between tricks may involve tanglers, worlds, grinds, wraps, loops and similar elements.

Specific Rules for 4A Freestyles:

•  Any number of “off-string” yo-yos may be in play at the same time.

•  Typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: 1A type string tricks

•  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.

•  Trick elements “performed with a pinched string” or those that are at “less risk” may be
scored at a lower value than elements where the yo-yo is launched off the string.
Similarly, trick elements where the yo-yo is rolling along the string may be scored at a lower value than elements where the yo-yo is launched off the string.

Specific Rules for 5A Freestyles:

•  The judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style unless 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 be scored at a lower value.

•  Any number of “counter-weight” yo-yos may be in play at the same time.

•  Typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: 1A type string tricks with counter-weight in play, aerial releases and catches, grinds, etc.

Judges decision is final.