Judging in this sport is very subjective. Other than experience and documented guidelines, how can one become more aware of the subtleties to the art of judging and being judged ? Please explain how you specifically judge the four categories: Presentation, Athleticism, Wow!Factor, and Success.



Bob - All categories are interrelated with Wow!Factor, Presentation, and Success being the most interrelated. Each competition is judged by comparing the performance that would reasonably be expected for a particular breed and/or size of dog and by comparing the performance of the competitors in that particular competition. For example, windy or windy with gusts, raining or wet, poor field conditions, etc. are considered in determining scores. Assume thrower "A" makes 20 simple backhand throws with 20 catches and thrower "B" makes 20 difficult throws with a wide variety of spins, releases, angles, etc. with only 15 catches. Thrower "B" would probably receive a higher Success score as well as a higher score in the other categories.


Chuck - Subjective is the key word here. Having competed for the past 10 years and having judged numerous events, I still do not feel comfortable with my ability to judge, or my ability to put together a routine that will be scored highly by regional judges. The very best way to learn the subtleties involved in judging Freestyle is to volunteer to judge. We are in a unique situation in the Dallas Dog & Disc Club in that we have several Fun Matches each year and these are perfect opportunities to get some hands-on experience as a judge. If you anticipate competing as a regional finalist, you owe it to yourself (and your dog) to volunteer as a judge (your help will be welcomed). Until you've judged, words can't properly explain how difficult judging can be and how intertwined each category is with the next. There are times when I'm disappointed in my score and times that I may not agree with the score I received, but since I've experienced judging first hand, you will never hear me criticize the judges or their efforts.