FORD FIELD FLYBALL

by Cindy Arnold

So do you want to spend 6 hours preparation and 3 hours on game day for 6 minutes of Ford Field time?

Well, Flyball participants were up to the challenge to provide DKC and SDTC with some great exposure.

First Challenge: Will we be able to convince our Flyball dogs to race on grass (fake) versus mats? No potting allowed? Mission Accomplished. Practice session takes care of this concern, our canine companions come through with flying colors and we commit to the Demo.

Second Challenge: Ford Field requires minimal number of vehicles to arrive at 1:00 pm game day on the main street in front of Ford Field. Mission Accomplished...meet at McDonalds 10 minutes from Ford Field and group up and proceed from there. Only one member gets disconnected. The one with the Balls!!! Yikes...the Flyball angels are with us and captain Cindy runs into her on main street on the way to the field from the Parking Lot. Jenny Schilp, DKC, plays Traffic Cop and runs inference to get vehicles unloaded and into CLOSE parking facilities (Ford Field wanted us 1 mile away!) Go Jenny!

Third Challenge: Keep dogs and dog handlers outside on December 7 in Michigan for 1 - 1 * hours so that dogs cannot disrupt football game. Mission Accomplished. Thankfully, dogs and dog handlers were allowed in after 45 minutes due to cold temperatures. All crates set up and warm for their arrival. All Flyball equipment set up at base of tunnel for 'run' onto field at end of first half.

Fourth Challenge: Everybody (human and canine) are potty prepared prior to half time. Mission Accomplished.

Fifth Challenge: Ford Field Staff worried about barking dogs distracting Jason Hanson during a last minute 1st half field goal attempt! Mission accomplished; Now would our dogs have the audacity to bark and ruin our chances at 3 points! No way! They were silent as little lambs. (Note: No last minute field goal attempt as Lions mismanage the clock with a last minute pass IN BOUNDS at the 20. Oh boy. Not looking good for our Lions.)

Sixth Challenge: Choreograph 33 people to set up two Flyball lanes in < 90 seconds. Eight jumps, 2 boxes, 3 different supplies of tennis balls, jump markers, start line marker, release point markers. (Don't run into the Chargers coming off the field!) Mission accomplished, with only minor difficulty when end zone markers create a tripping hazard for our box carriers. (Note: Not there during the run through practice session! Will know better next time!)

Seventh Challenge: Video introduction to prepare crowd for upcoming demonstration. Sets up cheering sections for green team and white team. Mission partially accomplished. Misses the mark in explaining what is happening on the field. Really need announcing from field level by party with understanding of the competition that is taking place. Allows for much more crowd involvement and appreciation for what is happening.

Eighth Challenge: Pit two teams against each other for a best 2 out of 3 competition to happen in < 3 minutes. Hope for a clean demo. (No throwing up on the part of the humans. No canine potty boo boos.) Box malfunction managed by the "Cool as a Cucumber" veteran box loader PD. Mission Accomplished. (Post game comments from people in the stands that recognized some of the participants, said it was great. Best Lions half time show they had seen in quite a while!. Green team wins?!)

Ninth Challenge: Have a good time. Smile. See Ford Field from a different perspective than most people get to. Mission partially accomplished. Flyball participants too nervous to even think about anything but racing! Some of the helpers took advantage of the opportunity. Jason Hanson warming up right behind us during our last heat and only a few of us even knew it.

Tenth Challenge: Upon Signal, tear down, pick up all equipment and get off the field in < 90 seconds. Mission Accomplished.

Eleventh Challenge: Get all dogs, equipment and humans to the top of the tunnel immediately, while 'drivers' retrieve vehicles and return to main street in front of Ford Field. Mission Accomplished.

Twelfth Challenge: Lions to WIN football game. Mission NOT Accomplished.

A lot of human effort for 6 minutes of performance. But we love to play this game because our dogs love it whether it is 6 minutes or a weekend full of Flyball competition!

Captain Cindy on behalf of all of Pawsitive Attitudes

Flyball Team and all the family, friends, and canines

that helped pull off the shortest demo in history!

Cindy Arnold (Glide), Doug Arnold, Tonya Perry (Faith),

James Perry, Cindy Berens (Zac), Craig Berens,

Kim Schultz (Tremor), Dennis Schultz, Camille Krygowski

(Nick), Kelly Smigelski, Kim O'Neill (Toby), Kevin O'Neill,

Matt O'Neill, Judy Walzak (Allie), Jody Walzak, Elin Becker,

Barry Becker, Margo Generaux (Reggie), Karen Larkin

(Shadow), Bob Larkin, Christine Larkin, Andrew Larkin

(Isaac), Ron Postiff (Buckeye), Michele Postiff, Gentrel,

Kathy Kennedy (Deva), Rachel Kennedy, Taylor Kennedy,

Teddi Kollenberg, Linda Anderson (Tess), Lynn Tischler

(Darby), Pat Diefenbach (boxloader), Chris Tessmar

(boxloader).