The National Yo-Yo League is the coordinating body for the series of Regional Contests that qualify to the National Yo-Yo Contest.
The history of yo-yo competitions has been somewhat erratic for many years. From the days when a manufacturer would make a trick list, and keep it the same for decades, to recent contests that changed the tricks on a regular basis. Players and judges have had a difficult time keeping the names and the tricks straight.
The National Yo-Yo League provides an incentive to nine different regional contests by qualifying players into the National Finals. By winning a Regional Contest it allows players to be placed into the finals from their home region, and by placing well, players qualify to compete in the semi-finals for open spots in the finals.
When all nine regions of the country are equally represented, a winning player can truly call themselves the best in the nation. This credibility and the league’s ability to reach a larger number of young people will make sponsors more likely to help support our contests.
The NYYL provides a much-needed structure for our sport. It is a flexible system that does not limit the special atmosphere and uniqueness of its regional contests. When a regional promoter is within the basic rules of competition, they have the local control to make their contest special. When a contestant plays within the regional structure, they are able to relate their results with other contestants across the country. The purpose of this league is to make the contest fairer, more accessible, and increasingly fun for as many players as possible.
Over the life of the yo-yo, there have been many ups and downs in popularity. The League is a driving force to help build and sustain the competitive aspect of yo-yoing. After each earlier yo-yo boom the players for the most part dropped it a short while later. But with recent changes more people are playing longer. The main reasons for this are the new contest formats and corresponding improvements by the manufacturers.
The NYYL provides a consistency in trick lists and judging that will make it easier for the regional promoter to organize and run their contests. An official website will have each years trick list available for everyone to use. Compiled with the help of players and judges it will include videos and text descriptions of each compulsory trick used in a contest. Each year the list will be updated to include the style and difficulty of tricks that the players are performing across the country.
The aim of the National Yo-Yo League is to unify the sport for creditability and standardization through a national organization.
