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State of the IDDHA Message March 31, 1999
THE GROUND HOG WAS WRONG!
Winter seemed long this year. Especially in light of Punxsutawney Phil’s erroneous prediction that the cold weather would come
to an early end. That Ground hog was way off this year. Now that winter has finally
loosened it’s icy grip on the northern hemisphere, we can all come out of
hibernation. Spring is slowly inviting us outdoors again and a welcomed time change is
giving many of us a few precious extra daylight hours in the afternoon and early evening
to play disc with our dogs. Thankfully, with winter’s passing, we are all poised at
the beginning of a full year of disc dog play and canine disc competition. Thanks to the
relatively temperate climate, the first quarter of the 1999 Disc Dog Season was dominated
by competitions in the Southeast.
WILL YOUR DOG DO DATA ENTRY?
Handler participation in competitions during the 1st quarter of 1999 was
primarily focused on titling and ranking. Handlers are beginning to take advantage of the
three advanced titles and two types of ranking established by the IDDHA at the beginning
of the season. These new programs and the volume of data generated have required a major
over-haul of the IDDHA database. Modifications are being made by member, Greg Spicker of
Marietta, Georgia. Greg is a Microsoft Access wizard and is generously donating his
efforts to the benefit of the organization. Thanks Greg! Along with a new user-friendly
graphical interface, the new database enables us to update ranking directly to the IDDHA
website. So if your dog can’t do data entry, we can!
Freestyle and Single Disc Events
IDDHA Ranking recognizes hierarchies of Canine Disc performance over specific periods
of time. IDDHA Ranking for Freestyle and Single Disc Events covers the broad spectrum of
competitive canine disc activities during the yearly disc dog season starting Jan. 1 and
ending December 31. Scores are submitted by designated IDDHA representatives and ranking
is officially announced via the internet (www.iddha.com/ranking.htm).
IDDHA Ranking for Freestyle
Freestyle ranking is achieved by sanctioning competitions that utilize the IDDHA
Freestyle Judging Criteria and Procedures. Points are awarded to handlers corresponding to
their freestyle scores. Ranked teams are required to maintain their IDDHA membership in
good standing and attend a minimum of 5 sanctioned competitions per season. Ranking is
posted quarterly and is based on the best 5 scores over the disc dog season. The following
is a brief description of the judging criteria and procedures utilizing the IDDHA
Freestyle Skill Classes (see accompanying Score Sheet) in a subjective format.
Artistic Impression (style) and Technical Ability (skill) are considered in scoring Freestyle routines. Scores are derived by evaluating and appropriately scoring the individual skills in each Skill Class. The individual skills have the potential of earning up to 2.5 points with variation to 1/10 of a point each. The lowest scores from the Combined Skill class are dropped due to the fact that teams receive points for only the 4 highest of the 7 interactive elements. Scores for the individual skills in each of the Skill Classes are totaled (a maximum of 10 points are available in each Skill Class) and then divided by 3 for an Averaged Cumulative. The Averaged Cumulative, which has variation to 1/100 of a point, represents the Ranking Points received for that particular competition. If more than one round is utilized in a given competition, the highest of the two rounds is applied to the team's Ranking Points.
Any disc dog event that utilizes a single disc, the handler is required to throw from a designated area, throws and catches are measured, and results are recorded will be considered for ranking. Ranking for Single Disc Events is based on the catching percentage (execution) of a team. Only catches (anything over 20 yards) are counted towards a team’s catching percentage - not unlike a disc dog team's batting average. Every throw is an "at-bat" and all catches over 20 yards are "hits."Ranking for Single Disc Events
IDDHA Single Disc Ranking virtually eliminates any kind of gender-based strength advantage; practically "levels" the playing field for all sizes of dogs; and most importantly, allows the IDDHA to sanction almost all single disc events for ranking.
IDDHA Ranking is a benefit of membership. As these programs become established, the IDDHA anticipates that ranking for freestyle and single disc events will have the highest degree of participation amongst disc dog handlers in competition.
IDDHA Member Insurance
The IDDHA has been issued a comprehensive insurance policy with Sportsmen’s
Insurance Agency Plan that covers up to $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate -
bodily injury/property damage. The liability policy protects the Association and the
Association Members for their negligence causing bodily injury and/or property damage to a
3rd party. The policy extends to the continental United States and Alaska only.
It covers organized IDDHA activities and officials, judges and committee members while
acting in their capacity as such.
The IDDHA can extend the use of this policy to our members on an individual basis for official IDDHA activities in which the IDDHA is the primary group associated with the event. However, this policy will not protect any other entity that is officially affiliated with the event in question. For instance, if a club hosts an IDDHA sanctioned competition and a claim is made, the IDDHA and its members will be covered but the club and its members will not be protected unless they have their own policy. For this reason, we are urging all clubs and contest organizers to secure their own insurance prior to holding themselves out to the public and opening themselves to the possibility of being held liable for some unforeseen incident.
If you are interested in using the IDDHA policy for an event, please contact the IDDHA headquarters and we will explain in detail what is required and how you can use the insurance for competitions, clinics and demonstrations in your community.
The A B C ‘ s of the IDDHA
The Articles, Bylaws and Constitution are the administrative guts of the IDDHA. The
Articles of Incorporation have been filed along with the non-profit application. The
Bylaws are finished as well - this document serves as the Association’s Constitution
and will be posted on the IDDHA website soon at www.iddha.com/bylaws.htm. Creating these
documents was extremely difficult, made possible only through the help of many IDDHA
members and a competent attorney and accountant. I’d like to publicly thank everyone
involved with these projects. As you read through the documents, you might feel there are
areas that require addendums and/or amendments. These alterations, additions and
modifications can be accomplished through the balloting and election processes specified
within the Bylaws. It is the hope of the IDDHA that our organization can represent the
handlers as determined by the membership. For that reason we have specified democratic
procedures for altering the infrastructure of the organization. Exercise your rights,
submit proposals for the IDDHA Standards and Guidelines and Bylaws, and then vote.
PUT SOME SPRING IN YOUR PUP!
Below is a copy of the art from the DDX Bag Tag that handlers receive with the
advanced title. The first DDX was earned March 20, 1999 by IDDHA member Theresa Jones and
her Australian Shepherd Trixie with her fourth and final leg at the Cherry Blossom
Festival in Macon, GA. This team also holds the number one position in the IDDHA Ranking
for Freestyle at the end of the 1st quarter of the 1999 Disc Dog Season.
Greg Tresan