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DiscDogathon Event Rules

The Hyperflite Skyhoundz DiscDogathon host organization may choose from a menu of seven competition events and may also add their own Club Choice event. Hyperflite Skyhoundz DiscDogathon host organizations custom tailor their events to serve the needs of the competitors who will be attending.

Hyperflite Skyhoundz 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.

Boomerang Competitors are given up to three attempts to achieve a successful catch with the goal being to throw the disc in such a manner as to keep the disc in the air for the maximum amount of time. Many competitors find a boomerang-like trajectory to be most effective, hence the name Boomerang. Time begins when the disc leaves the throwers hand and ends when the disc is first touched by the competing canine. The throw must be caught before touching the ground to be scored. The longest time between the throw and catch determines the winner. Canine and thrower must be within the designated throwing circle at the time a throw is made. A canine may be restrained by another helper, if necessary, to prevent false starts. The longest time of three attempts will be scored.

Boomerang field set-up A large open, flat, grassy area free of obstacles with a 4-yard diameter throwing circle.

Boomerang Tie-Breaker If there is a tie for first, second or third place, the tie will be broken by alternating Boomerang throws between the tied teams until one team achieves a winning time. Officials will permit the teams to rest their dogs as necessary.

Bullseye is a fast-paced and updated derivation of the original circular canine disc distance format. Scoring rings are located at 8 and 15 yards, respectively, from the throwing circle. Competitors may use two discs to complete throws in any direction. The thrower and the canine must be within a 4-yard (in diameter) circle for the first throw. Thereafter, the thrower must be within the throwing circle at the time each throw is made. Competitors receive one minute to score as many points as they can. One point is awarded for catches made between the 8 and 15-yard lines, and two points are awarded for throws outside of the 15-yard line. An extra point is awarded for each catch made by a canine with all paws off the ground.

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.

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 within the time allotted. Rules set forth here apply.

Extreme Distance is 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 The Freestyle rules set forth here apply, however, teams competing in Freestyle will receive a maximum of 2 minutes (120 seconds) per round. Routines must run at least 90 seconds to be scored.

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.

TimeTrial Each team will attempt to complete two 20-yard throws in the shortest amount of time as described here.

Club Choice is an event to be determined by and judged in accordance with the rules established by the Hyperflite DiscDogathon host organization.