ProRodeo Sports News | March 4, 2022

New Structure PRORODEO JUDGING PRCA has expanded its Pro Officials to 12

BY TRACY RENCK T he Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Officials,” said Rick Smith, PRCA’s Supervisor of Pro Officials. “This year we have expanded it to 12 Pro Officials.” Smith said five of the 12 Pro Officials have been Pro Officials and are returning. That group consists of Cliff Overstreet, George Gibbs, Joe Bob Locke, Harry Rose Jr., and Mike Todd. implemented changes to its Pro Officials Program, beginning on March 1. “Traditionally there has been eight Pro

score line, and judging roughstock rides. Their job is to make critical calls instantly. “We have set this up a little different now (with the Pro Officials),” Smith said. “They are contract employees now. The length of these contracts is varied from one year to three years. One of the things we wanted to try to accomplish was give these reserve officials an opportunity to move up through the system. In the past, the judges (Pro) Officials didn’t change much from year-to-year. Now there will be four contracts up every year. That doesn’t mean you will replace four people but there’s the

Smith

option to replace four people. “With 12 guys, they will judge fewer performances. When there were eight Pro Officials, guys would judge around 100 perfs and now we are going to keep them within 65 to 75 perfs. That’s our target.” Smith, who began his job as PRCA Supervisor of Pro Officials in January, said the Pro Officials contracts run fromMarch 1 to Feb. 28. “I think (this change with the Pro Officials) was a good decision,” Smith said. “I like the fact we a have a few more guys involved as Pro Officials. I really like the fact reserve officials who put in the time and put in the work, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel that they can move up. I’m also glad five of the veterans came back because they have so much knowledge of the sport and the rules and provide continuity to the program.”

These veteran Pro Officials are joined by newcomers Paul Cleveland, Terry Carlon, Rocky Steagall, Skip Emmett, Carl Burkholder, Chuck Hoss, and Scot Quick. “All 12 of these guys are assigned as needed and of course they will be involved in our bigger rodeos,” Smith said. The Wrangler Pro Officials Program was designed in 1981 by Ken Stemler and had eight full-time Pro Officials. The idea was to build a base of qualified judges. Before the program, every PRCA contestant was required to judge one rodeo a year, if called upon, but the competency level was impossible to control. The original eight full-time Wrangler Pro Officials responsibilities included overseeing the draw, flagging the timed events, watching the

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ProRodeo Sports News 3/4/2022

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