Thursday, January 01, 1970 • 12:00 am–12:00 am • Hall B Grooming Stage

Special Grooming Class – Contest Rules and Regulations

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Held as a separate stand-out event during The Atlanta Pet Fair, North America’s Largest Grooming Competition, GroomBowl® will be the must-see event of a lifetime for groomers. Join Professional and Amateur groomers in competing in this revolutionary competition that combines grooming skills with gaming strategy. From industry legends competing in the Professional Division to undiscovered talent in the Amateur Division, groomers will compete in this team-format, sporting style showdown to claim the GroomBowl® Championship! Whether you are a patron who will be sponsoring a team, a competitor, or a grooming competition fan, plan to attend now and cheer for your favorites.

Divisions and Eligibility

Each team must consist of 4-5 members. One member must be designated as the Team Captain.
Pro: GroomBowl® Pro Division is open to any groomer living anywhere in the world including retired groomers, judges, current or former GroomTeam members.

Am:  GroomBowl® Am Division is open to any groomer living anywhere in the world who has:

• Never been named to any country’s GroomTeam
• Never judged a National or International grooming contest
• Never won a National or International Best in Show at a GroomTeam Sanctioned event
• Never been awarded a National or International Best in Show at any dog show or any grooming competition – includes American Kennel Club (AKC) and Fédération Internationale Cynologique (F.C.I.) events
• Never been awarded a Best in Show/Best All Around at a live grooming contest or dog show

Teams may be company-sponsored and are encouraged to provide a Team name and logo. Team Rosters are to be entered in your online registration by your team captain. Substitutions to the original team roster may be submitted by Team Captain in writing to Atlanta Pet Fair at janelle@wpamail.org or on-site/ringside until 7:00 am, March 13, 2022. No substitution to the original roster may be made after the deadline.  

Entry Fees

Professional – $500 entry fee per Team
Amateur – $500 entry fee per Team  

Breed Categories

Each team must be prepared to complete a groom from each of the five following categories: Poodle, Gun Dog, Handstripped, Scissored, Salon Styled  

Breed Category Rules

Salon Styled Acceptable Breeds/Styles:  

Any dog of mixed parentage or any purebred dog distinctly NOT styled to breed profile. Examples of acceptable styles include, but are not limited to: trending styles such as Asian Fusion, the Poodlington, unique pet styles, and breed trims created on alternative mixed or purebred dogs. May use 2 bows for tie-ups, small amounts of color (1 inch or less) may be added with chalk, blow pens or markers and limited to paws, ears, tail, and/or cheeks.  For Poodle styles, feet may be shaved prior to competition start time, but the face must be shaved during the competition time frame. No extra time will be permitted if not completed prior to the class start.  Show topknots may be pre-­banded, including hair extensions prior to the start of the class, however, spray up products are prohibited prior to the start of the class.  

Poodles, Gun Dog, Handstripped and Scissored:

All dogs must be groomed according to breed standard with the exception of Poodle as noted below. It is the responsibility of designated judges to determine adequate coat growth. Prior to the contest start time, all dogs may have sanitary and pads shaved, nails trimmed and ears cleaned. All styling must take place during the time frame of the competition except where noted below. All dogs must be groomed according to breed standard. Finishing sprays are permissible in order to tidy up after the competition time frame ends, however reshaping with water or product application is prohibited. Chalk products are permissible prior to and during the competition time frame but are prohibited after the contest time frame ends.

Wire Coat breeds must be hand stripped.
Gun Dog breeds must be card and/or hand stripped. Clippers are only permissible as presented in the conformation show ring.
Scissored breeds must be styled as presented in the conformation show ring.
Poodles can be styled as presented in the conformation show ring or pet trims, provided they respect the breed profile as set forth by the standard.
Poodle Styling: All pet and show poodle styles are acceptable provided they respect the breed profile of the poodle.

• Feet must be shaved
• Feet may be shaved prior to competition start time. NO extra time will be permitted if not completed prior to contest start time
• Face must be shaved during the contest time frame
• Small mustache or goatee are permitted
• Scissored face styles such as Bichon or scissored typefaces are prohibited
• Show topknots may be pre-­banded, including hair extensions prior to the start of the class, spray up products are prohibited prior to the start of the contest
• For Safety, Poodle style spray ups may utilize a holder for up to 15 minutes during the contest. The holder may not speak to the contestant while in the contest ring.

    Poodles: acceptable breeds – all sizes, natural colors or purebred Poodles.

Detailed Contest Schedule 

7:00 am:    Check-In

7:15 am:     Heat #1 Starts

9:15 am:     Heat #1 Ends

10:00 am:  Scores Announced

10:15 am:   Heat #2 Starts

12:15 pm:   Heat #2 Ends

1:00 pm:    Finalists Announced

1:15 pm:     Final Heat #3 Starts

3:15 pm:    Final Heat #3 Ends

3:45 pm:    Final Judging and Awards

Contest Format and Scoring

Teams are scored over 3 heats. Each heat will be 2 hours long with a break in-between. During Heat #1 and Heat #2, each team will field 2 entries of their choice per heat. Scores will be displayed following each heat. Only 5 Am and 5 Pro teams with the lowest cumulative scores from Heat #1 and Heat# 2 will advance to the final Heat #3. Final scoring will be reset during the final Heat #3 – scores from Heat #1 and Heat# 2 do not carry forward. Each team will receive 2 timeout cards for use during competition. (one 5 minute and one 10 minute). A timeout can be used for one member of your team to step into the ring and coach you. You must hold your timecard up to signal to your team member you require assistance. If a team fields 4 players, 1 player may groom in Heat #1 and Heat #2, however, all players in Heat #3 must not have groomed in Heat #1 or Heat #2.    

Judging/Scoring Criteria

Judges will be confidential and a closely guarded secret, however, will be well-qualified to judge the World’s best groomers and their entries Judging will be a placing-based system.

• Judging will be a cumulative point-based system, the lowest cumulative points will advance to the Finals/Heat #3 of the GroomBowl®. Each Heat will have the judges awarding 1-10 placings. Those scores will be added (example 1^st Place = 1 point, 2^nd Place = 2 points, 3^rd Place = 3 points) together to form a cumulative score for the round. If your team does not place 1-10, your team will result in an automatic addition of 15 points.
• Scoring will be posted/announced after each heat

  Heat 1 example scoring

      Heat 2 example scoring

In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be the score of a randomly drawn tie-breaker judge from the judging panel. Tiebreaker judge will be drawn and announced prior to the start of the GroomBowl®.  

Prize Money and Awards

Pro Division:

Champion – Custom Patron Trophy + $2,500 Prize Money; individual team members will receive a rosette

Reserve – Custom Patron Trophy + $1,500 Prize Money; individual team members will receive a rosette

Amateur Division:

Champion – Custom Patron Trophy + $1,500 Prize Money; individual team members will receive a rosette

Reserve – Custom Patron Trophy + $1,000 Prize Money; individual team members will receive a rosette