2018 USDAA DOG AGILITY STEEPLECHASE & PERFORMANCE SPEED JUMPING SM CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SERIES Published September 1, 2017 USDAA s 2018 Dg Agility Steeplechase turnament series is designed t shwcase tp cmpetitrs with emphasis n jumping and speed, which recgnizes cmpetitrs thrugh cash prizes at lcal, reginal and final champinship events. USDAA s Perfrmance Speed Jumping SM turnament series fllws the same basic rules except that jump height divisins and bstacle specificatins are used t match USDAA s Perfrmance Prgram. The Qualifying Perid fr the 2018 Turnament Seasn is September 5, 2017 thrugh September 3, 2018. Each turnament is structured n three levels: Lcal qualifying events held during the Qualifying Perid Reginal champinships cnsisting f tw prgressive runds f cmpetitin (semifinals and finals), held in select cities frm March t September, and A final champinship event, cnsisting f quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, held at the Cynsprt Wrld Games in Scttsdale, Arizna, Octber 31-Nvember 4, 2018 General Rules This turnament cncept was derived frm the equestrian wrld and is designed as a spectatr attractin featuring speed and the sprt s tw mst dynamic bstacles the A-frame and Weave Ples when wrking with speed. The curse design requires cnstant flw and a design that encurages speed thrughut the curse, while testing the handler s respnse cntrl. Cntrl challenges that serve t detract frm the speed element shuld be excluded. Cmpetitrs are eligible t cmpete in the turnament series with any dg that is fully registered with USDAA withut regard t previus accmplishments in the sprt, except as therwise stipulated herein. The fllwing general rules apply: A persn may enter mre than ne dg in the turnament; hwever, n dg may be entered by mre than ne persn and n dg may be entered in bth the Champinship and Perfrmance Prgram f this turnament at the same event Any cmpetitr may enter any f the lcal qualifying trials r reginal champinship events withut regard t gegraphic lcatin. Cmpetitrs and all ring persnnel must wear specified attire. Such attire, if any, shall be set frth in the Agility Test Schedule fr the event, and/r distributed at the event. In additin, T-shirts ther than USDAA t-shirts are nt permitted in the main perfrmance ring at the Wrld Champinship event Pl shirts are recmmended and shirt-tails shuld be tucked-in in a neat manner Apparel r accessries may nt be wrn r exhibited in r abut the ring that include any insignia, name r lg f crpratins r assciatins ther than that f USDAA r its natinal and reginal spnsrs n the day f the turnament, withut the express written permissin f USDAA Apparel r accessries may nt be wrn that include ffensive graphics r remarks r include any statements prmting a cause r agenda Apparel r paraphernalia event rganizers in their sle discretin deem t present a pr image r representatin f the sprt, USDAA r ther rganizatins shall nt be exhibited in r abut the ring Other restrictins in the spirit f these regulatins may be impsed by USDAA withut prir ntice Qualificatins ( Qs ) earned in lcal qualifying events and in Rund 1 f a reginal champinship event are recrded fr titling purpses and Lifetime Achievement Awards and cunt as required Qs fr Cynsprt. Qualificatins ( Qs ) earned in advanced runds (i.e., reginal finals and all runds at the Cynsprt Wrld Games) are recrded fr turnament advancement nly and are nt recrded fr titling r Lifetime Achievement Award purpses. (These Qs d nt cunt as required Qs fr Cynsprt.) Published: September 1, 2017 Page 1 f 5
Scring USDAA Official Rules & Regulatins currently in effect at the date f cmpetitin shall apply. Standard scring rules fr the Starters level class as set frth in Chapters 5 and 7 f USDAA rules and regulatins shall apply t these turnament series, with the exceptin f: Cmpetitin shall be run n jumpers-style curses including between seventeen and twenty bstacles that include primarily hurdles and tunnels, with at least tw spread hurdles, a lng jump, an A-frame and a minimum f 10 weave ples. Either the A-Frame r weave ples shall be perfrmed twice Scring in each rund shall be n a time plus faults basis, with a five-pint penalty added t a cmpetitr s perfrmance time fr each ccurrence f a fallen hurdle r missed cntact Running the wrng curse shall be defined under Masters rules as set frth in Chapter 3 f USDAA rules and regulatins and shall be scred as an Eliminatin Curse design guidelines fr the Masters Jumpers class shall generally apply. Curse design shuld establish flw thrughut that encurages speed. A Qualifying Scre is based upn a frmula that defines a Qualificatin Standard in Rund 1 at a lcal qualifying event and reginal champinship, as fllws: When there are five r mre Champinship cmpetitrs actually cmpeting in the 10, 14, r 16 height classes, r seven r mre cmpetitrs in the 20, 22 r 24 height classes, a cmpetitr with a scre within 25% f the average f the tp three scres in the height class shall qualify. When there are five r mre Perfrmance cmpetitrs actually cmpeting in the 8 and 12 height classes, r seven r mre cmpetitrs in the 14, 16 r 20 height classes, a cmpetitr with a scre within 25% f the average f the tp three scres in the height class shall qualify. When there are fewer than the minimum number f cmpetitrs specified abve fr averaging f the tp three cmpetitrs scres, the maximum qualifying scre shall be determined fr each height class by multiplying the tp scre fr that class by 1.25. (By default, when nly ne cmpetitr in a height class has a scre, the cmpetitr qualifies.) Separate qualificatin standards may apply in designated cuntries r territries utside the U.S. Only lcal residents within thse areas that d nt have ready access t cmpetitins are eligible fr such special standards. Lcal Qualifying Events Eligibility & Advancement Lcal qualifying events will generally cnsist f tw prgressive runds f cmpetitin at the event hst s discretin. Shuld just ne rund be held, qualificatin, turnament tp ten pints, and prize mney will be awarded based upn placement in rund 1. One qualifying scre is required fr entry t the reginal champinship Tw qualifying scres in an eligible jump height (ne f which may be earned in rund 1 at a reginal champinship) are required fr entry t the wrld champinship quarterfinals r semifinals, the latter f which als requires a bye earned at a reginal champinship. There shall be n handler substitutins permitted in Rund 2 (i.e., the cmpetitr running in Rund 2 must be the same handler f the dg that earned the Rund 1 qualificatin r bye). Reginal Champinship Events Eligibility & Advancement Reginal champinships cnsist f tw runds, with cmpetitrs wh earn a qualifying scre in Rund 1 advancing t Rund 2. One qualifying scre is required fr entry t a reginal champinship Published: September 1, 2017 Page 2 f 5
The first-rund f a lcal qualifying turnament class shall be held in cnjunctin with a reginal champinship event t prvide an pprtunity fr cmpetitrs t qualify fr the reginal. (A final rund f the lcal qualifying turnament class may be held at event hst s ptin). Cmpetitrs wh enter the lcal qualifying class must submit a separate, prvisinal entry t rund 1 f the reginal with entry. A cmpetitr must be entered in a reginal champinship in the same Prgram (i.e., Champinship r Perfrmance) and height class in which eligibility was earned. A cmpetitr must enter the same Prgram (i.e. Champinship r Perfrmance) fr all turnaments entered. There shall be n handler substitutins permitted in Rund 2 f a reginal champinship (i.e., the cmpetitr running in Rund 2 must be the same handler f the dg that earned the Rund 1 qualificatin.) Cmpetitrs earning a qualifying scre in Rund 1 shall advance t Rund 2 t cmpete fr cash prizes and fr the pprtunity t earn a bye in the Cynsprt quarterfinals. In Rund 2 f a reginal champinship, a cmpetitr meeting the perfrmance standard fr a bye as defined belw is eligible t directly enter the Cynsprt semifinals. The same frmula fr calculating the Qualificatin Standard at a lcal qualifying event is used fr calculating the perfrmance standard fr a bye, except that: The actual number f cmpetitrs cmpeting in Rund 2 is used, and The percentage is 15% instead f 25% (e.g., 1.15 times the average f the tp scres) In a reginal champinship, byes in the Cynsprt Wrld Games quarterfinals (i.e., earning the right t directly enter the semifinals) will be earned in each jump height by cmpetitrs placing 1-3 in Rund 2 r placing within the tp 15% in each jump height in Rund 2, whichever is larger. The cmpetitr wh places first in each height class is named Reginal Champin. Any dg entered in this turnament that des nt have a cmpleted registratin card, i.e. three measurements that place the dg in a specific jump height, must be measured prir t cmpeting at a reginal champinship. Shuld the dg measure up (i.e., int a higher height class), the cmpetitr must jump their dg at the higher height, regardless f the height previusly qualified. Cynsprt Champinship Event Eligibility & Advancement A cmpetitr must enter the same Prgram (i.e., Champinship r Perfrmance) fr all turnaments entered. Where a cmpetitr may earn qualificatins in bth the Champinship Prgram turnaments and Perfrmance Prgram turnaments thrughut the turnament seasn Qualifying Perid, the cmpetitr must enter the Champinship Prgram turnaments at the Cynsprt Wrld Games unless a majrity f qualificatins frm all qualifying turnaments have been earned in the Perfrmance Prgram (i.e., Perfrmance Grand Prix SM, Perfrmance Speed Jumping SM, Perfrmance Versatility Pairs SM, and Perfrmance Masters Challenge Biathln SM ). In additin, during the turnament Qualifying Perid a cmpetitr must earn a minimum f ten (10) qualificatins in titling classes (i.e., any qualificatins earned in any prgram twards standard, jumpers, gamblers, snker, r relay class titles at any level; des nt include turnaments qualificatins), and 25% f titling Qs in the same prgram (Champinship r Perfrmance) as qualified in turnaments fr Cynsprt eligibility. A cmpetitr may enter different jump heights in different turnaments within the same prgram (e.g., 24 Steeplechase, 22 Grand Prix, 24, 22 MC Biathln) prvided they have met the height class eligibility requirements fr each turnament. Cmpetitrs must meet qualificatin and eligibility requirements* in tw f the fur turnaments in the same prgram t cmpete at Cynsprt 2018, summarized as fllws: Grand Prix f Dg Agility /Perfrmance Grand Prix SM Quarterfinals: Tw (2) Qs Semifinals: Tw (2) Qs plus a bye earned in Rund 2 f a reginal champinship Published: September 1, 2017 Page 3 f 5
Dg Agility Steeplechase /Perfrmance Speed Jumping SM Quarterfinals: Tw (2) Qs Semifinals: Tw (2) Qs plus a bye earned in Rund 2 f a reginal champinship Dg Agility Masters Team/Perfrmance Versatility Pairs SM Tw (2) Qs earned at a lcal r reginal champinship event Masters Challenge ( MC ) Biathln SM /Perfrmance Masters Challenge ( PMC ) Biathln SM Tw (2) Qs earned at a lcal r Reginal Biathln event. (Includes nly biathln turnament Qs* fr 2018) Cmpetitrs wh earn a bye in Rund 2 f a reginal champinships shall be eligible t enter the Cynsprt Wrld Games semifinals. Cmpetitrs whse scre is within 15% f the tp scres f thse actually cmpeting in each height class in the quarterfinals (same criteria as established fr earning a bye in Rund 2 f a reginal champinship in these regulatins) shall advance t the champinship semifinals (see Reginal Champinship Eligibility and Advancement abve). Cmpetitrs wh scre within 15% f the tp scre f thse cmpeting in their height class in the semifinals advance t the finals, subject t limitatins fr the maximum number f cmpetitrs allwed in each jump height published in the Agility Test Schedule. In the event a tie scre results in the number f cmpetitrs exceeding these requirements, the additinal cmpetitrs shall advance t the finals in lieu f hlding a runff. The cmpetitr earning the lwest scre (i.e., the fastest time after faults have been added) in the finals shall be the winner. Shuld a tie ccur, a runff shall be held, with each cmpetitr running n the same r similar curse, until a winner is determined. There shall be n handler substitutins permitted in the advanced runds in the Cynsprt Wrld Games (i.e., the cmpetitr running in the semifinals must be the same handler f the dg that earned the qualificatin in the quarterfinals r wh earned the bye int the semifinals frm a reginal champinship event. Als, the cmpetitr running in the finals must be the same handler wh earned the qualificatin in the semifinals.) Awards Qualifying ribbns (r certificates) and placement ribbns r rsettes at lcal qualifying events and at champinship events held utside the United States shall be the respnsibility f the hst rganizatin. Prize mney equal t 30% f the ttal entry fees (r ther such amunt fr a lcal qualifying event, being n less than 20% r n mre than 40% f the entry fees as stipulated in the Agility Test Schedule) shall be awarded t tp winners in Rund 2 at lcal qualifying events (Rund 1 if Rund 2 is nt held) and at reginal champinship events in accrdance with the payut table belw, regardless f the size f entry in any height class: Champinship Prgram 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th 6th Ttal* 10 8% 4% 2% 1% 15% 14 8% 4% 2% 1% 15% 16, 20 (each) 8% 4% 2% 2% 1% 17% 22 8% 4% 2% 2% 2% 1% 19% 24 8% 4% 2% 2% 1% 17% TOTAL 48% 24% 12% 10% 5% 1% 100% Perfrmance Prgram 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Ttal 8 10% 5% 3% 18% 12 10% 5% 3% 1% 19% 14, 16, 20 (each) 10% 5% 3% 2% 1% 21% TOTAL 50% 25% 15% 7% 3% 100% Published: September 1, 2017 Page 4 f 5
NOTE: Allcable prize mney t Rund 2 psitins that are nt filled fr any reasn, and amunts less than $5.00, shall nt be paid unless therwise stipulated in the Agility Test Schedule. Amunts payable frm a lcal qualifier held at a reginal champinship shall be cmbined with the reginal champinship awards unless therwise prvided at club s discretin in the reginal champinship test schedule. Qualifying ribbns r certificates will be awarded t thse with a qualifying scre in Rund 1 f the Reginal Champinships. USDAA will spnsr turnament awards at the Reginal Champinship events held thrughut the United States as fllws: Reginal champinship placement rsettes and medals shall be awarded t first thrugh third places in each height class. Cynsprt Semifinalist Bye Certificates will be awarded t thse earning a bye in the Cynsprt Quarterfinals in accrdance with these regulatins. A Reginal Champinship trphy shall be awarded t the first place winner in each height class. USDAA will spnsr turnament awards at the Cynsprt Wrld Games as fllws: Semifinalist rsettes r certificates shall be awarded t thse wh cmpete in the semifinals and d nt advance t the finals at the wrld champinship event. Gld, silver and brnze medals and rsettes shall be awarded t the first, secnd and third place winners in each height class f the final rund at the Cynsprt Wrld Games event Prize mney ttaling up t $10,000 shall be distributed amng tp cmpetitrs as specified in the Agility Test Schedule fr the Dg Agility Steeplechase final rund. Prize mney as specified in the Agility Test Schedule will be distributed in Perfrmance Speed Jumping. Pl shirts shall be awarded t all finalists and are t be wrn in the finals. Finalist rsettes shall be awarded t all finalists nt earning a medal placement. USDAA may ffer awards in additin t thse indicated abve at its discretin. Interpretatins f Rules These turnament rules cannt address all matters that may arise during the curse f the turnament series. Interpretatin f these regulatins shall be made frm time t time by judges and shw fficials as circumstances arise. These interpretatins shall be made in the spirit f sprtsmanship and in fulfillment f the purpse f this turnament series in seeking t identify and prmte tp cmpetitrs in head-t-head cmpetitin fr the current turnament seasn. Separate regulatins r exceptins t these regulatins may be issued frm time t time fr cmpetitrs residing in gegraphically islated r develping regins utside the United States where a sufficient number f supprting events fr qualificatin r advancement are nt available. Final authrity fr interpretatin f these rules shall be the respnsibility f the USDAA Rules Advisry Bard. *See the respective turnament rules fr definitin f a qualifying scre and eligibility requirements fr each respective turnament. Published: September 1, 2017 Page 5 f 5