11/06/2026
Rally Online Comps
RALLY ONLINE RULES & REGULATIONS 2026
These rules apply to all ROL Video Events. This document should be read in conjunction with each event schedule AND in conjunction with the up to date Royal Kennel Club Rally (S) regulations. RKC regulations are updated yearly on 1 January.
1. RallyOnline Group events run as close as possible to all relevant Royal Kennel Club rules and regulations.
2. Judges & Reserve Judges will be listed in the ROL schedule for each event, alongside the class(es) they have been appointed to. Further Judges will be appointed as required.
3. ROL events have no sponsorship.
4. ENTRY FEES – NEW Pricing Structure - The entry fee is £5 per class except for entries received during the final 2 days of the event (normally final Wednesday and Thursday am), when the entry fee is £7 per class.
5. There is no prize money on offer at this event. Commemorative certificates for all achieving qualifying scores. All scribesheets & certificates will be emailed to handlers after results published on website.
6. Rally Online Courses will be posted on the RallyOnline Website & entries will open at 12.00 (NOON) on the date contained in the schedule and close at 12.00 (NOON) 14 days later. The official competition and judging date is the Saturday following. Judging will be completed by the end of the weekend, or as soon as possible thereafter. *** Time will be either British Summer Time or Greenwich Mean Time – ie. UK time.
7. The Organisers reserve to themselves the right to refuse entries.
8. In the event that the competition is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the group will refund fees, less reasonably incurred expenses.
9. Should a judge be unable to fulfil their appointment the organiser reserves the right to appoint an alternative judge.
10. Should circumstances so dictate the organiser, in consultation with the judges, may alter arrangements as necessary. Such changes will be reported on the ROL website and Handlers private Facebook group.
11. Only dogs of six calendar months of age and over on the day of Judging are eligible to take part in Level 1 and 2 classes. Only dogs of 12 calendar months of age and over on the day of Judging are eligible to take part in Level 3 or higher classes or special classes which incorporate jumps or similar exercises.
12. Ring numbers (Pre Competition Registration) must have been obtained from The Rally Online Group website prior to video submission.
13. A ROL ring number applies to the specific team of one handler plus one dog.
14. A team defined by their ROL ring number may only compete in once in any class.
15. Prior to submitting an entry - handlers may submit an Exercise Modification Request form (by email) to be held by ROL group and shared with the relevant judge – EMR’s allow reasonable accommodations to exercises due to handler disabilities. This may be required due to a temporary handicap or an ongoing condition.
16. No person shall carry out punitive correction or harsh handling of any dog at any time within their video.
17. No competitor shall impugn the decisions of the Judge or Judges.
18. Judges’ discretion prevails and Judges’ decisions are final.
19. Food or toys shall not be carried in the ring or given to a dog in the video, exception Special & Reward Classes where outlined for each individual class.
20. Mats and /or matting used in the video – must exceed 70% of the total course area or it will be considered a training aid (e.g. take off /landing mats). Any matting less than approximately 70% of area will be awarded an NQ score in line with use of other training aids.
21. The attention of competitors is drawn specifically to the Competition Regulations - Where an owner makes an entry on behalf of another joint registered owner(s) or where an agent enters on behalf of a single or joint registered owner(s) such person must have the authority and consent from the single or joint registered owner(s) to sign the entry form on their behalf thereby binding them all to the RallyOnline Group Rules and Regulations. In the event of any dispute, evidence of such authority and consent will be required.
22. Welfare of Dogs –An exhibitor (or competitor) whose dog is entered at an event should take all reasonable steps to ensure the needs of their dog(s) are met, and should not knowingly put their dogs’ health and welfare at risk by any action, default, omission or otherwise.
Specific Rules for Online Rally Competitions
23. It is the competitor’s responsibility to submit a video which can be fairly judged.
24. The ROL entry form contains the following tick boxes – which must ALL be completed before an entry can be accepted.
• “I/We agree to submit to and be bound by the RallyOnline Group Rules & Regulations in relation to all canine matters with which the RallyOnline Group is concerned and that this is made upon the basis that all current single or joint registered owners of this dog(s) have authorised/consented to this entry. I/We also undertake not to submit a video of any dog suffering from a visible condition which adversely affects its health or welfare.”
• “I/we further declare that I/we believe that to the best of my knowledge that dogs are not liable to disqualification.”
• “I/we agree to my video submission to this event being shared with RKC Rally Judges to assist in providing training for Judges in our sport.”
• “I am competing with my dog wearing only suitable equipment ie. Flat collar & lead.”
• “I am competing with my hands empty of rewards, unless specifically designated in special Class rules”.
• “Dogs entered in breach of Regulations are liable to disqualification whether or not the owner was aware of the breach”
VERIFICATION OF ENTRIES
25. After handlers complete the entry form & pay the entry fee, prior to accepting the entry - a member of the ROL admin team will review the video to confirm whether the quality is sufficient to pass verification and be accepted into the competition. Once ACCEPTED into the competition the entry will be published on the class lists on the ROL website. It is handlers responsibility to check and confirm that their entry appears on the class lists. If the video fails the verification standard, the Chief Steward will refuse the entry, notifying the handler via email.
VERIFICATION STANDARDS -
26. Links to video entries must be submitted as YouTube links – NOT “youtube shorts” or any other format videos – these will fail verification.
27. Trimming a video before /after the round to avoid the judge having to watch extra video time is the ONLY editing allowed. Any other video or digital editing of the round is not allowed and will fail verification.
28. Handlers AND dogs must remain in view at all times during the video. Teams going out of view within the round will fail verification. Teams going out of view for less than 2 seconds before start or moving between finish and bonus – may incur a Judge and /or Chief Rally Steward’s discretionary deduction of up to 5 points.
29. Equipment – dogs must compete in a buckle or snap collar. Collars may have tags on them. Decorations &/or costumes, harnesses, slip leads, headcollars, check /half check and /or illuminated collars are not allowed. A medicated collar (e.g. parasite prevention) may also be worn in the video. Failure to use only appropriate equipment is a verification failure.
30. Filming the round from greater than 1.5m away from designated point on course plan is a verification failure. *Only exception – and at Organisers discretion is for handlers filming solo with a tripod where the camera position may be moved straight back away from the ring to enable the whole round to be in view.
31. Videos must be submitted in Landscape format – anything else is a verification fail.
ID PROCESS
32. ALL VIDEOS MUST Start and END with the dog on lead and linked to the handler – unless specifically stated otherwise for that class (e.g. Some special classes only) . * bonus tiebreak videos excluded.
33. All handlers must show an “empty hand flash” to camera before starting their round.
34. All videos must clearly show the Team’s ROL Ring Number – PLUS have the teams identity confirmed by at least one other means - audibly OR visually in the video title.
35. Verification Failure – The Chief Rally Steward will email the address provided on the submitted entry form. Entries received in the first 11 days that entries are open will be offered one free resubmission to the same class, provided that the replacement video is received before entries close. Entries received in the final 3 days that entries are open will not be offered a chance to resubmit.
36. Rounds that have failed verification may be included on the judges lists for some feedback at the Organisers discretion. These rounds will be awarded an NQ score prior to judging.
Other Video Rally rules
37. Repeated attempts to flout these rules will be considered to be bringing video Rally into disrepute & will result in banning from future ROL competitions.
38. Judges may only judge up to 34 rounds per day. Classes exceeding this number of entries will be split into parts. All parts will compete on the same course.
39. Judges will undertake to watch each round once, replicating how judging happens at live events.
40. In addition to normal RKC marking - Additional Judge and /or Chief Rally Steward’s discretionary deduction of up to 5 points for - significant course laying errors, camera positioning errors, and any other video infringements deemed appropriate.
41. Judges are eligible to enter classes (or class part) other than that which they are judging.
42. Places 1st – 6th will be determined by points, if tied on points – a separate “Tiebreaker” bonus exercise will be marked by Judge or Chief Steward. Handlers choose to send aseparate video of the tiebreak bonus for their class, or forfeit the place. THIS APPLIES ONLY TO PLACINGS.
43. Bonus Tiebreak exercises are provided on the RallyOnline Group Website – with specific camera positions for each event.
44. Each Bonus Tiebreak video may only be used once.
45. Teams may enter up to two video level classes (1 to 6plus) – the lowest they are eligible for & the next one up, PLUS teams may enter video Veteran Dog class (if eligible re dogs date of birth), PLUS teams may enter as many Special Classes that they wish & are eligible for (*Puppy/Newcomers is the only Special Class with entry restrictions).
