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Hello everyone,

We are getting close to racing again and I thought it would be a good time to send out the first issue of the RD digest for 2006. Although the NAFA board or directors took a break over the last two months (because everyone needs a break once in a while), there are important developments to announce and clarifications to pass along.

I hope everyone had a good holiday break and for those with flyball addiction disease (FAD), you can take some medicine thanks to Jane and the Lietash PTL gang! We’ll have a new club on the lanes with us this spring (Prepare For Takeoff) and, along with a lot of others in the region, I’m looking forward to getting back on the mats.

Keep up the training and see everyone soon.

Jules Comeau

Regional Director

NAFA Region 10

1. NAFA rules and policies

All of the rules updates or clarifications were discussed at the board meeting on November 4^th, 2005.

Veteran’s class

Here are the official rules for veteran’s class that will be offered at several tournaments in our region in 2006.

In the Veteran’s class, every dog on the team must be at least 8 years old. The

Veteran’s class shall be subject to the following additional rules:

Race Schedule. The race schedule in the Veteran’s class shall not call for more than a total of 16 possible heats per day, and the racing format shall not include a 5/5 or more strenuous format;
False Starts. In the Veteran’s class, in the event of a false start as defined in Rule 8.3(b)(1) of the Rules of Racing, the heat shall not be restarted but the heat shall continue to be run. For the team to finish the heat, the dog that committed the false start must run again as the fifth dog in the heat;
Jump Heights. In the Veteran’s class, jump heights shall be set at the minimum height stated in Rule 8.2(a) of the Rules of Racing, without regard to the height of the racing dogs.

The 90 day rule stated in paragraph 7.5 (a) of the Corporate policies and procedures does not apply to the Veterans class. A dog running in the Veterans class shall retain its existing club affiliation.

Recap:

Veteran dogs can run in the veteran class in any tournament without being affected by the 90 day waiting period. So for example, a dog from Lietash can run in the veteran class on Saturday with FNF and in the regular class on Sunday with Lietash. This waiver only applies for the veteran class. A special exception for veteran dogs is that, in a two-day tournament, they can run in veteran’s class on one day and regular class on the other day. Keep in mind that in this situation, the team running in the regular class would have a maximum of 5 dogs on one of the days because a spot on the timesheet would have to be saved for the veteran dog.

Dogs running in the veteran class will accumulate NAFA points the same way they would in regular class or multibreed class. No regional championship will be given for veteran class.

Practicing of Dogs During Tournaments

(a) Rules of Racing Chapter 7 (b) – Warm-ups states;

“There shall be no practice or training in the ring for the duration of the tournament, except for the warm-up as permitted prior to each race. Training in the ring during the competition will mean a forfeit of the heat.”

Teams are reminded that practicing is not acceptable for both tournament dogs and non-entered dogs.

Requiring Non-Slip surfaces next to the Boxes

The board considered the agenda (November 4th board meeting) item of a proposed rule amendment respecting the configuration of the mats at the box end of the racing lane. The diagram and wording Rules of Racing Section 2.1 – Footing was reviewed. After discussion, the board elected not to pursue amendment of the rules. The consensus was that such concerns should be brought to the RDs and head judge. On this note, some concerns were brought up last fall by some members of the region and I will be working with hosting clubs to ensure proper footing is in place for all tournaments in our region.

Age Limits for Children in Racing Ring

NAFA Flyball is a team and family sport. The board declined to pass age restrictions. Parents are urged to exercise good sense when bringing young children into the ring.

Failure to Complete Heats in a Bye Race

The Rules Committee recommends that the Judges Committee inform the judges that when a “3 of 5” race is being run with an unopposed lane (a bye race), the racing team may use up to 5 heats to earn the 3 wins. If 3 losses are obtained before 3 wins, the race is finished.

Junior Handlers

Junior Handlers will be recognized by the presentation of pins to be awarded to youngsters for participation in the sport, whether by handling, shagging, box loading … what ever their level! This is not an official class; there are no awards other than being a part of NAFA’s family sport.

The pins are being made as we speak and more details will be sent out when the pins are ready for distribution.

2. Upcoming Tournament info:

Hosting club	Location	Tournament date	Closing date
Pawplex Flyball Canines	Pawplex, Dartmouth, N.S.	March 25 and 26, 2006	March 10, 2006
F.A.M.E.	Sackville, N.B.	April 22 and 23, 2006	April 1, 2006
Lietash PTL	Mt. Uniacke, N.S.	May 27 and 28, 2006	May 1, 2006
Pawplex Flyball Canines	Dartmouth, N.S.	June 10 and 11, 2006	May 26, 2006
Fast N Furious	Charlottetown, PEI	July 1, 2 and 3, 2006	June 1, 2006
Lietash PTL and Maple Leaps	Mt. Uniacke, N.S.	August 2, 3, 5 and 6, 2006	July 2, 2006
F.A.M.E.	Sackville, N.B.	September 16 and 17, 2006	Not yet sanctioned
Push Play!	Fredericton, N.B.	September 30 and October 1, 2006	September 2, 2006
Pawplex Flyball Canines	Dartmouth, N.S.	November 11 and 12, 2006	October 26, 2006
Oceanmark	Dartmouth, N.S.	December 2 and 3, 2006	Not yet sanctionned

3. Other stuff….

EJS and financial situation (meeting minutes, NAFA annual general meeting, Nov. 4^th, 2005)

Turning to other matters, NAFA’s financial status is strong. Revenue has increased over last year while expenses were higher with the new purchases of EJS. Robin Marion asked if NAFA would be parking an EJS in each region. With the board’s goal to reduce shipping costs, there will be a plan developed to minimize shipping costs and wear and tear on the systems. Regions with constant tournaments will have a set assigned while less busy regions will get traveling sets. Amy Sadowski asked if we would continue to use the older sets.

With the existing systems reaching their designed life times, their role will be reduced to a backup role as soon as possible. Jean Lewin asked what the plan for assignment of the old sets was to be. Sam replied that the plan was still under development based on the need for multi ring tournaments. Assigned sets will be supplemented by the use of unassigned sets.

The new EJS’s have a regularly planned maintenance program and the NAFA purchase price includes a long term maintenance plan which enables them to be repaired by the manufacturer.

Robin Marion noted that while there had not been any problems with the SG lights this weekend; he asked if all of the Signature Gear problems have been solved. The ED replied that the lights have been running error free for the last 2 months. If any new errors crop up, the manufacturer has guaranteed timely repairs.