This month we ran a game called Rekoons. This is one of those games that can blow your mind as a designer as well as a competitor. Why, you ask? Because Rekoons is Snooker backwards. The concept seems easy, but when you start really thinking about it, you get confused.
So, if we are running Snooker backwards, that means that the numbered sequence is run before the point accumulation period. Got it. But then, you run the numbered sequence in reverse. Okay, but do you run the sequence landing side to takeoff side? How did the judge number it? When you get to the point accumulation period, do you take a red first or a numbered obstacle first? See, it starts to get confusing…
There were some close times this month.
Main Strategies
There were two main strategies for this game during point accumulation. The blue path was chosen by this month’s Top Dog. Several other dogs ran the pink path. Both strategies took red #1, but after the tunnel the pink handlers went to the pink #2 jump while the blue went to blue #2. From a simple yardage standpoint, the blue path should be more efficient.
If you look at the video below, you can see the runs on screen together. Kepler is faster, but Jazz made up for it with a slightly more efficient path. Kepler reaches the last obstacle in the numbered sequence while Jazz is taking the second to last obstacle. Kepler exits the first tunnel before Jazz, but Jazz enters the second tunnel slightly before Kepler. Jazz takes the third red before Kepler. Kepler had a little miscue coming out of the second tunnel from the rear cross. Jazz enters the final tunnel two strides ahead of Kepler. They come out of the last tunnel in a photo finish. Kepler is the faster dog, but path efficiency and choice of cues for indicating a side change allowed Jazz to be ahead.
40×85 Course for September 2022
Briefing
Rekoons is played as a two-part game:
1. Numbered Sequence: The numbered sequence must be attempted and is taken in reverse. Each obstacle is also taken in reverse. Start with the landing side of the #7b obstacle, then go to the end of the #7a A-frame and complete it, then #6, and so on, until the dog completes the #2 obstacle. Your course may not have a 7a/7B combo; it may be just #7. Please look at the map to see the correct direction! If the dog faults an obstacle in the numbered sequence, he must be directed to begin the second part – point accumulation.
Note: A dog going on to another obstacle in the opening after having faulted an obstacle, will earn a judge’s whistle, and end the game.
The dog earns the point value of every obstacle performed correctly in the opening for a maximum of 27 points.
2. Point Accumulation: The point accumulation period begins after the dog has completed the #2 obstacle in the opening or after faulting the opening sequence. Points are earned by the completion of a red hurdle and one (and only one) scoring obstacle of the handler’s choice. Each red hurdle can be used only once. Three or four of the red hurdles may be taken. At least three reds must be attempted. The fourth red is available in case another red is faulted or if you want to go for the win. If there are only 3 reds on your course, you take/attempt all three for points.
Point values for each individual obstacle performed without fault are represented by the numbers of the opening sequence. These obstacles are bidirectional in the point accumulation period, including both obstacles of #7. To get 7 points, both 7a and 7B must be taken. Each red jump is worth 1 point.
For example: After completing the #2 tunnel, the handler directs the dog to a red jump which is completed without fault. The team then completes 7a and 7b (in any order) obstacle set. The team earns 7 points + 1 for the red. The dog now completes a different red jump and then completes the #4 jump. The team earns an additional 4+1 points. They continue to another red jump, and so on.
Refusals and runouts are not faulted during point accumulation. A missed contact earns 0 points; go take another red if one remains. Dropped bars take a pointed obstacle out of play.
Point valued obstacle/s can be used more than once; one obstacle can actually be used up to 4 times since there are 4 red jumps on course. Note that you have only 4 opportunities to get points.
During point accumulation a whistle will indicate the end of scoring. Get across the finish line to stop time.
Scoring ends when any of the following occurs:
· A red hurdle is repeated.
· The dog takes more than one scoring obstacle after taking a red hurdle.
· The dog takes a scoring obstacle after faulting the red hurdle. If the dog drops a bar on a red jump, go to another red if another remains. If not, go stop time.
· The whistle sounds.
Dog faults opening but continues running the opening.
The following courses are for October 2022 IDAL play.
We have some craziness this month! Who are our back-seat drivers? Speed demons? Daredevils? We shall find out. I expect to see some interesting handling on these!
The course for this month is “simple” numbered course. Scored time plus faults.
Course Maps
An Open Invitation to New Players
New clubs and individuals are always welcome to join us and play these courses. Download the scorekeeping worksheet below. Contact the League Secretary to help with the details at pagc.live@gmail.com.
Existing league franchises will be emailed their scorekeeping worksheets set up with their current rosters. If you would like multiple scoresheets, just let me know.
The following courses are for September 2022 IDAL play.
Instructors, if you have some specific skills, scenarios, and/or obstacles you want to work when using the IDAL courses in class, please let me know. I will try my best to get them included. If anyone would like to request a specific game to play, let me know.
Folks are always welcome to try their hand at designing league courses!
Briefing for September 2022
The game for this month is called Rekoons. Rekoons is simply Snooker spelled backwards. Sounds simple, but it is confusing so pay attention!
It is played as a two-part game:
1. Numbered Sequence: The numbered sequence must be attempted and is taken in reverse. Each obstacle is also taken in reverse. Start with the landing side of the #7b obstacle, then go to the end of the #7a A-frame and complete it, then #6, and so on, until the dog completes the #2 obstacle. Your course may not have a 7a/7B combo; it may be just #7. Please look at the map to see the correct direction! If the dog faults an obstacle in the numbered sequence, he must be directed to begin the second part – point accumulation.
Note: A dog going on to another obstacle in the opening after having faulted an obstacle, will earn a judge’s whistle, and end the game.
The dog earns the point value of every obstacle performed correctly in the opening for a maximum of 27 points.
2. Point Accumulation: The point accumulation period begins after the dog has completed the #2 obstacle in the opening or after faulting the opening sequence. Points are earned by the completion of a red hurdle and one (and only one) scoring obstacle of the handler’s choice. Each red hurdle can be used only once. Three or four of the red hurdles may be taken. At least three reds must be attempted. The fourth red is available in case another red is faulted or if you want to go for the win. If there are only 3 reds on your course, you take/attempt all three for points.
Point values for each individual obstacle performed without fault are represented by the numbers of the opening sequence. These obstacles are bidirectional in the point accumulation period, including both obstacles of #7. To get 7 points, both 7a and 7B must be taken. Each red jump is worth 1 point.
For example: After completing the #2 tunnel, the handler directs the dog to a red jump which is completed without fault. The team then completes 7a and 7b (in any order) obstacle set. The team earns 7 points + 1 for the red. The dog now completes a different red jump and then completes the #4 jump. The team earns an additional 4+1 points. They continue to another red jump, and so on.
Refusals and runouts are not faulted during point accumulation. A missed contact earns 0 points; go take another red if one remains. Dropped bars take a pointed obstacle out of play.
Point valued obstacle/s can be used more than once; one obstacle can actually be used up to 4 times since there are 4 red jumps on course. Note that you have only 4 opportunities to get points.
During point accumulation a whistle will indicate the end of scoring. Get across the finish line to stop time.
Scoring ends when any of the following occurs:
· A red hurdle is repeated.
· The dog takes more than one scoring obstacle after taking a red hurdle.
· The dog takes a scoring obstacle after faulting the red hurdle. If the dog drops a bar on a red jump, go to another red if another remains. If not, go stop time.
· The whistle sounds.
Dog faults opening but continues running the opening.
New clubs and individuals are always welcome to join us and play these courses. Download the scorekeeping worksheet below. Contact the League Secretary to help with the details at pagc.live@gmail.com.
The following courses are for August 2022 IDAL play.
Instructors, if you have some specific skills, scenarios, and/or obstacles you want to work when using the IDAL courses in class, please let me know. I will try my best to get them included. If anyone would like to request a specific game to play, let me know.
Folks are always welcome to try their hand at designing league courses!
Briefing for August 2022
This is a Numbered Course which is scored Time, Plus Faults.
Course Maps
An Open Invitation to New Players
New clubs and individuals are always welcome to join us and play these courses. Download the scorekeeping worksheet below. Contact the League Secretary to help with the details at pagc.live@gmail.com.
Existing league franchises will be emailed their scorekeeping worksheets set up with their current rosters. If you would like multiple scoresheets, just let me know.
The following courses are for July 2022 IDAL play. Instructors, if you have some specific skills, scenarios, and/or obstacles you want to work when using the IDAL courses in class, please let me know. I will try my best to get them included. If anyone would like to request a specific game to play, let me know. Folks are always welcome to try their hand at designing league courses!
Briefing for July 2022
This month we are playing our second game of the season. The game this month is What’s My Line. The design is based on a course run in TDAA in April 2022. The course designer is Melissa Wallace. I modified it for more appropriate distances. Please note that Initiates and Dabblers will run the same course as the more experienced handlers because they may plot a path appropriate for their skill level.
The objective of What’s My Line is to plot your own course through the obstacles making sure to take every obstacle once and only once. All obstacles are bidirectional.
Start/Finish Line: The Start/Finish line is also bidirectional. Handlers may set up their dog on either side of the line and may lead out. The dog must start by taking one of the three jumps along the start line (#s 2, 4, or 8). Time starts when the dog takes their first jump. Dogs do not need to finish by taking one of the jumps along the S/F line. If their path included all three jumps before finishing, the dog simply needs to cross the line to stop time. If after taking all obstacles on course, the dog takes one of the jumps along the S/F line a second time as they cross the finish line, they are not faulted.
Each obstacle is worth 1 point. The numbered cones are ONLY for the judge, scribe, and score table. As the dog runs the course, the judge will call out the number of each obstacle as it is completed.
If an obstacle is faulted, dropped bar or missed down contact, the judge will not call out a number. The team will not get the point and the obstacle is counted as attempted. If a dog commits to the A-Frame with 4 paws and bails before crossing the apex, the dog must complete the A-Frame before moving on. The judge will call fault, or something similar, to indicate that you need to retry the frame. If a dog misses the down contact, and the handler reattempts the frame, the team will lose a point for repeating an obstacle.
Scoring: Each obstacle completed correctly earns one point. Repeated obstacles decrease the score by one for each repeated obstacle, except for the finish line obstacles as noted above. The game is scored points, then time. Time is a tiebreaker. The max points for the courses are 10 for the 40×85 and 11 points for the 60×90 and 50×70.
Course Maps
An Open Invitation to New Players
New clubs and individuals are always welcome to join us and play these courses.
Download the scorekeeping worksheet below. Contact the League Secretary to help with the details at pagc.live@gmail.com.
Existing league franchises will be emailed their scorekeeping worksheets set up with their current rosters. If you would like multiple scoresheets, just let me know.
The following courses are for June 2022 IDAL play.
Instructors, if you have some specific skills, scenarios, and/or obstacles you want to work when using the IDAL courses in class, please let me know. I will try my best to get them included. If anyone would like to request a specific game to play, let me know.
Folks are always welcome to try their hand at designing league courses!
Briefing for June 2022
This month we are playing a numbered course. The original 60×90 concept is by Shana Goodwin, one of our junior handlers. I modified it to correct distances and entries. I tried to keep her design ideas throughout all the courses. These are more of an AKC Premier style. There are maps for regular players as well as for our less experienced handlers/dogs.
Course Maps
An Open Invitation to New Players
New clubs and individuals are always welcome to join us and play these courses. Download the scorekeeping worksheet below. Contact the League Secretary to help with the details at pagc.live@gmail.com.
International Dog Agility League 