What is the USDDN?
Formed in December 2000 the Steering Committee coordinating the US Disc Dog Nationals (USDDN) was dedicated to organizing the annual Nationals Championships Series that commenced in 2002. The US Disc Dog Nationals is an exciting format in which any team can compete regardless of their Club membership status or political affiliation within the sport. Melissa Heeter and a core group steering committee members introduced to the USDDN in a new judging systems in 2001, informed by the players and for the players!
Is the USDDN only limited to the US?
No, the US Disc Dog Nationals now have event qualifiers in several countries around the world. International competitors are welcome to enter and qualify for USDDN Worlds.
What has been achieved?
The Steering Committee’s formation is in itself an important achievement. In the last several years, the Steering Committee has grown to the stage where it now includes representatives and elected members from disc dog clubs throughout all parts of the world. Consequently, it is the only organization in canine disc that includes active representatives from the majority of the world’s disc dog clubs.
The Steering Committee is wholly administered entirely by volunteers appointed by their disc dog clubs and other members who have been elected to key administrative and Championships staff positions. One of the unique features of the Steering Committee coordinating the US Disc Dog Nationals is that all the Committee members are required to be formally re-appointed (by their disc dog club) or re-elected (by the other Committee members).
Since December 2000 when the Steering Committee was established its members have held more than 35 online meetings and achieved the following milestones.
In February 2001 the Steering Committee elected 12 respected disc dog competitors to a Judges Panel for the purposes of judging Nationals Championships Series events.
In March 2001 the Steering Committee approved Minimum Standards and Guidelines for Nationals Events. This document specifies the details that disc dog clubs must satisfy when hosting events included in the Nationals Championships Series.
The identification of the new US Disc Dog Judging Criteria for Toss and Fetch was completed in March 2001. It has subsequently been successfully used at multiple events.
The development of the new US Disc Dog Judging Criteria for Freestyle was completed in July 2001. It has subsequently been successfully used at multiple events.
The Steering Committee has commenced approving events for inclusion in the Nationals Championships Series
The USDDN Judges Certification Program was developed and is used to train, test, and certify Judges qualified for appointment to judge USDDN World qualifying events. The USDDN Judges Certification Program formally certifies judges in both Toss and Fetch and Freestyle.