Rules Revision Process
The Rules Revision Process is the method by which changes may be made to the United States Model Rocket Sporting Code (Sporting Code). The rules which govern the RCP process is found in Appendix D of the Sporting Code. Follow this link to a PDF of Appendix D and the RCP process. Be sure to read the entire Appendix D before submitting a RCP.
- An NAR member submits a RCP Form to the Rules Revision Chairman (RRC). There is no fee required.
- The RRC reviews the RCP to ensure it does not violate the Safety Code. The author may be contacted if changes to the RCP are required. The RRC will send the author an acknowledgment of receipt in a timely manner.
- Accepted Regular type RCP’s will be published in accordance with the RCP Cycle and a 60 day member comment period.
- RCPs which receive a 51% majority vote are approved and are included in the next Sporting Code revision.
The RCP process operates on a one-year cycle which begins the day after NARAM ends. The following timeline taken from Appendix D describes the RCP Cycle and all pertinent action dates:
D.4.1 – September 1 – Deadline for RCPs to be received by RCP Chair.
D.4.2 – September 2 – October 31 – Period for RCP Chair to email acknowledgement of proposals received and accepted and proposals received and returned to authors with suggested corrections. Proposals returned for correction must be resubmitted by November 1 in order to be included in the current Cycle.
D.4.3 – November 1 – December 14 – The period the RCP Chair has to prepare the Regular RCP’s for NAR website publication.
D.4.4 – December 15 – February 14 – Member comment period. The comment period closes at midnight, February 14, on the RCP Forum.
D.4.5 – February 15 – March 31 – The period RCP authors have to amend their proposals based on member comments or leave as originally submitted. Amended proposals must be resubmitted by midnight, March 31.
D.4.6 – April 1 – May 13 – The period that the RCP Chair has to construct the ballot.
D.4.7 – May 14 – RCP ballots are published on the NAR RCP Forum to allow voting by the membership.
D.4.8 – May 15 – June 15 – The period for Member voting. Deadline to submit your ballot to the RCP Forum is midnight, June 15.
D.4.9 – June 16 – July 14 – The period that the RCP Chair has to tabulate and prepare the results for publication.
D.4.10 – July 15 – Voting results published on the RCP Forum, Contest Rocketry Forum, and in the NAR Homepage News Section.
D.4.11 – First day after NARAM ends – Approved RCP’s go into effect for the new NRC/contest year.
Be sure to read the entire Appendix D (link above) before submitting a RCP!
The deadline for each cycle is September 1. Proposals must be received by that date to be included in the cycle and, if approved, go into effect July 1 the following year.