The purpose of handicaping is to level the playing field so contestants of all levels can compete.
2 MAN SORT |
RANCH HAND SORT |
| All Levels Handicap | #14 Ranch Hand Handicap |
| #15 Handicap | #11 Ranch Hand Handicap w/ 4cap on sorter |
| #14 Handicap | #10 Beg. Ranch Hand HC w/ 1 cap on sorter |
| #13 Handicap | #11 Ranch Hand Handicap w/ 4cap on sorter |
| #12 Handicap | Beginner Ranch Hand #10 Handicap |
| #11 Handicap | Beginner Youth Ranch Hand Handicap |
| #10 Handicap | |
| #9 Handicap | |
| #8 Handicap | |
| #7 Handicap | |
| #6 Handicap | |
| #5 Handicap | |
| #4 | |
| Rookie #11 Handicap (2-cap on Sorter) | |
| Beginner Sort w/6 head of cattle(5 numbered 1 blank) | |
| Youth #10 Handicap | |
| Masters #10 Handicap | |
| Round Robin |
If the #14 Ranch Hand is not offered and the #11 Ranch Hand is, there is no cap on the Sorter in the #11 Ranch Hand. Any numbered division can be sanctioned through special sanctioning.
All Levels Handicap, Beginner, or #11 Rookie HC and one other division is mandatory to qualify as a sanctioned event.
Auto-Draw is designed to allow new contestants to the sport an opportunity to find rides and meet other contestants. All RSNC divisions have a 5 ride limit. Contestants can Pick up to 4 and Draw 1 or they can Pick less and Draw up to all 5.
The handicap system for all Sanctioned RSNC events in ranch sorting will be as follows. Each total team rating number below the highest possible team number in a division will receive one additional second beyond 60 seconds to sort their cattle. Then those additional seconds will be subtracted from the team's final time on the cattle sorted.
1. A #10 team in the All Levels Handicap division (#18 maximum rating) receives 8 additional seconds, (#18-10=8) giving them 68 seconds to sort. If they sort 10 head in 63 seconds their final handicap time would be 10 head in 55 seconds (63-8=55)
2. A #9 team in the #13 handicap division receives 4 additional seconds (#13-9=4) giving them 4 additional seconds to sort. If they sort 8 head in 56 seconds their final time would be 8 head in 52 seconds (56-4=52)
This system levels the playing field for all sorting contestants with a
handicap based on their rating.