TEAMS Two (2) players will compete on a side; with others available as substitutes. Substitutes may enter the game in-between innings, not during.
A team may not have a squad greater than six (6) players with only two players allowed by the boards at any one time.
2 players is the minimum number of players that a team can have without a forfeit resulting.
THE FIELD The game may be played indoors or outdoors. The playing field shall be a rectangle where the dimensions of the playing length will be dictated by the specific venue.
All games are self-refereed. Any questions or disputes on rules may be brought to the attention of the Event Host.
All rulings not specifically covered in the rules are up to the discretion of Event Host on site.
STARTING THE GAME Prior to the start of the game, the Event Host will call the two captains aside for the toss, which is done through 'Paper, Scissors, Rock! The winner of the toss has the right to serve/receive.
Matches will be the best of 3 games with a 10-minute time limit per game.
Players must toss behind the foul line or lose their turn. The foul line is defined as the line stretching out horizontally from the front of the cornhole board. Each player’s feet must be behind the foul line. Leaning over the foul line is permitted.
DOUBLES PLAY In doubles play two cornholers are partners against another team of two cornholers. In doubles play, one member of each team pitches from one Cornhole platform and the other members pitch from the other cornhole platform.
VALUE OF THE CORN BAG:
Corn Bag In-The-Hole - A corn bag in-the-hole (or Hole-In) is a corn bag which is thrown through the hole in the Cornhole platform or otherwise comes to rest inside the Cornhole platform (knocked in by another player or an act of God). A corn bag in-the-hole has a value of three points.
Corn Bag In-The-Count - A corn bag that is not in-the-hole but lands with any portion of the corn bag resting on the Cornhole platform is in-the-count. A corn bag in-the-count has a value of one point. For a corn bag to be in-the-count, it must not touch the ground or any other portion of the court prior to coming to rest on the Cornhole platform. If a corn bag touches the ground before coming to rest on the GO Cornhole platform, it is a foul and must be removed from the Cornhole platform prior to the continuation of play.
Corn Bag Out-Of-The-Count - A corn bag which comes to rest anywhere except in-the-count or in-the-hole is out-of-the-count and has no scoring value. A corn bag which is declared to be a foul is considered to be out-of-the-count (no matter where it comes to rest) and must be removed from the Cornhole surface prior to the continuation of play.
DELIVERY OF THE BAGS:
In doubles play, the first side of cornholers alternate pitching corn bags until they have thrown all four corn bags, then the remaining cornholers (pitching from the other cornhole platform) continue to alternate in the same manner until all four corn bags are delivered and the inning completed.
A cornholer may deliver the corn bag from either the left or right pitchers box but, in any one inning, all corn bags must be delivered from the same pitcher's box. A cornholer shall pitch the entire league with the same hand or arm, except in the case of a medical emergency.
Each individual cornholer shall deliver the corn bag within 20 seconds. The time shall start when the cornholer steps onto the pitcher's box with the intention of pitching.
PITCHING ROTATION The cornholer who scored in the preceding inning shall pitch first in the next inning. If neither pitcher scored, the cornholer who pitched second (last) in the preceding inning shall pitch first in the next inning.
POSITION OF CORNHOLERS DURING DELIVERY:
The pitcher must maintain constant contact with the designated pitcher's box during the entire address and release of the corn bag. The opponent, while not pitching, shall stand behind the Cornhole platform at least 2 feet to the rear of the cornholer who is pitching.
If both cornholers use the same pitchers box to deliver their corn bags, the cornholer pitching first should cross over to the other pitchers box in front of the Cornhole platform and then move to the proper position. As the first cornholer is crossing in front, the second cornholer should be crossing over in back and mounting the pitchers box from the rear. If both cornholers use opposite pitchers boxes, the cornholer who pitches first should step directly back to the proper position.
FOUL CORN BAGS A foul corn bag is a corn bag which was delivered in non-compliance with one of the rules of the game. It scores as a corn bag out-of-the-count and is to be removed from the Cornhole court before any more corn bags are pitched. Corn bags already in the court that have been knocked into foul territory by a foul corn bag should be returned to the scoring area into its prior position. Additionally, corn bags that are in-the-count, but are knocked into the hole by a foul corn bag must be returned to their original scoring position.
The following are rule violations that must be spotted and called by a corn holer or assigned judge. The penalty is to declare the corn bag a foul corn bag, which requires the corn bags to be removed from the court prior to resuming play:
Any corn bag pitched when the cornholer has made contact with or crossed over the foul line before the corn bag is released.
Except as provided above, any corn bag pitched when the cornholer has started or stepped completely outside the pitching box before releasing the corn bag.
Any corn bag not delivered within the twenty second time limit.
A corn bag pitched from a different pitchers box than the first corn bag.
Any corn bag that contacted the court or the ground before coming to rest on the Cornhole platform.
Any corn bag which struck a previously defined object such as a tree limb, wire, indoor court ceiling, etc.
Any corn bag that leaves a cornholer's hand once the final forward swing of the delivery process has started shall count as a pitched corn bag. A corn bag that is accidentally dropped by a cornholer before the final forward swing has started shall not be considered foul and may be picked up and pitched.
LENGTH OF THE GAME
Point Limits – The Cornhole match shall be played until the first team of cornholers reaches (or exceeds) 21 points at the completion of an inning. The winning team does not need to win by two or more points.
The Inning Must Be finished - The Cornhole match can never end in the middle of an inning. Thus, if a team that pitches first reaches or exceeds 21 points, the game cannot end until the other team is allowed to pitch all of their corn bags and the inning is completed.
Ties At The End Of An Inning - If the Cornhole match is tied at 21 or more at the end of an inning, play continues until one team achieves a higher score at the end of an inning and wins the match.
Time Limit – During league play there is a 10 minute time limit per game. Once time has expired without either team reaching or exceeding 21 points the teams will be allowed to complete the inning. Whoever has the most points at that time will be declared the winner.
CANCELLATION SCORING In cancellation scoring, corn bags in-the-hole and corn bags in-the-count pitched by opponents during an inning (or half of an inning in doubles play) cancel each other out. Only non-cancelled corn bags are counted in the score for the inning (or half of an inning in doubles play).
Corn Bags In-The-Hole - Hole-ins (HI's) cancel each other. A corn bag in-the-hole of one cornholer shall cancel a corn bag in-the-hole of his competitor and those corn bags shall not score any points. Any non-cancelled corn bag in-the-hole scores three (3) points each.
Corn Bags In-The-Count - Corn bags in-the-count cancel each other. A corn bag in-the-count of one cornholer shall cancel a corn bags in-the-count of the opponent and those corn bags shall not score any points. Any non-cancelled corn bags in-the-count score one (1) point each.
FAIRPLAY SYSTEM Each league night you will have an Event Host onsite, but these guys are not official referees. Urban Rec is proud to be the only non-competitive league which practices fair play, meaning you should be making your own calls on the game. The referee will be there to make the calls not made by individuals, keep time, and help guide the games within the game play rules. The Urban Rec Referee has the final say on any issue that cannot be self-resolved.
SPORTSMANSHIP If you are seen to be rude or not playing within the respect of the rules you will be asked to sub, and warned by one of our Rep’s if after two times you do not show your sportsmanship, you will be asked to leave the field, and an assessment will be made if you can play again. We do not tolerate idiots. Play fair.
