Clean Run - July 2017 - 41

The baseline-offset method for building agility courses has been
in use for more than a decade (see the Clean Run article available
at https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.
display&feature_iD=160&ParentCat=670). The addition of
a feature to the Clean run Course Designer (CrCD) program
that assigns Cartesian coordinates to the obstacles has helped
simplify course building procedures. however, there are times
when the same course must be built in different locations, either at the same event in multiple rings or at different events.
usually, dogs in direct competition with one another are running in both locations.
in order to ensure that obstacle placement is the same at multiple locations, a more rigorous, accurate method of setting the
obstacles in place was developed. This method, sometimes
referred to as the pinpoint method, is a modification of the
baseline method to generate a precise and repeatable course
layout. The method ensures that the offset from the baseline to
the obstacle is perpendicular to the baseline and is measured
more accurately than by pacing or with a wheel. it was developed by Tim laubach for use at the uSDaa Cynosport world
games. The course used in this example is my design and was
developed for this article.

The PinPOinT MeThOD
of COurSe BuilDing

MarKing The COurSe BuilDerS' MaP
Once the course is finalized and approved it is sent to the
chief course builder. at this stage, their job is to add certain
elements to the layout generated by the CrCD program. To
avoid clutter on the course builder copies, course numbers
and other extraneous information not relevant to obstacle
placement are removed.

By David hanson
-40

-30

-20

-10

Offset left 40ft

Offset right 40ft
40'

40'
100

100

Baseline
60

F
20

20
30'

50'

S
10
-40

S
-30

-20

-10

Figure 1- Offset lines parallel to the baseline

July 17 | Clean Run

The critical aspect of the pinpoint method is to set parallel offsets, left and right of the baseline. These offsets are set close
to, but inside, the ring boundary such that they are parallel to
the baseline and the zero point of the two offsets is set perpendicular to the baseline. You see this in Figure 1.
Coordinates are shown for all the agility obstacles with the
baseline being the first ordinate and the offset to the obstacle
the second. These coordinates may be based at the top or bottom of the course. if necessary, additional coordinates can be
placed to mark the center of the dogwalk and curved tunnels.
To determine these additional coordinates, place a marker
obstacle (i use a non-wing jump in CrCD) on the location and
make a note of the coordinates on the course builder map as
shown in Figure 2.
The final aspect that should be shown on the course builders'
copy is the sightlines lines which set the orientation of some
obstacles. where possible, these lines should reference back
to the baseline. Draw the line of the obstacle projected to the
baseline. This is shown with green lines in Figure 3. where the
lines intersect, use the marker obstacle to determine the baseline ordinate. add a note on the course map with that information. also show some sight lines that will provide a check when
looking along the line of an obstacle; for example, the seesaw
is pointing at the end of the dogwalk while a jump is pointing
to the other end of that obstacle. whenever possible, sightlines
should be longer across the course rather than short.
41

https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=160&ParentCat=670 https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=160&ParentCat=670

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - July 2017