Speed Stacking Rules
Speed stacking, a sport of stacking cups as quickly as possible, helps develop hand-eye coordination and concentration by encouraging stackers to use both the right and left sides of their brains. The World Sport Stacking Association, the governing body of speed stacking events, holds competitions around the world. A competition for athletes and non-athletes alike, speed stacking can be done in school, at home and as a family.
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The cup
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The cup is specially designed for stacking. In World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) competition, cups must be Speed Stacks brand, the official sponsor of the organization, according to the WSSA website. However, Speed Stacks' Super Stacks metal training cups and Mini Speed Stacks may not be used in WSSA competition. The cups cannot be altered in any way. Cups with logos, additional holes or foreign substances are barred from use. Competitors refer to the open end of the cup as the lip and the closed end as the rim. The assemblage of a stack is called up stacking and the disassembly of a stack is called down stacking. Cups can be stacked in groups of three, six or 10. Cups must also be stacked on an official StackMat, which includes a timer.
Stacking procedures
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In speed stacking, competitors may start from either the right or the left side, but must go in the same direction while up stacking and down stacking. Competitors also can have their hands on one stack at a time. They must finish constructing or tearing down one stack before moving on to another. There are a few exceptions to the rule of having hands on different stacks. Competitors may keep one hand on a down stacked group of cups while down stacking a second group or while correcting a fumble (a drop of a cup) in the down stacking phase. During competition in which one attempts cycle stacking, assembling and tearing down stacks of cups in multiple sequences, there are several exceptions to having the hands on more than one stack at a time. Refer to the WSSA website for more details.
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Individual competition
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Speed stacking competitors are divided into age groups and must compete in their age division. Each competitor is allowed two warm-up stacks, after which they can begin their first try at an official time. The judge will instruct the stacker to "reset timer and start when ready." Both hands must stay on the touchmat of the StackMat and wait for the green light before stacking begins. When down stacking is completed, the stacker must touch the button with his hand, not a wrist, forearm or elbow, to stop the timer. No part of his body can touch the cups while stopping the timer. Each stacker is given three tries during the preliminary round. The fastest time determines if the competitor advances to the final round. Times in the final round determine the winner.
Doubles competition
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Stackers can compete as duos, one working with only his left hand and the other stacking with only his right. Doubles competition involves completing the cycle, which includes stacking cups in groups of 3-3-3, 6-6 and 1-10-1 in that order and ending in a 3-6-3 down stacked position. Doubles teams are registered in the age group of the oldest member of the duo. Both members of the team must handle each stack, with one exception. In the transition between the 3-6-3 and the 6-6, the down stacking of the last three may be handled by only one team member. Each doubles team can only compete once in his age division, but stackers may also compete in the parent/child division and parents are permitted to compete twice if they have more than one child in the competition.
Relay competition
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At least four members, but no more than five, must compose a relay team, and the age division depends on the age of the oldest stacker. The lead stacker begins, while the other three or four team members stand in a single-file line 5 feet from the table. When the lead stacker has finished her stack, she runs back and tags the next teammate, who steps to the mat and begins to stack. Teams with the top times in each age division in the preliminary round compete in the finals. Head-to-head relay competitions are also held.
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