Points Overview
Last updated December 11, 2025
Cinch RSNC State Finals Point Race
Overview
Encouraging Participation and Competition: By offering an awards prizeline for contestants who accumulate points through local RSNC events, this program creates an incentive structure that rewards consistent participation and performance across multiple competitions rather than just individual event wins. This competitive structure creates a season-long championship format that builds excitement and gives contestants something to work toward throughout the season.
RSNC State Finals Point Race Season
- State Finals occur from October through February of the calendar year
- The RSNC State Finals Point Race begins the first show following the previous season's state finals
- If there were no previous state finals in a specific state, the state finals points race begins on January 1st
Competition Divisions
- Beginner/Rookie/Grad Rookie
- Novice/Graduated Novice
- Amateur
- Open
- Masters
- Youth
Qualification Requirements
To compete for State Finals high point awards, contestants must:
- Compete in a minimum of 4 shows in that state prior to State Finals
- A contestant must enter a minimum of 5 times per qualifying show
- Rank in the Top 20 of their division in that state (prior to the state finals)
- Enter a minimum of 5 times at the State Finals event
Multi-State Competition
- Contestants can compete in multiple states' point races.
- Points earned in each state count only toward that state's competition.
State Finals Hosting
Producers with the most sanctioned teams get first opportunity to host State Finals.
Cinch RSNC provides awards based on state activity:
- 5+ shows: 1st place State Championship awards in all 6 divisions
- 10+ shows: Prizes through 5th place in all 6 divisions
- Top 5 Producing States: Receive a RSNC Trophy Saddle as an upgraded 1st place in three divisions (Beginner/Rookie/Grad Rookie, Novice, Amateur)
- Open, Masters and Youth divisions in these states will earn that year's standard 1st place prize
Points System
RSNC point system for Top 10 finishers:
Entries | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3-4 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
5-9 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
10-14 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
15-19 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
20-24 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - |
25-29 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - |
30-34 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - |
35-39 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - |
40-44 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - |
45+ | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 |
Double Points: Classes with 100+ teams earn double points.
Double Points Events
The following events award double points and participation credit:
- State & County Fairs
- Congress Super Sort
- Cheyenne Frontier Days
- Shows with 1,000+ teams
Note: Maximum RSNC participation credit is 2 show credits per Double Point Event.
Rating Changes
- Moved up 1 rating: Finish season in original division
- Moved up 2 ratings: Compete in division one below new rating
- Moved down: Compete in new rating division
Tie Breaker Rules
- Total cattle sorted in all finals classes where points were earned
- Shortest time to sort that amount of cattle
View Your Points
Click on each state where you competed to view your state-specific points.
The State Championships Race is separate from the National Points Race, allowing for fair competition within each state.
Cinch RSNC National Points Race
Program Overview
The Cinch RSNC National Points Race is the premier season-long program. This national championship format rewards consistent participation and performance across sanctioned events throughout the country, culminating in the prestigious World Finals competition and leads to the title of World Champion.
Season Schedule
- Points Earning Season: June 15, 2025 – June 1, 2026
- Deadline: All shows must be received with complete paperwork, payment, and files from the Producer by June 1, 2026
- 2026 World Finals: June 6, 2026 – June 14, 2026
Note: Points from the 2025 Finals do not count toward the 2025-2026 season.
Qualifying Divisions
The following divisions are eligible for the National Points Race:
Division | Qualification |
|---|---|
Beginner/Rookie/Graduating Rookie | Top 20 from each State |
Novice/Graduated Novice (#3) | Top 20 from each State |
Amateur (#4, #5 & #6) | Top 20 from each State |
Open (#7, #8 & #9) | Top 20 from each State |
Masters 50 & Over | Top 20 from each State |
Youth 12 & Under | Top 20 from each State |
National Points Race Qualification Requirements
To compete at the World Finals for pay-backs and prizes, contestants must meet the following requirements:
Standard Requirements
- Minimum Shows: 5 sanctioned shows during the points earning season
- Minimum Entries Per Show: 5 entries per qualifying show
- Point Standing: Rank in Top 20 of their division in their home state
World Finals Seeding
Standard Divisions (Top 20 Qualifiers)
The top 20 point earners from each state in Beginner/Rookie, Novice, Amateur, Open, and Youth divisions will enter the World Finals with points distributed as follows:
- 1st Place: 40 points
- 2nd Place: 38 points
- Continuing down to...
- 20th Place: 2 points
Masters and Western Heritage Divisions (Top 20 Qualifiers)
- 1st Place: 20 points
- 2nd Place: 19 points
- Continuing down to...
- 20th Place: 1 point
The seeding allows for the contestant to receive applied points to enter the RSNC World Finals. Any points earned in classes at the finals that apply to the contestant's rating division will be added to their applied points to determine the World Champion in each division.
Points System
Points are awarded to the Top 10 finishers in each class based on the RSNC point system:
Entries | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3-4 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
5-9 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
10-14 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
15-19 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
20-24 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - |
25-29 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - |
30-34 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - | - |
35-39 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - | - |
40-44 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | - |
45+ | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 |
Special Point Opportunities
Double Points: Any division with more than 100 teams will award double points for all placings.
Point Earning Eligibility
- Multi-Class Participation: Contestants can earn points in any sanctioned class in which they are eligible to ride
- Masters Division: Points are kept separately as an independent division throughout the year
- Multi-State Competition: Contestants can earn points in any state but will represent their home state in the national points race
- State Representation: Top 20 contestants from each division in each state are eligible for year-end awards
Rating Changes
Rating changes during the season are handled as follows:
- Moved up 1 rating: Finish the season in your original points race division
- Moved up 2 ratings: Compete in the division applicable for the rating below your new rating
- Moved down in rating: Eligible to compete in your new points race division
This ruling applies to all rating changes that occur after annual, season-end rating reviews.
Viewing Your Points
Click on your state to view your current point standings. These accumulated points determine your placement in the Top 20 of each division for your state and your qualification status for the World Finals.
The National Points Race operates separately from individual State Championships, creating a comprehensive season-long competition structure that rewards consistent excellence across multiple events and locations.