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Hot Zone Rules and Regulations |
Objective To be the fastest team to successfully
make a catch in each of the six zones in ascending order. The dog must be clearly jumping in the air
for the catch to count. Any paw in the Hot
Zone (Zone 6) during a catch for Zones 1 – 5 will require the team to start
over again at Zone 1.
Judges Three
(3): One Head Judge, one Field Judge and one Line Judge
Steward One
(1): On-Deck Steward
Field Layout
Rules
Open
The dog must successfully
catch a disc in Zones 1-6 in ascending order.
If any paw lands in The Hot Zone (Zone 6) during a catch (in the air or
on the ground) for Zone 1-5, the team will incur a Hot Zone Penalty and be
required to start over at Zone 1.
Catches must be made in the appropriate zone and while the dog is
clearly in the air to count[1].
ProNovice Exceptions
1. The
dog may be on the ground or in the air for the catch to count.
2. At
least one paw must be in the correct zone upon landing after the catch to count
for the Hot Zone.
3. The
handler may cross the Foul Line after releasing the disc without penalty.
Novice
Exceptions
1. The
dog may be on the ground or in the air for the catch to count.
2. At
least one paw must be in the correct zone upon landing after the catch to count
for the Hot Zone.
3. The
handler may cross the Foul Line after releasing the disc without penalty.
4. The
Foul Line is set 5 yards closer at a distance of 10 yards from the Catch Zone.
Rules - Glossary of Terms
In
or Out of Bounds
Zones
1-5: At least one paw must be in the correct zone upon landing after the catch
(and none in The Hot Zone) to count.
Boundaries for Zones 1-5 include the field perimeter circle line and
quadrant marks.
Zone
6 - Hot Zone: All four paws must be in the zone upon landing after the catch to
count[2]. The boundary for the Hot Zone includes the Zone 6
perimeter circle line.
Hot
Zone Penalty
One paw in the Hot Zone upon landing from a successful catch during an attempt for Zone 1-5 will require the team to start over at Zone 1. The dog may do any of the following without penalty:
· Run through the Hot Zone while tracking a disc
· Miss a disc that was thrown into the Hot Zone
Catches
in the Air
The
dog must catch the disc while clearly jumping with all four paws in the air
(not as part of a normal stride), and then return to the handler at the Foul
Line for the catch to be considered fair.
If the dog catches the disc while any paw is on the ground, it will
result in forfeiture of that throw. If
the dog catches the disc at the point of a regular stride at which all four
paws are in the air without clearly jumping, it will result in forfeiture of
that throw.
Tips to Catches
A catch will count if the dog is clearly jumping with all four paws in the air, tips the disc, and then catches it in the air or on the ground with at least one paw in the correct zone. A catch will count if the dog is on the ground, tips the disc, and then catches the disc while clearly jumping with all four paws in the air and lands with at least one paw in the correct zone. If the dog tips the disc without jumping and catches it without jumping it will result in forfeiture of that throw. If the dog tips the disc inside the zone boundary and catches it outside the zone boundary, it will result in forfeiture of that throw.
Catches on the Ground
If a catch is made on the
ground in the correct zone, that catch will be forfeited and the team will
attempt the correct zone again.
Catches in Incorrect
Zones
If a catch is made in a zone
out of order that catch will be forfeited and the team will attempt the correct
zone again.
Misses
If a disc is missed,
the team will attempt the correct zone again.
Time
Each
team will have a three-minute time period in which to make an unlimited number
of throws. Time will begin when the dog
initially crosses the Foul Line and will stop when the dog crosses the Foul
Line carrying the disc to the handler following a
successful
Hot Zone catch. The final throw must be
released before the expiration of the three-minute window to be counted for
scoring.
Foul
Line/Throwing Box
The
dog may utilize a Free Start and may cross the Foul Line prior to the
throw. The handler must remain in the
Throwing Box[3] and behind
the Foul Line at all times.
False
Start Forfeiture
If
the handler steps over the Foul Line at any time between throws, a false start
will be called on that throw. A false
start will result in forfeiture of that throw.
An exception is a False Start resulting in an unintentional catch in the
Hot Zone. In this case, the Hot Zone
Penalty will supercede the False Start Forfeiture of the catch and will require
the team to start over at Zone 1.
Failure
to Retrieve Penalty
The
handler may not grab, snatch, pinch, push, pry or use touch that is in any way
forceful to retrieve the disc from the dog.
The dog must exhibit either an IDDHA RPT Level 4 or 5 retrieval. If the dog fails to deliver the disc to the
handler, or the handler uses touch that is in any way forceful, the Line Judge
may choose to issue a warning or a penalty.
In the case of an FTR penalty, a 10 second time penalty will be added to
the team's Round Time. A second FTR
Penalty will result in automatic disqualification. Novice competitors may use a treat or toy as an exchange object
to positively train a correct competition retrieve.
·
Level 4: Dog pursues
object, picks it up, and retrieves to handler's foot.
·
Level 5: Dog pursues
object, picks it up, and retrieves to handler's hand
Disc
For
each throw, the dog’s handler will throw an approved competition disc into the field of play and will signal
the dog to retrieve the object. The Head Judge must have approved the disc prior
to competition as meeting IDDHA minimum disc requirements.
Acceptable
discs include:
Fastback by Wham-O
Type 235 by Hero
K-10 by Hyperflite
Replacement
Disc
If
at any time the handler chooses to replace the disc in play, he/she must hand
the disc in play to the Line Judge before receiving a new disc from the Line
Judge.
Lost
Disc
If
the dog loses the disc, or the dog fails to return the disc to the handler,
time will continue to run, and the handler may choose to have a 10 second time
penalty added to the team’s Round Time and retrieve the disc
himself/herself. If the disc is thrown
out of bounds, a 20 second time penalty will be added to the team’s Round Time
and the handler will receive a new disc from the Line Judge.
Competition Format
Ranking/Titling
Match
Round One
The
order of competition will be determined by random draw. Should a competitor have more than one dog
in the division, they should be spaced out so that the handler has a reasonable
amount of time between dogs so as not to slow down the Match. Following completion of Round One, each
team’s Time will be recorded as their Round One Time. The dogs will be ranked 1-X based on the fastest to slowest Round One Time.
Round
Two
The
order of competition will be determined by the reverse order of the 1-X
rankings from Round One. Following completion of Round Two, each
team’s Time will be recorded as their Round Two Time.
Results
Each
team’s fastest time from either Round One or Round Two will determine their
Ranking Time. Ranking Times will
determine placement in the competition.
Regional
Championship
Round One
The
order of competition will be determined by random draw. Following completion of Round One, each
team’s Time will be recorded as their Round One Time. The dogs will be ranked 1-X based on the fastest to slowest Round One Time. Those dogs ranked 1-12 will advance to Round Two and the other
dogs will be eliminated.
Round Two
The order of competition will
be determined by the reverse order of the 1-12 rankings from Round One. Following completion of Round Two, each team’s Time will be
recorded as their Round Two Time. The
dogs will be ranked 1-12 based on the fastest to slowest Round Two Time. Those dogs ranked 1-4 will advance to Round
Three and the other dogs will be eliminated.
Final Round
The order of
competition will be determined by the reverse order of the 1-4 rankings from
Round Two. Following completion of the
Final Round, the Time will be recorded as their Final Round Time. The dogs will be ranked 1-4 based on the fastest to slowest Final Round Time.
Competition
Regulations
1. Each
competition team must consist of one dog and one handler. All competing dogs must be at least 18
months old as of July 1, 2005.
2. If
a handler or dog competes in Open, he/she is not eligible to compete in
Novice. If a team competes in Open,
that team is not eligible to compete in ProNovice.
3. Discs
used in competition must meet IDDHA minimum standards of weight and shape. Discs will be approved by the Competition
Organizer during the Competitors’ Meeting.
4. Dogs
may not be run wearing a collar of any kind.
An unobtrusive bandana may be worn; however, the Head Judge must approve
this bandana prior to competition.
5. Food
treats will not be allowed on the field of play at any time.
6. Dogs
must be kept on leash except when in designated warm-up areas or on the
competition field.
Disqualifications
Competitors may be disqualified for any of the
following:
1. Failure
of the dog to fully return with the disc when requested to do so by the handler;
this would exhibit lack of control between the handler and their dog.
2. More
than one disc on the field of play at any one time.
3. Double
Handling – defined as any person other than the handler giving the dog verbal
or physical directions of any kind.
4. Two
Failure to Retrieve Penalties.
5. Fighting
or in any way provoking other competitors, including other dogs.
6. Excessive
dog aggression.
7. Any
abuse of dogs. This will include any
“harsh” correction of a dog during or outside of competition, including collar
jerks.
8. Unsportsmanlike
behavior.
9. Intoxication.
10. Fouling
the playing field at any time.
11. Use
of performance enhancing substances or devices.
12. Female
dogs in heat will not be allowed to compete, nor will they be allowed on the
venue at any time.
Computation of Scores
The official Round Time of each catch will be determined by the Line Judge. Following completion of the six Zones, the
Time will be recorded, any Penalties will be tallied, and the sum will
be recorded as their Round Time.
Resolving Ties
The team with the fewest
attempts in the round will be awarded the higher ranking. If more than one team has the same number of
attempts, the fewest attempts in the Zones with the highest degree of
difficulty will be awarded the higher ranking.
If more than one team has the same number of attempts in the Zones with
the highest degree of difficulty, there will be a Hot Zone throw-off for
fastest time.