AP Yo-Yo Open 2026 - Competition Rules

Introduction

  • Competitors may choose to compete in one or more divisions.
  • Select a song for your 1 Minute Prelim and 3 Minute Final Freestyle routine. Songs must be family-friendly, with no explicit language or profanities.
  • We acknowledge that no system will ever please everyone.
  • Our goal is to encourage more dynamic freestyles and simplify the rules to reduce uncertainty in judging criteria.
  • This system will be reviewed annually and may be revised.

Competition Format

1A Division

  • All competitors (unless seeded) must compete in the 1 Minute Preliminaries.
  • The Top 5 qualifiers from the Preliminaries advance directly to the 3 Minute Finals.
  • Competitors placing 6th to 25th in the Preliminaries advance to the 1.5 Minute Semi-Finals.
  • The Top 10 Semi-Finalists then move on to the 3 Minute Finals.
  • The 1A Finals will consist of:
  • Seeded players

- 1A Div National champions seeded to semis

- X Div National champions seeded to finals

- All AP champions seeded to Finals (including 1A)

  • Top 5 from the Preliminaries
  • Top 10 from the Semi-Finals

2A / 3A / 4A / 5A

  • All competitors (unless seeded) must compete in the 1 Minute Preliminaries.
  • The top qualifiers will progress to the 3 Minute Finals, joining the seeded players.
  • A 1.5 Minute Semi-Final may be introduced if there are a high number of competitors in the division.

Judging System

50% Technical Execution (TE) (Clicker)
50% Performance Evaluation (PE)

*⚙️Techinical Execution (TE)*

  • Judges use 2 Main Clickers:
  • 1st Clicker – Positive points
  • Positive Clicks are given per unique trick element.
  • 2nd Clicker – Negative points
  • Negative Clicks are given due to trick or control miss.

*⚙️PE Components*

1. *Performance Quality - 20%* 

– stage presence, confidence, audience connection.

2. *Musicality - 20%*

– synchronisation with music, rhythm, choreography.

3. *Trick Diversity - 20%*

– range of tricks performed

4. *Uniqueness - 20%*

– originality, creativity, tricks or concepts not commonly seen.

5. *Execution - 20%*

– smoothness, control, overall cleanliness.

Notes

  • No major deducts – these are replaced with negative clicks using the same weightage (e.g. -1 click for rewind, -3 clicks for yo-yo change).
  • Contestants are only allowed to bring the following items onto the stage:
  • Yo-yos
  • Strings
  • Counterweights
  • Gloves (or equivalent items)

A backup music device for competition

  • A tray provided by contest officials
  • Prohibited items include maintenance tools, performance props, and any other items not listed above. This includes, but is not limited to: bags, cases, cloths, jackets, or extra clothing (other than what the contestant is already wearing).