The following is taken from the NAFA home page:
For the change: 93.54% Against the change: 6.46%
80.60% of the ballots were returned.
Beginning October 1st, 2008, we will be subtracting FIVE inches from the height at the withers instead of four.Read the announcement here.
NAFA's owners (the delegates) have made it clear that they want to subtract 5" from the shoulder to determine jump heights. This proposal was initiated by its participants and clearly was supported throughout the flyball community. What happens now that the proposal has passed?
Beginning Oct. 1st, 2008 we subtract 5" from the shoulders, of course!
So, why? do I even ask that question? I ask that because even though this passed by a landslide, there were legitimate concerns expressed about existing Height Cards early on in the process. These concerns do not magically disappear just because the decision has been made.
Height Cards
This is being written in advance of the August 2nd meeting of the NAFA Board of Directors. The latest information we have is that the NAFA BoD will be discussing at this meeting how this Rule change will impact the rest of the Rules of Racing. It is assumed by many that Height Cards will automaticly be issued reflecting the additional 1 inch deduction. On the surface, that may appear to be inevitable but, there are many critics of the Height Cards that were issued prior to the more restrictive standards adopted by the BoD starting in 2004 & 2005. Should these earlier Height Cards be "reviewed" prior to their re-issuance? Some think they should.
A proposal to review Height Cards before re-issuing them with the lower jump height will surely be met with some resistance. Some of the dogs who have these HCs haven't actually stood for a measurement in over 5 years. How dare anybody require these dogs to go through the measuring process one more time! However, the controversies surrounding these HCs could be put to final rest if their owners wish to take advantage of the additional 1" deduction.
When it comes to issuing Height Cards, the NAFA Board has the final authority. It generally has relied on the judgment of its approved Judges to exercise this authority, relying on at least one Supervising Judge to verify the accuracy of two other Approved Judges. At least three different Judges on three separate occasions must agree with their measurements in order for a HC to be issued. Unfortunately, it has been up to the competitors themselves to "police" the legitimacy and accuracy of these measurements by challenging an uncarded dog during a tournament OR filing a more formal challenge of a Height Card with the NAFA Board. To my knowledge, no one has availed themselves of the second option.
Does this "level" the playing field? Flyball is as much a social activity as it is a sporting competition. We are comprised of individuals that love our dogs and enjoy the sport of flyball. What team or club wants to be known as being so competitive that they challenged the honesty and integrity of a team they compete against regularly? It is difficult to challenge the integrity of a competitor when you also want to enjoy the company of those same people when the competition is done.
Wouldn't it be easier to follow the example of the British Flyball Association (BFA) which states in its rules that the BFA BoD retains the right to verify the measurement of any dog issued a height card on a random basis? The BFA BoD does not need to give a reason for re-measuring a dog. Since it is on a "random basis", all that the BFA needs to do is notify a Height Card owner to "present your dog."
Ultimately, all authority for "policing" and setting standards rests with the NAFA Board. Passage of the 5" jump height proposal presents the NAFA Board with a rare and unique opportunity to exercise their authority and level a playing field that has been perceived by many to be skewed for far too long.
That's my view, what's yours?
In the meantime, I wish you all,
"Good Luck and Good Racing!"
