Joining the X-Fidos

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="2a5007d0dvldtc.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The XFidos Home Page "><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="006d2b03.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="2c2abda0.jpg" border=0 width="171" height="218" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The XFidos Home Page "><U>The X-Fidos Home Page </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About The XFidos"><U>About The X-Fidos</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Is Flyball?"><U>What Is Flyball?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How Do We Get Into Flyball? "><U>How Do We Get Into Flyball? </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="XFidos Team Members"><U>X-Fidos Team Members</U></A></div> <div> <B>Joining the X-Fidos</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Demo Information"><U>Demo Information</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tournament Information"><U>Tournament Information</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Information"><U>Contact Information</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Joining the X-Fidos</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="715" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 206 WIDTH="436"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7014011111100.png" HEIGHT="21" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Are you interested in flyball? </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7014011111100.png" HEIGHT="21" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do you think your dog has what it takes to become a member of The X-Fidos?</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2c40cc80.jpg" border=0 width="268" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>How To Become a Member* of The X-Fidos Flyball Team </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>STEP ONE</B><B>: </B>Master Entry-level Skills at a Beginning Flyball Class </div> <div> The skills required for a safe, fast flyball run do not come without some effort on your part! Part of the requirement for team membership is evidence that you take this seriously.</div> <div> All <A HREF="id8_oregon_flyball_clubs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Oregon Flyball teams</U></A> offer beginning classes several times a year -- <A HREF="id71_beginning_flyball_classes___new_series.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How Do We Get Into Flyball? "><U>ours </U></A>are held at the indoor facility of our sponsor, <A HREF="http://www.happygoluckydog.com/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.happygoluckydog.com/"><U><B>Happy-Go-Lucky-Dog Training</B></U></A> at 601 NE 28th Avenue (1 block north of Glisan) in Portland.  </div> <div> <B>Graduation from STEP ONE consists of the dog and handler being able to demonstrate: </B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The ability to send the dog over 4 jumps away from the handler. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The ability to recall the dog over 4 jumps. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Box Turns"><U>safe box turn</U></A> from a distance of 10 feet. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The dog is able to stay focused on the handler during passing exercises. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The dog displays no aggression toward dogs or people.</div> <bR> <div> <B>STEP TWO</B>: Flyball Practice Sessions and Becoming an X-Fidos Trainee </div> <div> <B>Graduates STEP ONE are eligible to attend our Flyball practices and become a member* of The X-Fidos Flyball Team as a "Trainee". </B></div> <div>  <A NAME="practice_locations_and_schedules_vary"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Practice locations and schedules vary depending on the season:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Weekly practices are held at Noon (Individual Skills and working with Intermediate dogs) on Sunday at the indoor facility of our sponsor, <A HREF="http://www.happygoluckydog.com/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.happygoluckydog.com/"><U><B>Happy-Go-Lucky-Dog Training</B></U></A> at 601 NE 28th Avenue (1 block north of Glisan) in Portland. These are not instructor-led.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">During fine weather (roughly May through July) we may choose to practice Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm, outside on the soccer field of the <A HREF="http://www.thprd.org/facilities/gh.cfm" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.thprd.org/facilities/gh.cfm"><U><B>Garden Home Recreation Center</B></U></A><B> </B>at 7475 SW Oleson Rd Portland, OR 97223</div> <div> <I>Note: Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, Happy-Go-Lucky Dog Training, Noon practices are free for members. </I><I><B>Invited guests, however, should be prepared to pay $5.00 for use of the facility. </B></I>Membership is not required to attend the first three practices, but it is expected that participants commit to join if they wish to continue past that point..</div> <div> X-Fidos membership gives Trainees access to training equipment to enable home practice. At the Training Committee's discretion, advanced Trainees may be invited to participate in other flyball-related activities (typically demos) along with the Tournament Teams. </div> <div> Intermediate practice focuses on refining and proofing the skills presented in Beginning Flyball, preparing the dog and handler to complete the Intermediate Flyball Test described below.  Dog and handler teams are expected to attend/be on time for practices, help set up practice equipment, and to independently train flyball skills. Mentorship may be requested; the X-Fidos team members will invest in your success! </div> <div> <B>Graduation from this level consists of the dog and handler being able to demonstrate mastery of these Intermediate skills: </B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Dog must demonstrate a rock-solid recall under distraction. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Dog must be comfortable being restrained (prior to release) by other members of the team. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Dog must be non-aggressive towards other dogs and people. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Handler must demonstrate that the dog is in control at all times; the dog should never be chasing, lunging at or harassing other dogs. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Dog must be able to complete 5 consecutive flyball runs, each run including: all jumps to and from the box, a safe box turn, retrieving the ball and coming back immediately to the handler without the use of props or barriers, passing  another dog. The handler will remain behind the start line throughout the behavior.</div> <div> <B>What is NOT Required</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Extraordinary speed -- tournament competitions are sorted into speed levels, much like wrestling has weight classes. Teams compete only with comparable teams. Let's face it -- not all of us can be Border Collies!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A particular size of dog -- small dogs are highly prized in flyball because the height of the hurdles is determined by the shoulder height of the shortest dog running. Teams of six dogs will typically need two height dogs.</div> <bR> <div> <B>STEP THREE</B>: Becoming a Full Tournament Team X-Fidos Member </div> <div> Once a Trainee dog and handler can pass the Intermediate Flyball Test, they are encouraged to work towards attending their first tournament. <B>At this level, membership* in The X-Fidos is required. </B></div> <div> Tournament Team Members are eligible to attend all practices, demonstrations and tournaments. Depending on what events are on the horizon, practice will focus on: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Team Skills  (passing and release skills)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Individual Skills (safe box turns,  jumping, speed) </div> <div> <I>* Membership in The X-Fidos is $50 per household, per year, and requires sponsorship by a current X-Fidos Team member. Benefits of membership include (a) access to equipment and training, (b) low- or no-cost practice facilities, (c) insurance coverage during club activities, (d) club-sponsored attendance of up to four tournaments per year. Internal club communications are managed primarily through a closed Yahoo! group.</I></div> </td> </tr></table></body>