MEMBERSHIP

Upper Midwest Bullriders Association
Rule Book

Board of Directors:
Chairman - Gerald German 605-932-3608 Cell 605-742-4472
Secretary/Treasurer - Kara German 605-932-3608
Director - Chris Smith 605-448-0095
Director - Danny White 605-742-0463
Director - Smiley Sierra 605-455-2482
Director - Bob Smith
Director - Mica Breen 605-354-3350

Contractor/Personnel Director:
Judging Director - Dusty Kirk 605-698-4920
Finals Directors - Gerald German
Marketing Agent -

The Upper Midwest Bullriders Association, its officers, directors, contractors, and committees are not liable for injury or damage to persons, property or stock of any owner, contestant, or assistant. Each contestant by act of their entry, waive ALL claims against those parties for any and all injuries they or their property may acquire.

Sponsoring committee will furnish an attended first aid vehicle or ambulance to stand by during the performance and following each performance to properly take care or injured contestants. It is recommended but not mandatory that a doctor be on the rodeo grounds.

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES:
1. Every person wishing to be considered for membership with the Upper Midwest Bullriders Association must submit, to the association secretary, a completed membership application and subsequent dues.
2. Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.
3. Members, Contractors and Personnel should carry the same card number each year. If one fails to pay his dues for the new year, the card number will be retired.
4. A card wil be issued to a current UMBA member who has never passed a bad check in the past and will be allowed to write checks for entry fees.
5. All new contractors shall put up a $500 Bond prior to receiving a membership card and before their first event. After a clean first year they will be given their Bond back.
6. When a member buys a UMBA card they will be given a BUDDY PASS. This will be good for one (1) person to enter the event. All UMBA committees will honor this. To use the buddy pass, show your card at the gate for admittance.
7. If a bullrider purchases his membership card at an UMBA event, the secretary may take $5 for her/his time.
8. All personnel who wish to be considered for the UMBA Finals must have their cards purchased by June 1 of the present year.

ENTRY FEES:
1. Entry fees will be $100. Contractors will be allowed a maximum of $15 stock charge.
2. ADDED MONEY will not be less than $1,000.00 per event. In order to sanction an event with the UMBA this requirement must be met.
3. Any contestant who fails to show up for a sanctioned event may have to pay a $50 fine plus entry fees, and will not be allowed to compete until the fine is paid. the event secretary will be able to collect these fines, as names will be listed on the Black list. The stock charge will be sent back to the Contractor.
4. Non-cardholders must pay by CASH ONLY.
5. Cardholders may pay by cash or check.
6. Non-cardholders must purchase a $15 permit for each event. $5 will go to the secretary for their time, $10 will go to the association.
7. The secretary will notify contestants and stock contractors of current Black List. This will be current each month.

UMBA BULL RIDING RULES:
1. Bulls must be ridden for 8 seconds - time starts when bull breaks plane of chute.
2. Riding is to be done with one hand with a loose rope with or without a handhold.
- No knots or hitches to prevent the rope from falling off permitted.
- Rope must have a bell. No bell, no score.
- The bell must be under the bull, and only two standard bells allowed.
- Only 2 inches allowed beween the bull and bell.
3. At the riders discretion, a hotshot will not be used on the bull while he is in the chute.
- If the rider denies the Contractor the use of a hotshot and the bull fails to buck, the rider will NOT be awarded a re-ride.
- A hotshot is to be used from behind the bucking chutes only.
4. If a bull does not perform to his ability, a re-ride option can be given.
5. If the flank strap breaks or falls off the bull, a re-ride option will be given and the same bull may be used if the contractor agrees.
6. The rider must complete the ride up to when the flank falls off or the 8 second mark, which ever comes first. If a bull is not performing, the rider must complete an 8 second ride in order to receive an option for a re-ride.
- In the event of a re-ride the judge must inform the rider of his score as well as the re-ride animal.
- The cowboy must inform the judge of his decision not more than 2 bulls from his ride.
7. Riders who are fouled at the chute or their bull falls compltely down must declare themselves immediately unless otherwise instructed by the judges.
8. Riders who's bull stops will be given the option for a re-ride, and riders who's bulls fall down or are fouled and declare themselves will be given the option or a re-ride.
9. The judge may reward a re-ride if something interferes with the cowboy's performace as well as the bulls.
10. No re-rides will be given for equipment that fails. Borrowed equipment is considered owned.
11. If a rider has any part of the rope in his hand when the buzzer sounds he will be scored, as long as he does not touch the animal, fence, or ground with his free hand.
12. Riders must use 5 point rowels. No rowels shall be locked. 1 rowel per spur.
13. No devices will be allowed attached to the bull rope.
14. A contractor wishing to enter a UMBA event may do so if:
- He is not the only contractor with bulls at the event.
- The bull he has drawn is not one of his own.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
1. Being bucked off before the 8 second whistle.
2. Touching stock with the free hand or arm as it HELPS the rider to complete the ride. A bull coming up into a rider will NOT constitute as a disqualification.
3. Riding with rowels to sharp in the judges or contractors opinion.
4. Intentionally putting spurs or chaps under rope.
5. Intentionally putting spurs on knots.

PAYOFF
1. ALL UMBA Sanctioned events will pay 6 holes in the average. The only exception will be if 6 bulls are not covered.
2. Pay off will be as follows:
- 1st - 32%
- 2nd - 24%
- 3rd - 18%
- 4th - 12%
- 5th - 9%
- 6th - 5%
3. If the event is a long go short go, 6-10 riders will go back to the short round unless otherwise stated in the newsletter.

CONTRACTORS/PRODUCERS
1. All contractors/producers wanting to be considered for membership must be voted on and approved by the Board of Directors.
2. All contractors/producers will allow UMBA sponsors banners to be hung in the arena at every UMBA event.
3. All contractors/producers wishing to nominate bulls to the UMBA Finals must sanction 3 events with the UMBA that year. If you are a sub-contractor and want bulls nominated for the Finals, you must have supplied bulls to 5 UMBA sanctioned events.
4. All horns must be tipped the size of a quarter or that animal will be removed from teh draw until it is tipped to regulations.
5. The sanctioning fee has been waived, but the Contractor/Producer is responsible for holding out 8% of the total purse and sending it along with the judges sheets to the UMBA secretary within 10 after the event.
6. All events wishing to be sanctioned with the UMBA must be in the office 45 days prior to the event in order to be approved and put in the newsletter.
7. ALL events must be approved by the Board of Directors.

JUDGES
1. Judges for UMBA sanctioned events must be approved by the Board of Directors.
2. Judges MUST be approved prior to buying their UMBA cards. Cards must be purchased before June 1st of the current year in order to be eligible to judge the UMBA Finals.
3. ALL bulls bucked at a UMBA sanctioned event MUST be scored whether they are covered or not.

GENERAL ASSOCIATION NOTES
1. Standard western clothes will be worn behind the bucking chutes. This includes a cowboy hat and long sleeved western shirt. Anyone not complying may be fined $25.
2. If a Board of Directors member misses 2 meetings in a row they may be removed from the Board.
3. The UMBA will pay the phone bill of the Chairman and Secretary.
4. The Secretary will be paid a monthly salary of $200 for her duties.
5. A newsletter will be sent out to each cardholder. The newsletter will be mailed out on the 25th day of each month. If you do not receive your newsletter by the end of the month, call the secretary.
6. The UMBA will pay for the monthly postage.
7. *ALL membership fees and sanctioning fees will go towards the UMBA Finals.
8. *Jackets will be awarded to the top 30 in the year-end standings.
9. *Buckles will be awarded to the Year-End Champion as well as the Finals Champion.
10. * All UMBA Finals Personnel will receive jackets.
11. The Marketing Agent will receive 15% of ALL sponsorships collected.

FINALS CONDUCT
1. All bull riders in the top 40 will be responsible for entering the finals on the time and date set by the secretary.
2. Finals entry fees will be received by the secretary no later than 5 days after the entry date. Finals entry fee will be set by the Board of Directors.
3. Bullfighters will be paid $500 for fighting the finals.
4. Judges will be paid $250 for working the Finals.

FINALS STOCK SELECTION
1. All bulls bucked at a UMBA sanctioned event must be scored whether they are covered or not.
2. The UMBA secretary will send all judges sheets to the Stock Contractor Director.
3. All Finals bulls will be picked by the Bull Riding Directors and the Contractor Director. The bull pens for the finals will be set by the Contractor Director.
4. All Contractors taking bulls to the Finals must have 3 UMBA approved events that year.
5. All bulls selected for the finals must have at least 5 outs at UMBA sanctioned events 2 weeks prior to the Finals.
6. For the Finals, $150 will be paid per bull. If you bull does not perform and a re-ride is given, you will not be paid for that animal.
7. We will only be selecting the bulls for the Finals that have proven themselves ALL year long. So if you have a bull that has had 3 good trips and 2 bad trips, he will be staying home.
8. If you have any questions in regards to these rules feel free to contact the Chairman or Bull Riding Directors.
9. Bull of the Year and Bull of the Finals will be selected by the Board of Directors and the Stock Contracting Director.

2002 Membership Application