Go Dog Go! Flyball Club Rules and Policies

 

1.0 Overall Club Philosophy

Go Dog Go is a team of human friends and their canine companions dedicated to fun and competitive participation in the sport of flyball.

We participate in flyball for the dogs, first and foremost. We want them to be safe, we want them to exercise their bodies and their minds, and we want flyball to be a positive experience for them. Positive training methods are a key component of the Go Dog Go philosophy.

Both the people and the dogs of Go Dog Go are good citizens, and conduct themselves as ambassadors for flyball.

Go Dog Go strives for multi-dimensional excellence in flyball. Clean runs and new team bests are a visible manifestation of less obvious elements of excellence: excellence in human-canine relations, and excellence in community spirit.

2.0 Membership

Membership into Go Dog Go! Flyball Club takes two forms:

1. Provisional membership

2. Regular membership.

2.1 Provisional Membership

In order to attain Provisional membership, an individual must have:

1) Successfully completed the club's requisite training classes or equivalent and been invited into the club by the Board of Directors

or

2) Be known by the Board of Directors to have competed in NAFA competitions with another club and be invited into the club by the Board of Directors.

  • Provisional members may attend all club practices, activities and tournaments.
  • Provisional members are not eligible to vote in club matters.
  • Provisional members are required to pay annual dues in the amount of $50 nonrefundable per dog at the at time of attendance at first practice with dog. Failure to do so will cause that membership to be revoked.
  • Provisional members will be evaluated at approximately 90 days, at which time they may go into probation status.

The Board of Directors may revoke a Provisional membership at will by written or verbal notification

2.2 Regular Membership

In order to attain Regular membership, the person must:

1) have been a Provisional member for not less than six months, and

2) have been voted for by a 4/5ths vote of the Board of Directors during a club meeting or practice at which all Board Members are present or via e-mail.

  • Regular members may attend all club practices, activities and tournaments. Regular members are eligible to vote in club matters.
  • Regular members are required to pay annual dues in the amount of $35 for one dog, $45 for a household. Household will be defined as all dogs and humans currently residing together and participating in club activities (attending and participating in tournaments and practices regularly). Regular membership dues are collected each year on or before the first of January. Regular members who join or provisional members who move up to Regular status after July 1st will pay $20 for the remainder of that year. Failure to do so will cause that membership to be revoked.

The Board of Directors may revoke a Regular membership at will by written or verbal notification by a 3/5ths vote. Regular members so expelled are entitled to a hearing by the Board if they so desire.

3.0 Member Conduct

Members and their dogs are expected to observe reasonable rules of conduct including, but not limited to:

  • Members must keep their dogs under control at all times, including keeping their dog on leash or in crate or x-pen when not on course for the safety of all parties involved.
  • Members must be courteous to other team members, competitors, officials, and spectators at all times. Abusive language and/or behavior directed at dogs or people will be cause for dismissal or revocation of membership.
  • Members are expected to show good sportsmanship and team spirit at all times.
  • Members are expected to clean up after their dogs at all times.
  • Aggression by dogs towards people or other dogs is not tolerated. Dogs deemed to be aggressive by the board will be dealt with on a case by case basis. All members are expected to report acts of aggression to a board member as soon as reasonably possible.
  • Members must always obey the existing rules and regulations of the practice/tournament facilities being used for practices and tournaments. Use of any public facility by this club (and other clubs) is easily revoked, and such facilities are not easily obtained
  • Members are expected to wear the club uniform to all tournaments and public demonstrations.
  • When on tournament grounds, all members are expected to understand and observe the NAFA Official Rules and Policies.
  • No physically harsh corrections of dogs will be tolerated.

4.0 Club Officers, Directors, Meetings and Elections

Go Dog Go! Flyball Club shall be governed and managed by a Board of Directors, two of which are designated Club Officers.

4.1 Board of Directors

A Board of Directors comprised of five Regular members governs Go Dog Go! Flyball Club. The Board shall have broad power to appoint Club Officers, oversee the expenditure of the Club's funds, and govern the membership as it sees fit. This shall include the maintenance and modification of the Articles of incorporation, Club Bylaws, and these Rules and Policies.

Membership on the Board is by club seniority. Vacancies on the Board of Directors will be filled by next most senior Regular club member.

4.2 Club Officers

The Board of Directors shall appoint Club Officers to perform the day-to-day activities necessary to run the club and its’ activities. Officers must be Regular members. These Officers and their duties shall include but are not limited to:

  • President - Presides over club meetings. Coordinates annual elections. Responsible for ensuring that all conflicts within the club are resolved. Selects (in coordination with other Board Members) tournament team lineups. Liaison with other clubs and NAFA when required. Ensures that tournament entries are submitted on time
  • Treasurer - Handles all club-related finances, including collection of entry fees, payment of any expenses incurred by club members and annual distribution of financial report.

4.3 Club Meetings

The Board of Directors shall call an Annual Meeting each year to conduct any club business for which voting by the Regular membership is desirable. The meeting will typically be held in the first quarter of each year, dependant upon tournament schedules and availability of membership to attend. Other meetings may be held at the discretion of the Board of Directors or Club Officers for the purpose of conducting Club business. A Club Meeting shall be deemed to have a quorum for purposes of voting if at least one third of the Regular membership is present. Any Club Meeting requiring a voting quorum shall be announced by written/Email notice to the general membership at least 10 days prior to being held. All voting shall be done by secret ballot unless deemed unnecessary by the presiding Officers.

5.0 Practices

Club practices are typically held once a week. Additional practices are held at the discretion of the Board Members. At practice, members are expected to:

  • Attend on a regular basis. Failure to attend regular practices may be deemed by the Board of Directors as grounds to prevent a member from being allowed to compete at upcoming tournaments or, if the failure to attend is extreme, to revoke membership.
  • Assist in the setup and teardown of club equipment at each practice.
  • Participate in the transportation and/or storage of club equipment at the discretion of the President when it is required for either tournaments or club practices. Equipment may be borrowed for home use by Provisional or Regular members upon approval of a Board Member. The individual borrowing the equipment is responsible for protecting the equipment against damage and transporting the equipment to the next club practice.
  • Ensure that their dogs are under control at all times. This includes both within and outside of the racing area.

Practice the week following a tournament is considered optional for Regular Members whose dogs participated in the tournament.

Individuals interested in attending a club practice must have the permission one of the Board Members. Any participation in club practices must be under the direct supervision of the President or a designated Regular member at all times.

6.0 Tournaments

6.1 Tournament Entries

Members will be given the opportunity to sign up for tournaments based on the availability of those tournaments. The Board Members will then determine how many teams can be sent to the tournament, taking into account the need to send reliable, well-formed teams. Sometimes they will be forced to reduce team numbers, or not send a team at all, depending on many factors. In cases where a member is told that they will not be allowed to enter a tournament for which they signed up, the Club Officers are obliged to explain their reasoning.

Each member entered in a tournament is expected to pay his/her entry fee following the tournament and within fourteen days. Failure to pay on time may result in the loss of future tournament privileges. Failure to appear or tardy appearance for, or early departure from a tournament for which one has made a commitment is cause for discipline or expulsion by the Board of Directors. In the event a member will be late to a tournament, a member of the Board of Directors must be contacted no later than 30 minutes prior to the published start time of the first race of the day.

6.2 Team Assignment

Approximately 6 weeks prior to each tournament, it is necessary to start defining team assignments for the upcoming event. Every attempt will be made to keep dogs on consistent teams, but since not all dogs go to every tournament, the teams must be somewhat dynamic and flexible. Dogs will be assigned to teams with consideration of the following factors:

  • Reliability and speed of the dog.
  • Dedication and attitude of the owner.
  • Temperament of dog.
  • Club seniority.
  • Special Circumstances at the discretion of the Board.

One or more height dogs will be assigned to each team.

The club officers will make every attempt to define core teams of dogs who run well together and have a track record of showing up for practice regularly and attending most tournaments. Newer dogs, unreliable dogs, and those who don't attend practice or tournaments on a regular basis will be considered alternates who may be assigned to teams on a less consistent manner. As alternates become more reliable and valuable, they will be moved into core dog positions if openings on teams become available.

The number of overall teams will be determined by the Club Officers and will be based on membership size and typical tournament turnout.

6.3 Team Captains

Each team at a tournament shall be assigned a captain. That captain may or may not be running a dog on the team assigned. The captain is responsible for the following:

  • Ensuring that the team's racing sheets are correct with regards to dogs, heights, CRN's, etc. prior to the start of the first race.
  • Ensuring that the team arrives on time to the ring for each race in which they are competing.
  • Ensuring that adequate supporting personnel are available to watch passes, time dogs, shag balls, etc.
  • Instructing the team members as to the lineup of dogs that will compete in each heat and their racing sequence.
  • Providing the line judge with the lineup for each heat.
  • Communicating status with regards to late starts and passes, reruns, etc. to the team members. No other club members will communicate to the team in this regard unless assigned by the team captain.
  • Being the means of team communications to the Judges and Tournament Director.

6.4 Team Members

Members assigned to a team at a tournament are responsible to:

  • Show up on time for their races with their dog.
  • Follow the direction of their captain. Sometimes the captain will make decisions with which some team members disagree. That is the captain's prerogative and these decisions are to be accepted as being for the good of the team. Failure to follow the directions of, or argue with, the team captain may result in being benched for the remainder of the tournament.
  • Assist in support functions such as watching passes, timing dogs, shagging balls, etc. when not running a dog in a given heat.
  • Inform the captain of any changes in normal status, such as an unusual height measurement, illness or injury, or ring conflicts.

6.5 Height Dogs

Height dogs are defined to be the two shortest dogs on each team capable of setting less than 16 inch jumps (i.e. dogs less than 20 inches at the withers.) By NAFA rules, unless a dog has a height card, height dogs should be measured at every tournament.

Teams must jump the height determined by the measurement received by their height dog at each tournament. Measurements vary from judge to judge and even by the same judge.

Height dogs not wishing to get measured at each tournament should acquire a height card from NAFA and get the designated measurements. Keep in mind that one supervising judge must measure and sign a height card.

If a different height measurement than what is normal for a dog is obtained during measurement, the height on the daily racing sheet needs to be corrected. The team captain needs to be informed so that they can make those changes.

Height dogs without height cards need to arrive at tournaments before height dog measuring is scheduled to start so that they are in time to be measured.

7.0 Demonstrations

Demonstrations will be held from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors. All of the rules of tournament participation shall apply to demonstrations, except that NAFA Rules do not generally apply, and therefore there is typically somewhat more flexibility in team assignment and racing format.

Failure to appear for a demonstration for which one has made a commitment is cause for discipline or expulsion by the Board of Directors.

The undersigned officers of the Association hereby certify that the foregoing Rules and Policies, consisting of six (6) pages, constitute the original Rules and Policies of the Go Dog Go! Flyball Club, duly adopted by its members by majority vote. Nadine LeBarron McBride Club Owner/President/Board of Directors Kyle Mankes /Board of Directors Tanisha Wilkins Mankes Board of Directors Andy McBride Webmaster/Board of Directors Sheila McHugh Treasurer/Board of Directors