One night a year, we play disc under the stars.
Star Jam
Star Jam is MNDDC's signature annual evening event. a one-of-a-kind night where our community comes together to play classic MNDDC games you won't find anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or just getting started, Star Jam is a celebration of the sport, the dogs, and the people who love both.
All skill levels are welcome. Come for the competition, stay for the atmosphere.
What it is: Show off your creativity! Freestyle is all about you and your dog performing a routine set to music. Judges reward ingenuity, variety, difficulty, field usage, and how well you feature your dog's strengths. No two routines are alike.
Number of discs: Unlimited
Division timing:
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Pro: 2 minute routine | Must play 1:30 to receive a score
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Intermediate: 1:30 routine | Must play 1:00 to receive a score
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Novice: 1:00 routine | Must play 0:45 to receive a score
Scoring:
Three judges each score the routine from 0–10, rewarding ingenuity, difficulty, variety of disc releases, dog safety, field usage, and how well the handler features the dog. Tenth-of-a-point increments are allowed. Scores from all three judges are added together (maximum of 30 points from judging).
After your routine, you get one bonus throw from one Catch 22 bonus zone to the other:
3 points — catch inside the square
2 points — catch past the square
1 point — any other catch
Maximum score per round: 33 points (all divisions)
What it is: A throwing game with a twist. You get 5 throws in 60 seconds — but your score isn't just about catching. Points come from where the dog catches, how the disc is thrown, how the dog catches it, and how fast you finish all five throws compared to other teams.
Number of discs: 3
Time limit: 60 seconds
Total throws: 5 (rollers allowed!)
Scoring breakdown:
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1–3 points per catch, depending on which zone the dog catches in (see field diagram)
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+0.5 points for each unique throw type used (max 2.5 points total)
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+0.5 points air bonus for each catch where all four paws leave the ground in an intentional upward leap (max 2.5 points total)
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Time bonus for the four fastest teams: 2.0 / 1.5 / 1.0 / 0.5 points
Maximum score: 22 points
How to play:
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Time starts when the first thrown disc leaves your hand or the dog leaves the throwing box, whichever comes first. Time ends when the 5th disc is caught or hits the ground and the dog returns to the handler in the throw box.
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Teams must alternate throwing directions between the two 3-point boxes. You choose which side to start on for throw #1.
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A "unique throw" includes both unique grips and unique release locations. For example: a standard backhand, a backhand released under the legs, and a backhand released behind the back each count as separate unique throws. If the dog misses the catch, the unique throw still counts and can be attempted again for the bonus.
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The dog must have at least one paw fully within the 3-point box to earn 3 points. Any straddling of the line defaults to the leading edge of the disc to determine the zone.
Field Layout
What it is: Pure distance. Make a successful catch past each yard line to advance. Three missed catches and you're out. This game rewards big throws and fast dogs.
Field setup:
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One throwing line
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Catch lines at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 yards (50 yards if space allows)
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No out of bounds. A trailing paw on the line awards the higher zone
How to play:
Each distance marker is its own "round" (10-yard round, 20-yard round, etc.). To advance, your dog must make a catch past the current round's yard line. For example, in the 10-yard round, the catch must land past the 10-yard line.
Rollers are allowed!
A miss, or a catch at or short of the line, counts as a strike. Three strikes and your team is eliminated. You throw again immediately after a miss until you advance or hit three strikes.
Round progression:
⭐10 yards ⭐ 20 yards ⭐ 30 yards ⭐ 40 yards ⭐ 50 yards
If teams are still alive after 50 yards, the distance moves back down to 40 yards, then 30, and so on. However, you now need to throw a different type of throw than in your first 50 yards. For example, if you throw all backhands for the first 50 yards, you may throw rollers for your next 50, and so on.
Tiebreakers / Top 3:
Multiple teams can be eliminated at the same distance. If a tiebreaker is needed for a top-3 spot, the team that entered that round with the fewest total misses wins.
If misses are equal, each tied team gets one throw. The longest catch wins, measured to the half-yard.
What it is: The classic disc dog game! Throw as many times as you can in 60 seconds and rack up points based on where your dog catches. Simple, fast, and fun for all levels. Note: Rollers are allowed and there is no out of bounds.
Time limit: 60 seconds
Division disc rules:
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Pro - 1 disc
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Novice / Intermediate - 1 throwing disc + 1 lure disc (lure disc may not be thrown)
Scoring:
| Zone | Points |
| 0–10 yards | 0 points |
| 10–20 yards | 1 point |
| 20–30 yards | 2 points |
| 30–40 yards | 3 points |
| 40–50 yards | 5 points |
+0.5 points air bonus for catches where all four paws leave the ground
What it is: The most unique game of the night. Starting in the sweetspot zone, throw to any numbered zone to score those points — but here's the twist: wherever the dog catches becomes your new throwing zone. You run to it, grab a disc, and throw to the next zone. Close all zones to reset the board and keep scoring. Leapfrog rewards field awareness, disc management, and teamwork on the move.
Number of discs: 4
Time limit: 75 seconds
Key rule: A scoring catch only counts if the throw was made from the correct zone — meaning the zone where the previous catch occurred. If you throw from the wrong zone, the catch does not score.
Star Jam registration details and dates are announced through our blog and Facebook group. Keep an eye on Club Events & News for updates, or reach out to us directly, we'd love to see you there!