The basics:

Yo-Yo players perform a 2 minute freestyle (1 minute for preliminaries if needed) set to music they choose and compete in one of the five divisions of yo-yo freestyle play:

• 1A (Single A) – One Long Spinning Yo-Yo
• 2A (Double A) – Two Looping Yo-Yos
• 3A (Triple A) – Two Long Spinning Yo-Yos
• 4A (Offstring) – Yo-Yo Not Connected to the String
• 5A (Counterweight) – Yo-Yo Connected to Dice.

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Who can compete at the Northeast Regional Yo-Yo Contest?

Anyone and everyone is invited to compete in this state contest (all ages and all skill levels from any part of the world).
If this is your first time performing a freestyle check out the Sports 1A Division too.

The Northeast Regional Yo-Yo Contest serves as the 2017 seeding event for the Northeast Regional Yo-Yo Contest. The eligible Regional Champion placements in each Championship division will be qualified to the 2017 Natonal Yo-Yo Contest Contest October 6th, 7th, and 8th in California.

The top 14 contestants in the Prelim round (one-minute freestyles – if necessary) advance to the 1A Championship Finals. In addition to the 14 Prelim qualifiers, any contestant with a score within 1.00 point of the 15th qualifier will also advance to the 1A Championship Finals.

If there are less than the 4 state contest winners competing, additional contestants may be chosen from the Prelim Round up to a maximum of 18 finalists. Note that extra contestants will be added only if their scores are within 5.00 points of the 6th qualifier.

The Prelim qualifiers will be sorted from lowest to highest prelim score to determine their performance order which will precede the regional qualifiers. The regional qualifiers will be randomly sorted to determine their performance order.

Note about 1A Preliminary Round:
In the event that the total number of registered competitors is less than 30, the Contest Director, in consultation with the Head Judge, may choose to forego the Prelims and advance all competitors to the Finals.

Final Freestyle: 2 minute freestyle routine to music of their own choosing.
Preliminary Freestyle: 1 minute freestyle routine to music of their own choosing.

The freestyle time begins to run at the moment the music starts. The music will be stopped between 2:00 and 2:01, regardless of whether the beginning of the song is silent. If the song is shorter than 2 minutes, the music will stop at the end of the track.

In the case of a music issue such as an audio equipment malfunction occurs mid-freestyle, the contestant may choose to continue the freestyle for the rest of the 2 minutes. The contestant may also choose to stop and restart the routine after the issue has been fixed. If the contestant decides to stop the freestyle routine due to a music issue, with taking the audio equipment and CD condition into consideration, the contestant can discuss with the head judge and make a decision from the following.

1. Restart evaluation from where the music has stopped (If Group A judges have not reset the clickers)
2. Restart evaluation from the beginning (Can be restarted immediately or can be performed at the end of that division)
3. Take the evaluation up to the point where the music has stopped as the contestant’s final score, without restarting the evaluation.

A contestant is not permitted to play yo-yo on the stage before the music starts. Also, they cannot start their freestyle with a mount or sleep before the music starts. The performance must start with the yo-yo in the contestant’s hand. We request that contestants refrain from yo-yoing of any kind during the standby time between getting on stage and when the performance begins. In addition, adjusting standby yo-yos is not permitted, and should be taken care of before the contestant gets on stage.

When the 2 minutes performance is finished, the contestant must immediately stop playing. At the end of the freestyle, if the contestant is unable to rewind the yo-yo(s) back to their hand(s), they will receive a deduction. This and other negative points will still be counted until the contestant stops the yo-yo, or otherwise leaves the stage. Actions by the contestant that give the impression of the end of the performance (bowing, etc.) will be considered to indicate that the freestyle is over. In the case that the contestant resumes play after that action, deductions will be applied.

In the case of the music being stopped or ending before the planned music duration, the contestant must immediately notify the contest staff or the judge. Restarting the evaluation cannot be requested after the results have been announced. On the other hand, if the music continues to play after three minutes, and the contestant continues to perform more than three minutes, the contestant may be subject to disqualification. The contestant is responsible for understanding the duration of their music, and ending the performance within three minutes.

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Note Regarding Music Issues for Contestants:

If the music starts and the volume is too low, the track starts in the wrong place, or the wrong music is played, the contestant must immediately stop the performance and notify the on-stage staff or judges.

If there are any actions by the contestant (ex. bowing, appearing to leave the stage, appearing to stop the performance) or indications in the music (ex. the track appearing to end, or an extended period of silence) within the three minutes which may give the impression of the performance ending, the judge or the contest staff may determine that the performance has ended. If such actions or music characteristics exist in the contestant’s performance, we request that the contestant speak with the contest MC, music staff, and judges on the day of the contest, before the performance. This information will be shared with the necessary contest staff to avoid any confusion

Music upload link here.

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Contestant Code of Conduct

All contestants must conduct their freestyle with the safety of the audience, the venue, the equipment, and themselves in mind. Contestants performing in an unsafe manner may be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

The head judge also reserves the right to immediately disqualify a contestant who behaves or speaks in an inappropriate manner on stage. This includes uttering obscenities, wearing inappropriate or obscene clothing, and any acts of public indecency.

In the case that a contestant is unsure whether their planned actions on stage are appropriate, they should consult a judge beforehand to avoid disqualification.

For the sake of safety and fairness, contestants are not allowed to leave the stage during their freestyle. If a contestant leaves the stage, that moment will be considered the end of the performance. This includes leaving the stage to pick up a yo-yo that has fallen from the stage.

Due to the potential hazard of falling off the stage, sitting or standing over the edge of the stage is also prohibited and subject to disqualification.

During a freestyle, only the contestant is allowed on stage. Assistants to the contestant are also prohibited during the performance.

Disturbing contestants (through shouting, taunting, or other inappropriate actions) before, during, or after their freestyle is strictly prohibited, and may result in the disturber’s disqualification or barring from entering future contests in the league.

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Yo-Yo Rules

There are no special restrictions on the manufacturer, type, parts or modifications used for a freestyle yo-yo.

Safety is still a prime concern, so any modifications that compromise the safety of the contestant, venue, or audience may result in disqualification.

Strings used must be string for the exclusive use of yo-yoing. In the case of styles that require special string, (Go West, Long String, Transparent String, etc.), it may be used only with the prior consultation, safety confirmation, and permission from judges

A contestant may only use the yo-yos they personally bring with them on stage. During their freestyle, a contestant may not receive or use yo-yos from audience members. In divisions including (but not limited to) 4A and 5A, if a yo-yo falls off the stage, it may no longer be used. Even if a yo-yo is returned to the stage by an audience member with good intent it may not be used. In the case that a contestant uses that yo-yo, positive points will not be scored during its use and negative points will continue to be subject for deduction.

Contestants are required to use their yo-yo(s) as a yo-yo.

In the case that a contestant performs in a style that is not subject to their division, that part of the performance will not be scored (however, negative points may still be applied). For example, if off string elements are used in any other division than 4A they will not receive points.

Due to the yo-yo tangle or yo-yo change (discard) you can use more total yo-yos than allowed below.

Below is a list of the number of yo-yos that can be used simultaneously during freestyles for each division:

• 1A – 1 yo-yo
• 2A – 2 yo-yos
• 3A – 2 yo-yos
• 4A – 1 or more yo-yos
• 5A – 1 or more yo-yos

In the case that yo-yos exceeding the permitted number are used (or held) simultaneously, all tricks subject to scoring and evaluation will not be counted.

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Non Yo-Yo Items

The contestant is only allowed to bring yo-yos, strings, counter-weights, gloves (or equivalent items), a backup music CD for competition, and a tray provided by contest officials onto the stage. Maintenance tools, performance props, and any other items are strictly prohibited. This includes (but is not limited to) items such as bags, cases, cloth, jackets, extra clothing (other than what the contestant is already wearing), and tables. Contestants bringing prohibited items to the stage are subject to disqualification. However, for the purpose of protecting valuables (such as a bag, wallet, cellular phone, etc.), a contestant may leave their belongings at the side of the stage, but is prohibited from interacting with them.

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