Jan16Sat
Try-a-Sport Saturday: Flyball & Dock Diving
Meet the box, meet the pool. Taster sessions with Brooke and Malik.
Free · Register onlineWhereRing 2 & The DockFree · Register online
Flyball
A four-dog relay: four hurdles, a box, a ball, and a race home. Ball-crazy, fast dogs who love noise, speed and a team.
Player stats
Energy5
Speed5
Brain work3
Joint impact4
Ring 2What is flyball?
The game, explained
Flyball is a relay race for four dogs. Each dog sprints over four hurdles, hits a spring-loaded box that pops out a tennis ball, catches it and races back so the next dog can go. Electronic lights time every run to the thousandth of a second.
It is loud, fast and all about the team. Jump heights are set by the shortest dog on the team (the “height dog”), so small, fast dogs are prized. Our club team, the Noblesville Nitro, trains in Ring 2 on two regulation lanes.
- Youngest start
- 12 months for full height (foundations from 6 months)
- Good for seniors?
- Yes, in NAFA veterans classes
- Best for
- Ball-crazy, fast dogs who love noise, speed and a team.
- We host
- NAFA (North American Flyball Association) trials
How a run works
Four steps to a Q
Here is what happens from the moment you walk into the ring.
Line up
Four dogs per team, two teams racing side by side in their own lanes.
Clear four hurdles
Four hurdles in a 51-foot lane, set by the height dog's size.
Hit the box
A swimmer's turn on the box pops the ball. Catch it and turn.
Race home
Pass nose to nose at the start line. First team home clean wins the heat.
Your path
Flyball, Level 1 to 4
Six-week sessions for Levels 1–3. Level 4 is ongoing team training by coach invite.
1Level 1 · 6 weeks
Foundations
Recalls over low jumps, tugging and retrieving a tennis ball.
2Level 2 · 6 weeks · repeat
Skills
Box turns on a ramp, the hurdle line and ignoring the other lane.
3Level 3 · 6 weeks · repeat
Trial Prep
Full runs, passing drills and racing alongside other dogs.
4Level 4 · Ongoing · invite
Competition Team
A spot on the Noblesville Nitro for NAFA tournaments.
Scoreboard
Flyball classes this week
Session starts November 9. Members book from their dashboard; everyone else can register online.
Flyball · weekly
Spots left this session · Full = join the waitlistRegister for a class →
Your coach
Led by Brooke
Flyball Lead · Noblesville Nitro Captain
Brooke Kowalski
With Rocket, Jack Russell Terrier · FGDCh (NAFA Flyball Grand Champion)
Brooke has captained a flyball team for eight seasons. Rocket is the Nitro's height dog, which keeps the hurdles low for everyone, and the team's best time is 16.2 seconds.
All coachesWhat to bring
- Harness for restrained starts
- A favorite tug toy
- Tennis balls (your dog's size)
- Crate and a crate cover
Quick questions
My dog is small. Is flyball for us?
Absolutely. Small, fast dogs make the best height dogs, because the whole team's hurdles are set by the shortest dog.
Is it too noisy for my dog?
Tournaments are loud. We build up to the noise slowly in Level 1 and 2, starting with one lane and quiet sessions.
On the calendar
Flyball trials & events
Jan30–31Sat–Sun
Winter Blitz Flyball Tournament
Twenty-four teams from five states racing on four lanes. Bleacher seats are free all weekend.
Team entries openWhereRing 2 + Main ArenaTeam entries open
Apr10–11Sat–Sun
The All-Star Games
Our member field day: seven sports, team colors, a relay in every ring and a cookout on the fields.
Members only · FreeWhereWhole campusMembers only · Free
Not sure it'sflyball?
Take the quiz to see how flyball ranks for your dog, or try the next sport in the lineup: Dock Diving.