Local Team Roping

Cooperation Crucial to Team Roping

Current Scores

Team roping, the only true team event in professional rodeo, requires close cooperation between two cowboys and their horses. Equally important are the talents of the header and the heeler. Most team ropers specialize, although some work alternately as a header or a heeler.

As in all timed events, the steer is given a head start based on the size of the arena. The header waits behind a barrier, which is released after the steer has taken the proper head start. If the header breaks the barrier, the team is given a 10-second penalty. The heeler follows after the header has started.

The header is the first to stop. He must catch the steer around the horns, around one horn and the head or around the neck. His roping job completed, the header dallies the rope around his saddle horn and rides to the left, turning the steer away from the heeler.

As the header rides away, the heeler ropes the steer's hind feet. Catching only one foot results in a five-second penalty.

The clock is stopped when no slack is in the rope and the ropers are facing each other.