To compete in any part of the PKC Youth Program, the youth must be a paid-up member of PKC. It is the youth handler's responsibility to enter events in the proper category based upon their current age. Should any awards be earned in an ineligible category, those awards must be returned and will not be credited to the ineligible youth. Youth hunters must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. Inappropriate actions such as use of profanity and lewd behavior may be reviewed by a disciplinary committee and could result in probation and/or suspension from the Youth Program.
Event Earnings for eligible youth will be recorded for placement in the annual PKC National Youth Standings, PKC State Youth Standings and the PKC Monthly Youth Standings. The PKC National Youth Standings will also be used to determine qualification for the PKC Youth World Championship and the PKC National Championship. All scholarship awards earned must be used for college expenses by the individual winning the award. All winners must enter an accredited college and apply for his scholarship awards by age twenty-one (21). Any scholarship award not used will be returned to the PKC General Youth Scholarship Fund.
YOUTH GROUPS
The PKC Youth Program consists of two youth groups as follows:
TEEN (Ages 13 -17) — PKC members reaching the age of thirteen (13), but under the age of eighteen (18) and have not yet graduated from High School as of October 1st of the current competition year that are full-time students. Eligible members must provide proof of age (birth certificate or another acceptable document) and full-time student status to compete.
PRE-TEEN (ages 7-12) — PKC members at least seven (7) years of age during the current competition season and under the age of thirteen (13) as of October 1st of the current year that are full-time students. Eligible members must provide proof of age (birth certificate) and full-time student status to compete.
NOTE: Youth hunters in the Pre-Teen category must have a parent or guardian accompany them when competing in PKC events.
ACCEPTABLE DOCUMENTS
Acceptable documents presented for proof of age and full-time student status shall be at the sole discretion of PKC.
PKC YOUTH ONLY EVENTS
Clubs may schedule "Youth Only" events as stand-alone events or in conjunction with other Open Events. PKC Youth Events will be conducted under Open Event Rules and the entry fee will be determined by the Host Club. Youth Hunters may be separated into two (2) events, one for each age group. These two (2) separate Youth Hunts may compete for the same Final Four and/or Added Purse if advertised as such. This option is not available for Youth Casts in Open Events, State Youth Championships, the annual Youth National Championship, and the annual Youth World Championship. Clubs must provide qualified non-hunting judges if needed and sufficient hunting and non-hunting guides. All Youth Only Events will be one (1) hour casts, unless specified otherwise.
Clubs may hold a "Youth Only" hunt with a minimum of two (2) youth hunters, provided a qualified non-hunting judge if furnished by the Host Club. This does not apply to Open Event Youth Casts.
YOUTH QUALIFYING EVENTS
Clubs may schedule a Youth Qualifying Event limited to youth handlers. Entry fee will be determined by the Host Club, with awards being paid as in any Open Event. Youth Hunters may be separated into two (2) events, one for each age group. These two separate Youth Hunts may compete for the same Final Four and/or Added Purse if advertised as such. This option is not available for Youth Casts in Open Events, State Youth Championships, the National Youth Championship, or the Youth World Championship. Clubs must provide qualified non-hunting judges if needed and sufficient hunting and non-hunting guides. The winner of any Youth Qualifying Event will become eligible to compete in the Youth World Championship the following competition season. All Youth Qualifying Events will be one (1) hour casts, unless specified otherwise.
YOUTH COMPETING IN PKC OPEN EVENTS
Youth Casts are available at all PKC Open Events (except Legacy Hunts) provided the club has met the requirements. If the following stipulations are not met, youth cast winners will not receive credit for their earnings:
- A minimum of four (4) Youth Hunters must enter the Open Event, and entries must be received in equal increments of four (4).
- If there is an odd number of youth entrants; 5, 6, 7, etc. youth entries will be drawn out at random down to four (4).
- A clear photo of each youth cast, showing all four (4) youth hunters, must be provided to PKC with hunt report, texted or emailed.
- Youth may be separated by the two (2) age groups with enough youth entries, but additional casts may not be created.
- Club must furnish a qualified non-hunting judge and non-hunting guide for each cast if needed.
- Separate drawing of Youth Casts cannot cause any additional casts.
NON-HUNTING JUDGE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUTH CASTS
Non-hunting Judges for Pre-Teen Youth Casts must be provided by the sponsoring club. Judges must be current PKC members in good standing and qualified to judge. No parent or legal guardian of a Youth Handler may judge that youth in a youth cast. No full or part owner of a dog being handled by a youth handler may judge that youth or dog in a youth cast. Non-Hunting Youth Judges will conduct the cast in accordance with PKC Open Event Rules.
HUNTING AND NON-HUNTING GUIDES IN YOUTH CASTS
Hunting and Non-Hunting Guides may be used for youth casts. Youth that are able to guide their own cast should be used first. Non-Hunting Guides provided by the sponsoring club should be used second. As a third option, the parent or legal guardian of a youth handler may guide their youth’s cast. If a parent or legal guardian is going to be used as the guide, the Hunt Director must be informed when the youth is entered.
NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERS
A top twenty (20) National Youth Standings for both age groups combined will be kept on the PKC website (www.prohound.com) and published in PROHOUND monthly of all Open Event Awards. Competition year will begin on October 1st of the previous year and end on September 30th of the current year. Scholarship awards will be presented to the top four (4) handlers as follows:
- First Place...............................$1,000
- Second Place..............................$750
- Third Place.................................$500
- Fourth Place...............................$250
In addition, the top four (4) handlers in the National Youth Standings will receive the following cash awards:
- First.........................................$2,500
- Second......................................$1,500
- Third........................................$1,000
- Fourth.......................................$1,000
YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The PKC Youth World Championship will be conducted annually and will consist of all handlers from both age groups in the National Youth Standings who have earned at least $100 in PKC awards or any Youth Qualifying Event winners during the previous competition season. The two youth age groups, Pre-Teen and Teen, will be drawn separately as far into the competition as possible, but will all be competing for a berth into the Final Four. Youth Handlers may participate with any PKC registered dog, regardless of the dog's lifetime earnings. Cash Awards paid are as follows:
- First Place................................$5,000
- Second Place.............................$2,500
- Third Place...............................$1,500
- Fourth Place..............................$1,000
- Double Cast Winners.......................$500
- Single Cast Winners........................$100
Scholarship awards will be presented as follows:
- First Place................................$1,000
- Second Place...............................$750
- Third Place.................................$500
- Fourth Place...............................$250
PAYMENT OF YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Payment of scholarship awards may be made to accredited colleges, universities, and technical schools at the sole discretion of PKC. Scholarship awards will be retained in an escrow account by PKC, and payments will be made to eligible winners in a timely manner. For more information regarding the eligibility of a specific college, university, or technical school, as well as the eligibility period for scholarship awards earned, please contact the PKC Office.
YOUTH HANDLER OF THE MONTH PROGRAM
PKC will recognize the top Youth Handler in Open Events each month from October of the previous year until September of the present year with a berth in the annual PKC National Championship. First entry fee for the Youth Handler of the Month in the National Championship shall be FREE. A sponsor, if any, may choose to award each month's winner with some type of prize package. Youth Handler Of The Month awards shall be at the sole discretion of the sponsor and PKC.
Eligibility Requirements
Youth Handler must be registered with PKC and must meet the age limit requirements outlined in Youth Groups above. Youth Handlers will compete in a single elimination format to be determined by PKC management.
The following additional rules and requirements will apply:
- A Youth Handler may win only one (1) entry in the National Championship.
- In the event a Youth Handler earns a berth more than once, he will earn the title and the monthly leader award, if any is available, but the berth in the National Championship will be awarded to the next eligible handler on the list for the respective month.
YOUTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
A Youth State Championship will be conducted in conjunction with all annual State Championships. The event will be held on the opposite night of the respective State Championship or on a different date determined by the state association. A PKC State Youth Champion will be determined in an elimination event of any eligible youth hunter wishing to compete in the event, regardless of home state. The following rules and regulations will also apply:
- State Youth Championships will be conducted under PKC Open Event Rules.
- Entry Fee will be $40, to allow for payment of a $5 Guide Fee.
- No prior earnings are required for a youth hunter to compete in any State Youth Championship.
- There shall be a minimum requirement of two (2) entrants and a non-hunting judge in order to conduct a State Youth Championship.
- Once a Youth Hunter has earned the State Champion title of any State, he/she shall become ineligible for further participation in any remaining State Youth Championships for the respective year.
- State Association and/or Co-Sponsoring Club may provide an Added Purse for the State Youth Championship at their discretion.
- Championship cast will be required to compete for placement and the title of State Youth Champion.
- These recognized State Youth Champions will qualify for the National Championship the following year.