ARRL Rookie Roundup: A Contest Built for New Hams

Most contests are built for people who already know what they are doing, and a newcomer who tunes across a contest weekend can feel like a guest at a party where everybody else knows the songs. The Rookie Roundup is the opposite. It is an ARRL contest designed for newly licensed operators, with an exchange that is easy to learn, a power limit that keeps everyone on a level footing and a rule that makes experienced operators work only the beginners. This guide explains who counts as a rookie, when the events take place, what you send, how scoring works and how to take part whether you are a rookie or a mentor. It is based on the ARRL’s published rules, so always check the current version before the event.

What the Rookie Roundup Is

According to the ARRL’s Rookie Roundup page, it is a contest aimed at amateurs who were licensed three years ago or less. It is a six-hour event held three times a year, in April, August and December. Rookies can contact anybody, while experienced operators, called non-rookies in the rules, may contact only rookies. The stated mission is to encourage newly licensed operators in North America to operate on the HF bands and to experience competitive amateur radio operating, and the organisers strongly encourage experienced operators to help new operators, either on the air or in person. Mentoring is a big part of the event.

That design solves the usual beginner problem. In a large open contest, a new operator with a modest station competes for attention with stations that have towers and amplifiers. In the Rookie Roundup, every station is limited to 100 watts of transmitter output, and the experienced operators who join are there to give rookies contacts, not to win. It is one of the best ways to practise contest exchanges in a friendly setting.

Who Counts as a Rookie

The rules define a rookie entry as an operator who has either made no contacts at all or has made their first amateur radio contact during the current or the preceding three calendar years, or who has not made any contacts on the contest mode (SSB, CW or RTTY) before the contest. In the second case, the operator sends the current year in the exchange. An operator may enter the rookie category only once. The ARRL page also notes that the rules were widened so that more people can take part: you can be a rookie if you were first licensed in the current or any of the three preceding years, and operators licensed earlier can still qualify if they made their first amateur radio contact within that period or if they have never made a contact on the mode of that event.

If you are not a rookie, there is no non-rookie entry category, but experienced operators are encouraged to take part and report their contact totals through the online score form. Non-rookies may call CQ, but they may only work rookie stations. The organisers also invite non-rookies to open their stations to a rookie or two and become a mentor, which is the classic elmer role. If you are thinking about getting your own licence first, see our overview of amateur radio licence classes and exams.

Dates, Modes and Bands

All events run for six hours, from 1800 to 2359 UTC on a Sunday. The rules place them on the Sunday of the third full weekend of April, August and December, and each event uses a different mode: SSB in April, RTTY in August and CW in December. The ARRL page lists the 2026 dates as 19 April for SSB, 16 August for RTTY and 20 December for CW. If you want to try CW in a gentle setting, the December event is a good chance, and it follows our guides to cut numbers and CW contest exchanges and to CW abbreviations and prosigns.

The objective is to exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metre HF bands. Activity usually concentrates in the sub-bands that the rules list for each mode, for example around 3.545 to 3.555, 7.045 to 7.055, 14.045 to 14.055, 21.045 to 21.055 and 28.045 to 28.055 MHz for CW. All categories are limited to 100 watts of transmitter power output, and for the PEP-based modes the limit is stated as 100 watts PEP. The rules are written for North America, but stations elsewhere may take part as DX.

The Exchange

The exchange has three parts, which is easy to remember: your first name, a two-digit number called the check, and your location. The check is the two-digit year in which you were first licensed. The location is your US state, Canadian province, Mexican call area, or DX if you are in any other place. Examples from the rules include a US rookie sending a name, a two-digit year and a state, and a Japanese station sending a name, a year and DX. A rookie must have a check from the current year or one of the three preceding calendar years, and the rules give the example that in 2023 a rookie’s check was 23, 22, 21 or 20.

A short CW example shows how it flows. A rookie calls CQ RR, a station answers with its call sign, and the rookie sends the other station’s call sign, then its own call sign, name, check and state. The other station replies with the same pieces, and each side confirms it has the call sign right. Practise sending the exchange before the event, ideally with a contest simulator. Our guide to Morse Runner is a good practice tool for CW.

How to Call

The rules include special calls that make life easier for everyone. Rookies are encouraged to identify themselves by calling CQ RR on CW or RTTY and CQ Rookie Roundup on SSB. Non-rookies should call CQ R on RTTY or CW and CQ Rookie on SSB, which tells rookies that they will get a contact if they answer. Because everyone knows the calls, a rookie can spot a friendly station quickly and a non-rookie can see who is calling for them. A non-rookie station that hears another non-rookie answering should not work that station, since contacts between non-rookies are not valid in this event.

Scoring and Multipliers

Scoring is simple. A completed contact between two rookies is worth 2 points, and a contact between a rookie and a non-rookie is worth 1 point. Contacts between two non-rookies are not valid. The multipliers are US states and the District of Columbia, which make 51, the 13 Canadian provinces and territories, five Mexican call areas and one generic DX multiplier that includes US possessions and all other entities. The total number of possible multipliers is 70. The final score is the total contact points multiplied by the number of multipliers worked.

The same station may be worked once on each band, but each multiplier counts only once regardless of the band. Cross-band and cross-mode contacts are not permitted, and contacts through repeaters or digipeaters do not count. All contacts must be made from the same state, province, call area or DX entity during a single contest, so your exchange must contain the same location information for every contact. Contacts with aeronautical mobile stations do not count.

Categories and Teams

The categories are single-operator rookie and multioperator rookie. In the multioperator category, any number of rookies may operate from a single station, but only one signal may be on the air at a time with a single transmitter. Teams may be entered, with up to five different single-operator entries, which are listed separately in the results. A single-operator entry may be on only one team, and teams must be registered with the ARRL Contest Branch before the contest using the online form. Multioperator stations are not eligible for team entries. Spotting assistance is permitted for single-operator rookies, but spotting yourself or asking others to spot you is not allowed.

Mentors: How Non-Rookies Can Help

The event depends on experienced operators. The rules encourage non-rookies to help rookies in person with operating technique and instruction, including acting as the control operator to allow a licensee with limited privileges to transmit with higher privileges. Under the rules, a non-rookie who helps in person may not make any transmissions from the station or log any contacts. If you are a non-rookie working from your own station, calling CQ Rookie or CQ R and answering every rookie who calls is the best way to help. Keep exchanges slow and clear, repeat the exchange when asked and be patient with mistakes.

Preparing Your Station

You do not need a big station. A transceiver at 100 watts and a simple wire antenna are enough for a fun event. Check the antenna on each band you plan to use, set up a logging program with the exchange fields and test the keyer or voice memories. Many operators use a contest logging program that supports the event, and our guide to setting up N1MM Logger+ explains how to prepare one. A paper log and a pencil also work, since the event does not require a log to be submitted, only a score summary. Write down the exchange you will send on a card next to the radio so that you do not have to think about it under pressure.

On the day, begin on a band with good activity for the time of day, and listen before you call. If you are a rookie, you can call CQ RR and let the stations come to you or tune across the sub-band and answer others. Use both methods, and take breaks, since a six-hour event is long for a first-timer. Do not worry if you make mistakes. The exchange is short, and most operators are happy to repeat it.

Submitting Your Score

The Rookie Roundup does not require or accept logs. All score summaries must be submitted through the online Rookie Roundup score summary form within 72 hours of the end of the event, and late submissions are not accepted. Electronic certificates are emailed to the top five scoring rookies in each US call area, each Canadian province, each Mexican call area and DX, and a commemorative participation certificate can be downloaded by every rookie who submits a score. Non-rookies who submit a check log are recognised by call sign in the final results. The ARRL also asks for photographs and comments through the contest’s Soapbox pages, especially from young operators.

The Bottom Line

The Rookie Roundup is a six-hour, 100 watt, three-times-a-year contest that lets new operators try competitive operating with an exchange of name, year and location. Rookies score 2 points for every other rookie and 1 point for every experienced operator, non-rookies work only rookies, and scores are submitted within 72 hours without a log. If you are new, mark the 20 December CW event in your calendar and practise the exchange. If you are experienced, switch on the radio and make a rookie’s day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter the Rookie Roundup as a rookie?

Operators who made their first amateur radio contact, or were first licensed, in the current or preceding three calendar years, or who have not made any contest contacts on the mode of that event. You can enter as a rookie only once.

When is the Rookie Roundup?

It takes place three times a year, from 1800 to 2359 UTC on a Sunday. The 2026 dates are 19 April on SSB, 16 August on RTTY and 20 December on CW. Check the ARRL page or the WA7BNM Contest Calendar for future dates.

What do I send in the exchange?

Send your first name, the two-digit year you were first licensed, and your state, Canadian province, Mexican call area or DX. For example, name, 24 and a state, as long as the check is in the allowed range.

How many points do I get for a contact?

A contact between two rookies is worth 2 points, and a contact between a rookie and a non-rookie is worth 1 point. Contacts between non-rookies do not count. Multiply the total points by the number of multipliers.

How much power can I use?

All categories are limited to 100 watts of transmitter output. The limit applies to rookies and non-rookies alike.

Do I have to submit a log?

No. Logs are neither required nor accepted. You submit a score summary on the online form within 72 hours of the end of the event.