USTRC Shoot-Outs – You Take Control
(as published in the April 2009 issue of SuperLooper Magazine)
The USTRC Flex Earnings Program

The USTRC is proud to announce the new Flex Earnings Program. This new program is a way for ropers to take control and utilize their USTRC National and Regional Shoot-Outs to the fullest. This new face for USTRC Shoot-Outs is something ropers will enjoy as it will allow them the flexibility and freedom to conduct their team roping business in a manner that fits them. The USTRC will no longer mandate which partner you have to rope with and which Shoot-Out you have to enter. It is now up to you as a roper to choose what works the best. The Flex Earnings Program works just like a bank account and you can add to as you win and deduct as you wish. Before we go into detail about the Flex Earnings Program we need to define a few key components and they are Flex Earnings, Applied Earnings and Available Earnings.
• Flex Earnings - Earnings that are allocated as a direct result of winning a Regional or National Shoot-Out position. Flex Earnings can be used at the roper’s discretion either at the Regional Finals or the National Finals and with a partner of choice. Flex Earnings do not carry over from season to season and therefore expire at the end of each season.
         • USTRC will allocate $6,000 for a National Shoot-Out -  $3,000 per partner
         • USTRC will allocate $2,000 for a Regional Shoot-Out -$1,000 per partner
• Applied Earnings - Winnings acquired as a result of placing at approved USTRC Sanctioned and Affiliate events. Applied Earnings can be used at the roper’s discretion either at the Regional Finals or the National Finals and with a partner of choice. Unused Applied Earnings will carry over from season to season
• Available Earnings - The sum of Flex Earnings and Applied Earnings.
Note: USTRC will track Flex Earnings and Applied Earnings separately. However, the sum of the two will be totaled as Available Earnings for each roper to see on their on-line Ropers Results page (see Roper’s Results example opposite).
Now, because you understand the key components of the USTRC’s Flex Earnings Program, let’s take a look at the details and the benefits to you as a roper.

YOU TAKE CONTROL
With USTRC’s Flex Earnings Program
New policy for National and Regional Shoot-Outs:
• USTRC will continue to award National & Regional Shoot-Outs as stated in Section 5, Rule 5.3 of the rulebook, but in order to allow you more control and flexibility with how you manage your Shoot-Out positions; USTRC is introducing the Flex Earnings Program.
• A National Shoot-Out is valued at $6,000 in Flex Earnings, which means $3,000 will be applied to each partners account.
• A Regional Shoot-Out is valued at $2,000 in Flex Earnings, which means $1,000 will be applied to each partners account.
• All Shoot-Outs/Flex Earnings will be considered “generic”, which means you will have the flexibility to spend your Flex Earnings as you choose (Regional Finals or National Finals),with whom you choose and in any division of your choice.
In other words, USTRC will no longer mandate that you must use your Shoot-Outs/Flex Earnings with the partner you won with nor will you have to use it in the division you won it in. It’s now your choice to invest your Shoot- Out/Flex Earnings as you see fit.
• You may use a portion (increments of $100) of Available Earnings (sum of Flex Earnings and Applied Earnings) toward a Shoot-Out qualification. For example, Roper A has $1,400 in Available Earnings and Roper B has $600 in Available Earnings they can combine their $2,000 of Available Earnings to qualify for a Regional Shoot-Out entry. The same holds true for a National Shoot-Out. If Roper A has $3,500 in Available Earnings and Roper B has $2,500 in Available Earnings they can combine their $6,000 of Available Earnings to qualify for a National Shoot-Out entry.
• Gold Plus Shoot-Outs fall under the same guidelines. The Flex Earnings may be used to enter a Regional Shoot-Out or National Shoot-Out. Again, it’s your money, spend it as you see fit.
• Gold Plus Membership Shoot-Out (the current ½ Shoot-Out) - Member will be allocated $3,000 in Flex Earnings to be used in any manner you so choose, Regional Shoot-Out, National Shoot-Out or Gold Plus Shoot-Out.
• Flex Earnings, not to be confused with Applied Earnings, must be used in the season they were won.
• Unused Applied Earnings will continue to be allowed to carry over from season to season. Applied Earnings are acquired as a result of placing at approved Sanctioned or Affiliate events whereas Shoot-Outs/Flex Earnings are not awarded.
As you can see, this new program opens the door for many ropers to compete in events that they may not have been able to attend before. We hope you agree that the USTRC Flex Earnings Program is a program designed for the roper and with the ropers’ best interest in mind. The Flex Earnings Program allows you the flexibility to utilize your Shoot-Out qualifications as best suits your needs and without interference. In a nutshell, it’s your qualification so you take control of when, where and how you use it. This is a new day and age and one that is all about you – The TEAM ROPER.
Give us your feedback. Send your comments or questions to USTRC@USTRC.com.