Rule Book Page 4

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CONTESTANT DISQUALIFICATION

JUDGES AND JUDGING METHODS

SECRETARY AND RODEO OFFICE

CONTESTANT DISQUALIFICATION

1.       Contestants may be disqualified by any of the following offenses:

A.     Being under the influence of alcohol in the arena.

B.     Rowdyism or quarreling in the actual domain of the arena.

C.     Mistreatment of stock.

D.     Refusing to contest during a paid performance on an animal drawn for him/her.

E.     Not being ready to compete when called upon.

F.     Cheating or attempting to cheat.

G.     Not wearing western clothes, including long sleeved shirt with sleeves rolled down, boots and western hat in the arena during competition.

2.      Should an Association member turn out stock without authority of the rodeo judges, he/she may be barred from the next approved rodeo.

3.      Should contestant not want to compete on drawn stock, he/she is required to mount somebody on said head of stock.  This shall be at the expense of the contestant refusing stock.  Failure to mount someone on said head of stock may result in a fine.  In case of injury of contestant, this rule may be waived.  If the stock is turned out during a paid performance, contestant turning out stock may be disqualified in all events for the remainder of that rodeo and may be barred from the next approved rodeo.

A.     Contestant refusing or turning out stock anytime other than during a paid performance will not be disqualified.

B.     Contestant refusing or turning out stock anytime other than during a paid performance will receive no time or mark.

C.     Above contestants will not be eligible for average money in the event, in which he/she has turned out stock.

D.     Stock so turned out, will not be brought back.

4.      All members of the Association must make an honest effort when competing in the arena.  If an honest effort is not made, the member is liable for fine and/or disqualification.

5.      Contestants can be disqualified only by agreement of the rodeo judges and the arena director.

A.     A majority decision of the three will decide.

6.      Any contestant with a complaint must report it to a director or officer after the performance is completed, in writing.

A.     If a satisfactory decision cannot be reached, the contestant may call for a meeting with the entire Board of Directors.

7.      Any member or non-member using unnecessary profanity, threats, or rowdyism shall be barred from the arena, disqualified and/or fined.

A.     Such offense may be brought before the Board for final decision.

8.      No stock will be given until entry fees are paid.  When contestant has been announced to compete (three calls) and his/her fees have not been paid, his/ her stock will be turned out, and barrel racer’s position will be eliminated.  Judges will be notified immediately before they compete.  

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JUDGES AND JUDGING METHODS

1. All judges and flagmen must be IRCA members in good standing, and must attend at least one approved judges’ clinic per year.

A.     Judges should be on the rodeo grounds at least four (4) hours prior to the first performance if possible and at least two (2) hours before each thereafter, unless special arrangements are made with stock contractors.

B.     Judges, flagmen and timers must be men and women of experience and have attended a judging/timing clinic.

C.     It is preferable that one of the judges be from the rough stock events and the other from the timed events and must be approved by the majority of the Board of Directors if they are not taken from the approved list.

D.     If the Association does not consider the men/women chosen by a given rodeo to have adequate experience, they will expect the cooperation of the management in replacing the unsatisfactory judges, flagmen, or timers.

E.     IRCA approved judges are mandatory at all IRCA first approved rodeos “NO EXCEPTIONS ARE ALLOWED”.

2. Both judges in each rough stock event will carry a stopwatch to time the 8-second ride.

A.  If the latch judge’s watch fails to operate, the gate judge’s time becomes the primary time.

3. Judges will throw a flag to recognize a disqualification in rough stock events only (missing out a horse, slapping, etc.).

A.  Judges must throw flag immediately when horse is missed out, not waved or thrown seconds after infraction is made.

4. Judges’ books will be posted after each performance, including scores and times for all events.

5. Judges will not judge more than two rodeos in succession. They then must skip one rodeo before judging again.

6. All stock in contest events must be drawn by the judges and may be witnessed by contestants.

A.     In drawing stock, there must be at least 8 or more in the draw each time, in each event.  All stock must be placed in the draw unless the animal is injured.

B.     At least three copies must be made of the draw, one being a part of the Secretary’s record.

C.     Receptacle containing numbers written on poker ships must be shaken after each draw.

D.     Drawing must be posted with the draw for each performance.  Schedule of events must be posted with the draw for each performance at each rodeo.

E.     In any timed event (except GBR) positions and cattle will be drawn for as usual and followed during any rodeo performance; but in slack, ropers and doggers should be ready to compete, and cattle will be chute run according to each section of cattle run.

F.     Slack must be offered after an event if a performance is filled.  Slack may be run immediately after a performance or at a designated time.  Once slack has begun, it should be run until completed.

  1. Contestant Designated slack may be held (when deemed necessary by contractor and/or committees) after performances are filled, if at least 50 or more contestants request.  A $5.00 fee, per contestant will be accessed, by contractor, in addition to their regular fees.  A team in the team roping will be considered as 2 separate contestants.  It will be the responsibility of the contestants to call back, within one (1) hour of call-in closing time, to verify designated slack.

G.     All stock in first performance of a rodeo must remain for the entire rodeo unless injured.

7. Stock for re-rides will be drawn before go-round.  Re-rides must be drawn from the heard.

A.     Featured animals may be held out of this draw, then returned to the draw for the go-round.

B.     No more than two (2) feature animals may be held out of the draw for each performance of go-round.

8. Stock in timed events must be drawn by the flag judge for that event.

A.     Judge cannot compete in the event he flags.

B.     The men appointed to flag are the flag judges for those events regardless of who judges riding events, and are the only men qualified to deliver a decision.

C.     A timed event contestant can work as a judge as long as he/she attends a judges’ clinic and he/she appoints an approved timed event judge or director to watch the line in the event he/she is competing in.

D.     A judge may compete in the performance in which he enters.

E.     A contestant cannot judge and compete at the finals.

9. No contestant may compete on the same head of stock in any event at any rodeo, in more than one go-round.

10. Re-rides must be given in all three (3) riding events.

11. If animal fouls rider, runs off, or stops; rider has the privilege of taking the same animal back providing the stock contractor is willing, or rider may have a re-ride animal drawn.

A.     If rider takes the same animal back, he must take that marking and is ineligible for any more re-rides in that event.

B.     Re-rides shall be given if animal fails to perform to the satisfaction of the judges.

12. If an animal that runs off is already drawn for another contestant, that contestant must take the animal already drawn.

A.     If stock contractor and contestant agree, such an animal may be taken immediately before or after the performance.

B.     If that is the fourth (4^th) consecutive time the animal has run off, it must be taken out of the draw and an animal drawn out of the re-rides for the second contest.

13. If re-ride is given because animal hits rider in the chute or falls, it is to be brought back during the same performance.

14. If, in the opinion of the judges, a rider makes two (2) honest efforts to get out on a chute-fighting animal and is unable to do so, he may have a re-ride animal drawn for him.

A.     If, by decision of stock contractor, a horse’s head must be tied, the spur out rule will be waived.

15. In riding events, ride and animal are to be marked separately.

A.     Ride to be marked from one (1) to twenty-five (25) depending upon how much the rider spurs.

B.     The animal is to be marked from one (1) to twenty-five (25).

C.     It is suggested that the full spread is to be used.

D.     If the animal is marked for a total of sixteen (16) or less, the contestant will get a re-ride.  A re-ride for a total score on an animal of over sixteen (16) is up to the discretion of the judge.

E.     A judge cannot change any scores after turning in books to secretary after each performance.

F.     Scores and times will be posted.

16. To qualify, a rider must have spurs over the break of the shoulders and touching the horse’s neck or head when horse’s front feet hit the ground first jump out of the chute.

17. If a horse stalls coming out of the chute, either judge may tell rider to take his feet out of the horse’s neck and first jump rule may be waived.

A.     First jump qualification may be waived at the discretion of judges if the rider is fouled on the chute gate.

B.     In case stock fouls contestant, and the judge sees it, he may tell the contestant to go with the ride and the contestant must be marked.

18. Any time contestant is fouled in any event; he/she must declare himself immediately or take that mark or time.

A.     Judges will watch every ride and every run to its completion.

19. Contestants may pull riggings, cinch saddles, and pull ropes from either side in all riding events.

A.     Middle flank belongs to bronc rider.

20. If any animal that is drawn in either a riding event or a timed event becomes sick or crippled before it is contested on, a judge or director must pass on the animal’s inability to be used before it can be skipped or replaced in the draw.

21. There will be a barrier at all IRCA rodeos.  A ten (10) second penalty will be added for breaking or beating the barrier.

A.     In all timed events a barrier will not be considered broken unless ring drops within eight (8) feet of post.

B.     Barrier equipment must be inspected by judge before each timed event.

C.     If equipment is faulty, it must be replaced.

D.     Should barrier break at any place other than designated breaking point, barrier shall not be considered broken.

E.     If contestant obviously beats barrier, but the staples are pulled or barrier rope is broken and string unbroken, barrier judge may assess a ten (10) second fine.  Otherwise, this is not considered to be a broken barrier.

F.     Automatic barriers WILL be used in calf roping, bull dogging, team roping and breakaway roping.

G.     Judges are responsible to see that barriers are in place before the first performance.

H.     There should only be horizontal pin releases on barriers (No vertical pins such as on Powder River equipment).

I.       Vertical or horizontal barriers will be up to judges’ and stock contractors’ discretion.

J.      Flag should be on neck rope.

22. Barrier judge will stand on the side of the chute the barrier is rigged in all roping events.

A.     Barrier judge is to make sure that nobody can stand close enough to barrier equipment to tamper with same, either before or after a run.

23. Once score line has been set in timed events, it will not be changed at that rodeo, nor can length of box be changed.

A.     Score line will be marked with a rope at the end of the barrier, in all timed events.  Rope will be held in place by spikes and be no less than the width of the chute/box.

24. In order for time to be considered official, barrier must work properly.  If barrier hangs on animal, contestant must take re-run.

25. If automatic barrier fails to work, and stock is brought back, contestant must take same animal over during or immediately after same performance.

A.     If automatic barrier fails to operate, contestant will receive stock back.

B.     If automatic barrier fouls contestant or neck rope goes out with stock, contestant will receive a re-run if he declares himself immediately with the judge.

26. In any time event, if an animal escapes from arena, flag will be dropped and watches stopped.

A.     Contestant will get animal back with lap and tap start and time already elapsed will be added to time used in performance.

B.     If time is not recorded, the decision of the flag judge shall be final.

C.     If rope is on animal when he escapes, contestant will get animal back lap and tap with rope on it in the chute.

27. In timed events, flag judge must ask contestant if he wants a second loop or jump.

28. Any judge failing to comply with any or all of these rules will be declared ineligible to judge, by the Board of Directors.

29. Any contestant, who argues to or annoys a judge while a contest event is in progress, will automatically be fined and/or suspended for the next approved rodeo.

30. Stock is not to be left in roping or dogging boxes overnight.  Calves and steers will be held in the catch pen until (1) one hour before a performance when possible.

31. If a contestant is injured at a rodeo, he may be held back at same rodeo until later in the go-round.

A.     Consent of stock contractor and both judges is necessary.

B.     If stock has been drawn for him, then he must take that animal when he does compete.

32. Barrel space measurements, barrier measurements, and electric eye stake measurements must be turned in to arena secretary in writing prior to the first performance of a rodeo.

A.     Re-measured before each performance.

B.     Judges are responsible for assembling, setting up, aligning and tearing down the electric eye.

33. Judges not adhering to the IRCA rulebook shall be fined and/or suspended.  All complaints and rules in question must be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing, and voted on by them.

34. Judges for the finals cannot purchase, individually or with a partner, a contestant sold in the Calcutta .  If a judge or a “member connected with him in a partnership” are caught doing so, they will be liable to a 1-year suspension from the Association and pay a $25.00 fine.

35. Thirty minutes before the start of the performance, the arena will be cleared and reworked, conditions permitting.

36. All finals personnel will be approved by the Board of Directors.

37. Judges will be paid a salary of One Hundred ($100.00) dollars a performance by the stock contractor in addition to the one dollar ($1.00)/ per judge, per entry fee, paid by the contestants.  Designated slack is treated as a performance.

38. Finals judges will be decided by ballot and voted on by competing contestants.  Rough stock contestants will vote for two (2).  Timed event contestants will vote for one (1) flagman.  Therefore, 2 or 3 judges will be in charge of the finals.

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SECRETARY AND RODEO OFFICE

1. An IRCA rodeo must have an approved IRCA secretary.

2. All no show and turn out fees, doctor releases or vet releases are to be sent into the IRCA office within two (2) weeks from the last day of rodeo.  If they are not, an automatic fine of $25.00 goes on when the letter is sent out.          

A.     IRCA members must pay the back entry fees to the IRCA or be suspended. Rodeo contestants must pay back entry fees before competing in another rodeo.

B.     Any cowboy personally entering another cowboy shall be responsible for his entry fees.  Secretary must be able to verify who has made entries.

C.     All entries must be made by phone.  The caller can enter himself/herself and three (3) other persons, per call.  (Entries are for performances, not slack).

D.     Secretary must ask for card number on entries phoned in.  If number is not given, entry may be refused.

E.     Any secretary accepting entries is responsible for those entries.  Secretaries cannot accept any entry in team roping leaving an open hole.  Both names are to be given upon entering.

F.     The IRCA secretary may take entries to an IRCA rodeo, if a person has HONESTLY tried to contact the secretary of the rodeo, during the time books are open, and the IRCA secretary can verify it.

3. Arena secretary may ask contestants to show paid-up Association membership card at time of entry.   

A.  Every contestant is required to show their current membership card when paying fees.  Should any contestant not have it with them, they will be required to pay un-refundable non-cardholder fees.

4. IRCA/Arena secretary has the right to ask to see contestant’s driver’s license for proof of Iowa residence.

5. All rodeo information, (secretary and judges sheets, results, payoff, Association money and contestant list) must be turned into the office (association secretary) within seven (7) days following the last performance of the rodeo.

6. The IRCA secretary will maintain a list of all competitors (including out-of-state and local) who draw out, no show, and do not pay their entry fees.  Secretary will forward to rodeo secretaries on a week-to-week basis.  The list will carry over from one year to the next.  Rodeo secretaries are to collect fees, before contestant is allowed to compete at the rodeo.

7. At the end of the year, before the finals, the IRCA secretary will total draw out and no show fees.  Secretary will issue one check to each contestant, to which monies are due.  These amounts are to be added to current standings.

8. Secretary may draw positions following the call in.

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