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       Freestyle Judging Criteria

In Canine Frisbee events worldwide, freestyle competition is viewed as the most challenging and rewarding format for teams wanting to demonstrate their teamwork and creativity.

ACDA have adopted the following Judging Criteria for Freestyle for use in sanctioned competitions. These Judging Criteria are very simple and also provide the opportunity for Australian Canine Frisbee teams to compare their competition performance against other teams throughout the World. These Judging Criteria were originally developed through a consultative process by the USDDN, the Organizing Committee that coordinates the annual US Disc Dog Nationals Championships Series.

Freestyle Judging Criteria (Current as at 17th January 2009)

1. Spectators cannot be permitted to enter the competition field.

2. Only one handler and their dog compete on the field at any given time.

3. The only brands of discs allowed are those that have been approved for competition use by ACDA, and teams can use up to a maximum of ten (10) discs during a freestyle routine. However, dogs with a shoulder height of 15 inches or less are allowed to use any type of safe flying disc.

4. This is a timed event with teams having a maximum time limit of 90 seconds (Pro Division) or 2:00 minutes (Super-Pro Division). Time starts when the first disc is put in flight. Any throws that leave the handler’s hand before time expires may count towards the team’s total score although the actual catch may not be executed until after time has expired.

5. If, during the allotted time, a dog takes a nature break on or off the field, time will be immediately stopped and will not resume. Handlers will be immediately required to thoroughly clean any affected area of the field. Teams will not be disqualified for such an infraction, but in addition to forfeiting the remainder of their time, a 5 point penalty will be deducted from their total score out of forty points. However, the application of this rule cannot result in a score lower than zero.

6. If an interruption occurs during competition that is beyond the control of the competitor (i.e., not a nature break), time will be suspended as quickly as possible by an indication from any of the field judges. The interruption will be dealt with (field cleared, offending interruption severely chastised) and the competitor will be allowed to continue with the rest of the round. Time will start immediately where it was suspended, and the canine may start anywhere on the field. Additionally, the competitor can be given the option to start the round over, but only with the support of the majority of the Judges in order to avoid interruptions that in the Judges’ opinions were intentionally caused by someone wanting to provide the competitor with a restart opportunity. As the interruption may have occurred early in the round, the competitor may choose to take their new round immediately. If the interruption occurred in the second half of the round, the competitor may elect to move to the end of the order and start the round over after their dog has rested. Time will be suspended for all unforeseen distractions or interruptions that occur on the field and that may directly, or indirectly put the canine competitor at risk of injury or that hamper a team’s ability to compete fairly. The decision to halt a team’s round will be made at the discretion of US Disc Dog National Field officials.

7. The Judging Crew for any division of competition shall consist of four people with one person assigned to judge each of the four scoring categories: Canine, Player, Team, and Execution. Each Judge will identify a score out of 10 using hundredths of a point variations, so that the maximum possible score for a competing team will be 40 points. The Scoring Judges have total discretion for determining scores, and their decisions will not be subject to review or appeal.

8. The Canine Judge will allocate scores up to 2.50 for each of the four Canine Elements. The Total Canine Score will be the total of the four elements.

9. The Player Judge will allocate scores up to 2.50 for each of the four Player Elements. The Total Player Score will be the total of the four elements.

10. The Team Judge will allocate scores up to 2.50 for each of the seven Team Elements. The Total Team Score will be the total of the best four elements only.

11. The Execution Judge will calculate the Catch-Throw ratio for the team and multiply it by 10.0 to derive the Total Execution Score. To be counted as a throw (and a possible catch) the disc must be released from the player's hand before the dog attempts the catch. Consequently, takes and intended rollers shall not be counted as either a throw or a possible catch, but all other releases shall be counted as a throw and possible catch. 

12. Canine Endangerment Rule - In an effort to promote the safe training and handling of disc dogs, the USDDN has implemented a canine endangerment rule that levies the following point deductions when incidents that increase the risk of injury occur.    Deductions will be made to a team's freestyle scores for the following incidents and description:  (For the judges to penalize a Player with the minimum points deductions of each penalty 2 of the 4 Freestyle Judges must agree; however, to penalize a Player with the maximum points deductions of each penalty 3 out of 4 Freestyle Judges must agree.)

 Contortion: The dog squirms awkwardly enough to risk injury while jumping, catching, or landing. (A half (1/2) point or One (1) point deduction is allowed per occurrence.) 

 Buckle: The dog's legs touch first then collapse on landing to the point that another part of the dog's body (such as torso or head) also strikes the ground. (Two (2) points or Three (3) points deduction is allowed per occurrence.)

 Slam: Some part of the dog's body (back, chest, head, etc.) strikes the ground before the legs during a landing from a jump, vault, catch, or stall.  (Excludes face first skids while pursuing low throws from a running stride.) (Three (3) points or Four (4) points deduction is allowed per occurrence.)

Two of the Four judges must agree to give the minimum point deductions and Three out of the Four judged must agree to give the maximum deduction that one of the above penalties have occurred in order for the deduction to be applied.

During or after each freestyle round, the contest director will inform all contestants that received deductions for the above incidents so that they may have a chance to correct their freestyle performance. 

Teams that incur six or more deduction points during the course of any one day contest will be disqualified.

13. The following table summarizes the maximum scores a team can achieve using the US Disc Dog Judging Criteria for Freestyle:

Canine Elements    
1. Prey Drive During the entire routine consistent focus and concentration must be sustained. 2.50
2. Retrieval The dog's ability to track, chase and catch discs, while demonstrating a variety of retrieval options (dropping discs away from the player, at the player's feet, and handing them to the player). 2.50
3. Athleticism The canine must execute control and consistency while leaping and landing, during standing, running, flipping and/or vaulting maneuvers. 2.50
4. Grip Before, during and after the moment of catching a disc, the canine must exhibit consistent commitment with adequate focus. 2.50
 

Total Canine Score = 

 10.00
Player Elements    
5. Field Presentation The routine must demonstrate planned movement around the playing field, incorporating a variety of throws of different lengths thrown in different directions. 2.50
6. Release Diversity A diversity of throws must be demonstrated by the handler with variations in the grip and release, including a minimum of 3 different releases. 2.50
7. Disc Management Releasing and replacing of all discs must be engaged in the seamless and consistent manner with no breaks. 2.50
8. Rhythmic Team Transitional movement must be designed with smooth transitions between maneuvers and segments. 2.50
 

Total Player Score = 

 10.00
Team Elements    
9. Two Different Overs 2 different over the body elements. 2.50
10. Two Different Vaults 2 different vaults utilizing two different stance positions. 2.50
11. Multiple Segment 1 multiple segment with a minimum of three consecutive throws in rapid secession. 2.50
12. Dog Catch 1 dog catch with the disc in flight. 2.50
13. Team Movement Coordinated team movement i.e. spin together, weave under legs, etc. 2.50
14. Passing Segments Consecutive throws where the dog passes close to the player at least twice in a straight line. 2.50
15. Directional Distance Movement The team performs tricks consisting of at least 4 consecutive throws where by the dog catches discs in a plane of space at a distance from the handler, including such movements as zig-zags, circling outruns, and the like. 2.50
 

Total Team Score = 

 10.00
Execution    
Execution Score

____ Catches / ____ Throws x 10 =

 10.00
 

TOTAL SCORE = 

 40.00

Frisbee® is a brand name and registered trademark of Wham-O, Inc.
The names Australian Canine Disc National Championship™, Queensland Canine Disc State Championship™, NSW Canine Disc State Championship™, ACT Canine Disc State Championship™, Victorian Canine Disc State Championship™, Tasmanian Canine Disc State Championship™, South Australia Canine Disc State Championship™, Western Australia Canine Disc State Championship™, Northern Territory Canine Disc State Championship™, and the Australian Canine Frisbee National Championships Series™ are trademarks of the Australian Canine Disc Association (ACDA).