The Retriever Advisory Subcommittee on Rules Report for 2012
CONCERN
We are continuing to experience confusion as to the interpretation of the rule defining the difference between an Amateur handler and a Professional handler.
DISCUSSION
Over the past years there have been a number of enterprising individuals who have used their skills in various ways which has allowed them to produce some income from the sport of Retriever Field Trials. Many of these efforts have gone a long way in educating amateur trainers in methods of training their dogs for field trials. The subcommittee feels that people partaking in these educational tools should not be considered professionals; therefore, writing books, making videos and taking part in seminars would not classify a person as a professional. The committee believes that the clearest line that can be drawn between the amateur and the professional is the real life handling of a dog for compensation.
That being said, we recognize that someone who instructs an individual on the handling and training of their dog(s), and is compensated for that instruction, is acting as a professional.
Proposal No. 1
Under STANDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RETRIEVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE page 36
Under 3. Amateur Definition (a.) after the words “the trial in question has not” delete (a) in its entirety and insert the following:
“received compensation from the direct training of a dog for hunting, hunting tests or field trials and/or the handling of a dog in the same, and/or the regular and systematic personal instruction of other individuals regarding the above pursuits at any level.”
Compensation as provided above is defined as money, goods or services to a person or any member of their household.
Insert the following paragraphs for clarification:
“Any person participating in an occasional organized seminar or workshop to improve the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will be exempt from the above provisions as will a person who receives payment for providing educational material, (such as books, videos, etc.), to the public on the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will not be considered a Professional.”
So that 3 (a.) in its entirety will now read:
3. Amateur Definition: The following definitions and standards should be followed in determining the status of any person to be an Amateur:
(a.) For purposes of eligibility to judge under Section 3 of Chapter 14 of the Rules for Retriever trials, a person shall be considered an Amateur who, during the period of two years preceding the trial in question, has not received compensation from the direct training of
a dog for hunting, hunting tests or field trials and/or the handling of a dog in the same, and/or the regular and systematic personal instruction of other individuals regarding the above pursuits at any level.
Compensation as provided above is defined as money, goods or services to a person or any member of their household.
Any person participating in an occasional organized seminar or workshop to improve the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will be exempt from the above provisions as will a person who receives payment for providing educational material, (such as books, videos, etc.), to the public on the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will not be considered a Professional.
Proposal No. 2
CONCERN
In recent years uncertainty has arisen over amateur status of persons who are living with a professional as family members or who have a virtual spousal relationship with a professional although the are not legally married. Also, some individuals have expressed concern that their very close friendship with a professional might invalidate their amateur status under the present rule.
The subcommittee thus believes that a more definitive description of the family and other relationships which cause the loss of amateur status is needed.
Under 3. (c.) after the words “No person shall be entitled to status as an Amateur” delete the completion of the sentence and insert “who is residing with a professional as part of his or her immediate family or who has an ongoing intimate personal relationship with a professional beyond that of a friend or client.”
So that paragraph (c.) in its entirety will read:
“No person shall be entitled to status as an Amateur who is residing with a professional as part of his or her immediate family or who has an ongoing intimate personal relationship with a professional beyond that of a friend or client.”
The time periods for any disqualification from Amateur status
under this section shall be the same as those fixed by paragraphs
(a.) and (b.) above.”
CONCERN
The effect of a field Trial Committee refusing an entry in the Amateur stake.
DISCUSSION
In order to clarify a Field Trial Committee’s position in declining an entry in the Amateur stake, (where there is no protest), but because the Field Trial Committee feels the individual lacks Amateur status, we felt some explanatory language was necessary.
CONCERN
We are continuing to experience confusion as to the interpretation of the rule defining the difference between an Amateur handler and a Professional handler.
DISCUSSION
Over the past years there have been a number of enterprising individuals who have used their skills in various ways which has allowed them to produce some income from the sport of Retriever Field Trials. Many of these efforts have gone a long way in educating amateur trainers in methods of training their dogs for field trials. The subcommittee feels that people partaking in these educational tools should not be considered professionals; therefore, writing books, making videos and taking part in seminars would not classify a person as a professional. The committee believes that the clearest line that can be drawn between the amateur and the professional is the real life handling of a dog for compensation.
That being said, we recognize that someone who instructs an individual on the handling and training of their dog(s), and is compensated for that instruction, is acting as a professional.
Proposal No. 1
Under STANDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RETRIEVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE page 36
Under 3. Amateur Definition (a.) after the words “the trial in question has not” delete (a) in its entirety and insert the following:
“received compensation from the direct training of a dog for hunting, hunting tests or field trials and/or the handling of a dog in the same, and/or the regular and systematic personal instruction of other individuals regarding the above pursuits at any level.”
Compensation as provided above is defined as money, goods or services to a person or any member of their household.
Insert the following paragraphs for clarification:
“Any person participating in an occasional organized seminar or workshop to improve the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will be exempt from the above provisions as will a person who receives payment for providing educational material, (such as books, videos, etc.), to the public on the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will not be considered a Professional.”
So that 3 (a.) in its entirety will now read:
3. Amateur Definition: The following definitions and standards should be followed in determining the status of any person to be an Amateur:
(a.) For purposes of eligibility to judge under Section 3 of Chapter 14 of the Rules for Retriever trials, a person shall be considered an Amateur who, during the period of two years preceding the trial in question, has not received compensation from the direct training of
a dog for hunting, hunting tests or field trials and/or the handling of a dog in the same, and/or the regular and systematic personal instruction of other individuals regarding the above pursuits at any level.
Compensation as provided above is defined as money, goods or services to a person or any member of their household.
Any person participating in an occasional organized seminar or workshop to improve the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will be exempt from the above provisions as will a person who receives payment for providing educational material, (such as books, videos, etc.), to the public on the training and handling of field trial, hunting test or hunting dogs will not be considered a Professional.
Proposal No. 2
CONCERN
In recent years uncertainty has arisen over amateur status of persons who are living with a professional as family members or who have a virtual spousal relationship with a professional although the are not legally married. Also, some individuals have expressed concern that their very close friendship with a professional might invalidate their amateur status under the present rule.
The subcommittee thus believes that a more definitive description of the family and other relationships which cause the loss of amateur status is needed.
Under 3. (c.) after the words “No person shall be entitled to status as an Amateur” delete the completion of the sentence and insert “who is residing with a professional as part of his or her immediate family or who has an ongoing intimate personal relationship with a professional beyond that of a friend or client.”
So that paragraph (c.) in its entirety will read:
“No person shall be entitled to status as an Amateur who is residing with a professional as part of his or her immediate family or who has an ongoing intimate personal relationship with a professional beyond that of a friend or client.”
The time periods for any disqualification from Amateur status
under this section shall be the same as those fixed by paragraphs
(a.) and (b.) above.”
CONCERN
The effect of a field Trial Committee refusing an entry in the Amateur stake.
DISCUSSION
In order to clarify a Field Trial Committee’s position in declining an entry in the Amateur stake, (where there is no protest), but because the Field Trial Committee feels the individual lacks Amateur status, we felt some explanatory language was necessary.
