The key facts of the FCI Agility Commission Meeting in February 2025

A total of 26 applications from different countries were on the agenda of the FCI Agility Commission in Stockholm. In addition to the applications submitted, the usual tasks of the commission were of course also on the agenda. These included the following points:

Judges World Championship 2026
Among other things, the election of judges for the 2026 World Championship in Finland. Marleen Haeneefstingels from Belgium and Michiel Lazeroms from the Netherlands were confirmed as judges by the FCI Agility Commission. From Finland, the two judges proposed by the Finnish association, Reetta Pirttikoski and Marko Makela, were confirmed.

Foundation of a working group on size measurements
With the aim of standardizing and better regulating size measurements within the FCI, a working group was founded to analyze and develop various measurement methods. One of the measurement methods that will be looked at more closely is the so-called ulna measurements. This is one of the two bones in a dog’s front leg. It extends between the wrist and the elbow joint. However, this measurement method is not entirely uncontroversial, which is why the working group should collect more data.

Addition to the judge size measurement team
The existing judges team will be supplemented by more judges. This is independent of the working group founded regarding the new size measurements.

VAR system at FCI competitions
After a vote within the committee, the FCI is paving the way to the future. From 2026, a video assistance referee will be mandatory at all FCI competitions. This will assist the head judge and help him judge the dogwalk, A-Frame and the seesaw. The system can already be used this year. However, it is not yet mandatory before 2026. Exact details about the manufacturer and the function were not given in the official report. There are already a few systems in use. For example, very successfully at all major tournaments in the Czech Republic.

Recognition of the Senior Open Agility World Championship as an FCI event
Based on the experience gained from the first edition of the Senior Open Agility World Championship in Belgium last year, the Agility Commission hopes to further integrate the event. In the distant future, it should become an official FCI event. As a reminder: Currently, three events – the Agility World Championship, the European Open and the Junior Open Agility World Championship – are official FCI agility events. The 2025 event will not yet be held under the official guise of the FCI. The aim is to gain further experience to refine the rules and adapt them if necessary.

All other points on the list of topics were submitted by a national association and its delegates. Some of them already overlapped in part with topics that are already being dealt with by a working group. The majority of them particularly concerned size measurement and course design. Other applications submitted were the following:

European Open 2026 in France
An application to host the FCI European Open in 2026 was received from France. This was accepted and confirmed by the committee. You can find further information in this separate news.

Change in the schedule of the European Open 2025
The Portuguese organizers have submitted an application for a significant change in the schedule of the tournament. This was approved by the Agility Commission. For the first time, there will be 5 rings. The Large teams will now be split into two groups. One group will start with the Agility run, the second group will start with the Jumping at the same time. At the end, they will switch. This will give a little more flexibility in planning and the expected high temperatures.

International database and working books
A working group is working on setting up an international database. This is intended to make the traditional workbooks superfluous and standardize them. At the moment, each nation has its own solution. Some are already digital, some are still analogue on paper. In the long term, a tournament calendar of all events in the FCI member states will also be published.

Standardization of contact zone devices
So far, there are no unified specifications for contact zone obstacles. The equipment guidelines only list the tolerances that the equipment must meet. A working group is to correct this in the future. It is also being examined whether the width of the dogwalk should be increased.

Examination committee for World Championships and EO courses
In the future there will be a committee that will examine the AWC, EO, JOAWC and SOAWC courses in detail in advance. This proposal was accepted. The committee should consist of experienced FCI judges.

Name change JOAWC and SOAWC
In future, the Junior Open Agility World Championship and the Senior Open Agility World Championship will be renamed. The JOAWC will be called Junior Agility Open and the SOAWC Senior Agility Open. This is surprising, as the JOAWC was only renamed from Junior European Open to Junior Open Agility World Championship two years ago.

Standardization of agility regulations in all countries
The standardization of Agility rules in all FCI member states was rejected. The requirements are too different depending on the nation. However, the aim is to harmonize as many rules as possible, with options for exceptions.

Run-off at world championships
The run-off decision as used in Belgium after the Intermediate Individual Agility run will not be repeated. This section of the rules has been deleted. If there is a tie again after two runs, the better result in the agility run will be counted in future. And in case both teams ran the same time in the agility run, then both teams are world champions.

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