The simplest is to pronounce it as “TRY Ball”.  Treiben in German means to drive. Trei is Try, as in Eins, Zwei, Drei. In German, “ei” is pronounced like long i, as in try, and “ie” is pronounced like long e as in Wienerschnitzel.

Where to source Balls?

Per NATE Rulebook Section 5.19 “All balls must be made of durable, burst-resistant vinyl or similar material. Common exercise balls are fine. The balls must be round and firm with some give when touched.”

As to where to find them.  Many people source their balls from Amazon or Walmart.  Locally for some inexpensive exercise balls for M & L dogs have been found at T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGood stores. For XS dog folks, watch the bins at Walmart, Meijers & the like in the spring for light-weight play balls.

A reminder that adding any liquid or solid to the balls is prohibited (no water, sand or the like allowed!)

Sizing balls to my dog

Optimum ball sizes for Height classes are listed in the NATE Rulebook in section 5.19 and can be cross-reference to dog height classes in section 4.4. The NATE Rulebook section 5.19 provides criteria for ball selection.  Stating that: “Balls should be at least the same height as the dog's height at the withers and may exceed the dog's head height.” 

For Extra Large dogs:  NATE doesn't specify a ball size beyond the XL - 75 cm diameter ball. The goal is to have balls higher than the withers to reduce the chance of the dog going over the ball when they are excitedly pushing. There's a good chance of injury when that happens. Yoga balls are fine for treibball play. You could always try the 75 cm yoga ball to see if the size is going to be an issue for the dog.

Does Ball Color Matter?

There are no color requirements but bear in mind some games ‘scream’ for balls that are easy to identify (think Balls In Order & Snooker) whether that is by numbering, via color or a combination of the two.

Numbering balls

Several of the games are easier if the balls are numbered.  One can use wide black markers and draw them by hand on the balls. We recommend about 6"-8" in height. Some people have used tape.  As the balls get larger, place the number on multiple sides to make it more visible.  The rulebook does not currently address numbering.

Can one get a Field setup reviewed prior to VT?

One can send in a field overview video to csv@nationaltreibball.com or for that matter post a picture from the vantage point of where you will be videoing to the NATE Facebook group for feedback. There are options that we can help you with once we see your field/yard arrangement.  Some of the most common findings are not being able to see the boundaries of the handler box, especially the 4 corners or the goal line.

What if I don’t have enough space to set up a field?

What do you do when you don't have the perfect field or have a restriction that doesn't permit you or the dog to play the game as written in the rules? The form is available for NATE members on the NATE website Members Only section:

Field Modification Request ([https://naote.wildapricot.org/Field-Set-Up-Review-or...](https://naote.wildapricot.org/Field-Set-Up-Review-or...)

These requests are reviewed by the chairs of the Competition Services and Standards as well as looping in a Judge.  If the field question involved too short a field, as has been submitted previously, the field would be approved but balls would not be permitted to play off the back wall. This allows the field to be used without giving an advantage to the team.

Setting Up balls correctly for home VT?

Any "tricks to the trade" about getting the balls set up the correct distance from each other on uneven field?  Is it OK to err to the side of "too far" from the goal in order to get the balls to stay in place at the correct relative distance to each other.  Do they have to be perfectly lined up centered on center of goal?

The reality is most fields have imperfections!  It is permissible to erred toward a little further from the goal line or slightly left or right of center. I'm talking maybe 6" tops from perfect placement for the formation. It is important to get the triangle/diamond formation alignment and ball spacing within the formation correct. In particular we sometimes see videos submitted with the balls way too far apart or way too close. Except for Pre-Novice Standard, the balls should be about 6" apart.

Home Field set up can be time consuming.  Any tips to speed it up?

Try marking places so you can quickly set up on video days. Clothes pins or ribbons left hanging on fencing. Spray paint marks on grass don't have to be huge and last longer than you might think. Anything that minimizes the need to remeasure every time you set up will save you the most time.

Try keeping a bag of field markers (cones, goal line, distance signs) and ball stabilizer rings that can be quickly grabbed for setting up.

If feasible leave the goal sides in place between video sessions and even used them as the ball pen by stretching an exercise pen across the goal line. Much easier to leave the balls there than haul them in and out as their numbers grow by level.

Ideas to set up a home field

Setting up a home field for VT submissions can be daunting at first.  But depending on your dog and level of play, there is a lot of wiggle room for how the field boundaries are marked.  The requirements are listed in Section 2.1 of the NATE Rules.  Note that the field does not need to have solid fences on all 4 sides!  If your dog and balls never get near the field sides, maybe you don't need solid barriers on the side.  Just remember if the ball or dog does cross out-of-bounds, that run is an automatic NQ.

Be creative with what you have on hand.  Many use snow fencing and step in posts to make their boundaries.  I used a couple of retired 5’ chain link gates for the sides of my goal and a combination of old wooden fence posts and landscape timbers laid end-to-end to form much of my field boundaries.  It doesn’t have to be pretty, just functional.

Although the field boundaries must be clearly marked with cones or other objects (stakes, etc.).  The exception is the goal area.  It must have a solid back and sides unless an approved field modification was submitted.  While a solid line such as tape is best for demarcating the handler box, it can be marked by just placing cones at the four corners.

What do you do when you don't have the perfect field or have a restriction that doesn't permit you or the dog to play the game as written in the rules? There are two forms available for NATE members on the NATE website Members Only section to request modifications for their runs:

· Performance Modification Request ([https://naote.wildapricot.org/Performance-Modification...](https://naote.wildapricot.org/Performance-Modification...)).

· Field Modification Request ([https://naote.wildapricot.org/Field-Set-Up-Review-or...](https://naote.wildapricot.org/Field-Set-Up-Review-or...)

The Competition Services Chairperson, reviews all of the submissions. If it is a request like one that has been made and approved in the past, they will approve it. If it is a new situation they will consult with the Competition Standards Chairperson and the judges to determine if the request can be honored. The Comp Stds Chair will consider whether the suggested alteration adheres to the spirit of the game and requires any special game requirements. Judge input will be sought to be sure the suggested change can be judged consistently for videos and trials. Competition Services will respond to all requests with either approval, approval with restrictions, denial with other suggested options, or denial.

Performance Exceptions:

The Performance Modification Request is to ask for permission to perform an aspect of the game differently from the rules because of a dog or handler physical limitation. An example of this might be the request to have a dog Bow at the end of the run because they are injured and cannot perform the Down.

Field Modification Requests:

The Field Modification Request is used to have your field set up reviewed before videoing runs or to ask permission to use a field that does not 100% meet field requirements. An example of this might be a field that is only 50'X65' instead of the required 50'X75'.  In the short field example, the field would be approved but balls would not be permitted to play off the back wall. This allows the field to be used without giving an advantage to the team.

For BNO Incorrect Ball Penalty

In BNO, any incorrect ball that rolls into the goal for any reason must be returned to the field before play continues. All Wrong balls receive a 10 sec penalty. The number of permitted Wrong balls varies by level.

For BNO Wrong ball vs Foul Ball

Foul ball only applies BEFORE the point ball comes into the goal. It is an Unintentional Foul ball if it rolls in on its own before the point ball. It is an Intentional Foul Ball if the dog pushes it into the goal before the point ball. After the point ball moves into the goal, any incorrect ball is a Wrong Ball.

For BNO Ball Rollback reminders

• You must remain in the handler or goal area during the roll back.
• The only exception would be if the roll back doesn't go out far enough. Then, and only then, the handler must leave the handler area to move the ball far enough out on the field.
• You may roll the ball out anywhere on the field as long as it passes the roll back distance

For BNO Scenario where a ball rolls into the handler area but does not cross the goal line and is not the next ball.  How is that ball handled?

It is only a Foul or Wrong ball if it moves into the GOAL area. There is nothing wrong with a ball sitting in the handler area. Just leave it alone (and try to avoid it when the dog is pushing in other balls). In fact, you will receive a fault for moving a ball from the handler area to the playing field. The handler may move a ball from the handler area into the goal when it becomes the correct ball.

For BNO dog position when returning ball to field of play

You can ask your dog to Stay in any position while you return a Wrong ball to the field. The choice of position is up to you.

In section 9.3 the rules state: “The dog must not interact with another ball until the ball has passed the minimum roll back line.”  There is no requirement that the dog be stationary during the rollback so long as the dog is not interacting with any ball until the returned ball has passed the roll back line.

In Snooker what happens for VT run if the run exceeds the allowable time for the level?

Using a Novice run as an example, the time stops at the 2 min mark. Any balls that come in after that don't count. The VT judge will check the time when the dog crosses out of the handler area and stop counting the balls at the end of the time. The dog does not have to get back to the handler box and down before the end of the time. Many people working alone use a timer so they don't waste dog effort getting balls they don't need. Plus, they can bring their dog in and down to stop the clock if they get all the balls within the time limit.

In Snooker how are balls identified?

It helps if the balls are numbered or announced at the beginning but the key thing is that they are easily distinguished on the video. We (the judges) know from the initial placement what the ball values are. Again, many handlers find it helps THEM during the game if the 2-5 balls are numbered.

In Snooker can a helper call out the next ball for the handler as in Balls N Order?

A helper can call out points as they are scored and when balls clear the rollback cone/line. They can't tell the handler the next required ball. The handler can ask which ball is #3 if the balls are not numbered and they've forgotten which color is #3. They can't ask IF #3 is the next ball.

In Snooker VT run, if present, how should a helper call out the numbers?

The helper may call out the point value of the balls as they cross into the goal (e.g. 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 5, etc).

In the closing sequence at a trial, the team might retrieve the red ball (1), 2, 4. The judge would call one, two, Thank You! because the 4 was the incorrect ball. The run would be stopped at that point. It might or might not be a Q depending on how many points had been collected at that point.

In video titling it is not necessary for the assistant to know all the intricacies of the rules. The assistant could call out 1, 2, 4. It would be up to the handler to know they didn't get the correct ball (3) and stop the run. They might continue the run not realizing they were done. The video judge would just stop counting points after the 2 ball.

Snooker Ball Scoring & Rollback:

The rules say that, in the opening, "The handler may touch the numbered ball once it comes into the handler area to move it into the goal area before being rolled back out." Am I required to roll the ball into the goal and roll it back out or, once my dog has pushed it into the handler area, am I allowed to pick it up, break the plane of the goal line, set it back down in the handler area and then roll it back on to the field? Or can I give it a push into the goal then pick it up and bring it back to the handler line?

There is nothing in the rules that says the ball must be touching the ground to be considered in the goal. However, it can be very difficult to determine whether a ball has passed the goal line in videos due to the camera angle. It is even more difficult if the ball is not touching the ground.

So, while it may be legal to hold the ball in the air and break the plane of the goal line, it might not be visually clear that it has happened. If this happens, the ball may not be scored. The run might even become an NQ based on when it happens in the game. The key is that it must be very clear on the video that the ball has crossed the goal line!

It is legal to push the ball with your hand or foot over the goal line and then pick it up to roll it back on the field. You do not need to set it back down in the handler area before rolling it back to the field. However, remember the handler cannot be touching the ball once it crosses the front of the handler box.

For roll backs in Snooker during Video Titling run can a Helper indicate if a rolled back ball is “Not Clear”, e.g. Didn’t cross the Rollback line?

At a trial the judge calls 'Clear' when the ball passes the roll back cone. The handler can ask the judge if a ball is clear, and the judge will answer yes or no. The judge doesn't call 'Not Clear' to alert the handler before they make a mistake - the mistake being allowing the dog to interact with another ball before the roll back ball goes far enough.

This is because Snooker is a speedy, point collection game. There are no time faults involved. If a roll back ball doesn't go far enough, the handler needs to realize and fix it which uses time. If they don't fix it before the dog interacts with the next ball, the run ends. The judge/assistant can't help the handler save time by alerting them that the ball isn't or didn't go far enough. The handler has to be watching and ask if they don't hear 'Clear'.