National Yo-Yo Contest Freestyle Rules:
Championship Divisons

GENERAL CHAMPIONSHIP FREESTYLE RULES (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A)

1. Each contestant shall have 3-minutes to perform a freestyle routine to his or her choice of music for the freestyle finals, and 1-minute for the semi-finals.
2. The 3-minute (or 1-minute) time period starts when the CD starts.
3. No points shall be scored for either Technical Execution or Performance Style for any reason before the music starts, or after the 3-minutes (or 1-minute time persiod) have elapsed.
4. All contestants should bring their music on CDR in a standard CD audio format or as a standard commercial music CD. No MP3, AAC, WMV files or other file formats will be accepted. The music shall be clearly labeled with the contestant's name, division, and track to be used.
5. CD's submitted will remain in the possesion of the sound manager until the conclusion of the Contest.
6. Music shall start from the beginning of the track and shall be played for 3-minutes where it shall be cut off. Contestants can feel free to edit the music so that it fades out or ends at the appropriate time.
7. Functionality of the CDR is the responsibility of the contestant.
8. 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 shall result in their disqualification.
9. All actions of a performer must be G-rated (appropriate for all audiences) and 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 shall result in their disqualification.
10. No assistants are allowed on stage while a contestant is performing.
11. 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.
12. 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...
13. No props are allowed without the prior approval of the Contest Director and the Head Judge. Hats are the only pre-approved prop. Yo-Yos with Hub Stacks (hub bearings) are allowed in all divisions.

Specific Rules for 1A Freestyles:

1. In a 1A freestyle, 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. In a 1A freestyle, (except for the “Mobius style and Skyrocket type tricks provisions below”) at no time shall the yo-yo be removed from the string (i.e. no offstring 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.
2. In a 1A freestyle, Mobius style is allowed. Skyrocket type tricks are also allowed
3. In a 1A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: mounts, dismounts, string hits, hops, grinds, lacerations, release catches (like suicides/Iron Whips), slack catches, regenerations and binds.

Specific Rules for 2A and 3A Freestyles:

1. In a 2A or 3A freestyle, the judges shall not grant any points for Technical Execution or Performance Style unless both yo-yos are in play simultaneously. In a 2A or 3A freestyle, 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. In a 2A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: loops, punches, wraps, tanglers, moons, hops, stalls, worlds, transitions, regenerations and various combinations and/or variations of these elements.
2. In a 3A freestyle, typical scoring elements include but are not limited to: 1A type string tricks that involve both yo-yo's simultaneously, however transitions between tricks may involve tanglers, worlds, grinds, wraps and similar elements.

Specific Rules for 4A and 5A Freestyles:

1. In a 4A and 5A freestyle there is no restriction on the number of yo-yos that may be in play at the same time. In a 4A freestyle, 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. In a 4A freestyle, trick elements performed with a pinched string that mimic 1A trick elements, where the yo-yo never leaves the string for the entire duration of the trick element, may be scored at a lower value than high risk off string moves. Similarly, 4A railing style tricks (sliding along the string) may be scored at a lower value than high risk off string moves.
2. In a 5A freestyle, points shall only be awarded only while 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 not be scored.