Rodeo Information

The Fourteenth Annual Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo Competition will be held on May 3, 2008 at The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Georgia. 
Awards will be given to:

• First, second, and third place teams overall in each division.
• First, second, third, fourth, and fifth place teams overall.
• First, second, and third place teams for events, per division.
• First, second, and third place senior teams overall.
• First, second, third, fourth, and fifth place overall apprentice lineman.
• First, second and third place apprentice lineman overall in each division.
• First, second and third place apprentice lineman for events, per division.

Judges representing each division will judge the rodeo events. Rodeo teams consist of three members, two climbers and a ground person.   The Rodeo Information Packet contains a list of common infractions for all events that judges look for. (return to TOP of page)

RODEO JUDGE’S SCORING INFORMATION

The GLRA Events Committee sets forth the guidelines listed on the following pages. Each event is worth a total of 100 points.
Bonus points will Not be awarded in the 2008 GLRA Rodeo. Places for events will be determined by combination of highest score and fastest time.

JUDGING IS BASED UPON:

          *          Safety
          *          Work Practices
          *          Neatness and Ability
          *          Equipment Handling
          *          Timely Completion of Event

• Time will be used as a tiebreaker only.
• Total number of events for each team = 4.
• All Safety rules are to be observed during events.
• Rubber gloves ground to ground for all pole events unless otherwise stated in event description.
• All material sent up and down the pole will be hooked on the handline hook or inside a material bag.

• Safety glasses are required for all events.
• When work gloves are required, all work gloves must have gauntlet.  The gauntlet is defined as additional material sewn to the work glove above the cuff, sufficient in length to protect the arm above the wrist between the wrist and the cuff of the shirt when the arm is extended as to reach up, out, etc.
• Hard hats must be worn properly during all events.
• Long sleeve shirts are required. Journeymen and apprentices should know what to use and what to wear.
• A tool inspection will be conducted to check for safe condition and for alterations of tools such as: tapered cuts on straps, elongated holes in straps & belts, tape on straps, improper gaff length, buckles filed.
• All safety rules are to be observed during events

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JUDGING GUIDELINES

All safety rules are to be observed during events.

INFRACTIONS -2- POINT DEDUCTION

1. Lose hard hat.
2. Not wearing safety glasses.
3. No rubber on reach, fall, or slip.
4. Dropping tools.
5. Cutout or slip.
6. Hot-dogging.
7. Hand line operation while team is climbing.
8. Misuse of tools.
9. Wearing hard hat backwards.
10. Twisted hand line operation.
11. Not wearing OSHA approved lineman’s belt.
12. Poor housekeeping.
13. Exceeding the mean time to complete an event, except for hurt man rescue.
14. If the event time is exceeded by more than 2 minutes the team will be stopped and be deducted 2 additional points, but time will continue until the event is returned to normal and both lineman are back on the ground.
15. Not wearing work gloves.
16. Long sleeve shirts are required. Teams and Apprentices should know what to use and what to wear. If shirt has buttons on the sleeves, they must be buttoned. Sleeves can’t be pushed or rolled up.
17. Failure to follow team schedule.
18. Being late for an event.
19. Failure to perform an event on schedule because of not having tools.
20. Using unapproved, home made or altered tools in any event.
21. No attempt to perform the event or no show will result in 0 points for the event.

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GENERAL RULES - 10 POINT DEDUCTION

1. Accidental contact with phases.
2. Working opposite energized phases.
3. Insulators being broken during the event.
4. Not using hand line or material bag for sending material up and down the pole.
5. Second lineman starts climbing before first lineman is buckled off. (return to TOP of page)

DISQUALIFICATION

1. Unprofessional behavior.
2. Practicing on the Rodeo field prior to the Rodeo.
3. Tampering with materials, tools or equipment on the Rodeo Field.
4. Unapproved use of alternates or changing status of team members during the events.See Master Judges for approved use of alternates or change in team status during Rodeo.
5. Teams and Apprentices must attempt all events to be eligible to win an event with the exception of a team or apprentice being injured the day of the rodeo.  Final determination for a team or apprentice to win that did not attempt all events will be made by the Events committee.

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RULES FOR PROTEST

1. Protest must be made on a written form to the Chief Judge for that event and resolved before leaving event location. (Protest forms will be at each event)
2. If the Chief Judge denies the protest, an additional two-point deduction will be applied to the score on that event.
3. Protest may be appealed to the Master Judges.  If the Master Judges rule in favor of the team/apprentice the two point deduction for the protest will be removed.  However, if the Master Judges uphold the decision of the Chief Judge the two-point deduction will remain and an additional two-point deduction will be applied. (return to TOP of page)

General Judging Guidelines

• Teams and apprentices will have 5 minutes to ask the judge any questions followed by a 5 minute set-up time, if the team or apprentice is not ready at the end of the 5 minute set-up time, the event time will begin.
• Climbers may assist each other with safety straps while re-positioning (1 or 2 steps) only.
• Blanket pins, small material (clamps, tie wire etc.) and small hand tools may be carried up in the lineman’s ditty bag (no insulators, big bolts or items that may be dropped and injure someone)
• The 1st climber must carry the handline, one climber must descend the pole to the ground before the handline is dropped and the climber who drops the handline must signal the groundman (yell headache) before dropping the block.
• The handline may be placed above the neutral shackle before the neutral is covered, if the climber contacts the uncovered neutral with unprotected parts of the body it will be a 2 point deduction.
• All tools and material must be hooked on the handline hook or be inside the tool or material bag.
• It is permissible to drop a tag line to the ground from the pole, as long as the climber signals the groundman.
• It is permissible to lower rope blocks to the ground with its own rope.
• Material or tool bags may be suspended or hooked onto the bottom of the handline block.
• The phase to be worked and the adjacent phase(s) must be covered before beginning work; the cover may be removed on the phase being worked if it becomes impractical to leave it there.
• Brush or incidental contact of a covered neutral with unprotected parts of the body is not a deduction.
• Brush or incidental contact of a covered primary with unprotected parts of the body is a 2 point deduction.
• Brush or incidental contact of an uncovered primary with unprotected parts of the body is a 10 point deduction.
• Hot Sticking Events; the climber cannot encroach inside the minimum approach distance on the hot stick with rubber gloves.
• Climbers cannot encroach inside the minimum approach distance (25 inches) of uncovered primaries that are not being worked with unprotected parts of the body, whether it be sticking or gloving events. The only permissible encroachment is with rubber gloves.
• Working opposite energized phases at the same time is not allowed, whether it is with sticks or gloves.
• Climbers cannot work on the ground with their climbing tools on.
• Gaffs must be protected with gaff guards outside the 10 ft. circle.
• If material or tools come off the tarp and the groundman places it back on within 10 seconds, this is not a deduction.
• It is permissible for the handline to come off the tarp and remain there.
• All team members and apprentices must wear work gloves while working on the ground.
• The team or apprentice should check the working condition of all material and tools provided during the set-up time.
• The groundman cannot work directly under a climber who is ascending or descending the pole.
• The groundman cannot stand under a suspended load such as a crossarm.
• Material and tool bags cannot be loaded before time starts, bags do not have to be unloaded before time stops.
• A climber may assist the groundman pulling rope blocks, or a handline for raising or lowering heavy material.
• Every electrical connection must be wire brushed unless otherwise noted
• The tie wire can be cut in the set-up time
• The tie wire cannot be made up in the set-up time
• Homemade devices used to hold primary cover upright are not allowed
• Insulation shavings falling from the pole are not a deduction
• Channel locks may be used as a holding tool only
• No double hooks on handlines are allowed
• When an event begins and ends with both climbers or the apprentice back on the ground the following will apply:  Event times will start when the first climber’s gaff is placed into the pole to begin their climb.  Event time will stop when the last man down has one foot on the ground (earth). 
  (In the event a team or an apprentice uses the Bucksqueeze or hitchhikes, the safety/Bucksqueeze  can be placed around the pole prior to time starting)  When the hitchhiking method or Bucksqueeze is used time will also start when the first climber’s gaff is placed into the pole.  Time will stop when the last man down has one foot on the ground (earth).  Bucksqueeze/safety does not have to be removed from around the pole for time to stop.

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2008 Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo Judging Questions

Please submit all event questions directly to the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo Association at the below contact information.  ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING BY EITHER E-MAIL OR U.S. MAIL.  Please include your return contact information with any electronic or U.S. Mail communications.  EVENT QUESTIONS ONLY

GLRA
eventquestions@garodeo.com
Tim Sweat - Events Committee Chair
850 Commerce Road
Jefferson, GA 30549

Questions will be reviewed with the Co-Master Judges, Tony Kiser of Georgia Power, Mike Benton of GEMC, and Buddy Ward of MEAG as well as other members of the events committee as needed.  An answer will in turn be provided back to you in a timely fashion.

All Chief Judges for the 2008 Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo will be announced on Friday, May 2, 2008. (return to TOP of page)