Sport Stacking
Introduction
Description
Sport stacking is an exciting individual
and team sport in which participants stack and unstack 12 plastic cups in
particular sequences. Stackers race individually against the clock and/or
compete in a relay format racing against other teams. Sport
Stacking allows each person to work at his/her own level so that all are appropriately
challenged.
The sport began in Oceanview, California
in the early 1980's under the name Cup Stacking at a boys and girls
club under the direction of Wayne Godinet. School competition began in 1985.
Bob Fox, a former Colorado teacher, took the sport to a new level as founder
and president of Speed Stacks. Now, in more than 7,500 programs around
the world, students from elementary grades through college are stacking and
unstacking cups, faster and faster. With practice, a person can stack at lightning
speed! Nearly 1000 stackers from five foreign countries and 21 states participated
in the World Sport Stacking Championships held at the Denver Coliseum.
More History
Terms
Upstacking
- Stacking the cups upward.
Downstacking
- Unstacking the cups downward.
Fumble
- A mistake while stacking or unstacking cups.
Pattern
- Number of cups handled at a time by a particular hand.
Formation
- Stacking and sequencing cups into one or more prescribed pyramids.
Cycle
- Stacking and sequencing cups into one or more formations.
Benefits
Sport stacking improves hand-eye coordination
and reaction time, as well as helping students develop bilateral proficiency,
or equal performance on both sides of the body. Increasing bilateral proficiency
allows people to develop a greater percentage of the right side of the brain,
which houses awareness, focus, creativity and rhythm. Stacking helps train
the brain for sports and other activities where the use of both hands is important,
such as playing a musical instrument or using the computer. Along with physical
benefits, sport stacking also fosters team building skills, as well as sequencing
and patterning, which can help with reading and math skills.
Practice Drills
A short video clip may be viewed for each
one of the practice drills by selecting the corresponding link.
1. 3-cup
circle (each way)
2. 3-cup
walk (each way)
3. 6-cup pyramid patterns
Tips
1. Alternate hands: While placing six cups with the
3-2-1 pattern, take the top three cups with the left hand, placing one down
on the left side of the remaining stack, the next two cups with the right
hand, placing one down on the right side of the remaining stack (a single
cup), then place a single cup down on the left, right and left sides, respectively.
2. Inside out: Stack from inside out at the base of
a given pyramid.
3. Correct upstacking fumbles: While upstacking, replace
each fallen cup to it's intended location before continuing on.
4. Do not “correct”
downstacking fumbles: While downstacking, instead of returning a fallen cup
to its prior location, simply continue returning cups to their original stack(s).
5. Consistent sequence: Downstack two or more pyramids
in the same order in which they were upstacked.
Formations
The first formation is a good one for beginners because
no pyramid requires more than three cups. Therefore, fewer mistakes occur
and speed is easily increased. Formations two through four are used in most
competitive events in that order. A short video clip may be viewed for each
one of the formations by selecting the corresponding link. In addition, a
Score Card listed below under resources may be downloaded for monitoring progress.
1. 3-3-3
2. 3-6-3
3. 6-6
4. 1-10-1
5. Competition cycle:
Completing a 3-6-3, 6-6, and 1-10-1 formation in order
Video instruction for the above formations
Select the following link to view an unusual blend of rhythmical skill using the competition cups.
Group Cup Cadence
