November 2025 IDAL League Courses
- Melissa Wallace, PhD, CPDT-KA
- 44 minutes ago
- 3 min read
We have a game for you this month that has never been played in IDAL. The game is Basketball. You read that right.
Briefing
Objective: Basketball is a two-period game. In the first period, collect as many points as possible. In the second period (free throw), the handler tosses a ball through the hoop for extra points.
Time (for initial point accumulation):
50 seconds
Briefing: The handler will carry a container containing two tennis balls to the table at center court. The dog will be with the handler on leash. The handler places the container anywhere on the table, and the dog gets up on the table. The handler may remove the leash at this time if judge/crew are ready. Tuck the leash under or close to the table because you will finish there.
Tip-off begins when the timer says, “Go!” The timer starts the clock, and the team begins the point accumulation period. Points are earned for each obstacle the dog successfully performs. As with a typical basketball game, play goes back and forth across the center-court line. The dog may take one or two obstacles on one side of the court but must cross the center-court (red) line to earn additional points on the opposite side of the court from up to two obstacles. To continue scoring, the dog must repeatedly cross the center-court line, completing one to two obstacles on each side as allowed. Continue back and forth until time expires or you direct your dog to the table. Game play ends once your dog gets onto the table. The table is “live” once the game begins.
If more than two obstacles are taken on one side, no points will be earned for the extra obstacles. Jumps and tunnels are not limited in the number of repetitions. The contact and weaves may be taken no more than twice each. No obstacle may be taken back-to-back. No refusals will be called (the dog may reattempt). Missed contacts and dropped bars result in zero points earned and do not count as one of the obstacles on that side. A dropped bar takes the jump out of play.
There are two jumps marked SD for “Sudden Death.” If the dog takes either of these jumps at any time, in either direction, sudden death occurs, and the dog must get on the table to stop time. The dog retains any score earned up to that point but cannot earn any more (including the second period. The tire decreases your score by three during point accumulation!
During point accumulation, if a ball falls off the table, the handler must replace it before the whistle blows.
The free-throw period begins when the dog gets on the table. The handler has up to 20 seconds to toss the tennis balls through the hoop (tire). This time is not added to the final time from the first period. A successful toss from the purple line earns one point, while a toss from the green line earns 3 points. If the dog leaves the table, no more free throws can be made; you keep points already earned. If the dog leaves the table to go after a ball, all free-throw points are forfeit.
Point Basis:
Jumps = 1
Tunnels = 3
Contacts/weaves = 5
Tire = -3 (during first period)
SD Jumps = Ends Game
Scoring: Points, then Time.
Notes: An appropriate container would be a normal size Easter or Halloween pail. Bonus to clubs who use a pail that looks like a basketball basket and use tennis balls that look like basketballs (please keep dog safety in mind).
Course Maps
60x90
Maps (Imperial)
Maps (Metric)
50x70
Maps (Imperial)
Maps (Metric)
An Open Invitation to New Players
New clubs and individuals are always welcome to join us and play these courses. Download the scorekeeping worksheets below. Contact the League Secretary to help with the details at pagc.live@gmail.com.
60x90
50x70
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Questions, comments, snide remarks, and feedback go to Melissa Wallace, IDAL Secretary, at pagc.live@gmail.com.
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