Skyhoundz Competition Overview

The top-scoring teams from each Skyhoundz Classic Qualifier earn invitations to the Skyhoundz Classic World Canine Disc Championship. However, to qualify for the World Championship and/or receive awards, a competitor’s score must be greater than 0. In other words, a team that does not score any points, or makes a qualifying catch, is not eligible to qualify for the World Championship or receive an award. Awards are given to the top three finishers and Qualifiers. Registration fees apply. All proceeds from Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers benefit the contest host organizations.

All final rounds should be run in reverse order of score. So, the last place team would go first and end with the first place team going last.

All Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers consist of the following Divisions:

• MicroDog Open
• MicroDog Sport
• Open
• Pairs Freestyle
• Sport
• Open Youth
• Sport Youth (Exhibition Only/Open Qualifiers Only)

Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers Format

While contest hosts are free to add additional Divisions to Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers (i.e. Novice Division, Youth Division, etc.), the only Divisions recognized by Skyhoundz are the qualifying Divisions. As such, only qualifying Division results will be listed in our official results.

MicroDog Open Division (Freestyle and Distance/Accuracy Combined)
Round 1 — Freestyle (elimination to the top six teams)
Round 2 — Distance/Accuracy
Round 3 — Freestyle

MicroDog Sport Division (Distance/Accuracy)
Round 1 — Distance/Accuracy (elimination to the top six teams)
Round 2 — Distance/Accuracy

Open Division (Freestyle and Distance/Accuracy Combined)
Round 1 — Freestyle (elimination to the top six teams)
Round 2 — Distance/Accuracy
Round 3 — Freestyle

Pairs Freestyle Division (Freestyle Only)
Round 1 — Freestyle

Sport Division (Distance/Accuracy)
Round 1 — Distance/Accuracy (elimination to the top six teams)
Round 2 — Distance/Accuracy

Open Youth Division (Freestyle and Distance/Accuracy Combined)
Round 1 — Freestyle (elimination to the top six teams)
Round 2 — Distance/Accuracy
Round 3 — Freestyle

Sport Youth Division (Distance/Accuracy)
Round 1 — Distance/Accuracy (elimination to the top six teams)
Round 2 — Distance/Accuracy

Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers Competition Order

If you have one court available, the suggested order of competition is as follows*:

Sport Youth Division — Distance/Accuracy Elimination Round
Sport MicroDog Division — Distance/Accuracy Elimination Round
Sport Division — Distance/Accuracy Elimination Round
Open Youth Division — Freestyle Elimination Round
Open MicroDog Division — Freestyle Elimination Round
Open Division — Freestyle Elimination Round
Open Youth Division — Distance/Accuracy Round (top six)
Open MicroDog Division — Distance/Accuracy Round (top six)
Open Division — Distance/Accuracy Round (top six)
Sport Youth Division — Distance/Accuracy Finals (top six)
Sport MicroDog Division — Distance/Accuracy Finals (top six)
Sport Division — Distance/Accuracy Finals (top six)
Open Youth Division — Freestyle Round (top six)
Open MicroDog Division — Freestyle Round (top six)
Open Division — Freestyle Round (top six)
Pairs Freestyle Division — (one round only)

All scoring is cumulative. No scores will be dropped, and all round’s scores will be added to determine the final totals.

*At the Skyhoundz Classic LCQ and WC, competitors will run in the same order for the first two rounds (except Pairs Freestyle which only consists of one round at the LCQ), but will run in reverse order for the final round. At the Skyhoundz Classic WC, Pairs Freestyle will run in reverse order after the first round.

Eligibility:

• Competitors living in the anywhere in the world are eligible to compete in any Skyhoundz Classic Qualifier in the world.

The number of qualifying slots at Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers is as follows:

• Three in Open Division
• Three in Sport Division
• Two in Open Youth Division
• Two in Open MicroDog Division
• Two in Sport MicroDog Division
• Two in Pairs Freestyle Division

Auditing
Competitors who wish to play with their dogs for fun and/or give their dogs some competitive experience, without World Championship invitations may choose to “audit” a Qualifier. They must specify, in advance of the competition starting, with the contest host, that they are auditing the competition. To audit a Qualifier, competitors must pay the same entry fee as everyone else, will receive a score (time or distance), be eligible for Skyhoundz records, will receive official placements/awards, but will not receive World Championship invitations. Competitors may not change their entry to audit status after the competition begins. Competitors who audit the competition will not affect any Qualifier slots. Qualifier slots will roll down to the next eligible competitor.

Although the standard minimum cut size at Skyhoundz Classic Qualifiers is six. Organizers (after consulting with the Chief Judge) may exercise discretion and increase the cut to a larger number of teams in their sole discretion. Organizers should endeavor to communicate the increase in cut size to competitors as far in advance as possible. Notwithstanding any such notification of an increase in cut size, competitors should be aware that weather or time considerations may dictate a return to the minimum cut size of six, possibly even on the day of the event due to inclement weather or a greater number of entries than expected.

In order to be considered for a Skyhoundz Classic World Record, scores or times must be attained at an official Skyhoundz Classic Qualifier or Skyhoundz Classic World Championship.

In exceptional circumstances, Organizers (after consulting with the Chief Judge) have the discretion to modify Skyhoundz rules, but only to the extent necessary to safely, efficiently, and fairly run a Skyhoundz event.

Competitors at all Skyhoundz Qualifiers (Classic, DiscDogathon, and Xtreme Distance) may only earn two World Championship invitations in any particular Qualifier. If a competitor earns more than two invitations at a Qualifier, they will have to specify, prior to any awards presentation, which two qualifying invitations they are accepting and, once the choice is made, the remaining qualifying invitation(s) will roll down to the next team. If there is not a remaining team to roll down to, that invitation will simply expire and not be awarded.

For example, John Smith earned invitations to the World Championship in the Open Division and Sport Division with “Phydeaux,” as well as an invitation in MicroDog with “Gunner” at a Skyhoundz Classic Qualifier. John would have to choose if he wanted to accept the two invitations with “Phydeaux” or one with “Phydeaux” and one with “Gunner” prior to the awards presentation, so the remaining invitation would be available to the next competing team.

*Pairs Freestyle and Pairs Distance/Accuracy do not count towards the two invitation limitation. So, a competitor can receive two World Championship Invitations and a Pairs World Championship Invitation at the same Qualifier.

This rule was instituted to ensure that no Qualifier is dominated by any one human competitor such that entries from a diversity of teams are discouraged and so that our Skyhoundz host organizations do not suffer economic harm as a result of diminished attendance at their events.

*The two invitation limitation also applies to the Last Chance Qualifier.

Open, Open MicroDog, Open Youth Division Tie-Breakers

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 highest combined scores in the Athleticism and WoW!Factor categories from both Freestyle Rounds.

2) A Snapshot round will take place with each team receiving ten seconds in which to demonstrate their strongest trick/or cluster of tricks.

The judges will then declare a winner based on their impressions of the overall quality of the Snapshot performances.