There’s an old saying that genius is one part inspiration and 99 parts perspiration. While I truly don’t pretend to genius I understand that having an idea that is worthwhile in this world is no big deal. Making that idea a reality requires a lot of commitment and hard work. And so the blueprint for a new agility organization has been sitting on my desk for quite some time: JFF Agility. I’ve known for some time that it’s a good idea; perhaps the best I’ve ever had. But I’ve also known that the moment I pull the trigger my life will change in a radical way… I’ll have to do a boatload of work.

I hereby announce the immediate commencement of JFF Agility. In a real way the announcement is premature as I intend to put together a steering committee of people who want to have a hand in the formation of the organization. But I am not one to half-step when committed to go forward. We will get started now, and adapt as we go along.

The Premise

JFF will have its own set of rules for performance. These rules are closely based on the rules for performance used today by TDAA. Truthfully, the rules for TDAA were based on my vision for performance rules for JFF over ten years ago. But I failed to launch the organization back then.

However, JFF will also allow the conduct of tournaments and league-play under the performance rules of any existing organization. This will allow a host group committed to competition in a specific venue to use JFF competition as a developmental venue.

Part of the reason that agility is so expensive in the world is that the “model” for nearly every existing agility organization demands a terrific outlay of expense. The host club has to hire judges from out of area, must rent facilities, and has all kinds of expenses related to the conduct of the agility test.

JFF will allow the conduct of sanctioned trials, tournaments, and league play for qualification and titling purposes at the facility of the host club and will allow the judges of record to be affiliated with the host club. This model draws nearly all the profit back to where it belongs, to the host club. Consequently the model also allows for smaller entry fees opening up our sport to people who frankly cannot afford participation in the more traditional venues.

Sanctioned Clubs and Judges

This model nearly demands that every sanctioned club has two or three approved judges. We really must take the skill and integrity of judges as a very serious matter. So there will be no carte blanche endorsement of judges in JFF. To become approved as a judge in JFF the candidate will have to pass a written test. Ideally the judge will have significant experience from another venue but will be open-minded and clever enough to also integrate and understand the rules for performance for JFF.

Existing TDAA judges will have the easiest time understanding rules for performance in JFF. And indeed USDAA judges will recognize that many of the rules of performance are a close match USDAA Starters rules for performance. So these judges will have an easier time being grand-fathered in to the organization.

Yahoo List Established

I’ve set up a new discussion list on Yahoo: use this link to subscribe: JFFAgility-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. If you’d like to be a part of the steering committee for the new venue please do subscribe. I’d very much like your input.

It is my intention in the next couple of days to publish the first draft of rules and a variety of registration forms to the discussion list on Yahoo.

An Odd Sad Note

While I was going back through some of the old organization papers for TDAA, nearly ten years old now, I noted that my friend Jane Callaghy was a part of my original steering committee. Jane died tragically in an automobile accident back in 2001. Her legacy is the Live to Run Again initiative. More information can be found at www.livetorunagain.org.  

Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston: dogwoodbud1@earthlink.net. And Checkout my new publication the Idea Book – Agility Training for a Small Universe available at www.dogagility.org/store.