Bring back-ups
This should be stickied in the contest information section.
Yes it takes a lot of getting used too. My first contest I was so nervous but now that I’ve been competeing for a couple years going up on stage is almost no big deal. Almost…
Damnit I made a Facebook just for that contest! I can delete it now guess.
For new competitors:
Dont practice your routine until you get it right, practice until you can’t get it wrong. Nothing is worse going stage not knowing if you’re going to be able to hit your tricks.
Breath and don’t freak out. After my ner routine I flipped out I didn’t just take a breath. And multiple yoyos. One last thing choose a song that makes you get pumped up and move around. And don’t practice the routine the night before the day before fine but around 14 hours pre contest put the yoyo down get a pizza and watch a new series
For your very first time competing, you need to understand that unless you have looked into the judging system, developed the tricks for a competitive freestyle and overall relaxed on stage, you will fail. You may even get last.
And that is perfectly okay, its undestandable. However, because it is your first time, the best thing to do is to have fun while you can. Once you get off the stage you’ll sigh in relief and go back to hanging out with yoyo friends and watching the freestyles.
Its what we do AFTER to the next contest that matters.
For people that want to compete and get that big number 1, the mighty W, there is so much to consider when it comes to developing a winning freestyle. So many factors that some people do not even realize.
1) Do you have the confidence to compete?
Ask yourself, are you truly ready? Before you even walk on stage you need to believe you will win. You need to have the confidence to ride the storm, to be calm and execute. If there is little confidence you should deny yourself immediatly. This Is of course if you are heavily wanting to win, and not doing the freestyle for competition but more so to showoff/for the fun of it.
2) How to deal with stage fright on stage.
A good portion of beginners will have stage fright. This reflects in a number of ways such as clammy hands (sweaty hands), shaky arms, a scared face, a tense stature…things like that. There is a way to help and or cure said issues. All of these factors will hamper your overall performance on stage due to the ways of the judging system.
So, to deal with the shaky arms and overall presence like I said before you need to be able to get comfortable on stage. You need to yoyo in front of strangers, in front of a group! When you are out in public, like say a park and they have a stage, get up there and practice! Your body will react differently on stage because you are used to people watching you, your hands/arms will be less shakey.
There is another way to deal with the shakeyness of arms. Ever wonder when you are on stage and your heart beat is so fast and all the other reactions? This is because your body is not used to it. You need to build your “immunity” against the stage. There is a bit of psychology to this and some of the best pro players will do this. First, when you are yoyoing alone in your room try and get your heart rate up. Do some running in place or do some jumping jax! Enough so you are emulating the exact feelings as you are on stage (IF you have stage fright). Doing this will psychologically trick your brain thinking you’re on stage.
When you get to the contest and your time is almost there to compete, do a little bit of moving around, do a bit of jogging. Just enough so your heart beat gets ready. What happens is since you have been building a “immunity” your body will be used to the reaction, thus on stage you will not have as bad of shaky hands or clammy hands. Because you’ve strained your mind and body to deal with stage fright.
For “Clammy Hands” a big tip is to go to the restroom and put your hands under a facet and let very hot warm go over them for as long as you can possibly do it. This opens the pores on your hands as well as washing away excess oil. Immediately then switch to cold water, this will immediatly close the pores. Then stop, and air dry your hands via waving them around. Do not try them off with paper. The result will be that your hands will be less sticky and sweaty. Sweat hinders speed on the string so this trick will help. Another related tip for clammy hands is to spray your hands with canned-deoderant. This will also help to stop the sweating. Some people have used baby powder as well. If you still have clammy hands, it would be wise to invest in yoyo gloves that you can wear so that you do not get sweat on the string and thus be able to do your tricks smoothly.
Some people will try to do different breathing exercises or even meditate in order to calm down and get their “mindset”/game face in place. This is of course up to the user for how they are since everyone is different and people react differently.
Overall, these tips will majorly help you to fight stage fright in order to become a better competitor. Other tips would be to bring a towel with if you are a heavy sweater (like me, unfortunately)
3) Read the rules of freestyle judging and develop material to maximize points.
Before you start to compete, get a good jist of exactly how freestyles are judged. The system itself is based on a point system with categories of certain aspects to a freestyle are judged. A good example the use of space on stage. You need to develop your combos to have variabilty with space. Standing in one spot on stage with your arms only at a certain height will make you not recieve any points at all. Other categories include technical execution, stage presence, originality and others are judged. You need to develop a freestyle that can get the most amount of points into each category. Its not the easiest let me tell you, and top competitors put so much time and hardwork developing and changing on the fly.
Every second matters in a freestyle as well and thus you need to develop your combos not only to maximize points, but you need the speed to gain as many points as possible. Use every second available, do not stop or else that is wasted time in order to get points.
Jensen Kimmit in 2010 was specific to this where he studied the system in order to achieve results. He won the 1a finals in the World Yoyo Contest due to it. His entire streak in 2010 was non stop 1st place wins. And why is that? Because he studied the system, prepared and put the work on.
The judging system has generally changed since 2010, but the guidelines are still the same. Develop your combos to maxmize will yield results.
4) Re-check your weapons before going on stage.
No one goes to war if they are not prepared and the same applies to yoyoing in competitions. Re-check your supplies, is the yoyos your using now what you will use on stage? How many will you bring? Is your bearing spinning smoothly and played in so it will not get responsive? Is your pads and or silicone still fresh and give good binds? Is your current string used or will you have to change it? Is your string pre-looped and ready for when you have to do a switch out?
Another thing is choosing what type of yoyo you want to use for the freestyle. An example, if your freestyle has a lot of horizontal tricks, using an organic shaped yoyo is not going to cut it. So you need to pre-determine what type of yoyo you’ll use on stage. Synching your yoyo type with your freestyle is key so when your on stage your used to it. Also to make sure to choose what type of string you use wisely so it matches your playstyle/style of the freestyle.
This applies for all styles of play, from counterweight to connected. Your supplies matter and you you must keep your eyes on them before contest day and before you get on stage.
5) Dress appropriatly so the judges/crowd can see the string.
It may be silly, but you need to also plan for your look at a contest. If you walk on stage wearing a white t-shirt and you have white string, you are literally done. This can confuse the judges due to not being able to see the string hits/motion of the string but it can make the crowd not cheer you because they cannot see what is happening. This also applies to the category “Stage Presence” as well. Most suggest to wear a black t-shirt and a darker color of pants/shorts in order to visibly see the string in motion. Also be sure to check on the backdrop of the contest before going on stage too so the string will stand out!
So, you need to choose clothing color, string color and yoyo color. Got it?
6) Choosing music due to theme, synching and overall feeling
Choosing what type of music can be a difficult one because there is again, factors for how your freestyle will be like stage. One of the first things you want to do is decide “Hey, can I even yoyo to this?” Because here is the thing: Freestyles are to be choreographed. Just like in figure skating where they practice their swings and loops, its the same with yoyo where we practice our combos. You need to choose a song you can “synch” with, a song that your speed can match to the beat of the yoyo. This is under the category “Music use”.
Another thing is to make sure the song is language appropriate. Contests are a child friendly enviroment and swear words in the music will have you be Disqualified out of the contest. Competitors will often use music editing software in order to cut or or censor the swear words but they don’t always get the words out. Speak to the contest organizer on what words are allowed or not allowed. Every contest organizer is different but the overall concenus is no swear words are to be allowed.
So, we coverd synching to music but what about how your tricks “display” via the music? As I said, freestyles are often choregraphed. So within certain songs there will be high points and low points. Some songs have a “build up” and then all of a sudden there is a loud noise/break/drop (I’m looking at you Dubstep). During these times competitors will often do a “Banger” which is a risky flashy type of trick that goes so well to the music due to the dynamics of it. This makes the music use better on stage which can give you a point or two for it.
Dynamics between your combos, your movements via stage use and music use all ties in together to create a freestyle. Most just wing it on stage but the best plan ahead.
7) Writing down your freestyle
This is an optional tip, but some of the best out there actually do this. In order to memorize your freestyle you need to build up the necessary muscle memory so you can land your tricks while syncing to the music+movement. Having things wrote down in a planned fashion can really help because you can mark down in spots for on the fly adjustments.
Example, say you do a combo but somehow you miss a transition that leads to the next combo. You need to then immediatly start a new combo “on the fly”. Writing down your tricks and combos can help with this because you can write down adjustments/on the fly replacements. If you mess up a combo and then re-try to do it, that is often a waste of time, energy and you do not get as many points for it. So always keep that in mind.
Writing down key important moments like bangers, adjustments, motions…everything. It helps. It helps prepare until the day you get on that stage and show to everyone what you got.
8 ) Study recorded yoyo freestyles
In order to build a freestyle you need to see it in action, you need to see the very best on stage showing their prowess. Studying other thrower’s material and freestyle can help you to build your own freestyle due to them being the example. There is nothing wrong with this, just make sure your tricks/combos are original andd not copied directly from a player.
Back in the day, many players would directly copy tricks and even music and do it on stage. One example would be people copying Yuuki Spencers tricks due to the raw influence he had on stage since he was a dominate force.
So study freestyles and pay close attention as so you can judge it yourself based on the systems categories that are judged. Seeing how other players commit and do on stage can help you better prepare yourself.
9) The last bit of advice: HAVE FUN
This is a pretty basic form of advice but utterly the most important.
A yoyo is a toy. Toys are meant to be played with besides competition. Ergo, we play with yoyos to have fun.
Stressing out while on stage will really reflect on your yoyoing and body language. If you mess up a certain thing or jam up do not panic, do not get angry! This all really applies to stage presence but even more so overall when it comes to competition of yoyo. If you stress out so much it shows, such as your concentrated face and when you mess up you show hints of anger due to a mess up. The judges can see this and if they do they will immediatly see the mess up you did. If you can recover from the mess up quicky and adjust all the while showing a calm, positive demenor. So having fun can loosen you up on stage.
If you are highly competitive, it can be pretty difficult to be happy/have fun while on stage. You need to walk up on the stage with a balanced approached. Confidence, deterimination while also a certain playfulness as well.
If you have fun on stage, you’ll be alright. When you walk off you will not be angry at yourself, and the stress will be over.
Well, that is my 2 pennies,
~Zammy
2 Likes
2 cents?? More like 9 grand!
Great post! 
1 Like
I have very limited experience competing in yoyo contests, but I have a lot of experience in competitions of other types.
My best advice hands down is Learn.
Above all else, learn something from your competition experience, no matter how you place. Think critically but fairly about your performance and identify strengths and weaknesses, and come up with a plan to address those weaknesses for next time. Even if you’re #1, you should always be fine tuning and evaluating yourself - there’s always more to learn!
I never thought of getting your heart pumping during practice in order to simulate the stage. I’ll have to try that.
I personally don’t write my freestyles down. Instead, I practice them enough so that I hopefully have encountered all the possible problems.
Make sure when you are practicing, that you don’t start over if you mess up. You need to practice improvisation in case of mess ups. If you don’t, and you mess up on stage, you will be unprepared.
Know your yoyo. Know how long it’ll sleep, know how aggressive it is, when to push it… Basically, don’t try horizontal on a butterfly.
Know your routine. Make sure you know everything down cold, especially if you’re running tech. If you play some and cant remember what goes where… learn it! you can always get it.
Have diversity and originality in your performance. Don’t just do string tricks. Throw in some body stuff, slacks, suicides… Flare binds!
It’s a performance! Treat it like one. Hook your audience in quick. If you watch someone like paul perform and you hear “OHHHHHHH!!!111!!” From the crowd… you want that. Maybe throw in a little comedy (Ben Conde Has done this).
Wash your hands right before. 5 Minutes. No grime or sweat on the magic fingers.
Fresh string, broken in pads. Always.
Bring more than one yoyo. Three preferred. even the pros get knots. All it takes is one dropped segment.
Bring hi-chew. It’s portable, delicious, and brings saliva to that dry, nervous mouth. I personally prefer mango 
Have fun! meet some new people, learn tricks, teach tricks, make some trades… Everything.
Make sure music is fitting, and appropriate.
Watch other people’s routines for new concepts. Watch how they control the crowd.
Dress in a way that won’t effect your yoyoing. Nothing really loose, no saggy pants, long necklaces, anything on the wrists… Trust me it helps.
Make sure you’re dead set at a 3 minute routine.
Always check all your yoyos before going on stage.
Don’t change things last minute. It may seem good in the moment, but it’s better to run your routine. Play it safe.
Read up on the rules.
Don’t feel bad if you don’t do as well as you thought. There’s always more!
Practice. I can’t say this enough. Practice. Practice. PRACTICE.
Don’t put your spare yoyos in your pocket.
Yes I saw someone who had a spare yoyo on there holster and it took them so long to get it out when they had to switch yoyo’s.
like this guy
Jensen isn’t really a good role model for competitiveness and performance in contests; what he does off the stage is none of my business.
A long with all the tips to stay calm. If you seriously just can’t relax yourself, try and at least look calm. Looking tense and unnatural on stage is something that can ruin a freestyle to me. Having fun on stage is something that can take a freestyle from good to great especially if the audience can tell you’re having fun. Take Jake Elliot for example. He has one many a contest with some great freestyles, and if you watch them he always looks ecstatic on stage. His showmanship is great and that definitely bumps up his score. Along with helping your score it may help you calm down. Having the audience into your performance can help loads. And once they are into it you can get into it and lay down a great freestyle.
Tl;drLook like your having fun. It will more than likely help your score and may even help you calm down.
Bring lots of poly string and make sure you have a yoyo that suites your needs for your best tricks and combos. It embarrassing to have your yoyo spin out during a competition, been there done that!
I don’t have facebook, so I probably just missed it - but how did this turn out?
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Practice practice practice. Choose music that goes with your personal style and flow of yoyoing. Moves that go with the music are great. Practice in front of people and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The more fear you have the more likely you’re going to tense up and make a mistake.
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Smile! Nothing says nervous like a frown/scowl. Show charisma and be confident on stage! People will respond well and that in turn will pump up your confidence.
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Use the entire stage. Don’t just stand in one spot the whole time.
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Use the same yoyo you practiced your routine with. This should be pretty evident, but some people switch it up last minute thinking the brand new “competition” throw is going to score them the win. Use a clean bearing. Use fresh string.
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Research how the judges will be scoring. Will they be scoring on string hits, or style, or difficulty, or a combination of everything? Find out what is more heavily weighted, and adjust your routine.
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Will you be competing in a ladder? If it’s a ladder, practice every trick in the ladder, in order, exactly as they are described. If you fail a trick, start the entire ladder over from the beginning.
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Remember that most of the people who are watching you WANT you to succeed. They don’t want you to fail. For the most part, we’re all friends who share the same passion.
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Relax.
Good luck!