We run in the backyard for many different reasons. We run because it is fun. We run to socialize with our friends (old and new). We run to go further than we have ever gone before….

But, for many of us, we run because we want to eventually go to Big Dog’s Backyard, and pit ourselves against the best in the world. And why should we not harbor such ambitions? In the backyard, anyone can win. One of the fundamental imperatives for any sport is to leave the outcome in the hands of the athlete. And so we want it to be in the backyard. Your road to Big’s is attached. Along the way is the opportunity to represent your country on a national team, to compete for a national championship… and, of course, a clear path to reach the world championships in Big Dog’s Backyard.

In summary, you will find in the Brackets for your country a list of Bronze and Silver Ticket events. The winners of the Silver Ticket events will have a place on the national team. Slots in the Silver Ticket events might be hard to obtain, but you can secure one of those places by winning a Bronze Ticket event.

In addition to the places on the team secured by winning a Silver Ticket event, there will be places for At-Large additions to the team.  As an example, the 15 man US team will have 6 places determined by the winners of 6 Silver Ticket events. The other 9 places will be determined by the top results on the At-Large list. A good result in any event you run during the qualifying period (which began August 16, 2020 and ends August 15 2022) can place you on that list. The top 9 performances, outside the winners of the 6 Silver Tickets, will earn those runners a place on the team.

The World Team Championships will start on October 15, 2022. You will be both representing your country as a member of the team (ALL members are scoring members) and competing for the individual National Championship.  The Team Championships were first held in 2020, with Belgium winning, the USA second, and Mexico third.

The top 50 winners of the national championships will secure berths at the World Individual Championships to be held at Big Dog’s Backyard starting October 15, 2023. In addition to those champions, there will be an additional 25 runners selected from the At-Large list… the top performances of the previous 2 year qualifying period (August 16, 2021 to August 15, 2023).

So, even as the road to Big Dog’s Backyard World Championships 2021 is winding down, the road to Big’s in 2023 is about to begin.

Brackets

Brackets for more countries will be added in the coming weeks.