Rules
One Rope Rule: only one rope per team member is allowed into the arena.
Qualified Catch: A loop must leave the roper's hand in order to count for points.
Rodear: Required - loose animals crossing the rodear, as defined by the line across the arena, result in penalty points. Only the designated animal to be roped is allowed to cross the line.
Stop and Face: Defined as the animal having all four feet on the ground and facing the header – not required, but worth 3 extra points if achieved: must be called before the first heel loop is thrown.
Wrong animal Roped: If the wrong animal is roped, it counts as a miss, the rope must be removed and the roping may then continue. Time does not stop, and no points accrue, but misses still count.
Two Ropers Head: If two ropers head the same animal, only one loop can be used to hold the animal, and counts for 6 points. The second loop counts as a miss; that roper can drop his rope with no further penalty, but that loop must be pulled clear of the animal before time is called.
Deep Rope: If on a headshot the animal is roped deep, as a safety measure that rope can be dropped (NOT LOST) by the header, the shot counts as a miss, and the deep rope must be pulled clear before time can be called. If that loop is used to hold the animal, the resulting headshot counts for 6 points.
Illegal heel shot: if a heel shot comes tight on a front foot or feet or any place in front of the front feet, it will be considered a headshot and will count as a miss. Another heel shot must be made and the first shot pulled clear before time is called.
Back-in shot: is considered to be a loop that does not come in between the front and back feet and the animal is moved in a backward motion into the loop. The loop will be worth 5 points + or - at judge's discretion. However, if an animal is backed into a loop that would obviously catch feet if the animal was moved in a forward motion, as decided by the judge, the team will receive the points for the loop thrown. + or - at judge's discretion.
If one heel is lost on a double heel catch, one point is lost.
Rim Fire: is defined as the rope touching a horse or rider blocking the animal or between the header/healer and the animal, or wrapping around the header or healer. -5 Penalty points acrue.
Loping: Only allowed to prevent roper from losing his rope. Penaly points may apply. (Judge's descretion)
Single High-hock Dally: Penalty points apply. Additional points may be lost if dally is not pulled and loop allowed to drop in a timely manner.
Improper Handling: This includes, but is not limited to; choking, dragging, stirring, roughing, or hitting the animal when down: Roughing the animal penalties for each incident at Judge's discretion.
Lost Rope: 3 penalty points for lost rope.
Rope left on Saddle: -10 points if, for any reason, a team member dismounts in the arena and his/her rope is not tossed to the ground prior to leaving the saddle.
Control of Ground Man's Horse: Contact must be maintained. -5 points per lost horse.
Alternate Ground Person: A 4th team member may be used as a ground person for a physically limited team member. The Open Division requires prior approval by the Judge, and the physically limited team member must remain in the saddle. The Novice Division requires the 4th person do no more than hold the animal: the Novice must move the ropes on head and heels.
Time Limits: 5 minutes total time per team. In the Open Division, there is a 2-minute time limit to make a legal head catch and control the animal. In the Novice Division, there is a 3-minute time limit to head the animal. In order to be legal, the rope controlling the headshot must be in the hand of the eligible header at the end of the time limit.
Time stops: when head and heel ropes are strung clean and tight and the ground man is off the calf.
Open Roper on a Novice Team: The Open Roper on a Novice Team is allowed a maximum of 10 points for a qualified catch.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Any unsportsmanlike conduct deemed so by the Board or Judges will result in immediate termination of the membership of that individual, and all rights thereof.
Judge's Decisions: All Judge's decisions are final.
