On day one, 9th of June, starting at 9:15 a.m. we'll kick-off with the Skyhoundz International Qualifier which includes the following games: Freestyle and Distance/Accuracy. Please find attached a detailed description of the rules and games
On day two, we'll be competing in Skyhoundz DiscDogathon, which includes the following five games: Bullseye, Timetrial, Spotlanding, Pairs-Distance/Accuracy and one round of Freestyle. Please find attached a detailed description of the rules and games
Distance/Accuracy (sometimes referred to as DA) is an event in Skyhoundz Classic Championships (Local, Regional Qualifiers, Open Qualifiers, International Qualifiers, European Championship, and the World Championship). While Pairs Distance/Accuracy is an event in Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Qualifiers and the Skyhoundz DiscDogathon World Championship.
Distance/Accuracy is a fast-paced event in which teams attempt to score points by completing as many catches as possible within various scoring zones in the time allotted. Scoring zones and field dimensions are depicted in the graphic at right (click to enlarge).
Distance/Accuracy competitors are allowed 60 seconds and one disc to score as many points as possible. If, during the round a competitor believes the disc has become unsafe (e.g.: broken rim, or a large tear in the disc), it may be handed to the line judge for replacement (if the competitor has provided such a replacement). Time will not be suspended during a disc change. Notification of time remaining will be uniform for all competitors: 30 seconds, 10 seconds, and a countdown of the final five seconds before time is called.
The Distance/Accuracy field set-up provides the ability for competitors/teams to choose their throwing direction, however, competitors/teams cannot change throwing direction once time has begun. (Pairs Distance/Accuracy team members are required to throw from the same throwing line.) Field dimensions and the ability to throw from either end are subject to change, at the discretion of contest officials, due to overall field limitations or for safety considerations.
The thrower and canine are required to be behind the throwing line before time starts. When the competitor is ready, the line judge will signal the announcer by raising an arm. Soon after, a start cue will be given by the announcer indicating that time has begun. If, in the opinion of the line judge, the dog leaves before time begins, time will be reset to zero and a restart will be initiated. Competitors may send their canines downfield, or throw, anytime after the start signal is sounded.
The thrower must always throw from behind the throwing line and between the throwing line cones, but may move freely around the field at other times. A throw will not be scored if the thrower steps on or over the throwing line prior to or during the release of the disc (foot fault). If the disc leaves the thrower’s hand before time is called, the throw will be scored if caught by the canine inbounds.
To receive points, catches must be completed by a canine with all paws landing within one of the official scoring zones. If a canine catches a disc with paws in more than one scoring zone, the catch will be scored as if it were made in the lower scoring zone. If a canine tips the disc and subsequently catches the disc inbounds, the catch will be scored where the catch was completed.
Rick Rauwerda & Riff Raff
Scoring is based on the following point scale. No points are awarded for catches under 10 yards.1 yard = 0,9144 Meter
Zone 1 (10-20 yards) — 1 Point
Zone 2 (20-30 yards) — 2 Points
Zone 3 (30-40 yards) — 3 Points
End Zone (40-50 yards) — 5 Points
An additional half-point bonus will be awarded for each successful catch in which the dog makes a catch with all paws clearly off the ground in an obvious jumping effort and subsequently lands with all paws in a scoring zone.
Distance/Accuracy Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second or third place, the tie will be broken by the following criteria, as necessary: 1) The competitor with the fewest throws in both rounds, 2) A Face-off round with each team receiving one Distance/Accuracy throw.
The dog making the higher scoring catch will be declared the victor. If the teams are still tied after each has made one throw, Face-off continues until one dog makes a higher scoring catch than the other. Officials will permit the competitors to rest their dogs as necessary.
To get an idea of what Distance/Accuracy is all about, here is a video of one of the top performances from the '10 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship. Rick Rauwerda & Riff Raff score a total of 23.5 points in their one-minute Distance/Accuracy round.
As the name implies, Pairs Distance/Accuracy is Distance/Accuracy with two human throwers of any age or sex making alternating throws to their canine teammate. Scoring zones and field dimensions are depicted in the graphic shown at right (click to enlarge). The Distance/Accuracy rules that apply at other Skyhoundz events also apply in DiscDogathon Pairs Distance/Accuracy. Teams competing in Pairs Distance/Accuracy will receive 60 seconds per round to complete as many catches as possible.
In the event that is necessary for one team member to retrieve a disc dropped by a canine during a Pairs Distance/Accuracy round, any member of a Pairs Distance/Accuracy team may retrieve the disc, but said disc must physically be carried by the retrieving team member back to the throwing area. Both team members of a Pairs Distance/Accuracy team must be behind the throwing line at the time each throw is made, or foot fault(s) will be called and such throw(s) will not count.
Pairs Distance/Accuracy Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second, or third place, the tie will be broken by the following criteria, as necessary: 1) The team with the fewest throws, 2) A Face-off round with each team receiving one Distance/Accuracy throw. The dog making the higher scoring catch will be declared the victor. If the teams are still tied after each has made one throw, Face-off continues (alternating throwers) until one dog makes a higher scoring catch than the other. Officials will permit the competitors to rest their dogs as necessary.
Freestyle is an event in Skyhoundz Championships (Local, Regional Qualifiers, Open Qualifiers, International Qualifiers, European Championship, and the World Championship). Pairs Freestyle is an event in Skyhoundz Championships (Regional Qualifiers, Open Qualifiers, International Qualifiers, European Championship, and the World Championship). Freestyle is also an event in Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Qualifiers and the Skyhoundz DiscDogathon World Championship.
To get an idea of what Freestyle is all about, the video shown above is one of the top performances from the '10 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship. Chris Perondi & Flashy Ferrari scored 38 out of a possible 40 points in this Freestyle round.
Scoring
Freestyle is a free-form, choreographed, routine scored by judges using the Skyhoundz PAWS judging system with an emphasis on success, variety, innovation, and the athletic skills of the canine and thrower.
PAWS Freestyle Scoring System
Competing teams will receive scores ranging from 1-10, in half-point increments, for each of the following four categories:
Presentation The team’s presentation of a crowd-pleasing routine with exciting choreography, continuous flow, good disc management and smooth transitions.
Athleticism Intensity and athleticism in completing catches, tricks or maneuvers together with a dog’s speed, quickness, leaping ability relative to its size and control over his/her body while competing.
Wow!Factor Ability to successfully complete challenging tricks or moves, including successful catches of throws with varied spins or releases. Also, the presentation of completely new moves, or a novel or unique presentation of a previously performed move, will result in higher scores in this category.
Success The team’s ability to successfully execute a routine with specific consideration given for the difficulty of the throws, catches and tricks.
Judges will disregard tricks that do not begin or conclude with a disc in flight except roller throws. Takes — moves in which a disc is handed off to the dog – will not be scored.
Under the Skyhoundz PAWS scoring system, judges will evaluate each team’s ability to cleanly execute a challenging, varied and exciting routine within the time allotted. Although there are specific categories that focus on execution (Success) and difficulty (Wow!Factor), a failure to score well in either of these categories may impact a competitor’s scores in all of the PAWS categories. This is because the judges must account for differences between the routines of the competitors that are competing on a given day.
For example, even if two competitors have perfect rounds they will not necessarily each receive a score of 10 in the Success category. Instead, the more difficult routine will typically receive a higher score in Success than the simpler routine. Similarly, if two competitors have equally difficult rounds, it is likely that the competitor with fewer misses will receive the higher score in the Wow!Factor category.
Vaults, utilizing the trainer’s body as a launch pad, should be minimized or excluded from routines altogether. If attempted, vaults should be performed in a controlled and safe manner. Excessive height, or frequent repetition of vaults, will not increase the likelihood of a higher score. Vaults are not required for success in Hyperflite Skyhoundz competitions. A vault is to be valued no differently than any other trick of similar difficulty. Many World Championship titles have been won with vault-free routines or with vaults minimized.
Time
Teams competing in Freestyle will receive a maximum of 90 seconds per round (120 seconds at the Skyhoundz Last Chance Qualifier/World Championship, Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championship Qualifiers, and Skyhoundz DiscDogathon World Championship). Routines must last at least 60 seconds (90 seconds at the Skyhoundz Last Chance Qualifier/World Championship, Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championship Qualifiers, and Skyhoundz DiscDogathon World Championship) to be scored. Competitors in Freestyle are permitted to use up to five discs. Timing begins when the disc is placed in flight, or the canine attempts to catch or pick-up a disc placed on the ground, or takes the disc from any part of a thrower’s or canine’s body. Countdown of time remaining will be uniform for all competitors: 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 10 seconds and time.
Music
Contestants who bring their own music should present it to contest officials when called to the on-deck area. Music should be on a CD (compact disc) that is marked with the competitor’s name and desired track number. This information should also be noted on the outside of the CD case. Contestants must choose music that is suitable for a family audience.
Freestyle Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second, or third place, the tie will be broken by the following criteria, as necessary: 1) The team with the highest combined scores in the Athleticism and Wow!Factor categories, 2) A Snapshot round will take place with each team alternating turns and receiving ten seconds in which to demonstrate their strongest trick or cluster of tricks. Order of competition will be determined by a coin toss. The timekeeper will announce the start of Snapshot when each competitor signals his or her readiness to begin. The judges will then declare a winner based on their impressions of the overall quality of the Snapshot performances.
Bullseye is one of the events in Hyperflite Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships.
Bullseye is a fast-paced and updated derivation of the original circular canine disc distance format. Scoring zones and field dimensions are depicted in the graphic at right (click to enlarge). Teams may use two discs to complete throws in any direction. The thrower and the canine must be within the throwing circle before time commences. Thereafter, the thrower and canine may move freely about the field to catch and/or retrieve discs. All throws must be made from within the throwing circle. Competitors receive one minute to score as many points as they can. Scoring is as depicted in the graphic.
Bullseye Field Set-Up An open, flat, grassy area free of obstacles with concentric 4, 8, and 15-yard diameter circles.
Bullseye Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second, or third place, the tie will be broken by the following criteria, as necessary: 1) The team with the fewest total throws, 2) A Face-off round with each team receiving one Bullseye throw. The dog making the higher scoring catch will be declared the victor. If the teams are still tied after each has made one throw, Face-off continues until one dog makes a higher scoring catch than the other. Officials will permit the competitors to rest their dogs as necessary.
Spot Landing is one of the events in Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships.
Spot Landing challenges competitors to complete as many catches as possible in the designated scoring zones within the time allotted. Scoring zones and field dimensions are depicted in the graphics on right (click to enlarge). The Spot Landing field was designed so that it is easily reproducible and consistently set-up from DiscDogathon to DiscDogathon. The X-pattern on the lower diagram represents tape measure(s) or string(s) used to help locate the "vector points" upon which the scoring zones are centered.
Competitors are required to make one attempt in each scoring zone (progressing from lower to higher value scoring zones) and may then attempt to score in the zones of their choice for the remaining time alloted. Competitors are rewarded with the noted point values for catches in which the canine lands with all paws inside a scoring zone. Catches landing outside scoring zones are worth one point each (canine effort point(s), however, the thrower must attempt to reach the scoring areas to earn the canine effort point(s). Competitors receive 60 seconds to score as many points as they can.
Spot Landing Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second or third place, the tie will be broken by the following criteria, as necessary: 1) The team with the fewest total throws, 2) A Face-off round with each team receiving one Spot Landing throw. The team making the higher scoring catch will be declared the victor. If the teams are still tied after each has made one throw, Face-off continues until one dog makes a higher scoring catch than the other. Officials will permit the competitors to rest their dogs as necessary.
TimeTrial is one of the events in Hyperflite Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships.
In TimeTrial, each competitor or team will attempt to complete two 20-yard throws to a canine in the shortest amount of time possible. To qualify as a successful throw, the disc must be caught by the canine beyond the 20-yard line that runs from one side of the field to the other (there are no side-boundary lines). Field layout and dimensions are depicted in the graphics at right (click to enlarge). A maximum time of one minute will be permitted.
The thrower and canine are required to be behind the throwing line before time starts. When the competitor is ready, the line judge (with a stopwatch) will say Go! indicating that time has begun. If, in the opinion of the line judge, the dog leaves before time begins, time will be reset to zero and a restart will be initiated. Competitors may send their canines downfield, or throw, anytime after the start signal is sounded.
The thrower must remain behind the throwing line for all throws, but may move freely around the field at other times. A throw will not count if the thrower steps on or over the throwing line prior to or during the release of the disc.
At least two throws must be successfully completed (past the 20-yard mark) in order for a team to avoid being scored Did Not Finish (DNF). Time will stop when the canine crosses back over the start/finish line in possession of the disc after completing the required two 20-yard catches. However, if, after two successful catches, the canine drops the disc in front of the finish line, the thrower may retrieve the disc and time will stop when the thrower and canine cross the finish line regardless of who is in actual possession of the disc. The fastest canine/thrower team with two successful catches wins.
If a team’s round is interrupted, by a loose canine on the playing field, the team will be permitted to restart the round. Time will not be suspended during nature breaks.
TimeTrial Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second, or third place, the tie will be broken by the following criteria, as necessary: 1) A Face-off round with each team receiving one TimeTrial throw. The team recording the fastest time will be declared the victor. If the teams are still tied after each has made one throw, Face-off continues until one team records a faster time. Officials will permit the competitors to rest their dogs as necessary.
Pairs Distance/Accuracy
Freestyle
Bullseye
Spot Landing
TimeTrial