Join the Fun!
Beginners are always welcome at NOCI. Don’t be shy about registering or volunteering to work your first fun match.
Fun Matches
All breeds, mixes, and experience levels of handlers are welcome — if this is your first fun match ever, you will find knowledgeable, friendly, and encouraging people here to help you get started! We are also willing to help veteran handlers who want to proof their dogs.
Your dog does NOT need to be registered with any organization to participate in our fun matches—Your dog can be a mixed breed or a purebred without full registration and still show in officially sanctioned AKC and UKC obedience trials. This is allowed with an AKC special registration under their “Canine Partners” or “Purebred Alternative Listing” (PAL) programs. UKC has same a similar option with their “Performance Listing” program.
Note: Bitches in heat are not allowed on the premises and cannot participate.
Registration Deadline: Closing dates are noon on Wednesday prior to the Friday match or when entry limit is reached.
When: Fun matches start at 7:00 pm
Where: The NOCI Training Building in Crystal Lake.
Doors Open: 6:00 pm.
Worker Runs: 6:15 pm.
Subsequent Runs: If Worker Runs finish before 7:00 pm, Rings will begin early with handlers who are present and ready.
Important Dates
Entry Fees
- Members: $6 per run
- Non-members: $8 per run
- Online entries only—No walk-ins
Entry Limit - 80 Runs
- 20 runs: Utility
- 22 runs: Open
- 28 runs: Novice
- 28 runs: Beginner Novice
Entry Form and Payment
Payments accepted: Credit card, Debit card, and eCheck.
*eChecks incur the lowest fee.
Fee examples:
- Credit/debit fee on a $12 fun match entry is $1.38.
- eCheck, the fees are $0.95.
You may checkout as guest or create an account to save payment details.
Running Order
No matter where you are on the Running Order, we advise you to arrive earlier than you think you may actually run. There is no way to anticipate how many no-shows will occur.
Novice runs begin at 7:00 pm. All sits and downs will be conducted mid-way through the class. The 1st group of sits-&-downs will start as close to 7:45 as possible, depending on conditions that night. The 2nd group of sits-&-downs will follow immediately after the 1st group. The remaining Novice runs will follow.
As classes finish up, our normal practice is to try to shift some runs from classes with big entries to the rings that have finished early so that no class continues too late into the night. This applies to Beginner Novice (BN), Novice, & Open only. Utility stays in the Utility ring. Therefore, you might be shifted to a different ring for your run depending on which classes finish early. Talk to your ring steward if you think you might have a conflict. We will accommodate you. Everyone will have time to do their runs—no one will be hurried.
Arriving For Your First Fun Match
The building has a long row of blue awnings in the front. Parking and the main entrance are in back of the building.
The potty area is at the back of the parking lot in the large grassy field. Poop bags and a garbage can are located near the lighted pole. You are required to pick up after your dog.
Please adhere to the following rules:
- No squeaker-toys allowed during the fun match.
- No extended flexi-type leashes are allowed outside or indoors.
- The single exceptionfor flexi-type leashes is reserved for training in the ring during your fun-match-run when your dog is the ONLY dog in the ring and you’re working on a specific issue.
- Always keep your dog within 2 feet of you and under control. Pay attention to what your dog is looking at. Do not let your dog lock eyes with or stare at another dog. Instead, interrupt your dog and redirect him to focus his attention on you.
- Excessive barking or excessive disruptive behavior are grounds for you being asked to leave.
Your dog is your “date” tonight — he deserves your complete attention so he can have a really fun night!
Check In Upon Arrival
One you arrive, make your way to the check-in table where volunteers will assist with the following:
- Distribute stick-on label(s) with running-order number(s).
- Show where to set up portable crates, if necessary.
- Direct you to the correct ring.
- Show you where the bathrooms are.
- Offer you a heartfelt welcome to NOCI!
The Table Steward at your class ring will check you in again, tell you where you are on the Running Order, tell you how long it will be until your run, and answer questions you have about… well, anything.
4 Rings Run Simultaneously
Ring 1: Beginner Novice (BN)
AKC entries run first, followed by UKC entries for BN
Ring 2: Novice
AKC entries run first, followed by UKC entries for Novice
Ring 3: Open
Ring 4: Utility
Note: Both AKC & UKC runs are available for all classes.
Indicate your preference on your entry form.
Running Order
Cancellations
No refunds will be issued for cancellations and no-shows. We discovered that we do not get timely responses from people when notified of a cancellation. Therefore, there is no waiting list.
Cancellation Procedure
If you can’t make it to the match and want to give or sell your runs to another handler (whereby you work out the money-details between yourselves), the “switch” will be handled via email sent directly to the Fun Match Secretary.
Switch-notification via email must be received before noon on Wednesday prior to the match, which is the final closing date. This notification must include the following:
- The original handler’s name.
- The new handler’s info:
-
- first and last name
- email address
- dog’s call name
- breed
- classes wanted
- jump heights
The new handler can choose different classes to suit their own dog(s), unless a class is already full. After the final closing, no further changes will be accepted.
Ready to Volunteer?
Nothing happens at NOCI without volunteers. To show our appreciation, we offer 1 service credit/hour of work. Additionally, volunteers are allowed 2 free runs (AKC-style only) with their own dog.