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# Flyball: The Fastest Team Sport for Dogs
- URL: https://dogsports.be/en/flyball/
- Published: 2026-06-30T09:16:28.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-07T14:40:53.000Z
- Description: Flyball is a relay race for teams of four dogs: over four hurdles, trigger a ball from a box, and back again. Here's how it works, which dogs suit it, how to start training and where to play flyball in Belgium.
- Author: Giovanni Vandewaetere
- Tags: Flyball, Dog Sports, Belgium, Competition, #en

If you have ever stood next to a flyball ring, you will know the noise before you see the dogs. Flyball is a relay race between two teams of four dogs, and it is loud, fast and very addictive. Each dog sprints over four low hurdles, presses a spring-loaded box that launches a tennis ball, catches it and races back so the next dog can go. The best teams finish all four runs in around 15 seconds.

This guide explains how the sport works, which dogs suit it, how to start, and where to play flyball in Belgium. Belgium happens to be one of the strongest flyball countries in the world.

## How flyball works

According to the [FCI flyball regulations](https://www.fci.be/medias/FLY-REG-en-15567.pdf?ref=dogsports.be), two teams race side by side in parallel lanes. Each dog has to:

1. Jump the four hurdles.
2. Trigger the ball from the flyball box.
3. Bring the ball back over the same four hurdles.

The next dog may only cross the start line once the previous dog is back. Good teams practise "passes" until the incoming and outgoing dogs meet almost nose to nose on the line. If a dog makes a mistake (it starts too early, drops the ball, or misses a hurdle), it runs again at the end of the heat. The first team to finish four clean runs wins the heat.

### The lane and the jumps

The FCI rules fix the lane at 15.55 m from the start line to the box. The first hurdle is 1.83 m from the start, the hurdles are 3.05 m apart, and the last hurdle is 4.57 m from the box. Those odd numbers come from the sport's North American roots: the distances were originally set in feet and inches.

Hurdle height depends on the **smallest dog running in that heat**. Under FCI rules the jumps are between 15 cm and 32.5 cm. The [Belgische Flyball Belge (BFB)](https://flyball.be/wat-is-flyball/?ref=dogsports.be) explains that a dog's jump height is based on the length of its ulna (forearm bone). Small, fast dogs, often called "height dogs", are therefore very popular with teams because they lower the jumps for everyone.

### Teams, races and divisions

A registered team has up to six dogs: four run, and two are reserves. A team also needs a box loader, who reloads the box between dogs, and a coach. A race is usually best of three or best of five heats. At tournaments, teams are grouped into divisions by speed, so beginner teams race teams of a similar level, not the world champions.

An electronic judging system (EJS) times the race to a hundredth of a second and shows early passes and false starts with lights. A head judge oversees each race, assisted by line and box judges.

## A short history

Flyball began in Southern California in the late 1960s and 1970s. According to [Wikipedia's flyball article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyball?ref=dogsports.be), trainers combined hurdle racing with ball retrieving, and Herbert Wagner is credited with building the first real flyball box. The North American Flyball Association was the first governing body, and the British Flyball Association followed in 1994.

The [BFB](https://flyball.be/wat-is-flyball/?ref=dogsports.be) says flyball reached Belgium at the end of the 1980s, via America and England. It was first a curiosity at dog shows. Belgian pioneers then adopted the British (BFA) and North American (NAFA) rules, which meant Belgian times could be compared with the rest of the world from early on.

## Which dogs suit flyball?

Flyball suits dogs that love balls, love to run and enjoy working alongside other dogs. The FCI rules say the discipline is open to all dogs. Border collies, working cockers, Jack Russells and many crossbreeds are common, and a small, quick dog is always welcome in a team.

Think twice if your dog:

- Gets frustrated or reactive around fast-moving dogs. Flyball puts two teams side by side, and dogs pass each other at full speed.
- Has joint or back problems. The sport involves repeated jumping and a hard turn on the box.
- Is still growing. Most clubs wait until the skeleton is mature before they introduce full-height jumps and full-speed box turns. Ask your club and your vet.

Handlers need a sense of humour and must be comfortable as part of a team. Training is a group effort, and so are tournament days.

## How to start training

Most teams build the skills separately and only put them together later.

### 1\. A reliable retrieve

Your dog must bring the ball all the way back to you, even with other dogs around. Practise short retrieves with a tennis ball and reward generously when the ball is delivered to your hand. Build up distance and distractions slowly.

### 2\. The box turn

A good box turn is fast and safe for the dog's body. The dog hits the box with its back feet and turns, like a swimmer at the end of a pool. Clubs usually teach this on a ramp or a turning board first, without a ball, before the dog ever sees a real box. Ask your trainer to show you. A bad straight-on hit is hard on the shoulders and hard to unlearn.

### 3\. Hurdles in a straight line

Start with the hurdles flat on the ground or very low, in a straight line. Send your dog through to a toy or to a helper, then call it back. Raise the height only when your dog runs straight and confidently.

### 4\. Recalls past distractions

Flyball dogs must ignore the dog in the next lane. Practise recalls past other dogs, at first at a distance and then closer, always rewarding focus on you.

### 5\. Putting it together

Only when every piece is solid do teams combine them into a full run, and then practise passes with other dogs. This is where a club becomes essential.

## Equipment

- **Flyball box:** clubs own these. They are expensive, and they need setting up correctly for safety.
- **Hurdles:** four per lane, with adjustable height and soft tops.
- **Balls:** the FCI rules ask for balls that bounce and roll like a tennis ball, with no bells or squeakers. Smaller dogs often use smaller balls.
- **Tug toys:** most flyball dogs are rewarded with a tug after each run.
- **For the dog:** under FCI rules, only a fixed collar or a harness without accessories. Slip, prick and electronic collars are not allowed on the competition field. Protective leg wraps may be used.

## Flyball in Belgium

Belgium is a flyball heavyweight. The Belgian team **Roadrunners Beep Beep** won the flyball final at Crufts in 2022 with a Crufts record of 14.71 seconds, according to [the Royal Kennel Club](https://www.royalkennelclub.com/media-centre/2022/march/belgium-stars-conquer-team-event-at-crufts?ref=dogsports.be). They won again in 2023 and lowered that record to 14.27 seconds, according to [Crufts](https://crufts.org.uk/press-releases/belgium-stars-break-crufts-flyball-record-again/?ref=dogsports.be). [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyball?ref=dogsports.be) also lists the same team as holding the world record of 14.07 seconds, set in April 2024.

### Belgische Flyball Belge (BFB)

The national flyball body is the [**Belgische Flyball Belge vzw (BFB)**](https://flyball.be/?ref=dogsports.be). According to [its own site](https://flyball.be/bfb/?ref=dogsports.be), BFB:

- coordinates competitions and writes and manages the rules
- helps new teams get started
- trains judges
- runs a **Supercup** that links the BFB-supported tournaments, with points across the year leading to a season trophy.

The BFB site states that it is a member of the KKUSH via the Vergadering der Afgevaardigden (VdA), [section 5C Flyball](https://www.vda-add.be/nl/secties/flyball?ref=dogsports.be).

### Finding a team

BFB publishes a [list of affiliated clubs](https://flyball.be/aangesloten-clubs/?ref=dogsports.be). At the time of writing it includes teams in Brecht, Tongerlo, Westerlo, Willebroek, Veldegem, Bocholt, Beerzel, Langdorp, Genval, Berlaar, Bilzen, Nieuwerkerken-Aalst and Oudenburg, plus a few clubs from Germany and France that compete in the Belgian circuit. Clubs change, so check the list for current contacts.

Before you commit, the BFB suggests [watching a competition](https://flyball.be/kalender/?ref=dogsports.be) or visiting a local club to see flyball in action. Tournament days are open and spectator-friendly, and you will learn a lot by watching the box loaders and the passes.

We could not find VOE or DSAB flyball competitions on their websites. Both focus on other disciplines, so for flyball the BFB is the place to go.

## Flyball and agility

Many flyball dogs also do agility, and the skills complement each other: drive, a strong retrieve and good body awareness. If your dog enjoys flyball but you would like a sport where you run the course together, read [What Is Dog Agility?](https://dogsports.be/en/what-is-dog-agility/). For a lower-impact option, see [Hoopers](https://dogsports.be/en/hoopers/). For the bigger picture, see our [dog sports overview](https://dogsports.be/en/dog-sports-overview/).

## Useful links

- [Belgische Flyball Belge (BFB)](https://flyball.be/?ref=dogsports.be): clubs, calendar and live results
- [What is flyball? (BFB, in Dutch)](https://flyball.be/wat-is-flyball/?ref=dogsports.be)
- [FCI Regulations for Flyball competitions (PDF)](https://www.fci.be/medias/FLY-REG-en-15567.pdf?ref=dogsports.be)
- [VdA section 5C Flyball](https://www.vda-add.be/nl/secties/flyball?ref=dogsports.be)