© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
OFFICIAL RULESCORNHOLE
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AMERICAN CORNHOLEORGANIZATION
F O R T H E S P O R T O F
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© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTSChApter 1 – Cornhole plAying equipment (BoArds And BAgs)1.1 CertifiedCornholeEquipment
1.2 ApprovedCornholeEquipment
ChApter 2 – Cornhole Court lAyout 2.1 CornholeCourtLayout
2.2 CornholeCourtPreparation&Maintenance
ChApter 3 – Cornhole sCoring 3.1 LengthoftheGame
3.2 CornholeScoring–BagTerms
3.3 DesignatedFoulBags
3.4 MethodsofScoring
3.5 RecordingtheScore
ChApter 4 – plAy of the Cornhole gAme 4.1 BriefOverviewofSingles&DoublesPlay
4.2 PitchingRotation,LaneAssignments,&BagColor
4.3 PitchingCornholeBags
4.4 OtherGeneralRules
ChApter 5 –plAyer ConduCt 5.1 PlayerConduct
ChApter 6 – ACo tournAment plAy 6.1 WhatarethedifferenttypesofACOTournaments?
6.2 WhatistheACOMastersSeries?
6.3 WhatarethebenefitsofaplayerparticipatinginanACOMastersSeries?
6.4 WheredoIcompetetoearnpoints?
6.5 WhatisanACOInvitational?
6.6 WhatisanACOQualifier?
6.7 HowdoIscheduleanACOEvent?
ChApter 7 – ACo rAnking And AwArds 7.1 WhatareACOWorldSinglesRankings?
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
CHAPTER 1CORNHOLE PLAyING EqUIPMENTTheACOrecognizestwotypesofequipment:ACOCertifiedandACOApproved.
1.1 ACo Certified equipmentUnlessotherwisenotedinadvance,ACOCertifiedEquipmentwillbeusedatallACOMajortournamentsduringACOSeasonXII(September2016-May2017)andattheACOWorldChampionshipsofCornholeXII.
At this time, ACO Certified equipment
is limited tO:
•ACO0153“StarLogo”TournamentsSeriesBoards
•ACO01531BlankTournamentsSeriesBoards
•ACO-PRO450Bags
ACOCertifiedboardsandbagscanbefoundatAmericanCornhole.com
1.2 ACo Approved equipmentNotlimitedtoACObrandedequipment–InordertobeclassifiedasACOApproved,equipmentmustcomplywiththecriteriabelow.ACOApprovedEquipmentmaybeusedforthecoordinationofACORegionaltournamentduringACOSeasonXII
ACO ApprOved BOArds:
1. Hardwoodplywoodplayingsurfacemeasuring47.5”to48”x23.5”to24”.
2. Theplayingsurfacehasaminimumthicknessof1/2”withcross-sectionbacking,or3/4”withorwithoutcross-sectionbacking.
3. EachBoardinasetshouldweighnolessthan25lbs.
4. Eachholeis6”diameter,centered9”fromthetopoftheboardandcenteredfromeachsideedge.
5. Thefrontoftheboardis3”to4”fromthegroundtothetopoftheplayingsurface.
6. Thebackoftheboardis12”fromthegroundtothetopoftheplayingsurface.
7. Theplayingsurfaceshouldbefinished-sandedtoaverysmoothtexture.Thereshouldbelittletonoblemishesinthewoodsurfacethatmaydisruptordistortplay.
8. Theplayingsurfacecanbepaintedwithahighglosslatexpaintorvarnish.Thesurfaceshouldallowbagstoslidewhenthrown,butnotbesoslipperythatthebagsslidebackdowntheplatform.
ACO ApprOved BAgs
•Eachbagismadefromtwofabricsquareswithdouble-stitchedseaming.
•Thebagsshouldbemadefromadurablefabriclikecanvas,twill,orsyntheticsuede.
•Eachbagmeasuresroughly6”by6”andweighs15to16ounces.
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
2.1 Cornhole Court lAyout
COrnhOle COurt:
Aregulationsizecornholecourtis8feetwideand40feetlongwitharecommendedverticalclearanceoftwelve(12)feet.Ifatournamentcourthasaclearanceoflessthan12feet,itmustbenotedinthetourneylistingpriortotheevent.
this COurt COnsists Of twO (2) plAyer’s lAnes:
lane 1:Designatedpitchersboxes,ontheleftsideoftheboardwhenyourbackistothescoringtower
lane 2: Designatedpitchersboxes,ontherightsideoftheboardwhenyourbackistothescoringtower
Cornhole Boards: Boardsarepositioned27’fromthefrontedgetofrontedgeoftheboard.
Cornhole pitchers Boxes: Adesignatedpitchersboxisa4’x3’areaateachendofthecourtandonbothsidesofeachboard;(4)boxesinall.
Cornhole foul lines: Thefrontedgeofthecornholeboardisthefoulline.
2.2 Cornhole Court prepArAtion And mAintenAnCeEveryeffortshallbemadetokeepthecornholeplayingsurfaceinperfectplayingcondition.Playersareresponsibleformakingsurethecourtisingoodplayingconditionpriortostartingthematch.
• Noforeignsubstance(suchasPledge®,talcpowder,babypowder,siliconesprays)maybeappliedtotheplayingsurfaceorbagsbyanindividualplayerbeforeorduringcornholeplay.
• Adrycleanclothmaybeusedtowipedowntheboardspriortothestartofthegame.
CHAPTER 2CORNHOLE COURT LAyOUT
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
CHAPTER 3
3.1 length of gAmes
trAditiOnAl 21 Thegameshallbeplayedtothepre-determinednumberoftwenty-one(21)points.Thefirstplayer/teamtoreach(orexceed)thatamountattheconclusionofaframeisthewinner.
3.2 Cornhole sCoring – BAg terms
wOOdy
Referstoanycornholebagthathasbeenpitchedandremainsonthecornholeboardplayingsurfaceattheconclusionoftheframe.
COrnhOle
Referstoanycornholebagthathasbeenpitchedandpassesthroughthecornholeboardholeatanytimewithintheframe.
fOul BAgs
Referstoanycornholebagthathasnotbeendeterminedasa“woody”or“cornhole”,orwasdesignatedafoulbagastheresultofrulesviolation.
3.3 designAted foul BAgs•Anybagpitchedwithoutatleastonefootor
appendagecompletelyinsidethepitcher’sboxatthetimeofrelease.
•Anybagnotpitchedwithinthe15secondtimelimit.
•Abagpitchedfromadifferentpitcher’sboxthantheirdesignatedpitcher’sbox.
•Anybagthatcontactedthecourtorthegroundbeforecomingtorestontheplayingsurface.
•Anybagthatcomestoresttouchingthegroundandtheboard.
•Anybagwhichstruckapreviouslydefinedobjectsuchasatreelimb,wire,indoorcourtceiling,etc.
3.4 methods of sCoring
CAnCellAtiOn sCOring
Theapprovedmethodofscoringforthesportofcornholeis“cancellation”scoring.Incancellationscoring,thepointsofoneplayercanceloutthepointsoftheiropponent.Usingthismethod,onlyoneplayer/teamcanscoreineachframe.
wOOdy
Eachwoodyisworthone(1)point
COrnhOle
Eachcornholeisworththree(3)points
Example:
Red achieves one (1) woody and two (2) cornholes during the frame (7 total pts)
Blue achieves two (2) woodies and zero (0) cornholes during the frame (2 total pts)
7 points – 2 points = Red scores 5 points for that frame
3.5 reCording the sCoreNocornholebagsshallbemovedbeforethescoringisdetermined.Ifthisdecisionisindoubt,aCertifiedOfficialshallbecalledtodeterminethescoringfortheframeinquestion.
reCOrding the sCOre
Playersareencouragedtopaycloseattentiontothescoreatalltimes.Playersarerequiredtoupdatetheirscoreonthescoretowerattheconclusionofeachframe.PlayersmaycallupontheCertifiedOfficialbetweenframesifanydiscrepancyoccursregardingthecorrectscore.
CAlling the sCOre
Whenathirdpartyisbeingusedtomanagethescoretower,itistheresponsibilityoftheplayer/teamwhoscoresineachframetocalloutthescoretothescorekeeper.Itistheresponsibilityoftheplayers/teamstoensurethescoreisrepresentedcorrectlyonthescoretowerattheconclusionofeachframebeforemovingtothenextframe.
CORNHOLE SCORING
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
CHAPTER 4
4.1 overview of singles And douBles plAy
singles plAy
•PlayerAcompetesagainstPlayerB.
•Bothplayersstayintheirdesignatedlaneforthewholegame.
•Playersstartthegameattheheadboardandwillalternatepitchingbagsuntileachplayerhaspitchedall(4)ofhis/herbags.
•Playersthenwalktotheendoftheirlanetotheothercourt,takescore,andresumepitchingbacktotheothercornholeboard.
dOuBles plAy
•TeamAcompetesagainstTeamB–eachteamiscomprisedoftwo(2)people.
•Eachteamwillstayintheirdesignatedlaneforthewholegame.
•Playersattheheadboardwillalternatepitchingbagsuntileachplayerhaspitchedall(4)ofhis/herbags.
•Playersatthefootboardwilltakescoreandresumepitchingbacktotheothercornholeboard.
4.2 pitChing rotAtion, lAne Assignments, And BAg ColorTheFirstPitch,LaneAssignments,andBagColor:Theformatofthetournamentwillhelpdeterminefirstpitch,laneassignmentsandbagcolor.
seeded tOurnAments
Theplayer/teamwiththehigherseedhastheirchoiceofbagcolor.
Theplayer/teamwiththehigherseedpitchesfirst.
Insinglesplay,theplayerwiththehigherseedchooseslaneassignments.
in doubles play, the higher seeded team chooses one of the following options:
Choose lane assignments
Choose their opponent to pitch against (head-to-head)
Ifoption#1isselected,thehigherseedchoosestheirlaneandtakestheirpositionsinthePitcher’sboxes,thenthelowerseededteamchoosestheirownPitcher’sboxestodeterminehead-to-headmatch-ups.
Ifoption#2isselected,thelowerseedchoosestheirlaneandtakestheirpositionsinthePitcher’sboxes,thenthehigherseededteamwillchoosetheirownPitcher’sboxestodeterminehead-to-headmatch-ups.
Ifplayingbest2outof3matches,theFirstPitchandPre-Matchoptionsgotothehigherseedingame#1andtothelowerseedingame#2.Ifathirdgameoptionreturntothehigherseed
rAndOmly seeded tOurnAments
Theplayer/teamwinningthecoin-tosschoosestheirbagcolor.
Theplayer/teamwinningthecoin-tosspitchesfirst.
in singles play, the player winning the coin toss chooses their lane assignment.
in doubles play, a coin-toss is used to determine which player/team selects one of the following options:
1 Choose the lane assignments
2 Choose their opponent to pitch against (head-to-head)
Ifoption#1isselected,thecointosswinnerchoosestheirlaneandtakestheirpositionsinthePitcher’sboxes,thentheopposingteamchoosestheirownPitcher’sboxestodeterminehead-to-headmatch-ups.
Ifoption#2isselected,thecointossloserchoosestheirlaneandtakestheirpositionsinthePitcher’sboxes,thenthecointosswinnerwillchoosetheirownPitcher’sboxestodeterminehead-to-headmatch-ups.
Ifplayingbest2outof3matches,theFirstPitchandPre-Matchoptionchoicesgotothecointossloserinthesecondgame.Ifathirdgameisnecessary,anothercointosswilldecidewhohastheoptions
PLAy OF THE CORNHOLE GAME
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
4.3 pitChing Cornhole BAgs
pitChing
Playersalternatepitchingbags(oneplayeratatime)untileachplayerhaspitchedall(4)ofhis/herbags.
Aplayermustpitchall(4)cornholebagsfromtheirdesignatedcornholepitchersbox.
Playersmustdeliverthebagwithanunder-handrelease.
Onefootorappendagemustbecompletelywithinthepitchersboxatthetimeofreleasingthebag.
Whenpitchingabag,playersmustreleasethebagbeforeanypartoftheplayer’sbodytouchesthegroundonorbeyondthefoulline.
pitChing the next frAme
Theplayer/teamwhoscoredintheprecedingframeshallpitchfirstinthenextframe.Ifneitherplayer/teamscores,theplayer/teamwhopitchedfirstintheprecedingframeshallretainfirstpitchinthenextframe.
ACCidentAl releAse
Anycornholebagthatleavesaplayershandoncethefinalstep(iftaken)andfinalforwardswingofthedeliveryprocesshasstarted,shallcountasapitchedbag.
Acornholebagthatisaccidentallydroppedbyaplayerbeforethefinalstep(iftaken)andfinalforwardswinghasstarted,shallnotbeconsideredafoulbagandmaybepickedupandpitched.
pitChing Out Of turn
Ifaplayerpitchesoutofturnatanytimeduringaframe,theirpitchwillbeconsideredaFoulBagandsweptfromtheplayingsurface.
Iftheout-of-turnbagaffectsanybagsinplay,theiropponenthastheoptionofreturningallcornholebagstotheiroriginalpositionontheplayingsurfaceorleavingallbagsastheyare.
Iftheerrorisnotdiscovereduntilaftertwo(2)cornholebagshavebeenpitched,theframeshallcontinueandbescoreaccordingly.
Ifnoagreementcanbereached,aCertifiedOfficialshallbecalled.TheCertifiedOfficialshalleitherdeterminethescoringorvoidtheinningandorderittoberepitched.
tOuChing BAgs BefOre frAme is COmplete
Ifanybagsinscoringpositions(woodiesorcornholes)aretouchedbyaplayer,whetherintentionallyorunintentionally,beforeallbagsduringtheframearepitched,theframeisover.
Theoffendingteam(teamwhotouchesthebags)forfeitsallremainingbagsandtalliesthescoreforthebagstheyhavealreadythrownduringtheframe
Thenon-offendingteamtallies12pointsasiftheyhadthrown4cornholesduringtheframe.
IMPORTANT NOTE: 12 pts are NOT automatically added the overall score (scoreboard). The 12 pts are only used within this specific frame before cancellation.
exAmple:
•Redhasthrown3bagsequaling5pointstothispointintheframe
•Bluehasthrown3bagsequaling8pointstothispointintheframe
•Blueaccidentallyreachesdownandgrabsthebags
•Theframeisover
•Blue’sremainingbagisdeclareddeadandtheirpreviouspointsaretallied
•Redtallies12pointsfortheframe,asiftheyhadthrowncornholes
•12Redpoints-8Bluepoints
•Redscores4pointsforthatframe
time limits – pitChing And sCOring
pitching – Aplayermustpitcheachcornholebagwithinfifteen(15)secondsoftheiropponent’sbagcomingtorest.
InSinglesplay,oncethefinalbagcomestoarest,eachplayerhas30secondstowalktotheotherend,pickuptheirbags,andreadythemselvestopitch.
* Exceptions may be made by the Certified Official considering any physical disabilities or difficulties
scoring – Theframewillbescored5secondsafterthelastbagispitched,comestorest,andallbagsontheplayingsurfacehavestoppedmoving.Anybagthatmovesinpositionafter5secondswillbescoredbasedonitspreviousposition.
Iftimingcannotbeagreedon,theCertifiedOfficialwillscoreornegatetheframe.
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
Other generAl rules
moving Cornhole Boards and Bags:
Aplayercanonlystraightencornholeboardsinbetweenframesandwiththeapprovaloftheiropponent.ACertifiedOfficialmaybecalledtodeterminere-placementifadiscrepancyisinquestion.
A player may only cross the foul line and approach the opposite board during a frame under three (3) circumstances:
1.Atimeouthasbeencalled
2.ToRakebagspiledinsidethecornholeboardhole
3.ToSweepbags(thatareconsideredfoulbags)fromtheplayingsurface
timeOuts
Eachplayerorteamisallowedtwo1minutetimeoutspergame.
Aplayermayonlycallatimeoutwhenitishis/herturntopitch.
Bothplayersmaywalktotheotherboardstoexaminebagpositionduringthetimeout.
Playersmaynottouchthecornholebagsorboardsduringatimeout.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Official time outs may be granted in the case of a busted cornhole bag, equipment malfunctions, or other circumstances at the discretion of the Certified Official. A player will not be charged for time out.
raking Cornhole Bags Ifbagsbecomepiledinsidethecornholeboardholeandmayinterfereorobstruct
withthenextpitchorifthereisquestionastowhetheracornholebagwouldhavenaturallyfallenthroughthehole,aplayermayrequestto“rake”thecornholebagsthathavefalleninsidethehole.Torequestarake,theplayermustaudibly
•Oneorbothplayersmaywalktotheotherboardandrakethebagsfromundertheboard(oneplayerrakingandoneplayerwatching.)
•Aspectatormaybecalledtorakethebagsifbothplayersagree.
•Acertifiedofficialmaybecalledtorakethebagsifadiscrepancyisinquestion.
•Anytime4cornholebagshaveenteredtheholeorpiledbagsarevisibleintheholeaplayermayrequesta“rake”andwillnotbechargedatime-out.
IMPORTANT NOTE: During raking, all efforts should be made to leave bags on the playing surface undisrupted, in their natural state, and to leave bags that may hang on the rim of the hole from falling inside the hole unnaturally. If a bag is resting on a piled bag, and unavoidably falls into the hole as a result of raking, then it shall be counted as a “cornhole.”
sweeping COrnhOle BAgs
Ifafoulbaglandsontheplayingsurfaceorcomestoresttouchingthegroundandtheboard,itmustberemovedimmediately.
Ifaplayerpitchesafoulbagwhichaffectsanybagsinplay,theiropponenthastheoptionofreturningallcornholebagstotheiroriginalpositionontheplayingsurfaceorleavingallbagsastheyare.
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
CHAPTER 5PLAyER CONDUCT5.1 plAyer ConduCt
On the COurts
Acornholeplayer/teamwhileincompetition,shallmakenodisturbingnoisesormovementsthatwoulddistracttheopponentorplayersonsurroundingcourts.Otherinappropriatebehaviorwouldincludeprofanity,abusivelanguage,obscenegestures,flippingbags,etc.
penAlties
AplayermaycallonaCertifiedOfficialtoenforcearuleatanytime.IftheCertifiedOfficialdeemsactionisrequired:
•ThefirstoffenseshallcallforawarningfromtheCertifiedOfficial.
•Asecondoffenseshallcallforasecondandfinalwarning.
•Athirdoffenseshallcallforforfeitureofthegamebeingplayed.
•AnyfurtheroffensesmaycallfordisqualificationfromtheTournament/Event.
spOrtsmAnship
Anycornholeplayerwhoindulgesinhecklingorunfairrooting,usesprofanityorabusivelanguage,makesobscenegestures,orexhibitsanyotherformofun-sportsmanlikeconducttowardotherplayers,CertifiedOfficials/Tournament/LeagueOfficials,orotherswhoareintheareaofthecourts,shallbesubjecttoexpulsionfromtheTournament/Eventandfromtheeventsite.
giving/reCeiving plAyer AdviCe
Itislegalforateammateorspectatortoprovideadviceonbagpositionand/ornextpitchrecommendation.
dress COde
ParticipantscompetinginMastersSeriesMajorsandtheWorldChampionshipsofCornholewillbeexpectedtoabidebytheACODressCodebelow:
•Shirtscannotbesleeveless;cut-offsarenotpermitted
•ACOornon-brandedapparelmustbeworn*
•Closed-toeshoesmustbeworn
•FurtherdresscoderestrictionsmaybeimposedbyACOCorporateifallentrantsarenotifiednolaterthanthe2weeksbeforetheeventdate.
•AnACO-PROJerseywillberequiredatallACO-PROInvitationals,andencouragedatallotherACOtournaments.
Contestantsthatdonotcomplymaynotbeallowedtoparticipateintheevent.
AlCOhOl, tOBACCO prOduCts, And illegAl
COntrOlled suBstAnCes:
•IllegalControlledSubstancesarenotpermittedatanACOEvent
•Venuepermitting,playerscandrinkalcoholic/non-alcoholicbeverageswhileplaying,butdrinksmustbeplacedoutsidethelivecourtarea,inasafezone,oronadrinkstand/holder.
•Theuseofalcoholoranyformoftobaccowhileintheconfinesofthecourtsmaybeprohibitedforallcontestants,officials,andscorekeepersatthediscretionofACOCorporate.Thisrulemaybeenforcedatanytournament,ifannouncedinadvancebytheCertifiedOfficials/ACOCorporate.Violationsmayresultintheforfeitureofgames.
Cell phOnes
•Theuseofcellphoneswhileintheconfinesofthecourtsmaybeprohibitedforallcontestants,officials,andscorekeepersatthediscretionofACOCorporate.
Thisrulemaybeenforcedatanytournament,ifannouncedinadvancebytheCertifiedOfficials/ACOCorporate.Violationsmayresultintheforfeitureofgames.
AudiO & visuAl
•TheuseofaudioandvisualequipmentintheconfinesoftheeventpremisesmaybeusedbytheACO.Yourpresenceinthefilming/photographyareaconstitutesconsenttoberecorded/photographed.
© 2016-2017 American Cornhole, LLC
GAMEON!