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AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO. -- 350 competitors from all over the world participated in the first day of the 2012 WSSA US Nationals Sports Stacking Championship.

"My favorite thing about stacking is that it improves your hand eye coordination, ambidexterity, quickness, focus and bilateral proficiency," Matthew Hill, 13, said.

The event, which was held at the Cadet Gymnasium at the Air Force Academy, had its preliminary races today.

Stackers, ranging from 3 to 66 years old, compete by stacking and unstacking 12 specifically designed, high-tech cups in predetermined sequences.

"I love it because I'm a creature of habit and I like doing things repetitively," Dominic Valerian, 14, said. "I think it's why I'm so good at it."

The sport, which started in the early 1980s as 'cup stacking' has been transformed into a full-fledged sport governed by the World Sport Stacking Association in Colorado.

The founder of WSSA, Bob Fox, began teaching his students in his physical education class. The idea, and the sport, blossomed from there.

"For a lot of kids, it's their sport. It's the one thing they shine at so they are willing to make sacrifices and to compete all across the country," Fox said.

Fox said the sport promotes hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, quickness and concentration.

Stackers compete in various relays: individual, relay and doubles. Often, the races can come down to hundredths of a second.

"I hold the doubles world record at 6.78 seconds," William Polly, 11, said.

The sport is timed with hand timers. They start when the player takes their hands off the mat and end when the player hits the mat again.

Despite many parents and athletes traveling across multiple states to compete in the events, there are no cash prizes or scholarships for winners, only trophies.

"It's a financial commitment. People say, 'well, that's a cheap sport. You just need some cups!" ," Laura Polly, a mom of a world record winning stacker laughed. "Definitely not!"

The finals will take place on Sunday at the Air Force Academy. The top 15 stackers will advance to Germany for the Worlds Sport Stacking Championship.