AAC Board of Directors – November 2017 Meeting Highlights (unofficial)

Highlights of the AAC Board meeting held on Thursday, November 16, 2017.

• New membership applications received in October 2017 will be provided with a one-time promotional membership for 2018.

• Effective January 1 – Dec 31, 2018 a pre-trial dog check-in will be available as outlined in motion 171112.  Details will be emailed to clubs and will be included in the 2018 AAC Rulebook
• AAC 2018 Rulebook
  • Online printable versions will be available to members through your AAC User Account.
  • Printed copies will be available for purchase starting in 2018.
  • Judges will be provided a single soft cover copy each.
• Rule Clarifications/Amendments:
  • Extension of the 2018 re-measurement processes to September 1, 2018.    http://aac.ca/sites/default/public/forms/AAC_ChangesMeasurementProcess2017.pdf.
  • Decoy obstacle use will be revised from “mandatory” to “optional at the discretion of the course designing judge” effective July 1/2018.
  • Amendment to Section C2.7.2.1 Double Jump in AAC Rulebook. Due to varying types of bases causing mix and matching issues, going forward: “If a constructed double may be taken from both directions (e.g. in Snooker, or Gamble openings, or if course design specified approach from both sides), two similar jumps of the same type should be used, either both winged or both wingless.”
• Regionals and Nationals:
  • A split Regionals was approved for NF/NS for 2018.
  • 2018 Regional for Newfoundland will be hosted by DPF Leading Agility at the Southlands Park in St. John’s Newfoundland on June 16, 2018.
  • 2018 Regional for Nova Scotia will be hosted by CAANS at the MacMillan Centre, Truro, Nova Scotia on the weekend of May 19, 2018.
  • Hosts are still needed for both a 2019 and 2020 AAC National Championships at this time.   If you are interested please contact the National Steering Committee Chair. Contact information can be located at: http://www.aac.ca/en/contact/main/#CO  
• National Team:
  • Supporter shirts have been shipped from the supplier and distribution will start through Team Members on receipt.
  • The Team continues to offer the opportunity to join them in training through online auditing.  The information is located at:  https://www.aacnationalagilityteam.com/auditor-team

Responsibilities of AAC Representatives if an Act of Misconduct Occurs at a Trial

What are the responsibilities of AAC representatives (AAC Board, employees, Judges, AAC Committee members, Host Trial Committee) if they witness an act of misconduct during a trial?

They have a duty to:

• Inform the Host Trial Committee
• Inform the “victim" (for lack of a better word) of their right to report the incident and/or lodge an official complaint with the Discipline Committee by filling in an Incident Report
• Fill in an Incident Report and submit it for the records
• If the AAC Official is the victim, he/she has a moral obligation to identify the Incident Report “complainant” box. (as an AAC representative; supporting its commitment to ensuring fairness and safety; officials must lead by example)

If a competitor reports misconduct to an AAC representative (AAC Board, employees, Judges, AAC Committee members, Host Trial Committee) that did not witness the incident the AAC Representative should:

• Inform the Host trial Committee
• Inform the "complainant" of their right to report an official complaint with the DC by filling in an Incident Report.
• Fill in an Incident Report with the information of who said what to who.

To obtain a copy of the AAC Board minutes (in English or French, once approved), email Blanche Cooper at admin@aac.ca.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 21, 2017.

AAC Board of Directors – September 2017 Meeting Highlights (unofficial)

Highlights of the AAC Board meeting held on Thursday, September 21, 2017.

• On Course will be revised into both a bi-monthly newsletter for all competitors, and a member-only quarterly summary effective September 21, 2017.
• Rule Clarifications/Amendments:
• Correction of French translation in AAC Rulebook regarding fouling in the ring.  Motion 170903.
• Regional Equipment requirements for number of wing/wingless jumps revised effective immediately.  Motion 170905.
• Ring Crew descriptions clarified with updates to be added to the AAC Rulebook and the Judges Handbook.  Motion 170910
• Section 2.9.3 Maximum Course Time &/or Faults in AAC Rulebook amended to:  The Judge and trial committee may, at their discretion, set a maximum course time (MCT), after which a dog and handler will be dismissed from the ring. The MCT for all classes should be set to Mini Veteran Course Time plus 20 seconds. MCT for Challenge shall be Mini Veteran Target Course Time plus 20 seconds.

The Judge and trial committee may also, at their discretion, set a maximum number of course faults after which a dog and handler will be dismissed from the ring.   Effective July 1/19.  Motion 170907

• Judges Clinics Scheduled:
  • Red Barn Event Centre in Barrie, ON on Dec 15-17, 2017
  • Pacific Agility Clan in Maple Ridge, BC on Mar 2-4, 2018
• Safety

The Safety Committee asked that the AAC advise that there is a slight potential for dogs to get a leg trapped between planks and metal supports of the dogwalk. 

The Safety Committee recommends that equipment owners and users consider covering the gap between the metal bars on the dog walk plants to decrease the risk of future incidents to dogs either going on or coming off of the side of the equipment.

• National Team:
• A new website is being created, which will be continually owned and managed by Team Management going forward.
• 2017-2018 AAC National Team was officially announced, with congratulatory letters, team contracts and a code of conduct sent to all. 
• Regionals and Nationals:
  •  A National host has the option of using the AAC Equipment Container or not.  The content list of the Equipment Container is to be supplied for the National Hot.  Expenses will not be approved for purchasing items that are in the Equipment Container.
  • Bids have not been received for these 2019 Regional Championship:   BC/YK, AB/NT, SK/MB/NU, NB/PI, NS/NL.  If you are interested please contact the National Steering Committee Chair. Contact information can be located at: http://www.aac.ca/en/contact/main/#CO

To obtain a copy of the AAC Board minutes (in English or French, once approved), email Blanche Cooper at admin@aac.ca.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2017.

Strategy to Implement AAC Jump Height Changes - The final piece of the puzzle

Deciding on a Jump Height

All dogs will be required to have had at least one new measurement for the new jump heights before they can run in competition from January 1, 2018.

Jump height choices are effectively reset on January 1, 2018. At their first competition on or after that date, the dog may compete in ANY of the heights and categories for which they are eligible with their new measurement.

Dogs that are currently in Specials or Veterans but will have a different 'Regular' height in 2018 may change back into Regulars (or Specials). Any change in height category back to Regular will not be considered their one-time move back to Regulars that normally requires the move request form to be filled out and signed by their Regional Director. Dogs over 5 and under 7 years old currently competing (on or before December 31, 2017) as a Veteran or Double-Dropped Veteran may continue to compete in that category in 2018. They do not have to go back to competing in Specials for a year when the heights and category choices are reset.

This one-time occurrence for the dog’s first trial of 2018 must be completed by September 1. 2018. Last day for movement between categories for the new jump heights will be August 31,  2018.

After this date, for any change back to Regular for their first trial of the year, competitors must complete and submit the required form to their Regional Director. This also applies to competitors who chose to run their dog in Specials for their first trial of 2018. Having competed in Specials at the new heights, the handler must fill in the “move request” form to move back to Regular. On and after September 1,  2018, competition height will be determined in the same way as if it were the dog’s first measurement and first ever trial.

Examples

• My dog is 3 years old and currently competes as a 22” Special. He measures over 21” and he has 26 circled on his current dog ID card. He was measured for his new card and confirmed by two judges that he measures 21.5”. The height circled on his new card is 20”.

Question: Can he run as a 20” Special in 2018 as it is lower than his current 22” Specials height?

Answer: No. Dogs competing in Specials must jump one height lower than their Regular height. His Regular competition height is 20” so he would have to run in 16” Specials.

Question: Does he have to compete as a 16” Special in 2018 or can he compete at 20” Regular?

Answer: You can choose his new competition height. He may compete as a 20” Regular OR a 16” Special

Question: What if I decide to run him as a 16” Special in his first trial of 2018 and decide I don’t like him jumping 16”. Can I move him to 20” Regular at his next trial?

Answer: No, not unless you fill in a move request because the dog has already competed as a Special under the new heights..

• My dog is 6 years old, measures 15.25” and has been competing as a 6” Double-dropped Veteran for the past year. Her Regular competition height will still be 16”. I want her to continue running as a double-dropped veteran in 2018.

Question: Will my dog have to jump higher next year? I want her to still jump 6”. Can she jump 4” instead?

Answer: No, her DDV height will be 8”. The 4” DDV height category is for dogs measuring 15” and under. However, she may continue running as a Double Dropped Veteran without having to return to Specials at the new heights. Her Veteran status can be carried over.

• It is September 9^th 2018 and my dog has just been measured to jump 12” at the new heights. I used to run him as a 10” Special last year.

Question: What height should I enter?

Answer: You should enter 8” Specials. If you wish your dog to run as a 12” Regular dog you should complete the “One time move to Regular” form which can be found on the AAC website and submit to your Regional Director