2013 Indian National Finals Rodeo Rule Changes

2013 INFR Rule Changes and Updates
The INFR is very excited about the 2013 season and finals. At our 2012 year end meeting we made some changes that should enhance the INFR for the 2013 season forward. The following changes go into effect immediately. These changes will be an addendum to the current rule book.

1. JR/SR Finals Qualifications – The INFR will take the top 10 JR/SR qualifiers to the INFR based on Tour Rodeo points. Points will be kept for INFR Tour Rodeos that host JR/SR events. 10-1 points if one go round. If long and a short, the INFR Tour Rodeo point system will be used. INFR rules/criteria must be met for the events to count. Tour Rodeos are encouraged to include JR/SR events but it is not mandatory. Regions will only send 2 qualifiers to the INFR determined by region format.

Reason: Many JR/SR members compete at and chase the INFR Tour rodeos. They and/or their family members are not able to compete at the region rodeos or are unable to chase region points. This will allow those members to still qualify to the INFR via the Tour.

2. Rough Stock INFR Qualifiers – The rough stock qualifiers to the INFR will be made up of region year end champions and Tour qualifiers equaling a total of 22 contestants in each event. No more sudden death qualifiers in the rough stock events.

Reason: Several regions have few if any bucking horse riders. In 2011every capable bareback riding INFR member was invited to the finals even if they didn’t qualify. In 2012 there wasn’t enough bareback riders or bull riders to fill the 32 spots. The prestige of qualifying is no longer there. Those members that deserve to be at the finals will still qualify under the new format.

3. Tour Rodeos – There can now be multiple Tour Rodeos held on same weekend as long as they are at least 500 or more miles apart and meet all other Tour Rodeo criteria.  They do not have to have off setting finals. The $5000 one rodeo rule no longer applies. There can also be multiple Tour Rodeos on the same weekend within 500 miles if they have off setting finals and meet all other Tour Rodeo criteria. Tour Rodeos will be approved on a first come first serve basis.

Reason: The INFR Tour system is growing. More rodeo committees want to put on bigger rodeos for INFR contestants. They want their events to be Tour Rodeos. With a limited amount of weekends in our rodeo season, we have to allow for multiple tour rodeos on a weekend.

4. Out Sanctioning Tour Rodeos – Starting with the 2014 INFR season there will be no Out-Sanctioned tour rodeos approved.

Reason: Out sanctioned rodeos do not have to follow INFR rules and do not require all contestants to be members. This is unfair to card paying INFR members who deserve to have a set standard of rules. It is also unfair to those regions who work hard to put on fully sanctioned Tour Rodeos.

5. Personnel Memberships – To be considered for the INFR, all personnel, stock contractors, bull fighters, pick-up men need to have their membership cards purchased by April 1st of that year.  After April 1st the personnel membership fee goes up by $25 and they will be ineligible to work the INFR. Personnel memberships will still be required to work Tour and Region Rodeos for all other events after April 1st.

Reason: All INFR Tour and region rodeo personnel are required to have a membership. Most wait until the last minute to buy one. This year contestants will have a chance to vote for INFR personnel from those who meet the INFR criteria. Having a set list of personnel (bull fighters, contractors, etc) will allow members to watch for them during the regular season.

6. JR Bull Riding – All JR bull riders (steer riders) are required to wear helmets when competing. Any Region or rodeo committee that does not enforce this rule will be fined.

Reason: The safety of all contestants is very important. Especially for our younger contestants. Safety vests are already required. Now helmets will be as well.

7. Time Limit at Tour Rodeos – A 60 second time limit will be enforced at all tour rodeos. The clock will start when the animal before you leaves the arena and the arena is suitable to compete. It will stop if your drawn animal is not cooperating but will start once the animal is cooperating. 1st offence = warning – 2nd offence = warning – 3rd offence = $100 fine.

Reason: The face of Indian rodeo is changing. Tour rodeo committees are working hard at having a professional production. They have sponsors and fans who want to see a professional event. We need to do our part to help these committees.

8.INFR Judge Fee – The fee per INFR Certified Judge used at Tour and Region rodeos is now $5 per judge.  $10 will be added to entry fees at all Tour Rodeos using INFR Certified Judges (up from $8 last year). A fee up to $5 per INFR Certified Judge used can be charged at a region rodeo.

Reason: The INFR Judging program has been a great success for the past 3 years. The INFR has gradually increased the judges pay without it affecting the members. This year there will be another pay increase to the judges so entry fees will increase at Tour Rodeos.

9. Tour Rodeo Points – For the Tour Rodeo standings points will be distributed based on money added no matter how many are brought back to the final/short round. Tour rodeos have never been required to bring more than 10 contestants back in the finals. Region point systems remain the same.
Example: A Tour Rodeo has $3000 added per event, $6000 in the team roping and only brings 10 contestants back to the short/finals. Points will be awarded 12-1 (12 for 1st and 1 for 12th) in the long round. Points will be awarded 12-3 (12 for 1st and 3 for 10th) in the short round. Points will be awarded 24-6 (24 for 1st and 6 for 10th) in the average.

$2000-$2999 added per event, per contestant in Team Roping: 10-1 points in each round (long and top 10 short go-round/final, 10 points for 1st and on down to 1 point for 10th place) and 20-2 points for the average (20 points for 1st and on down to 2 points for 10th place).

$3000-$4999 added per event, per contestant in Team Roping: 12-1 points in the long round (12 points for 1st place on down to 1 point for 12th place). Short go-round/finals, 12 points for 1st place on down based on number brought back in the short go-round/finals. Average (double points), 24 points for 1st place on down based on number brought back in the short go-round/finals.

$5000 and up added per event, per contestant in Team Roping: 15-1 points in the long round (15 points for 1st place on down to 1 point for 15th place). Short go-round/finals, 15 points for 1st place on down based on number brought back in the short go-round/finals. Average (double points), 30 points for 1st place on down based on number brought back in the short go-round/finals.

Tour rodeos with progressive-rounds or two (2) full go-rounds. The awarding of points for a progressive or two (2) full go-rounds will be based on a 10 point system (10 points for each round and 20 points in the average). Progressive rounds and multiple go-rounds must have a minimum added purse of $5,000.00 in order to utilize the progressive/second go-round format.

Reason: Most Tour rodeos are only bringing back 10 contestants to the final round for production purposes. With the old point system this would mean that a $10000 rodeo could award the same amount of points as a $2000 rodeo even if there were a hundred more contestants at the $10000 rodeo. The new point system will reflect the amount of money added which usually drives the amount of contestants.

10. Judges will now be allowed to compete and judge at the same time at region rodeos only; but not at a Tour rodeo or region finals. No two judges can compete in the same event and judge a rodeo. No judge can be a contestant in a  rough stock event and judge a rodeo. If the judge is a competing contestant, they will be the barrier judge during their event up to the point they compete and immediately after they compete. They will also designate with the rodeo secretary one person to be the barrier judge only while they are competing. It is recommended that rodeo committees and regions carefully coordinate competing judges if used and consider having them compete in the slack if at all possible.

Reason: Many INFR judges and potential judges are still competing contestants. Region rodeos suffer for lack of quality judges because many are contestants. By allowing judges to compete should increase the pool of quality judges for regions to use at their region rodeos.

Careful consideration was taken in the development of these changes. Some of these changes have been in the works for over 3 years. We hope that these changes help to improve and benefit all of Indian rodeo, contestants, contractors, committees and fans.