Gaff-n-Go General Rules

All contestants need to bring their own hooks, belt, hard hat, safety glasses, cotton or flame-retardant long-sleeved shirt, hand tools, 20KV rubber gloves, protectors, hand lines, hood bag, and line hose bags. Rubber gloves may be inspected in all events, as required. Velcro straps on climbers must be used as manufactured. No modifications, such as cutting the Velcro shorter, are allowed. In general, no tool modifications are allowed.

1. Each team must provide a hand line.

2. All participants will be required to use the fall restraint device.

All teams must use the Bashlin #35 hand line hook. The hand line (or pulley line) must have a sheave in it and must have an approved “becky” for hanging on the pole. An approved “becky” consists of an eye plaited into the sheave, another eye on the other end to snap back into the sheave, and three loops for adjustment of length.

In all Journeyman events the last person who comes down the pole must be the one to drop the handline.

Any special tools required for the mystery events will be provided and must be used. Please make sure that your tools are clearly marked with your name for identification.

Scoring will be judged for:

• Safety
• Work practice
• Neatness and ability
• Equipment handling
• Timely completion of the event

Time will be used only to break a tie.

Total number of events for each team: 4

The events must be completed in the order shown on your schedule. Each event must be marked complete by an event judge before you can start the next event. The winning team will be determined by the total number of deductions. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the total time to complete all events. Bonus points will not be added for winning or placing in an event.

Scoring Verification

Teams are encouraged to verify the scores that are input into the scoring system. The results will be available at the registration building after a team completes all their required events. The final score and team standings will not be available at the Rodeo Event. All final scores and event standings will be posted on the www.gaff-n-go.com homepage by Monday, May 19th.

Tools

All contestants need to bring their own hard hat, safety glasses, cotton or flame-retardant long-sleeved shirt and leather work gloves.

Each event is worth a total of 100 points. All safety rules are to be observed during the events. See the following list for point deductions:

Infractions – 2 Point Deduction

• Late for event
• Lose hardhat
• Wearing hardhat backwards
• Not wearing safety glasses
• Improper cover-up – i.e. No rubber on reach, fall or slip
• Dropping tools
• Cutouts, burnouts, or slips
• Operation of hand line while team is climbing
• Misuse of tools
• Misuse of rubber
• Failure of Groundman to wear work gloves
• Twisted hand line operation
• Not wearing OSHA approved lineworker belt or harness
• Poor housekeeping
• Exceeding the mean time to complete an event, except for hurtman rescue. The mean time will be given for all mystery events.
• Failure to wear long sleeved shirts. If shirt has buttons on the sleeves, they must be buttoned, not pushed or rolled up.
• Exposed blade on skinning knife
• Safety strap not being under control. Both snaps of the safety strap must be hooked in a ‘D’ ring while climbing the pole. The safety strap may be carried on the shoulder, but if it should slide off the shoulder, the contestant will receive a 2-point deduction.
• Hanging tools on phase conductors, neutrals, cross arms or safety straps.

INFRACTIONS – 10 Point Deduction

• At each climbing event for Apprentices or Journeymen, a ring will be painted around the pole at the six-foot mark. If the contestant cuts out from below the ring and comes to the ground, 6 feet or less, this will result in a 10-point deduction. If after both feet pass above the six-foot mark, the climber cuts out and comes to the ground, the Journeyman team or Apprentice will be disqualified from the rodeo. If after transitioning past the neutral the climber cuts out and falls to the neutral, then there will be a 10-point deduction. Any other cutout or slip will be scored as found in the infraction section.
• Accidental contact with phases
• Working opposite phases at the same time
• Not using hand line or bucket for sending material up or down pole

Disqualification

• At each climbing event for Apprentices or Journeymen, a ring will be painted around the pole at the six-foot mark. If the contestant cuts out from below the ring and comes to the ground, 6 feet or less, this will result in a 10-point deduction. If after both feet pass above the six-foot mark, the climber cuts out and comes to the ground, the Journeyman team or Apprentice will be disqualified from the rodeo. If after transitioning past the neutral the climber cuts out and falls to the neutral, then there will be a 10-point deduction. Any other cutout or slip will be scored as found in the infraction section.
• Unprofessional behavior
• Practicing on the Rodeo field prior to the Rodeo
• Intentional sabotage or tampering with materials, tools or equipment on the Rodeo field
• Unapproved use of alternates or changing status of team members during the events. See Master Judge for approved use of alternates or changes in team status during Rodeo
• Protests made by someone other than contestants
• Modifying rubber gloves in any way

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Where do the lineworkers/equipment operators have to be employed?
All linemen/equipment operators must be sponsored and employed by a cooperative/muni/investor-owned utility/contractor/military and covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

Will any events use aerial buckets?
Yes.

Will we have to sign a liability release?
Yes.

Will video footage be allowed to settle judging disputes?
No.

Who may protest a call?
The team must be the one to protest a call. Involvement by spectators in a protest may result in the team being disqualified. No team will be allowed to protest another competitor.

General Event Q&A

In order to ensure your name is included in the Rodeo Program, please have your entry form and fees returned by April 3, 2026. If you miss the April 3rd cut-off, you may still be able to compete. We will accept check, VISA, or MasterCard, or American Express for entry fees.

CONTESTANTS AND JUDGES registration check-in is on Friday, May 15, from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR’S RODEO registration check-in will be held at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia, on Friday, May 15,  from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.