Course building has its perks

[DogIsMyMantra]

6 months ago I knew little to nothing about course building. I got out there to help any way I could though and people showed me the tricks little by little. It's a tough job, but you learn a lot about course design and equipment specs.

Well, just recently I was asked to be a chief course builder at one of my local USDAA trials. Then I found out that I get free entries (excluding tournaments...Grand Prix and Steeplechase) for the job! What a perk!

So if you are looking for a way to reduce trialing costs and are willing to work your butt off for the club, look into course building.

 

[Phebe*DD]

I was thinking about this very thing over the weekend and decided next time there's an opportunity I'm going to volunteer to help with course building. It's also a way to get the see the course before the other competitors.

 

[corbinam]

Agreed--it's a good way to make friends, too, if you're working at a trial where you don't know anyone. Of course, I don't course build unless absolutely necessary because of my terrible spatial relations! DH helps all the time.

Dogismymantra...are you going to be at the Mad Co trial at the end of October? We will be there!

 

[DogIsMyMantra]

Dogismymantra...are you going to be at the Mad Co trial at the end of October? We will be there!

Yep! I'm trying to 'schedule' it so Bella gets her ADCH there. She only needs one snooker super Q and one standard leg. So I'm holding off entering her in standard till then so I can earn my first ADCH on a dog at a local trial with friends around.

 

[corbinam]

Yep! I'm trying to 'schedule' it so Bella gets her ADCH there. She only needs one snooker super Q and one standard leg. So I'm holding off entering her in standard till then so I can earn my first ADCH on a dog at a local trial with friends around.

Yay! We will be there to cheer you on!!!

 

[Silaria]

Then I found out that I get free entries (excluding tournaments...Grand Prix and Steeplechase) for the job! What a perk!

So if you are looking for a way to reduce trialing costs and are willing to work your butt off for the club, look into course building.

Its great that the group you work waves the trial fee for the Chief Course Builder position.

Just so you know, free trial entries aren't necessarily given by every club. Some clubs just do "workers raffles" which can include anything from dog toys/food/treats to certificates for a free one day entry to a future trial. You earn a raffle ticket for each Class you work. (Ours also provides a free lunch if you work more than 3 Classes.)

I do encourage ANYONE and EVERYONE interested in agility, even if you just started training, to volunteer to help in ANY capacity at a trial. People are needed for ring crew (setting bars knocked during a run, fluffing the chute, changing jump heights), leash runners, and score sheet runners are easy jobs that anyone can do. Most trial host clubs, however, are more than willing to train you to do any position.

 

[DogIsMyMantra]

Its great that the group you work waves the trial fee for the Chief Course Builder position.

Just so you know, free trial entries aren't necessarily given by every club. Some clubs just do "workers raffles" which can include anything from dog toys/food/treats to certificates for a free one day entry to a future trial. You earn a raffle ticket for each Class you work. (Ours also provides a free lunch if you work more than 3 Classes.)

Of course I know that it isn't offered by every club, but it is a pretty common things for USDAA clubs along the Atlantic. Most of the clubs that I know that do this also do very nice raffles for workers, offer breakfast/lunch and have a no-whining raffle (bottles of wine) for NQs!