Field Set-up
The recommended field set-up for Freestyle is a flat, grassy retangular area 40 yards x 60 yards clear of obstructions.

Time
Teams competing in Freestyle will receive a maximum of 90 seconds per round. Routines must run at least 60 seconds to be scored. Timing begins when the disc is placed in flight or the canine attempts to catch or pick-up a disc placed on the ground or on any part of a thrower or canine's body. Countdown of time remaining will be uniform for all competitors: 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 10 seconds and time.

Music
Contestants who bring their own music should present it to contest officials when called to the on-deck area. Music should be on CD (compact disc) and marked with competitor's name and track number marked on the outside of the CD case. Contestants must avoid selecting music which is unsuitable for a family audience.

Discs
Skyhoundz has selected the Hyperflite K-10 (full size and pup models) as the official flying discs of the Hyperflite Skyhoundz Championships. However, at all levels of Skyhoundz and Hyperflite-sponsored competition (Local, Regional and World Championship Events as well as DiscDogathons) competitors may, in their sole discretion, elect to use Hyperflite K-10 discs or safe canine discs of the manufacturer of their choice subject to the following limitations: In the Hyperflite Extreme Distance Challenge, due to national and world record considerations, the Hyperflite K-10 Competition Standard disc, Fastback disc (standard) or Hero disc (standard) must be used. Competitors entering the MicroDog division must use the K-10 Pup, (the Competition Standard Pup, FrostBite Pup, SofFlite Pup or Jawz Pup disc) or a similar or smaller-sized solid plastic disc made by another manufacturer.

Other
Judges will disregard tricks that do not begin or conclude with a disc in flight except roller throws. Takes, moves in which a disc is handed off to the dog, will not be scored.

Skyhoundz PAWS FREESTYLE Scoring System
Competing teams will receive scores ranging from 1 to 10, in half-point increments, for each of the following four categories:

Presentation
The team's presentation of a crowd pleasing routine with exciting choreography, continuous flow, good disc management and smooth transitions.

Athleticism
Intensity and athleticism in completing catches, tricks or maneuvers together with a dog's speed, quickness, leaping ability relative to its size and control over his/her body while competing.

Wow!Factor
Ability to successfully complete challenging tricks or moves, including successful catches of throws with varied spins or releases. Also, the presentation of completely new moves, or a novel or unique presentation of a previously performed move, will result in higher scores in this category.

Success
The team's ability to successfully execute a routine with specific consideration given for the difficulty of the throws/catches and tricks. Your overall success will effect your score in all categories. A difficult routine that is completed cleanly will score higher than a simple routine completed cleanly.

Under the PAWS scoring system, judges will evaluate each team's ability to cleanly execute a challenging, varied and exciting routine within the time allotted. Although there are specific categories that focus on execution (Success) and difficulty (Wow!Factor), a failure to score well in either of these categories may impact a competitor's scores in all of the PAWS categories. This is because the judges must account for differences between routines of the competitors that are competing on a given day.

For example, if two competitors have perfect rounds in the Success category, they will not necessarily each receive a score of 10. Instead, the more difficult perfectly-executed routine will typically receive a higher score in Success than the simpler routine. Similarly, if two competitors have equally difficult rounds, it is likely that the competitor with fewer misses will receive the higher score in the Wow!Factor category.

Vaults
Vaults, utilizing the trainer's body as a launch pad, should be minimized or excluded from routines altogether. If attempted, vaults should be performed in a controlled and safe manner. Excessive height, or frequent repetitions of vaults, will not increase the likelihood of a higher score. Vaults are not required for success in Hyperflite Skyhoundz competitions. A vault is to be valued no differently than any other trick of similar difficulty. For example, Jeff Stanaway and Cory, 2003 Skyhoundz Canine disc World Champions, do not use vaults in their Freestyle routine.

The freestyle round is a timed freeform competition that is judged on a 40 point scale using the following categories - Drive and Athleticism, Ingenuity, Sequences & Flow, and Comprehensive. Only moves that begin with the disc in flight and end with a catch are scored. Takes, moves in which the disc is handed off to the dog, will not be scored. Rollers, which are intentionally rolled along the ground to the dog, will be scored provided the dog makes a clean catch. Moves such as taps and double throws in which one or more discs are intentionally missed by the dog and caught by the thrower will be scored provided they are cleanly executed. Scores for each category can be assigned to the tenth (1/10) of a point.

Time Limit
Freestyle routines have a time limit of 120 seconds. Official time begins with the first throw, and countdown of time remaining will be given at 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 10 seconds, and time. In the interest of time, the UFO strongly encourages competitors to limit their preroutines to 15 seconds or less.

Discs
Competitors may use up to 7 discs during their freestyle routine. At all Major Tournaments, Whamo Fastback discs and Hero 235 discs will be provided to all competitors for use during the competition. Competitors may also supply their own Hyperflite K-10 or Dogstar discs for use in competition. The one exception to this rule is the Hyperflite Jawz disc, which is not included because it is significantly heavier than the other approved discs. Any disc not provided by the UFO must be in new condition, and must not bear any competing event or sponsor logos. If a competitor has any questions as to whether a disc is acceptable for use, they are strongly encouraged to seek out the event coordinator for guidance. The UFO reserves the right to deny the use of any disc it deems to be outside of these guidelines, and will provide UFO competition discs as a replacement.

Costumes and Props
There are no clothing restrictions in the freestyle round; however, the use of a costume will not increase the likelihood of a higher score if it does not add to the overall entertainment value and crowd appeal of the freestyle routine. Competitors should be aware that the use of a costume could actually contribute to a lower overall score if it hinders the successful execution of moves or disrupts the overall flow of the routine. The use of any type of prop, an item not worn on the body as clothing, is not permitted while the competing team is on the field. This rule applies regardless of whether the prop is used as part of a pre-routine (before time starts) or otherwise. If there should be any question regarding this matter, it is highly recommended that competitors consult with the judges in advance.

Infractions of any or any combination of the above guidelines during a competitor's round will result in a 1 (one) point deduction from the freestyle score for that round.

Music
Competitors who bring their own music should present it to UFO officials when they are called to the on-deck area. Contestants are encouraged to avoid music that is not suited for a family audience. Music should be marked clearly on the case with the name of the competitor and the track number, and must be presented as a compact disc or a cassette tape. Cassette tapes must be cued to the correct location. Bad country music will be chosen for competitors who do not supply their own tape or compact disc.

Vaulting
It is not necessary to include vaulting, using the thrower's body as a launching pad, in a freestyle routine in order to obtain a high score. If attempted, vaulting should be executed in a very controlled and safe manner, and special care should be taken to ensure that the dog lands safely and cleanly upon completion of the maneuver. Frequent repetition of vaults, or excessive height during vaults will not be rewarded.

Point Deductions
Each UFO official reserves the right to deduct up to 5 points from a competitors freestyle routine score, or in extreme cases, disqualify them entirely from the competition for violating the canine welfare clause in the UFO General Guidelines. The point deductions recommended by each individual judge will then be averaged to arrive at a final deduction value.

Judging
Three judges, in addition to a fourth official to determine the catch ratio, will award competitors points for the Freestyle Round of the competition. Each of the three judges will be responsible for judging one of three categories in the Freestyle Scoring System: Drive & Athleticism, Ingenuity, or Sequences & Flow. Each judge will also give a score for the Comprehensive category. The high and low scores will be dropped, and the remaining score will be the offiicial Comprehensive category score. Judges will have the option of writing a few short notes or suggestions on their worksheet for the benefit of the competitor.

The Catch Ratio score will not be added to the other scores. It is reference score only, and will be used as a tie-breaker.

Freestyle Scoring System

Drive & Athleticism - Judges look at the athletic ability of the canine competitor with special consideration for the dog's level of prey drive, speed, stamina, tracking skills, leaping ability, and control while in the air and during landings. Canines should show consistency while catching discs with varying spins and orientations over a range of distances.

Ingenuity - Judges look at the creativity, athleticism and throwing ability of the human half of the team with special consideration for the consistent placement of discs, and ability to deliver a variety of difficult throws. Successful completions are an important part of this category, but emphasis is placed on innovation and variety, not execution and repetition.

Sequences & Flow - Judges look at how the team works together to present a routine that flows naturally from trick to trick and transitions smoothly between sequences. Individual sequences should be composed of tricks that logically flow together, and competitors should pay close attention to proper disc management when linking sequences to form a routine. Solitary tricks that are not part of an obvious sequence are given consideration for their contribution to the flow of the routine as a whole. Teams are not penalized for taking time to set up tricks properly provided the overall momentum of the routine is not compromised.

Comprehensive - Judges score the general impression of the routine as a whole with special consideration for showmanship, presentation, energy, and overall crowd appeal.

Catch Ratio - A mathematically determined number that is obtained by dividing the number of completions by the number of attempts, multiplying by 10, and then rounding to the nearest tenth of a point. For example, (22 catches) / (30 attempts) * 10 = 7.3333, or 7.3 by rounding to the nearest tenth of a point. A competing team must catch 100% of their throws in order to receive a Catch Ratio score of 10. No raw scores can be rounded to 10.