2022 NCA Finals Information & Entry Rules

Rules For Entering The 2022 NCA National Finals

• To be eligible for the 2022 NCA National Finals, all dogs, Intermediate teams, and Novice teams must have earned points in NCA sanctioned trials in the 2021-2022 qualifying year (April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022).
• Entries will be accepted by the NCA office between February 20 and April 10, 2022. Handlers can enter either online or by mail. 
• MAILED ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE NCA OFFICE NO LATER THAN APRIL 10, 2022. (To ensure that your entry is received on time, online entries are strongly encouraged.)
• Only NCA members are eligible to compete in the NCA National Finals.
• All entry fees are $250 per dog or team. If paying by credit/debit card, there is an additional processing fee of approximately 3% per transaction.
• Nursery ONLY: Please submit a copy of the dog’s registration papers to document proof of age.  Nursery dogs must have been born after 10/1/18. 
• Open and Nursery dog entries, Intermediate team entries, and Novice team entries will be accepted in order of points earned.
• The Horseback class is open to all handlers/dogs with points in any class, excluding Novice. Priority will be given to any dog/team with points earned in a horseback trial. Any remaining openings will be filled based on the date the entry is received in the NCA office.
• Any dog with any NCA points is eligible to enter for the class they have earned points in (except Horseback). If more dogs or teams than the number allowed in a class are entered, a waiting list will be established. The waiting lists will be kept open until the first day of the Finals (April 26, 2022.)
• If submitted entries do not meet the class limits for any class in the Finals, handlers will be allowed to enter one (1) additional qualified dog in a class. Entries for those dogs may be submitted to the NCA office with their first two entries, but payment will not be required for the third entry until that dog is accepted into the class. Payment for the first two dogs entered in a class will still be required at the time the entry is submitted.
• Full entry fee refunds will be given for withdrawals until April 10, 2022. After that time, refunds will be given only if another dog from the waiting list is available to take the vacated position, up until the first day of the Finals (April 26, 2022).

• Full entry fee refunds will be given to any dog or team on a waiting list if a place does not open for them to run. A handler on the waiting list may ask to be removed from the list at any time and a receive a full entry fee refund, however transaction fees paid by credit/debit card will not be refunded.

• All entries must include the handler/dog profile and payment. Entry forms without either the handler/dog profile or payment will not be accepted.

• All parts of the ‘Standards of Conduct for NCA Sanctioned Trials’ and the ‘Finals Code of Conduct’ are applicable to the 2022 NCA National Finals. Competitors are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these rules and will be held responsible for adhering to them in full. To review, please visit the NCA website Rules page.

Entries and Substitutions

• A handler may initially enter up to two (2) qualified dogs per class in the NCA National Finals. Any dog, Intermediate team, or Novice team is qualified to be entered if they have earned any NCA points during the qualifying year.

• If submitted entries exceed the class limits for Open, Nursery, Intermediate, or Novice, then a waiting list will be established. If there is a tie in points for the last available open spot in a class, then entries for all dogs or teams in the tie will be accepted. If a spot opens on the waiting list and there is more than one entry with the same number of points on the waiting list, then all those entries will be accepted for the class.

• The Horseback class is unique in that entries will be accepted for dogs or teams from the Open, Nursery or Intermediate classes. Dogs with points earned in a horseback trial will be given priority. If there are spaces still available after that, entries will be accepted based on the date they are received in the NCA office.

• Those dogs or teams entering a class are accepted in descending order of points earned until the class is full. After that, dogs or teams will be put on a waiting list in case of withdrawals.

• A handler may substitute a qualified dog for an entry at any time prior to the beginning of the Finals. Substitutions must be within the class. However, if the substituted dog has not earned sufficient points to be eligible to compete in that class, it will be added to the waiting list. (For example, if a handler initially enters Open dogs who are ranked 3rd and 27th among the entries, but then wishes to substitute a dog that is ranked 55th, the entry for the substituted dog will not be accepted unless the class is not filled to that point.)

Open Class

50 dog limit, two (2) dogs per handler limit.

Handlers may enter one (1) additional dog if class limits are not met.

Dogs qualify, not handlers. A qualified dog may be run by any NCA member.

Handlers may enter one (1) additional dog if class limits are not met.

Nursery Class (Dogs born after 10/1/18)

35 dog limit, two (2) dogs per handler limit.

Dogs qualify, not handlers. A qualified dog may be run by any NCA member.

Handlers may enter one (1) additional dog if class limits are not met.

Intermediate Class

25 team limit, two (2) dogs per handler limit.

Dog/handler teams qualify, not dogs or handlers.

Handlers may enter one (1) additional dog if class limits are not met.

Novice Class

25 team limit, two (2) dogs per handler limit.

Dog/handler teams qualify, not dogs or handlers.

Handlers may enter one (1) additional dog if class limits are not met.

Horseback Class

20 dog limit, two (2) dogs per handler limit.

Open & Nursery – Dogs qualify, not handlers. A qualified dog may be run by any NCA member.

Intermediate – Dog/handler teams qualify, not dogs or handlers.

Novice handlers are not eligible to enter the Horseback class.

Handlers may enter one (1) additional dog if class limits are not met.

Instructions given at handler meetings take precedence over these rules.

• Courses are points and time.

• Handler is to send dog from, and is free to move anywhere, behind handler line.

• Time begins when cattle leave trailer or set-out panels, or when handler sends dog, whichever occurs first.

• The outrun will not be judged, and points will not be awarded or deducted based on the outrun.

• Must get one head through each obstacle before proceeding to next obstacle.

• Handlers may retry any obstacle before moving on, but once it’s obvious to the head scorer that a retry is being attempted, previous points earned at that obstacle are forfeited. Handlers may retry obstacles as many times as they wish.

• After cattle have mixed, handler must either retry or move to the next obstacle.

• Runs will receive full time unless all cattle exhaust.

• Running on the course is not allowed. Violations will result in points for that obstacle being forfeited.

• A stock stick may be carried.

• Handlers may not enter, reach into, or put any object into obstacles. Violations affecting the outcome of the run will result in points for that obstacle being forfeited.

• If cattle leave the course and the dog was not responsible, a re-run may be given at the discretion of the head scorer. If a re-run is not given, the head scorer may allow points earned to be scored with full time allotted. If the dog is responsible for the cattle leaving the course, a full DQ with no score may be given at the discretion of the head scorer.

• A handler may retire their dog for points earned and a maximum course time at any time during their run.
• Intention to retire should be indicated clearly to the head scorer.

• During their run, handlers may question scorer as to completion of an obstacle, time used, clearing of obstacle, etc. Scorers will not provide information unless asked.

• If a dog appears out of control and is abusing the cattle, the head scorer may instruct the handler to retire. Dog will receive points earned to that point in the run and maximum time.

• Grievances must be directed to the course director. Course director may consult with scoring committee. Decisions of the course director and scoring committee are final.

Final Rounds

• The course committees for each class will determine the number of cattle used and the total points for the final round of each class. These will be announced before the final round of each class begins.

• The top 40% of dogs in each class, based on the combined scores from the two preliminary runs, will qualify for the final round in each class.

•  In the event of tie scores, the dog/team with the fastest combined time will be taken to the final round.

• A handler may only run their two (2) highest ranking dogs from the two preliminary rounds in the final round. 

• The run order for the final round will be from lowest to highest combined score from the preliminary rounds.

• Final class placings will be determined by cumulative scoring, the total of scores from the two preliminary runs plus the score from the final round.

• Ties will be broken by cumulative time, the total of times from the two preliminary runs plus the time from the final run.

• Any remaining ties will be broken by the placings in the final run.