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OFFICIAL RULESCORNHOLE

AmericanCornhole.com

AMERICAN CORNHOLEORGANIZATION

F O R T H E S P O R T O F

GAME ON!


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?


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.


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


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


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


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.


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.


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.


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