Divisions

General

Toss & Fetch

Freestyle

Incident Investigation

Divisions

Junior Novice Toss & Fetch competition is open to handlers 12 years of age or younger on January 1 of that competition year. Junior Novice competition will use the Novice Final's rules, scoring, and field layout. Junior Novice is considered below novice level. Winning at Junior Novice level does not preclude handlers from competing at the Novice level, but winning at the Junior Novice level will not require the handler to move to the Novice level.

Novice Toss & Fetch competition will consist of Toss & Fetch. Novice competition will use the Novice Final's rules, scoring, and field layout. A handler may enter the Novice division if that handler has never won a canine Frisbee event at any level. This criterion is applied to the Handler, not the canine or the team.

Pro Toss & Fetch competition will consist of Toss & Fetch. Pro competition will use the Pro Final's rules, scoring, and field layout.

Open competition will consist of Toss & Fetch and Freestyle. Open competition will use the Open Final's rules, scoring, and field layout. A handler may enter the Open division if that handler has never won a canine Frisbee Freestyle event at any level. This criterion is applied to the Handler, not the canine of the team.

Super-Open competition will consist of Freestyle and Toss & Fetch. Super-Open competition will use the Super-Open Final's rules, scoring, and field layout.

General rules for all divisions of competition:

Handlers may be any age or of either gender. Note: Junior Novice competition is open to handlers 12 years of age or younger on January 1 of that competition year.

Prior to competition, handlers must read and sign, without altering, the 2002 GADDC Registration Form, which contains a liability waiver and publicity release.

Teams shall consist of one dog and one handler.

Only one team is to compete at a time.

Only the competing dog, handler, and contest officials are allowed on the field during competition.

No canine may be entered in more than two divisions (excluding Junior Novice) on any given competition day.

Official Fastback Frisbee® discs manufactured by WHAM-O® are the only discs allowed in competition. Only dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less may use smaller discs provided by their handlers. Note: For the Georgia State Frisbee Dog Championships, these smaller discs must be manufactured by WHAM-O®.

At all GADDC competitions where a t-shirt is provided to a competitor they are required to wear it during the competitors' meeting, competitor introductions, all of their competition rounds, at the presentation ceremony, at all times that the competitor is being interviewed by members of the media, and at any other times that the competitor is on the field.

However, freestyle teams who are pre-approved by the Head Judge to wear a bona-fide costume will be exempted from wearing the competition t-shirt during their FREESTYLE ROUNDS ONLY. In order to secure this exemption a team that wants to wear a costume must show it to the Head Judge before the start of the competition and the Head Judge will have total discretion about whether or not they decide to approve the costume for any reason without providing an explanation

Handlers must not use props of any kind during their Freestyle or Toss & Fetch rounds (e.g. hoops, sticks, ribbons, etc.).

Dogs must be kept on leash at all times, except when competing or practicing.

Handlers must walk dogs on leash to the on-deck area of field, when called. Dogs must be put back on leash immediately after competing. Practicing teams must be out of range of the competition area and spectators so that competing teams are not distracted.

Where required by local ordinance, all competing canines must have proof of rabies inoculation and a valid license. Parvo and Canine Cough (Bordetella) immunizations are strongly recommended for all competing dogs.

During competition, one or more Scoring Judges will assess the points scored by each team and the total points scored by each team. The "calls" and decisions of the Judges are final and will not be subject to review or appeal.

Boisterous challenges, abusive language, or other inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior, whether directed at contest officials or not, may result in the contestant being disqualified from further competition.

Handlers are responsible for the safety and welfare of their dogs at GADDC competitions. Handlers and/or owners or their agents are expected to properly supervise and maintain control over their canines at all times.

GADDC contest officials reserve the right to change format, competition rules, time allotments, etc., at their discretion.

Mandatory Disqualification

• Abuse by the handler of an animal.
• Female dogs in any stage of heat.
• Aggressive canine behavior.

Toss & Fetch

Teams competing in Toss & Fetch receive 90-seconds to compete. During a team’s allotted time, the team is allowed an unlimited number of throws with a single disc. *Only the five best throw/catches will be recorded.

Teams are allowed up to two practice throws, with or without the canine, time permitting. The team must be behind throwing line for time to begin. Time will begin the instant the dog crosses the throwing line on the first throw. Thrower must always release the disc from behind the throwing line. Thrower may move freely about the field at other times. A throw will not count (and be called as a foot fault) if the thrower steps on or over the throwing line during release of the disc. If disc has left the thrower's hand before time is called, the throw will be scored if caught.

Although this is a single disc event, teams where the dog is susceptible to damaging discs may bring extra discs with them to the starting line. At any time during their 90 seconds a thrower may inform the Line Judge that they will be exchanging discs in order to ensure that the handler does not use a disc that has a broken rim, tear, or other type of damage that may substantially impair the flight of the disc or potentially injure the dog. To exercise this option a handler must hand the disc that they have been using to the Line Judge before taking hold of their replacement disc. Time does not stop during this exchange. The handler has total discretion for deciding if and when such disc exchanges will take place.

If, during a team's allotted time, the dog eliminates on or off the field, time will be immediately stopped and will not resume. A number of points will be deducted from the team's score equal to the number of throws/catches that had been made by the handler before the dog eliminated. However, the application of this rule cannot result in a score lower than zero. Handlers will be required to immediately and thoroughly clean up after their dog. Teams will not be disqualified for such an infraction, but in addition to forfeiting the remainder of their time,

Junior Novice and Novice Toss & Fetch Scoring Scale for Catches

• No points awarded for catches less than 10 yards.
• 10 yards 1 Point awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  2 Points for a mid-air catch.
• 15 yards 3 Points awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  4 Points for a mid-air catch.
• 20 yards 5 Points awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  6 Points for a mid-air catch.
• 25+ yards 7 Points awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  8 Points for a mid-air catch

Pro, Open, and Super-Open Toss & Fetch Scoring Scale for Catches

• No points awarded for catches less than 10 yards.
• 10 yards 1 Point awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  1 1/2 Points for a mid-air catch.
• 20 yards 2 Point awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  2 1/2 Points for a mid-air catch.
• 30 yards 3 Points awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  3 1/2 Points for a mid-air catch.
• 40 yards 4 Points awarded if any paw touches ground at time of catch.
  4 1/2 Points for a mid-air catch.

Freestyle Rules for Open and Super-Open Competition©

Open Freestyle teams will be allowed a maximum of 90 seconds. Super-Open Freestyle teams will be allowed a maximum of 120 seconds. Timing and scoring begins when the handler either throws or places a disc in flight and the canine makes any movement that can be considered an attempt to retrieve the disc. No practice throws will be allowed.

Contestants are encouraged to bring their own music on CDs (marked with selection number) to perform to. CDs must be properly marked with the handler's name and presented in unbroken jewel cases.

Only tricks or moves that begin or end with the disc in sustained flight are judged; the disc must be in flight at some point during the move in order for a move to be scored. Tricks where the disc is handed off from the hander's hand to the dog will not be counted.

Note: The use of vaults which employ the thrower's body as a launching pad should be tempered with consideration for the dog’s welfare. Dogs of different breed, size, and temperament execute vaults with varying degrees of finesse during flight and control while landing; therefor, excessive heights, and/or frequent repetition of vaults especially where the dog "crashes" should be avoided.

In addition to the rules above GADDC contests use the US Disc Dog Judging Criteria for Freestyle. These criteria are outlined below.

1. The competition disc must be a FRISBEE® fastback, and teams can use up to a maximum of ten (10) discs during a freestyle routine. However, dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less are allowed to use any type of safe flying disc. (FRISBEE® is a brand name and registered trademark of Wham-O, Inc.)
2. Any throws that leave the handler’s hand before time expires may count towards the team’s total score although the actual catch may not be executed until after time has expired.
3. If, during the allotted time, a dog takes a nature break on or off the field, time will be immediately stopped and will not resume. Handlers will be immediately required to thoroughly clean any affected area of the field. Teams will not be disqualified for such an infraction, but in addition to forfeiting the remainder of their time, a 5 point penalty will be deducted from their total score out of forty points. However, the application of this rule cannot result in a score lower than zero.
4. If an interruption occurs during competition that is beyond the control of the competitor (i.e., not a nature break), time will be suspended as quickly as possible by an indication from any of the field judges. The interruption will be dealt with (field cleared, offending interruption severely chastised) and the competitor will be allowed to continue with the rest of the round. Time will start immediately where it was suspended, and the canine may start anywhere on the field. Additionally, the competitor can be given the option to start the round over, but only with the support of the majority of the Judges in order to avoid interruptions that in the Judges’ opinions were intentionally caused by someone wanting to provide the competitor with a restart opportunity. As the interruption may have occurred early in the round, the competitor may choose to take their new round immediately. If the interruption occurred in the second half of the round, the competitor may elect to move to the end of the order and start the round over after their dog has rested. Time will be suspended for all unforeseen distractions or interruptions that occur on the field and that may directly, or indirectly put the canine competitor at risk of injury or that hamper a team’s ability to compete fairly. The decision to halt a team’s round will be made at the discretion of contest officials.
5. The Judging Crew for any division of competition shall consist of four people with one person assigned to judge each of the four scoring categories: Canine, Player, Team, and Execution. Each Judge will identify a score out of 10 using hundredths of a point variations, so that the maximum possible score for a competing team will be 40 points. The Scoring Judges have total discretion for determining scores, and their decisions will not be subject to review or appeal.
6. The Canine Judge will allocate scores up to 2.50 for each of the four Canine Elements. The Total Canine Score will be the total of the four elements.
7. The Player Judge will allocate scores up to 2.50 for each of the four Player Elements. The Total Player Score will be the total of the four elements.
8. The Team Judge will allocate scores up to 2.50 for each of the seven Team Elements. The Total Team Score will be the total of the best four elements only.
9. The Execution Judge will calculate the Catch-Throw ratio for the team and multiply it by 10.0 to derive the Total Execution Score. To be counted as a throw (and a possible catch) the disc must be released from the player's hand before the dog attempts the catch. Consequently, takes and intended rollers shall not be counted as either a throw or a possible catch, but all other releases shall be counted as a throw and possible catch.

The following table summarizes the maximum scores a team can achieve using the US Disc Dog Judging Criteria for Freestyle: