NSPRA FAQs

Welcome to the NSPRA! We'll try to answer your questions here, but feel free to call the National Office at 928-684-9566 or email us at info@seniorrodeo.com with any other questions. We're always here to help.

Q. CAN I JOIN IF I'M ONLY 39?

A. So long as you are turning 40 sometime during the rodeo season, you can join the NSPRA and compete all season long.

Q. WHAT EVENTS DO YOU OFFER?

A. We have 9 sanctioned events: Bareback, Bull Riding, Calf Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Ladies Breakaway Roping, Ribbon Roping, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, and Team Roping. Our events are broken into separate age groups (except for Ladies Breakaway which is 40+). Rough stock has 40-50 and 50+. Timed events have 40-50, 50-60, and 60+. We even offer a 68+ age group for Calf Roping.

Q. HOW MANY RODEOS CAN I ENTER?

A. As a member of the NSPRA, you can enter every U.S. rodeo on our schedule and one rodeo in Canada. To attend more of the rodeos in Canada, you need to become a member of the CSPRA. Call them at 403-938-4484 for membership information or see their website at www.canadaseniorrodeo.com.

Q. HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR THE FINALS?

A. You must compete in at least 5 rodeos to meet the first qualification to enter the finals. We then take the top 30 in each age group in timed events (Calf Roping, Ribbon Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Ladies Breakaway, and Team Roping), the top 20 in each age group in Steer Wrestling, and the top 15 in a combined age group for Bareback, Bull Riding, and Saddle Bronc. Not everyone who qualifies enters, so we encourage everyone who wants to go to the Finals to enter!

Q. WHAT IF I CAN'T TRAVEL TO ALL THE RODEOS?

A. The NSPRA has set up a Circuit system just for you! You can compete at all the rodeos in your Circuit and if you place first in your event, you're named the Circuit Champion and you receive a very nice jacket at the Circuit Awards Reception at the Finals. You may choose whichever Circuit you would like to compete in for awards; either pick the circuit where you live or pick another one where you think you may rodeo more.

Q. HOW DOES THE POINT SYSTEM WORK?

A. If you place in the top six at a rodeo, you receive place points (1st=60 pts; 2nd=50 pts; 3rd=40 pts; 4th=30 pts; 5th=20 pts; 6th=10 pts). Added to your place points are adjusted points which equal the number of contestants competing in your age group. EXAMPLE: You place 1st in the 40-50 Calf Roping and there were a total of 23 contestants. You would receive 60 place points plus 23 adjusted points, for a total of 83 points. These points are then counted towards the World Standings in your event. Points earned at every rodeo count towards the World Standings. Tour Rodeos give triple the points (1st=180; 2nd=150, etc.)

Q. CAN I ROPE OUT OF MY AGE GROUP?

A. In team events (Ribbon Roping & Team Roping) you can rope down in a lower age group if your partner is younger than you. You can never rope in a higher age group; you can only go down into a lower age group. You do not get All Around points in that event if you rope out of your age group.

Q. CAN I ROPE TWICE IN ONE EVENT?

A. No, you can only rope once in each event at each rodeo.

Q. WHAT DO WE GET WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP?

A. Once we receive payment for your membership, we'll send you out your membership card, a companion pass that will let one additional person into all the rodeos, with the exception of the Finals. You'll also receive a window decal, a current rulebook (or an update if you're a returning member), and a subscription to the association's newspaper, The Rodeo News, which comes out twice a month. In addition, you receive a 10% discount on all NSPRA merchandise, which is sold at most U.S. rodeos. Your membership also allows you to enter all NSPRA rodeos in the U.S.!

Q. HOW DO I ENTER THE RODEOS?

A. The NSPRA Rodeo Entry Office takes all of the entries for our rodeos. Their toll free number is 877-595-5965. Entry days normally fall on Wednesdays, but check the newspaper or the association's website under Approved Rodeos for the entry day for each rodeo. The Entry Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) on entry days and from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. on call back days.

Q. WHAT IF I CAN'T ATTEND A RODEO I ENTERED?

A. Once you enter a rodeo, you are responsible for your entry fees and office charges. If you need to release from a rodeo, you need to call the release line no later than 3 hours prior to the start of the rodeo. The release line number is 1-877-595-5965. On the answering machine, leave your name, the rodeo you're releasing from, and your events. Once you have released, you need to send $20 per rodeo to the National Office. This is your office charge. The National Office reimburses the rodeo committee for all of the contestants who release. If you fail to properly release from a rodeo, your entry fees will be included in the payoff and you will be responsible for your entire entry fees and office charges. If you have any doubt how to properly release, please contact the National Office at 928-684-9566.

Q. HOW MANY RELEASES DO I GET DURING THE YEAR?

A. You get 4 releases during the year. After you have used your 4 releases, anytime you enter a rodeo, you are responsible for your entire entry fees and office charges. If you release from one rodeo, it is using one release. If you release from two rodeos at the same location, it is using two releases. Please use your releases sparingly so that you have them available when you are faced with an emergency.

Q. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PAYOFF CHECK IF I DON'T PICK IT UP?

A. The rodeo secretaries mail the remaining checks to the National Office when they send in their results. We then mail out these checks to the address you have provided. If you want to receive your check sooner, please leave the rodeo secretary a self-addressed, stamped envelope and she will mail your check out.

Q. HOW SOON DO THE RESULTS GET POSTED ON THE WEB SITE?

A. The secretary mails the rodeo results to the National Office, which must be postmarked no later than 5 days after the rodeo(s). Once the National Office receives the results, they verify them to be correct, double checking timers' & judges' sheets, and then the results will be posted on the web site. This process can take up to 3 weeks, although we strive to have them on the web site within 2 weeks after the end of the rodeo.