Chapter 6.

 

FAST CLASS

 

Section 1. Design Guidelines

 

Course Design Requirements for Course Submission

All courses must meet the usual safety standards as set forth in the Regulations for Agility Trials and elsewhere in these Guidelines.

 

·         The Start Line(s) must be shown (there may be up to 2 that intersect); it is recommended that the start line(s) extend across the entire ring allowing handlers a greater choice in planning their strategy.

·         You must use a unique, non-point valued bar jump or open tunnel for the Finish Obstacle; it is recommended to place it in close proximity to an exit to keep the class efficient.

·         The Finish Obstacle must be a minimum of 15 - 20 feet from the ring barrier per any dog’s predicted path.

·         The Finish Obstacle must be inside the course and not accessible without crossing the start line.

·         The Start and Finish must be able to be hand timed thus the timer must sit on a line and sight between two or more uprights.

·         You must show all measurements from the obstacles being used in the Send Bonus to the Send Line.

·         All jumps, including the tire, are to be measured from the closest edge of the jump bar or outer tire edge, not from the wing or frame edge.

·         All other obstacles such as tunnels, contacts, table and weaves are measured from the closest edge of the obstacle to the Send Line.

·         The exit of an obstacle in the Send Bonus portion of the course may terminate closer to or further from the Send Line than the required entry distances for each level; however, they may not terminate on or over the Send Line. The only exception to this is at the Novice level where the contacts and weave poles must be a consistent 5 feet from the Send Line at both the start and finish of the obstacle.

·         You must indicate the general area you expect to judge in to show that you can see all contact obstacles and the Send Zone.

·         The table may only be used as the last obstacle in the Send Bonus and never in the body of the course.

·         The required number of weave poles per class may be placed either in the body of the course or within the Send Zone, but may not be separated into two or more smaller sets.

·         Judges may designate any obstacle(s) to be taken in only one direction for points. This is usually done to increase the difficulty of the course.

 

Check List for Course Submission

·         6 jumps (preferably winged) numbered as #1 (with a point value of 1) and showing whether they are unidirectional or bi-directional.

·         Numbers 2 through 10 for the other 9 obstacles to be used.

·         Only 1 bi-directional obstacle may be used as a dual point value obstacle. The one-point jumps can not be designated as dual point valued obstacles.

·         Separate Finish Obstacle (bar jump or open tunnel).

·         Start line is shown with Timer position indicated as well as timer access to the plane of the Finish obstacle.

·         All distances from Send obstacles to Send Line are shown.

·         Check that the sum of the send obstacles is between 5 and 15 points.

·         General judging area is shown.

·         Correct number of obstacles used in the Send Bonus for the class level. (2 for Novice, 2-3 for Open, 3 for Excellent)

·         Make certain you have carefully positioned the numbers on the course to accurately depict the direction(s) that obstacles are allowed to be taken for points.

·         No obstacles may be placed on the approach side of any start line(s).

 

Adding interest to your FAST courses

·         Vary the point values between class levels.

·         Change the flow in the Send Bonus for different class levels.

·         Use a non point valued obstacle that may help flow into the Send portion.

·         Use a non point valued obstacle as part of the Send Bonus.

·         Use a #1 jump in the Send Bonus either unidirectional or bi-directional.

·         Change the direction obstacles must be done for points to increase or decrease difficulty to obtain those points.

·         Use a change of direction and/or obstacle discrimination at the Open and/or Excellent level.

·         Use a combination of obstacles that will be assigned a single point value. It is recommended that a combination be comprised of only 2 or 3 obstacles; only 2 obstacles may be used at the Novice level. A combination is not allowed as a portion of the Send Bonus.

 

Section 2. Judging Clarifications

 

General Clarifications

·         No obstacle may be taken back-to-back for points, so if an obstacle is completed in one direction (whether points are earned or not), the obstacle may not be immediately completed in the opposite direction in an effort to earn points.

·         Contact obstacles may not be taken back-to-back, so two contacts may not be done in succession for points.

·         All obstacles, with the exception of the chute, teeter, broad jump, or triple jump may be taken bi-directionally unless otherwise designated by the judge.

·         A dual-pointed obstacle may not be taken back-to-back to earn points.

·         A modified 4-paw rule is in effect for all contacts in all parts of the course. Until a dog has completed another obstacle other than a contact (whether faulted or not), the dog may not return to the original contact where the 4-paw rule infraction occurred or they will receive a double whistle and must leave the course immediately.

·         If the SCT whistle is blown a dog MUST have completed the obstacle they are working, with all 4 feet, prior to the whistle blowing to receive the points for completing it.

·         Once the SCT whistle has blown no further points will be accumulated.

 

Send Bonus Requirements

·         The Send Bonus may be attempted at any time during the run upon crossing the start line and prior to crossing the finish line.

·         Successful completion of the Send Bonus is worth 20 points as well as the value(s) of the individual obstacles contained in the Send Bonus. (i.e. 20 points + 5 to 15 points so all correctly completed bonuses are worth between 25 and 35 points total)

·         Handlers and dogs may pass through the Send Zone at any time; however, handlers must be outside of the Send Zone when the dog commits to the first obstacle in the Send in the correct direction. A commitment is considered to be four (4) paws on, into or over an obstacle.

·         Dog and handler may pass through the Send Zone; however, if the dog engages obstacle #1 with all four feet in the correct direction and the handler is in the Send Zone or stepping on any portion of the line, a “FAULT” will be called and marked on the scribe sheet.

·         If a dog gets 3 or fewer paws onto or into the first obstacle in the Send, the handler may have the dog reattempt the Send in an effort to earn the Bonus points.

·         If a dog refuses or runs by the first obstacle in the Send, there is no call made.

·         When the first obstacle in the Bonus is a contact obstacle:

1.        The word “FAULT” will be called and marked on the scribe sheet if the dog has gotten on the contact obstacle with all 4 paws in the correct direction and leaves prior to completing the obstacle, thereby incurring the modified 4-paw rule.

2.        The word “FAULT” will be called if a dog misses the up contact on the teeter or dogwalk or when a dog misses the down contact zone on any contact obstacle.

3.        The word “FAULT” will be called if the handler is on the line or inside the Send Zone when the dog gets all 4 paws onto the contact in the correct direction.

4.        Since a modified 4-paw rule is in effect on all parts of the course at all times; until the dog completes (faulted or not) another obstacle after incurring the modified 4-paw rule, the dog may not retry the original contact obstacle upon which the rule was enacted in an effort to earn the points assigned to it.

5.        They may do any other non-contact obstacle and then come back to the original contact obstacle upon which the rule was incurred and attempt to earn its point value, even though the Bonus points are no longer available due to the “FAULT” gained.

·         When the weave poles are the first obstacle in the Send:

1.        The dog may continue to reattempt them from the beginning if the entry is missed or a pole skipped until they are correctly completed, as long as the handler remains outside the send Zone.

2.        The poles must be completed correctly as one obstacle from the first pole to the last in order to earn the points assigned and qualify as a correct performance toward earning the Bonus points. Dogs must enter between poles one and two in the correct direction and complete all poles in succession for the performance to be considered correct. The weave poles are considered completed when the dog has all four paws past the exit plane between the second to the last and the last pole.

3.        The word “FAULT” will be called if a dog back-weaves thus incurring a wrong course after having correctly entered the poles from the proper direction.

·         When the first obstacle in the Bonus is a tunnel:

1.        The word “FAULT” will be called if the dog completes the tunnel in the wrong direction and immediately turns and completes the tunnel in the proper direction.

2.        After entering the tunnel correctly the dog is not faulted if they go to the exit end and place 3 or fewer paws out of the opening and then turn and go back in and exit the entrance end. It is not until the dog has completely exited the tunnel with all 4 feet that any refusals can be called. If this occurs the dog could immediately re-enter the tunnel in an attempt to successfully complete the Bonus as long as the handler is still outside of the Send Zone when the dog enters the tunnel for the second time.

·         All turns must adhere to the approach angles allowable in the AKC design guidelines for each skill level.

·         All spacing and safety requirements must meet the AKC design guidelines.

·         Be aware of obstacle placement in close proximity to the Send Line to ensure handlers will not run into other obstacles while working along the Send Line.

·         Dogs may take any single send obstacle backwards prior to completion of the first bonus obstacle in the correct direction, with no penalty; with the exception of a bar or panel being displaced since these will not be reset during a run.

·         No two bonus obstacles may be taken in reverse order successively as this will result in the judge calling a “FAULT” to be marked on the scribe sheet.

·         If the #1 obstacle in the Send Bonus is done backwards prior to completing the Send, the dog must then complete another obstacle before they attempt the first obstacle in the Send Bonus, since obstacles may not be done in back-to-back fashion to earn points.

·         If the first obstacle in the Send Bonus is a contact obstacle, any obstacle done prior to attempting the Send must be something other than a contact obstacle.

·         If there is a bidirectional obstacle in the Send if it is taken prior to the start of the Send a “Fault” must be called since the obstacle was taken in the correct direction and is within the Send.

 

Actions that Result in a Double Whistle (end of point accumulation)

·         A contact obstacle or weave poles are attempted (4 paws on or into) or completed once their points have already been earned.

 

Actions that Result in a Long Whistle (Excusal)

·         Harsh corrections or training in the ring at the start line or in other areas of the course, such as touching the dog while on a contact, or taking the collar to guide the dog into the weave poles.

·         Handler contact that aids the dog to the finish obstacle.

·         Things that would cause an elimination/excusal in the regular classes would also cause the same in this class. These could include but not be limited to the following: a dog that fouls the ring, unsportsmanlike conduct, a dog that discontinues working or is out of control, exceeding the MCT, inappropriate type of collar or tags on collar, handling aids, dogs biting handlers or gripping clothing, or failure to comply with the judges verbal instructions.

 

Finish Obstacle

·         Only bar jumps, one-bar jumps and open tunnels may be used. Note: In Novice it is required that all bar jumps have two bars.

·         It is always bi-directional

·         The Finish Obstacle is “live” once the dog has crossed the start line; time is stopped and the run finished whenever this obstacle is taken.

·         Dogs may go to the finish obstacle any time prior to the end of the SCT if so desired, as part of the handlers’ strategy to minimize any possible point loss.