NACSW is the only official sanctioning and organizing body for the sport of K9 Nose Work.
How To Host A Trial
The NACSW reviews all requests to host a trial and makes selections according to trial specifications, regional demand and availability of officials.
There may be additional requirements not yet posted here.
What do you need to host a NACSW trial?
NACSW approval for your trial
Official request must be submitted a minimum of 4 months prior to trial date (initial interest must be submitted 6-12 months prior to trial date)
A trial location (see “Trial Location Requirements” for more details)
The host should have volunteered behind the scenes at another NACSW trial.
NACSW appointed trial judges and trial certifying official
Volunteers or staff to cover check in, gate steward, timer, judge’s steward, video, box setter jobs, scoring, and other roles as needed.
Trial supplies - details provided when trial is approved. This includes things like stop watches, scoring computer, office supplies, etc.
Liability coverage - you must list NACSW as an additional insured on your policy
Ability to enter results in excel (template provided) on site and email to NACSW
Working website for the trial entry process.
If there has not been an ORT in your region recently and there are not enough dogs with ORTs to hold a trial, then the trial host may need to host an ORT (or help find someone else to host an ORT) in the trial region prior to the trial date.
Trial guidelines and information
All handlers must be current NACSW members and have a NACSW Score Book for their dog. Membership and dog registration must be completed at least 6 weeks prior to the trial to ensure that the score book will be received in time for the event.
Trials must have spots available to the general public (not just students ormembers of a club or training facility). Any exceptions to this must receive approval from the NACSW and are generally only granted in situations like a camp or regional workshop weekend.
The NACSW will select a number of locations regionally per year for trials. The NACSW will review the requests and select the locations that can best accommodate regional demand.
Costs The following includes the typical costs. Your trial and location may involve other costs not listed here.
$5/dog to the NACSW
$5/dog to the judges (each judge will receive $1.25/element/dog judged).
$5/dog to the Trial Certifying Official.
Travel expenses as applicable to the Judges and Certifying Official.
Trial supplies
Location Rental (if applicable)
Some insurance companies have a fee for adding an "additional insured"
Additional materials will be required for final approval of the trial and trial location. Submission of a request does not guarantee approval. Questions may be sent to: trialRequest@nacsw.net
Fill out the Trial Request Form on the NACSW website expressing your interest in hosting a trial. This initial request will help the NACSW to ensure that trials are being offered in various regions appropriately spaced geographically and time wise. Once the initial request is formally approved in writing by the NACSW office, you may proceed to the next step in the process.
4-6 months prior to trial Date:
Confirm your trial location and collect details on the location
Fill out the Trial Request Form on the NACSW website once you have preliminary approval with your official trial request. This request will involve finalizing trial location details and other pertinent information.
Answer questions from the NACSW regarding details on your trial request
Receive a formal written approval from the NACSW on your trial request with an official date.
Schedule the required pre-trial ORT by filling out an ORT Request Form on the NACSW website requesting approval to hold an ORT a minimum of 8-10 weeks prior to your trial date.The NACSW makes every effort to hold an ORT in the trial area 2-4 months prior to the trial date for the odors required for the levels being offered at the trial.See “How to Host an ORT” for more details.The ORT may be hosted by a person other than the trial host. If one has already been scheduled, you may skip this step.
Receive an approval from the NACSW on your ORT request.
Trial Location Requirements
Note: These are general requirements and a location may not work due to other logistical reasons. All trial sites must be approved by a NACSW official - this may be done by photos, video or an onsite visit.
Exterior Search Space - flexible on surface. If it's a wide open area, then additional items to busy the search area may need to be provided as specified by the NACSW official (such as tables, chairs, etc). Also materials such as tape/flags/gating will need to be provided to specify the boundaries of open areas without visual boundaries.
Vehicle Search Space - A place to park 3-5 vehicles for the vehicle search. An area where 3 cars may be parked away from other vehicles and out of visible range of competitors.
Container Search Area - An area to conduct the container search. This may be indoors or outdoors however it cannot be the same area as any of the other element locations. There must be room for ~25 containers spaced 48 inches apart.
Parking for 50-60 vehicles. This may vary based on number of entries allowed plus number of volunteers, trial officials, etc. A typical NW1 trial allows for 30-40 competitors plus approximately 20 volunteers. If spectators are allowed at the trial, additional parking may be needed. We recommend that a section of the parking be designated for reactive dogs. This area should allow them access to dog potty and search areas with minimal exposure to the other competitors.
All search areas must be out of visual sight and audible range of the parking/crating areas. Tarps, canopies, etc may be used to achieve this if necessary.
There must be a location in proximity to each element search area for a dog to be staged while the dog ahead of them does their run. This staging location must be out of visual and audible range of the search area. This is to help with trial flow.
The location must be on private property or in a location where the public is not allowed to bring their dogs.
The location should not be in a setting where barking dogs will be a nuisance to neighbors
The location cannot be a business where dogs are on site daily such as a dog daycare, training facility, shelter, etc.
There needs to be bathroom facilities available outside of the search areas.
Example locations: Schools, churches, office buildings, etc.