World Cup of Flyball 2020!

The FCI has recently announced that the 2nd World Cup of Flyball is set to take place in Lommel, Belgium on May 23rd and 24th, 2020. As a proud supporter of the FCI and the Flyball World Cup, NAFA is opening up applications for teams to represent Canada and the United States at this event. The FCI has granted NAFA a total of 8 teams to send, 4 from Canada, and 4 from the US, in addition to a spot for Fur Fun which gets an automatic invite as defending champion.

NAFA would love to have a larger representation at next year’s World Cup of Flyball. If your club would like to attend, please go to this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMkmCvPHc5ZsBNacYu5MKA985giQaxTe2H15UupWcdufsCuQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&fbclid=IwAR0rq_C7x1oAYq51wKJwt_qCQG7izu96ra7QUk5jZAzUsfk3PhzkN0liFws

Applications are open to any and all clubs in good standing with NAFA. In order to provide teams that wish to attend the World Cup as much time as possible to plan, applications are due August 15th, 2019. Based on their resumes, a selection committee will evaluate applicants and select up to 4 from each country with final selections of clubs provided by September 1st, 2019.

If you have general questions please email: nflood51@...
Clubs will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. NAFA is looking to support clubs with uniform and entry fee assistance. If you have questions about planning considerations and opinions, don’t hesitate to reach out and I can coordinate questions with Breanne Long of Fur Fun, who was heavily involved in their planning in 2018. I can post common Q & A online as well.

Thanks,

Neil Flood

NAFA has been considering various changes to the measuring methodology used to determine jump height. We appreciate your patience as we worked on this – obviously it is a very contentious issue and one that needed to be very carefully considered.

During CanAm 2018, withers and ulna measurements (using FCI measuring device) were collected from 207 volunteer dogs anonymously. Two NAFA competitors with PhDs, Curtis Smith and Katie Weihbrecht, volunteered their time to analyze the data. Dr. Smith and Dr. Weihbrecht found that the collected data, for both types of measurement, were representative samples. Through linear regression analysis, a linear relationship between the two types of measuring was found. The data was presented to the board, along with several options for a measuring system, with different starting ulna lengths, and interval sizes. The BOD and Executive Director wish to thank Dr. Smith and Dr. Weihbrecht for the excellent analysis and options provided to the board. This analysis is available here:
http://www.flyball.org/measuring/MeasuringDataCanAm2018.pdf

The NAFA Board considered the options provided on phone calls, and during the April board meeting. It was noted that, although a linear correlation was identified between ulna length and withers’ height, the dogs represented by points either side of that line were concerning. As shown in the sample, there are dogs currently jumping 7”,8”,9”,10” jumps in NAFA that have very similar ulna lengths. Because of this, each option provided a trade-off between minimizing the number of dogs that would need to jump a higher height against decreasing jump heights to the extent that smaller dogs are devalued. In conclusion, a majority of the board decided that moving to ulna measurement would impact too many dogs in an undesired manner. NAFA wants to encourage all breeds and sizes of dogs to participate in flyball, and so having dogs small in stature set the jump heights is something the board wishes to preserve in the sport. It’s an important part of the NAFA brand.

Since the decision at the board meeting, focus has shifted to looking at other means of improving the measuring system. Today we are announcing an overall plan of action as we finalize details before the September meeting. We’ve heard what competitors want, and the goals are to even the playing field for measuring, with a cost-effective plan, and an eye to making the measuring process as easy as possible for participants and height dogs. Rule changes reflecting these changes will be presented to the board at the September meeting where they will be voted on, and will be included in the October 1st, 2019 issue of the NAFA Rule Book.

NAFA is a strong proponent of fair racing, and in that vein, we will be implementing required measuring for the Regular and Multibreed classes beginning October 1, 2020 (FY 2021). NAFA’s Open Division will continue to offer handlers the opportunity to set jumps at the height of their choice, without measuring. NAFA has been unique in the dog sport world for not requiring measuring; NAFA’s policies of self-policing have been contentious for years and it’s time for something new.

Dogs running as height dogs will be required to be measured by a tournament judge (or have been measured within six months of the event date), and again periodically, until ultimately each height dog is measured by a Certified Measuring Judge (CMJ) with a set timeframe. We want to promote measuring consistency and the CMJ program provides that. Once a measurement is obtained from an assigned CMJ, it’s one and done, the measurement is good for the life of the dog, and cannot be challenged. To meet these requirements, we plan to expand and adapt the CMJ program. We are also considering: 
• Means of making the actual measuring easier, including considering devices other than the wicket for measuring withers 
• Expanding opportunities for people to practice measuring with a NAFA judge 
• Changing the criteria for Performance teams, to give the ability to switch to Performance, should a team’s height dog measure higher than what they have been accustomed to running. We believe it’s important for clubs to be able to adequately prepare for any changes mandatory measuring will bring

Finally, NAFA is lending a lot of discussion to lowering the jump heights to -6” from the withers (instead of -5”). We acknowledge that, with no requirement for measuring, many dogs may have never been under the wicket. Our intention is to make this as smooth a transition as possible. We would like people to continue to enjoy racing NAFA Flyball in a competitive and fair environment. While measuring will not be officially required until October 1st, 2020, if the Board elects to lower the measuring height to -6” from the withers, that change could occur as early as this October. As mentioned this has not been officially decided, and if you have opinions or thoughts on the matter I would encourage you to provide feedback to the Board which can be beneficial in their discussion on the matter.

I sincerely appreciate incredible amount of work the Board of Directors have put into this matter. It certainly is not a simple or easy issue to resolve, and I have observed first hand how much time and effort they have put into this issue.

Sincerely,

Neil Flood

As we start to get ready for another fantastic CanAm Flyball Classic, this October 11th, 12th and 13th, I wanted to take the opportunity to announce our judges. Before I announce them, I want to thank all our past judges. We ask a lot of these folks, and they do a truly exceptional job in the ring. I know I speak for all the CanAm organizers, both past and present, that we are incredibly appreciative and proud of the job they have all done. In many ways, they can be the face of CanAm as competitors interact with one of our judges in each race. So a huge thank you to all of them!

Recently I have had a lot of requests for allowing mat time during NAFA sanctioned events. This is an ED exception that is approved on a case by case basis. The following are some guidelines for what is looked at when allowing this exception, so clubs can consider if it’s something they would like to offer at their tournaments:

1. This is only intended for smaller events for which natural breaks would occur anyway. I do not want to the schedule to be created with the intention of forcing the mat time into the schedule, creating a long day for everyone. I would like to prevent paying tournament competitors having to unnecessarily wait for racing because of mat time. However, if breaks are necessary anyway, in order to give teams/dogs proper rest, then allowing mat time isn’t a problem.

2. Final permission will only be given after schedule has been set, and with consultation with the RD.

3. As with mat time outside of the racing day, the host club is liable for any damage to the EJS during this time.

4. No more than two dogs may be run in succession while using EJS.

5. This opportunity must be made available to all dogs and handlers - i.e. it cannot be exclusively offered to certain teams or clubs. Everyone should get an opportunity to sign up and participate.

6. Dogs that participate may not be listed on a timesheet for the on-going event.

If your club would like to offer mat time during an upcoming event, please reach out to your RD, and they can work with me to get it approved.

Thanks,

Neil Flood