FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

To answer this question I will start by explaining that other than insufficient drive, the way the dog turns on the flyball box is one of the more significant places in a flyball run that time can be gained or lost, and if the turn is done incorrectly injuries are more likely to occur.  

In the swimming pool athletes that reach the wall, do a U-turn and kick off the wall in one fluid motion are doing a swimmer's turn.  It is a time efficient way to rapidly reverse the direction of motion.  In flyball, the dog jumps onto the flyball box sideways (front paws usually hit the box before the back paws), all 4 paws make contact with the box, after getting the ball the dog pushes off the box in a jumping motion using his rear legs.  (See the pictures below of Marbles doing a swimmer's turn).

A dog that doesn't do a swimmer's turn, but hits the box with front paws, grabs ball and swings around or backs off the box is called a "Slammer".  If the dog is light, or not extremely fast, although it is not the most efficient turn, it probably isn't harmful.  In a larger dog at speed, injuries are more likely to occur, paws can get caught under the box, and the momentum and slamming motion are hard on the joints.

Once a dog learns a particular way of turning, it is hard (but not impossible) to change  it.  In training we try to always use a 4" jump or hup in front of the box to encourage getting all 4 paws on the box, and the performance of the swimmer's turn.

Incidentally, have you ever wondered why the bottom of most flyball boxes is painted white?  This is so from a distance, it looks like the 4" jump is still in front of the box, to help encourage a swimmer's turn.

:A heat that is so close that the two times are within 0.003s (e.g. a time of 21.798s versus 21.801s) on the EJS. When using manual timing if the two line stewards cannot come to a unanimous decision on the winner, the judge will declare the heat to be a tie.

Clean heat/clean run: A run in which a dog completes the course and brings back the ball without committing any rule infractions. The aim is for each dog within the team to run a clean heat. If a team runs with all four dogs on the team completing a clean heat, the dogs on that team earn themselves each 1 Title Point for that heat. The dogs also receive a Bonus 1 Title Point if they run a clean heat AND win the heat.

Reference:

Flyball Racing – The Dog Sport for Everyone

Lonnie Olson, Howell Book House

and

The Rules and Policies of the AFA – September 2007 edition

What is a Race?

A race is a set of heats run against another team.  Three, best Three out of Five or Five heats make one Race. In the event that each team has won an equal number of heats in a Race (due to dead heats), an extra heat will be run to determine the

overall winner of the Race. The number of heats per race for your team’s division will be outlined in the competition race schedule (program) and may differ for each division on the day, and from competition to competition.

In a round robin competition, it is usual that you race against each team at least twice in the competition..

How old do dogs have to be to play flyball?

Dogs must be 12 months old to compete at flyball but can begin training at 10 months.  Care should be taken with young dogs jumping, ask your veterinarian for advice.

How many races does each dog do at a competition?

There are typically between 18 and 32 heats for each team at a competition, and between 4 and 6 dogs in each team.  With even rotation of the dogs in the team, each dog might run between 12 and 32 heats, plus perhaps a few runs in the warm up period. 

Do dogs need to be fit to play flyball?

Dogs do need to be relatively fit to play flyball.  Many handlers keep their dogs fit by swimming or bike riding with them.  In summer, they also need to be acclimatised to running in the heat.

How much does it cost to be involved in flyball?

Flyball is a relatively cheap sport. Membership to the AFA costs only $25 for the first year, which includes AFA membership a CRN (competition racing number for your first dog) and an AFA rules and policies book. Renewal is $20 per dog per year and additional dogs may be added to your membership and receive a CRN for $20 per year. Competitions entry fees are set by the competition organisers are typically start at $70-$90 per team of 4-6 dogs. Travel interstate for competitions can become expensive, but many Australian teams help each other out by offering to billet teams from interstate.