ProRodeo Sports News - January 22, 2021

“It climaxed at the NFR,” Foster said. “Athletes were very concerned and conscious about their health and the health of their partners, and they managed it well.” A NEW APPROACH TO NFR Justin Sportsmedicine traditionally staffs the NFR with about 25 people who switch in and out throughout the 10 rounds. But that staff was cut to 18 to limit outside exposure. “Every person you bring in adds a risk,” Foster said. “We spent more hours working the facility with less staff on hand, and we definitely put more hours in per individual.” The 2020 NFR had 821 treatments and saw 49 injuries to 41 athletes. Precautions for COVID-19 had the bonus of limiting typical illnesses that come with NFR experiences, such as signing autographs and encountering countless fans. “Illness treatments were way down,” Foster said. Not only were guys in better position to not get sick, they also had access to a fitness room at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. “A lot fewer guys left the Finals as tired and worn out from the ‘Finals crud.’ We distanced them in the treatment room, and we had a large fitness room that we never used before, and everyone was using it.” Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman was among the fitness room’s heaviest users. “I went in every morning, stretched and did cardio and different things to maintain the knee injury I had last year, and it (the injury) didn’t bother me during the NFR and that had a lot to do with the fitness center being there,” Holman said. “Every night, Kaycee Feild, Richie Champion and guys were playing

INJURIES BY THE YEAR Treatments during regular season Treatments during Wrangler NFR

Combined Treatments 2015 – 1,743 2016 – 1,834 2017 – 2,019 2018 – 2,198 2019 – 2,290 2020 – 1,760

2015 – 1,200 2016 – 1,300 2017 – 1,437 2018 – 1,541 2019 – 1,498 2020 – 939

2015 – 543 2016 – 534 2017 – 582 2018 – 657 2019 – 792 2020 – 821

LOOKING AHEAD The Justin Sportsmedicine team wants to get a similar fitness center on site for the NFR when it returns to theThomas &Mack Center in Las Vegas this season. “It’ll be a priority because guys are finding it’s so important,” Foster said. “It’ll allow people to participate at the fullest level.” Holman agreed that having a fitness center for ProRodeo athletes to warm up in is as beneficial as it is in other sports. “It really does help us, especially being a bronc rider since you have to maintain your body,” Holman said. “I didn’t think it would be like that until I got there. The only guys in there are the best in the world, doing the same thing, and it has a great affect. Those guys are warriors. Tim (O’Connell) was in there with an intense workout and Kaycee (Feild) too, and those (bareback riders) are guys I look up to even though I’m in saddle bronc.”

pump-up tunes, and it’s a great atmosphere. It’s definitely something that would be nice to have at theThomas & Mack Center. It makes a huge difference to have a facility to get stretched out and loose before getting on the best horses in the world for 10 days.” Holman made his NFR debut by splitting the win in Round 1 with an 86-point ride on Brookman Rodeo’s Flirtatious. He also placed within the top four in five rounds to finish sixth in the average with 681 points on eight head. “When your body is right, the sky’s the limit,” Holman said. “It kept my head level and helped me stay focused and keep my eyes on the prize. “It kept me in a little bubble, and I could get into the zone every single night. Then you’d walk out the door, grab your saddle and go into the arena, and wow, it’s packed.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Steve Gray Bareback rider Winn Ratliff gets helped to his feet by some of the Justin Sportsmedicine team after a rough ride in Round 3 of the 2020 Wrangler NFR.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/22/2021

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