Northern Range Ranch Roping Rules/Point Schedule
NRRRS events are judged on the contestants' ability to throw appropriate loops, handle their horses and cattle, and work together in a three person team. The rules and points for each shot are detailed below.
The format is as follows: Each team consists of three ropers. Several cattle are loose in the arena. The team is told which animal to rope. There is a two minute time limit to head and a four minute time limit to complete each run. Most events are three rounds long and progressive after each round. Each team member must head in one round.
GENERAL
1. Time limits – 2 minutes to head, 4 minutes to complete run.
2. If calf is headed, heeled, and ground work completed in under one minute the team receives 3 extra points; if under 2 minutes the team receives 2 extra points.
3. Time stops when both ropes are tight and the ground man is off the calf.
4. Rim fire: A rim fire is defined as the rope touching the horse that is blocking the calf, the rope touching the horse that is between the header and the calf, or the rope wrapping around the header’s horse. Team is disqualified.
5. No loping. Loping is a disqualification in the open, and from disqualification to 10-point deduction in the intermediate and youth at the discretion of the judge.
6. Improper handling: 1 to 5 point penalty at judge's discretion. Up to two warnings will be given, after which the team is disqualified.
7. Lost rope: 5 pt. penalty.
8. Rope on horn: any time a roper dismounts in the arena for any reason, he/she must throw their rope to the ground first, or that team is disqualified.
9. Any conduct deemed to be unsportsmanlike by a director, officer or judge will result in the termination of the offender's membership and all rights of that membership.
10. A loop must leave the roper's hand before it reaches the animal in order to count for points.
11. Rope swap: Rope swap has no penalty. Ground person may swap either with header or healer. If one foot on a double hock is lost in the process, one point is lost.
12. Ropes: Only one rope per roper may be carried into arena.
13. A substitute ground person may be used if a team member has a physical limitation. Substitution must be approved by judge. When a substitute team member is used in the Open division, the physically limited person must remain mounted. Only one person is allowed to work the ground. No more than 4 team members are allowed in the arena.
14. The ground man must maintain control of their horse with the possibility of up to 4 points being taken off their score for failure to do so.
15. Judges decisions: All judge's decisions are final
HEADING
1. All three ropers must head.
2. Stop-and-Face: After the calf is headed, with all four feet on the ground facing the header. +2 pts if accomplished, but no disqualification or penalty if not accomplished. Stop-and-face cannot be called after a heel loop is thrown.
3. Cattle Roped Deep: If calf is roped deep, the rope can be DROPPED (not LOST) by the header. This will count as a miss. Deep loop must be pulled clear after calf is on the ground before time can be called.
4. If wrong calf is roped, the rope can be removed and team may continue. Time is not stopped.
5. If a rope breaks AFTER the stop and face has been called, it will be considered a miss, the 2 points for the stop-and-face will apply and the qualifying headshot will be taken at face value. 2 minute time limit still applies.
6. If two ropers head the calf at the same time, only one loop can be used to hold the calf. The head shot will count for six points, and the second rope must be pulled clear after the calf is on the ground before time is called.
7. An extra 2 points will be added to the score if the critters are held in the rodear while heading. No points lost if not accomplished.
HEELING
1. A 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 plus or minus points at judge’s discretion. If an animal backs so far into a loop that the loop gets in front of its front legs, a qualified heeler must heel the calf, and the other rope must be pulled clear before time is called. This is considered a miss. If the calf backs in deep, but not past the front legs, then the loop can be pulled back and down for a forehand trap heel shot. This can be done from the ground.
2. 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, plus or minus points at judge’s discretion.
3. If a roper dallies on one high hock, it is considered improper handling, with 1 to 5 point penalty at the judge's discretion.
4. 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.
5. If a team has an animal that lies down excessively, the ground man may string the hind feet, without a heel shot, for a maximum of 5 points.
DIVISIONS
OPEN
1.The Open division is for all contestants, without regard to age, experience, or gender.
2. Each open roper will be charged a $10 membership fee at each Northern Range Ranch Roping Series sanctioned roping.
INTERMEDIATE
1. The Intermediate division is for women any age, children 14yrs. and under, and anyone who hasn't won money in the open.
2. Women and children 14 yrs. and under may enter the Intermediate at any time. All others are advanced to the Open division if they win money in the Open.
3. An Intermediate team may consist of 3 Intermediate ropers, or 2 Intermediate ropers and one Open roper. Intermediate teams must identify the Open roper on their team to the judge upon riding into the arena. The Open roper's loops qualify for a MAXIMUM of 10 points.
4. Intermediate teams may have a fourth person to assist them, but that fourth person is only to hold the critter as a safety measure, and the intermediate ground person must move the ropes, unless the intermediate ground person remains in the saddle.
5. Intermediate teams have a time limit of 3 minutes to head their critter, or time is called.
6. Each intermediate roper will be charged a $10 membership fee at each Northern Range Ranch Roping Series sanctioned roping.
YOUTH
1. The youth roper must be age 10 years or under
2. The point system used for the Youth division will be the same as that used in the Intermediate Division
3. A youth team must consist of one youth and two assisting ropers (assisting ropers will not pay entry fees and their points will not be counted)
4. Only youth points will be counted
5. The youth competition will consist of 2 rounds. In the first round, the youth will neck a designated animal with a breakaway honda. In the second round, one of the two assisting ropers will neck an animal, and the youth will heel it with a solid honda
6. Each youth roper will be charged a $5 membership fee at each Northern Range Ranch Roping Series sanctioned roping.
HEAD SHOTS
Del Viento/Turnover 14
Scoop 10
Houlihan/Backhand 10
Offside Overhand 8
Overhand 6
HEEL SHOTS
Contra-Viento 17
Del Viento 15
Backhand over hip 14
Backhand Strt. Behind hip 14
Forehand over hip 13
Scoop hip 13
Backhand hip 12
Strt. behind hip 12
Johnny Blocker Trap 10
Standard hip 10
Backhand trap 8
Overhand trap 6
Strung heels on downed animal max 5
Back-in 5
OTHER
Step over 2
Judges Discretion + or - 2
Completion under 1 minute +3
Completion under 2 minutes +2
DELETED POINTS
Misses -2
Animal Abuse -up to -5
One heal -1
Lost rope -5
Ground man’s uncontrolled horse up to -4
Rim Fire DQ
Lope DQ
Rope on saddle DQ
Photo of Sam Redding by Mary Williams Hyde
