Hyperflite DiscDogathons

 

Disc Dogathon information copied off www.Skyhoundz.com

 

Hyperflite DiscDogathons may, in the discretion of the host organization, take place over two days and encompass all of the following events: Boomerang, Bullseye, Distance/Accuracy, Extreme Distance, Freestyle, Spot Landing, TimeTrial, and Club Choice events.

 

Extreme Distance

A pure distance event. The recommended field set-up for Extreme Distance is a flat, grassy rectangular area, 50 yards x 100 yards, that is clear of obstructions.

Canines must not cross the throwing line until the disc leaves the thrower's hand. Thrower may not step on or over the line at the time of the throw. A canine may be restrained with the aid of a helper if desired. Catches will be measured from the start line to the point where the rear-most leg of the canine contacts the ground at the time of the catch. Successful tipped catches will be counted as being caught at the point where the canine first made contact with the disc regardless of the point that the canine actually becomes in full possession of the disc.

In Extreme Distance, due to national and world record considerations, the Hyperflite K-10 Competition Standard disc, Wham-O standard Fastback disc, or Hero disc must be used. Competitors receive a sixty-second time period in which to make as many attempts as they wish. If the disc leaves the throwers hand before time is called, it will be scored. Competitors may change discs between throws.

 

Freestyle

We invite you to watch Jeff Stanaway & Cory's (2003 Open Division World Champions) flawless Freestyle routine at right for a taste of what Freestyle is all about.

Freestyle is a free-form, choreographed, routine scored by judges with an emphasis on success, variety, innovation, and the athletic skills of the canine and thrower.

Teams competing in Freestyle will receive a maximum of 90 seconds per round (120 seconds at the World Championship). Routines must last at least 60 seconds (90 seconds at the 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.

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.?

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.

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.

Under the 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.

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.

 

Spot Landing

Allows the local host to configure circular landing zones in different locations on the competition field. Competitors are rewarded with various point values for catches in which the canine lands with all paws inside a scoring zone. The Hyperflite DiscDogathon host determines the point values, location and distances of landing zones from the throwing area. 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.

 

Distance/Accuracy

Distance/Accuracy 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.

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 individual competitors to throw in either direction, however, competitors cannot change throwing direction once time has begun. 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.

Scoring is based on the following point scale. No points are awarded for catches under 10 yards.

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.

 

TimeTrial

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). 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.

 

 

For this Competiton only:

(Not Skyhoundz Disc Dogathon General Rules.)

 

Arkansas State Championship Overall Points

 

For this competition the events in the Skyhoundz Disc Dogathon will be used to determine an overall Champion, and will be honored as the Bigwag Dog Bakery Arkansas State Disc Dog Champion, and a Runner-up.

 

For each event (Freestyle, Time Trial, Distance/Accuracy, and Extreme Distance) Overall points will be awarded for the top ten finishers in each event as such:

 

1^st = 10 points

2^nd = 9

3^rd = 8

4^th = 7

5^th = 6

6^th = 5

7^th = 4

8^th = 3

9^th = 2

10^th = 1

 

All the overall points from each team’s events will be added together to determine the Overall Points Champion and Runner-up.

 

In Extreme Distance there will be a division for Men and for Women and each will score equal Overall Points dependant on their placement in their Extreme Distance Division.

 

If there is a tie for first place in Overall Points there will be a Skyhoundz Distance/Accuracy Tie Breaker Face Off for the Championship.  (See Distance Accuracy Tie Breaker rule #2.)

 

 

 

Good Luck, and have fun!