The Colorado Disc Dogs run a number of competitions each year. These events are often sanctioned by a national or international frisbee dog governing body, and thus our events are run using the freestyle and throw & catch rules of the sanctioning organization. For events that are not nationally sanctioned, the club will elect to use the rules of one or more of the major organizations, and those rules will be explained in the Competitor’s Meeting at the event. Although we will publicize the organization whose rules will be used ahead of time, and run a Competitor’s Meeting describing the rules, it is up to the competitor to read and understand the rules prior to competing, as there are details and nuances that may not be conveyed during the Competitor’s Meeting.

Colorado Disc Dogs Events

The types of play you will encounter at most CDD events are as follows:

• Toss & Catch (also called Distance/Accuracy, MiniDistance, Toss & Fetch or Throw & Catch) – thrower is allowed 60 seconds to make as many throws for their dog as possible, using a single disc. Points are awarded for each catch based on the length of the throw (where the dog catches the disc on the field). There are some variations in the way toss & catch is judged, some event formats include sidelines that mark out-of-bounds, and in order to be scored catches must be within the lines. Some event formats include additional points for mid-air catches, where the dog is in the air at the time of the catch.

• Freestyle – a choreographed routine with your dog set to music, utilizing multiple discs and any and every type of throw and trick you can think of. This is where you routinely see vaults off the back or body, flips, spins, jumps, rolls, weaves, and many other amazing moves. Teams are allowed 90 or 120 seconds to perform, and allowed different numbers of discs on the field, depending on the sanctioning body for that event. Judging criteria varies among sanctioning bodies, and it is advisable to review the rules for each event in order to understand what is being scored.

• Long Distance – while each sanctioning body has its own rules and format, they all are measuring the longest throw and catch in each division, so distance events are all about how far you can throw and how consistently your dog can catch.

The divisions that the CDD will offer at most of its events are: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Open, Youth and Recreational. Event staff will gladly answer any questions you may have regarding format or which division you should enter. At some of the sanctioned events (like Skyhoundz or UFO Major), the rules of the sanctioning organization will take precedence, so the number and names of the divisions may change. Please see the appropriate organizer's website to review the rules and format for our big events.

Novice Division: A Toss & Catch division for people new to the sport. People progress at different rates when they start going to competitions -- some people improve quickly, and others get better more gradually -- and the club recognizes this. To that end, we allow new teams to remain in the Novice division for up to two years. During their first year (365-day rule), a novice team may remain in the division no matter what results they put up. However, during their second year, if a team competing in Novice earns two "Top 3" finishes, they must move up to a higher division at their next event. It should be noted that new teams are not required to stay in Novice, they can move up into other divisions at any time. Novice competitors may use any dog-safe disc in competition, including floppies.

Intermediate Division: A Toss & Catch division for more experienced teams who do not consider themselves quite ready for the Advanced Division. Intermediate competitors must use a standard competition disc (Wham-O Fastback Frisbee, Hero, Dogstar, or HyperFlite brands).

The Club has also added Intermediate Freestyle to our offerings. This division does not earn any Colorado Cup points. We intend this division to be a stress-free, consequence-free round so that teams new to freestyle can experience competitive rounds with less pressure. New freestylers are always welcome, so if you think you can put on a good show, please don't hesitate to give it a try!

Advanced Division: A Toss & Catch division for expert teams. These teams are generally very experienced, but the division is open to anyone.

Open Division: A combined Freestyle and Toss & Catch division, the Open competitor will compete in the Advanced Division for their Toss & Catch score, and will also perform their Freestyle round during the Open round. The first round of Advanced Toss & Catch will be added to the Freestyle score (with multipliers) for a final score in this division. Open competitors may also play in a second round of Advanced Toss & Catch, but that additional round will only count toward their finish in the Advanced Division.

Recreational Division: The Rec Division is designed to be a non-competitive division, and is open to anyone, regardless of the experience level of handler or dog. This division is frequently used by competitors with new dogs that need experience, or with older dogs who still love to play. Teams are allowed one 60 or 90 second round, which may be used for toss and catch, freestyle, or any type of performance that the handler chooses.

Good luck out there and have fun!