CKC Agility Team Canada 2012 Team Selection Process

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2012 Online Application

2012 CKC ATC Application 

 FCI Stat CV worksheets

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The CKC Agility Team Canada (ATC) will send a team of dogs and handlers to represent Canada at the 2012 FCI Agility World Championships.  This event will be held in Liberec, Czech Republic, October 3-7, 2012.  Any handler interested in earning a spot on the 2012 CKC ATC team must submit their completed  online application by February 29, 2012.

Four to six dogs from each of the following height categories will comprise the CKC ATC World Team.  This is subject to change if the FCI makes any changes to the rules governing the 2012 event.  These jump height categories reflect the rules that became VALID January 1st, 2012.  For more information on the FCI agility regulations, visit the following URL:  http://fci.be/cirulaires/90-2011-annex-en.pdg. 

Jump Height Categories:

• S (Small): for dogs measuring less than 35 cm. at the withers
• M (Medium): for dogs measuring 35 cm. or more and less than 43 cm. at the withers
• L (Large): for dogs measuring 43 cm. or more at the withers

Team Selection:

• Team members will be selected by the Captain/Coach with the help of the CKC ATC Selection committee.
• Three teams of 4-6 dogs will be chosen to compete in the three FCI height divisions. An individual handler may have more than one dog on Team Canada; however, handlers with multiple dogs at the same jump height will, most likely, not run multiple dogs in the Team event.
• Two alternates will be designated for each height division; they will be designated as First Alternate and Second Alternate. In the event that a team member must withdraw prior to the closing date, and the captain/coach cannot fill the roster with the remaining team members, the First Alternate will be invited to fill the vacant spot. The Second Alternate will be designated for competition, if the First Alternate is unable to participate or an additional team member must withdraw.
• Provided the eligibility criteria have been met (described below), consideration for a position on the CKC ATC World Team will be based on the following four performance elements: Technical Skills (Dog), Tactical Skills (Handler & Dog), Physical Skills (Handler & Dog), and Mental Skills (Handler).
• Selection of team members will be announced by March 31^st, 2012.

Handler & Dog Eligibility:

To apply for a position on the CKC ATC World Team, the handler and dog(s) must meet the following requirements:

• The handler is a member in good standing of the CKC. Any handler or dog that has received a misconduct charge during the previous 12 months prior to the application deadline will not be eligible for the 2012 CKC ATC team. Any handler or dog that receives a misconduct charge after earning a spot on the World Team, and before the World Championship events, may also be subject to sanction by the Coach and Captain.
• The handler is 18 years or older. If under 18 years old, the applicant has provided written permission from a parent or legal guardian to apply for the CKC ATC World Team. Any handler under 18 years of age that is selected for the CKC ATC world team must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at his or her own expense to the World Championships as well as to team practices.
• The handler showing the dog for the application material is the only handler who will be allowed to compete with the dog at the World Championships.
• A handler must have a valid credit card, and be financially able to provide their personal travel expenses to and from the event should financial sponsorship not be available.
• The handler and/or dog must be physically able to compete in the event. Ill or incapacitated handlers or dogs should inform the Captain/Coach no less than 15 days prior to the closing date so that an alternate can be notified, if any is to be named. The closing date will be announced as soon as it is known.
• The FCI requires that every dog have a CKC registration number and acceptable FCI recognized pedigree. Dogs must have been registered with the CKC for a minimum of 6 months, prior to the World Championships.
• Your dog must be identified with a microchip that meets ISO standards 11784/11785. This is a 15-digit ISO compliant microchip that operates at 134.2 kHz. These will be scanned after every run at the FCI World Championships.
• The Dog must have flight experience prior to leaving for the World Championships. Dogs can obtain this experience after being named to the CKC ATC World Team if necessary. Large team dogs will all travel in cargo on the flight to Europe. Medium and small team dogs may also be required to travel in cargo depending on their size, and airline carrier/country regulations.
• In compliance with FCI jump height regulations, all dogs in the Small and Medium divisions must be measured using an accurate measuring device by two registered “masters-level” judges (AAC, CKC, USDAA or UKI). Due to stricter measuring procedures at the FCI World Competition, dogs within 2.5 cm (~1”) of the cutoff will be required to get a third measurement by a judge of the CKC ATC captain/coach’s choosing, prior to being offered a spot on the world team.
• Any medications that the Dog is receiving must be declared in advance to the Team Captain/Coach and to the Selection Committee. No performance enhancing medications are permitted as FCI regulations specifically forbid them.
• The handler has read, understood and signed the Team Member Code of Conduct and Consent/Release Forms (see attached).

Application Materials

The application deadline is February 29, 2012. The handler must complete the online application form and submit supporting material by 11:59pm PT on February 29, 2012:

Beginning this year, the CKC ATC World Team is moving forward in a new direction when selecting applicants for spots on the World Team. It is our long-term plan to implement a Hybrid Tryout/Application format, where applicants will compete head to head at a Team Tryout as well as submit accompanying application materials. However, because of the delay in naming a new Coach and Captain to head the 2012 CKC ATC Management Team, we are introducing this new format in stages over the next several years.

This year, we will be using a Four-Dimension Application that will evaluate handlers and dogs on four performance elements (see below). Successful team members and alternates will also be required to attend two (2) additional performance events (One Team Scout-out and the Team Practice) in preparation for the FCI World Championships.

The Scout-out, where handlers and dogs will be tested head to head on various performance elements, will have two objectives: 1) to help the Captain/Coach make decisions on who will participate in the Team and Individual classes at the upcoming world championships; and 2) to pilot test future Try-out Formats that will be implemented for the 2013 CKC ATC World Team Selection Process. These Scout-outs will be open to other agility handlers to attend as a skill-building development program and will be a fundraising opportunity for the CKC ATC World Team. Details are still being worked and dates/locations are subject to change; however we are planning to host 2 Scout-outs – 1 in Southern Ontario (tentatively scheduled for April 7^th, Ariss Ontario) and 1 in Alberta (tentatively scheduled for April 28^th, Edmonton Alberta). All team members and alternates named to the 2012 CKC ATC World Team will be required to attend one of these events. Team members may choose to attend whichever is more convenient to their schedules and their location.

The following four performance elements will comprise the 2012 CKC ATC World Team Application:

Technical:

• Complete the Obstacle Performance Form.

You need to submit two performance times for each of the following obstacles: Dogwalk, Seesaw, A-frame, and Weave Poles.

You must submit the accompanying video that was used to calculate these performance times. You may chose to use previously existing footage of these obstacles (e.g., from full runs), provided they are of sufficient quality and provide adequate viewing angles to establish the start and end point for timing. You may also choose to perform these measurements from video that was taken specifically to complete this task.

Tactical:

• Complete the Performance CV for you and the dog applying for the CKC ATC World Team. Your CV should include your results from all AAC Nationals, USDAA Cynosport Games, UKI Canadian Open, Canada Cup, AKC Invitational, European Open, IFCS, FCI and WAO championships. The spreadsheet provides website links to the results for each of these events to assist you in compiling these results. If you attended the 2006 AAC Nationals, these results are not available online; however, you can obtain a copy of these, by emailing the Captain () if required.
• Submit video from one international-level agility (i.e., standard) and one international-level jumpers course of your choice. Ideally, this will come from previous international experience at IFCS, EO, WAO, or FCI competitions. If you have not competed at any of these events, then results from AKC Invitational, Canada Cup, UKI Canadian Open, AAC Challenge Class, USDAA Grand Prix or IHC classes can be submitted. Please include a copy of the course map and the results (i.e., faults, time, placement, yardage and SCT) as part of your video footage.
• Complete and submit video for the two CKC ATC application drills (1 agility and 1 jumpers) that are provided. Jumps must be set at the height for which you are applying (i.e., 26”, 18” or 14”). You are required only to complete each drill one time. However, please note and carefully follow the requirements for recording your video, which are outlined below.

Physical (Handler & Dog):

• There are no specific tasks for applicants to complete for this element. We are committed to bring Canada’s best agility handler and dog partners to the World Championships next fall. While we won’t be using any physical fitness measures to select CKC ATC World Team members this year, we will expect team members to make their physical preparation a top priority.
• Building lower body strength and coordination to improve speed, agility footwork and acceleration/ deceleration transitions will be a preparation focus this year. Once Team members are selected, they will be expected to develop and implement a training plan with this goal in mind. The Captain/Coach and other management team members will share their expertise in Human Kinetics, Exercise Physiology, Sport Nutrition, and Athletic Conditioning to assist team members in this regard. We have included two drills with this application material that can get you started on working towards improving this component.
• Your dog’s YPS for International Agility and Jumping events will be calculated from the Performance CV (see Tactical criteria above). The Selection Committee will calculate this component for you based on the materials you provide in your CV.

Based on the results from the 2011 FCI World Championships, the following YPS were the minimum required to run without time faults in each jump height category. We will use this as a guideline against which to compare your dog’s performance speed.

 Mental (Handler):

• Complete the online sport Mental Toughness Questionaire.  It can be completed at the following link:  

http://cognitive-edge.ca/survey/index.php?sid=35829&;lang=en

Additional Material:

• Complete the measurement form (for Small and Medium dogs). Previous CKC ATC World Team members with official measurement cards signed by FCI officials are not required to complete the measurement form.
• Read and agree to the terms in the online versions of the CKC ATC World Team Code of Conduct and Consent/Release form. If you are invited to become a member of the CKC ATC World Team, you will be required to sign an additional copy of these forms as part of your contract.

Criteria for Setting up Drill Sequences

• You will need access to 70x80 ring indoors or outdoors to set up the courses.
• Set up the course as accurately as possible.  CRCD obstacle co-ordinates and a course grid have been provided for you to assist you when building the sequences.
• Check angles and distance between obstacles carefully.
• Jumps must be set at the height for which you are applying (i.e., 26”, 18” or 14”).
• Set only one bar on all jumps.
• Use weave poles with 24” spacing.
• Set the A-Frame at 5’6”.
• Improvise (if need be) for long jumps use an Obedience Broad Jumpa cloth draped over a winged double jump for the wall jump.
• Use two wing jumps spaced at the correct distances for the ascending double. The back bar to be set at the jump height, the lower bar in front should be between 15cm (6”) to 25 cm (10”) lower, and with a horizontal spacing that does not exceed L 55 cm, (22 in,) M. 40 cm, (16 in.) and Sm. 30 cm (12 in.)
• Video each sequence from above ground level (from a ladder if no other alternative) and ideally, from a position that shows the contacts and weave poles

MANDATORY VIDEO REQUIREMENTS:

• You are required to begin videoing PRIOR to setting up the sequence - i.e., with an empty space, no obstacles out on the floor, when you start recording.
• The video of each drill needs to be continuous from start to finish. No editing. We anticipate that the recording for each sequence will be close to an hour in duration, to accommodate the time it takes you to build, walk and then run the sequence. Make sure you have enough video memory and battery power to complete this task.
• Once you begin the recording, you will start to set up the sequence, taking care to measure carefully and check distances with a measuring device. After setting the sequence you can walk the course and warm up your dog for as long as you need to. BUT YOU MUST NOT STOP THE RECORDING – there must be no editing on your video at all. You can take as much time to prepare as you need before running the sequence but you must submit the FIRST run-through of the sequence.
• The purpose of this video is two-fold. 1) It will provide a common metric upon which to compare handler/dog teams competing for team spots at each jump height; and 2) It will provide the selection committee with a method of gauging your ability to perform a sequence without any practice and your ability to negotiate an international style sequence while working to stay connected with your dog and focused from start to finish.
• You are welcome to complete these video sequences with other agility competitors if you would like help setting the sequences. However, there must be no stoppage on the video recording between when you started setting the sequence, until after you have run it with your dog. If need be, you can submit your video with other dogs performing the sequence as well.