Cup Stacking is an activity where students stack and unstack a set of 12 plastic cups in predetermined sequences at lightning speed. It is terrific in promoting hand-eye coordination, dexterity, speed and concentration – important skills needed to find success in sports such as basketball and baseball, and activities such as playing an instrument or working on the computer. State and national records are held for the 3-6-3 Stack and the Cycle Stack.

You will need a set of 12 sturdy plastic cups, stopwatch, table

Up Stacking - Term used for stacking the cups "up."

Down Stacking - Term used for "unstacking" or putting cups down.

Fumble - The term used when cups fall during the process of Up Stacking or Down Stacking. There are three types of fumbles: 1) cup(s) fall off a stack and onto the table or floor; 2) A "down stacked" group of cups falls over on its side; 3) cup(s) slide down onto cups lower in the stack. If a fumble should occur during the Up Stacking phase, it must be "corrected" BEFORE continuing. To "correct" a fumble, the stacker must fix the fallen cup(s) BEFORE setting up cups in the next stack. If a stacker should begin setting up the next stack of cups before noticing a fumble, the stacker must return those cups to their original "down stacked" position and go back to correct the fumble before continuing. Once the Up Stacking phase is completed and cups are fumbled in the Down Stacking phase, the pyramid(s) NEED NOT be rebuilt – stackers simply continue to put cups into their original "down stacked" positions.

3-3-3 Stack - Cups are "up stacked" and "down stacked" from left to right or right to left (individual preference) in three stacks made up of three cups in each stack (3-3-3).

3-6-3 Stack - Cups are "up stacked" and "down stacked" from left to right or right to left (individual preference) in three stacks made up of three cups on the left, six cups in the center, and three cups on the right (3-6-3).

Cycle Stack - This is a sequence of stacks combining a 3-6-3 stack, a 6-6 stack, and a 1-10-1 stack in that order. Stackers conclude the Cycle Stack with cups in a 3-6-3 "down stacked" position.

Point Deductions - This term is for points taken away for mistakes made in the Team Relay Competition, such as false starts and improperly corrected fumbles.

3-3-3 Stack and 3-6-3 Stack

-Stack from left to right or right to left (individual preference).

-Hands may not be on two stacks simultaneously either in the Up Stacking or Down Stacking phase

-Down Stacking must follow the same direction as the Up Stacking phase (i.e. if you "up stack" from left to right, you must also "down stack" from left to right).

-Reminder: Fumbles must be corrected properly; refer to "Fumbles" in Definition of Terms.

-When a stacker fumbles a cup, only the stacker can retrieve it.

 Cycle Stack

-Stack from left to right or right to left (individual preference). The Cycle Stack is a sequenceconsisting of a 3-6-3 stack, a 6-6 stack, and a 1-10-1 stack performed in a continuous pattern.

-Hands may not be on two stacks simultaneously either in the Up Stacking or Down Stacking phase.

The Down Stacking phase must follow the same direction as the Up Stacking phase. This holds true in the three parts of the Cycle Stack, with the exception of the single cups in the 1-10-1. Here you have a choice of which cup you want to place facing "up" and which one you want to place facing "down."