The World Champions Rodeo Alliance has used instant replay in crossfire calls for the last four years, allowing ropers to challenge the flagger’s decision.
“With all of the video assets available in rodeo these days, using IR is a no brainer,” WCRA President Bobby Mote said. “With a dedicated replay official, the flow of the performance is minimally affected, but it’s in everyone’s best interest that the right call is made, overturned or justified. It’s not about undermining the officials, it helps them to have the freedom to react knowing they have a safety net.”
Cody Snow and Junior Nogueira challenged a crossfire call at the WCRA’s Stampede at the E in Guthrie, Oklahoma, back in 2020. The decision was not overturned, but the judges did review the footage in slow motion from multiple angles to make the call.
WCRA Instant Replay Rules
5.1. INSTANT REPLAY RULING CHALLENGE: These rules and guidelines may be amended and revised
from time to time based on the logistics of implementation, effects on TV programming, delays to events,
and other practical logistics learned as these rules and procedures are implemented.
5.1.1.Instant replay is a useful device to allow Judges to view a ride from several different angles and with
slow motion. Where available, super slow motion may also be a useful tool.
5.1.2.WCRA will designate a Lead Judge as an Instant Replay Judge.
5.1.3.The athlete, any competition official or a WCRA Competition Committee member may call for an IRRC
after a ruling is made.
5.1.3.1. In the Bull Riding discipline, per PBR Rules – Other Contestants may instigate an IRRC on
rides of others also, by sounding the horn within the 30 second time limit after the completion of
a ride. A Contestant sounding the horn must immediately make it known that he is the one
requesting an IRRC on another Contestant by waving his arms and pointing to himself. If that is
not done, or if it is not clear who requested the IRRC, no IRRC will be effectuated as determined
by any Judge.
5.1.3.2. If a Contestant calls for an Instant Replay Ruling Challenge (IRRC) for his own ride, and if
the Instant Replay Judge upholds the original ruling, that Contestant will be charged $500 for
calling for the IRRC.
5.1.3.3. Reviewable calls or actions available to athletes are listed with these Competition Rules
and may include variations in the event specific Ground Rules under each discipline.
5.1.3.4. Certain reviewable calls or actions are predicated by the athlete declaring themselves at
the time of the alleged action. The definition of declaring is the athlete immediately notifies the competition officials and ceases their competition run. If an athlete notifies the official of a
declaration but continues to make their competition ride/run the declaration will be voided.
5.1.4.An athlete may call for an IRRC on their own ride/run only immediately after their ride, but not after
they leave the arena. They may do so by throwing an IRRC flag, to be located at both athlete outgates, timed event chutes or perhaps elsewhere. The athlete will have 30 seconds to throw the flag.
If there is no clock, until the judge’s stopwatch reaches 30 seconds after the completion of a ride. If
an athlete is injured and is reasonably unable to get to the IRRC flag in time, the athlete may signal
a judge for an IRRC by a motion. If there is no flag at an event, it shall be the athlete’s sole
responsibility to alert the judges with the appropriate motion and confirmation for an IRRC.
5.1.5.Other athletes may instigate an IRRC on rides /runs of other athletes within their same discipline also,
by throwing the flag within the 30 second time limit after the completion of a ride. An athlete that
throws the flag must immediately make it known that they are the one requesting an IRRC on another
athlete by identifying their self to the competition officials. If that is not done, or if it is not clear who
requested the IRRC, no IRRC will be effectuated as determined by any Judge.
5.1.6.If it is deemed that an athlete has called for an IRRC for their own ride/run or to challenge the ride/run
of another athlete within their discipline is a flagrant misuse of the IRRC, and the Instant Replay Judge
upholds the original ruling, that athlete will be charged $500 for calling for the IRRC.
