League Rules
LA CANADA CORNHOLE LEAGUE (LCCL)
OFFICIAL RULES
This league operates under a ‘Fair Play’ policy. The main purpose is to have fun. Please adhere to these rules and remember, it’s just a game.
FAIR PLAY
All decisions around contested scoring will be made by the event organizer after each team has made their case. Each team will have 1 minute to provide their explanation. Decisions made by the event organizer will be final. The event organizer reserves the right to remove any participant that is acting in an unruly or violent manner.
SESSIONS
Sessions can be hosted anywhere throughout La Canada during a given season which can include any players that are willing to adhere to the official rules. Scoring results from each session will be used to determine player rankings. Players that want to play in the year end tournament MUST attend at least one event during the season and log an official score with the league organizer.
The Scoreholio app will be used to keep all check-in, scoring, ranking, statistics and tournament brackets (free version is available at the app store).
YOU MUST HAVE A PLAYER PROFILE IN SCOREHOLIO TO PARTICIPATE.
IT IS FREE AND EASY. GO SET YOURS UP NOW!
The event organizer will use the following to track player scoring during a session: Click 'Run a Tournament' then 'Create Tournament' with the following settings:
Tournament Format = Round Robin
Team Generation = Switcholio
Rank by = Total Points
# of Rounds = 4
Score Limit = 21 points
When players arrive, click 'Run a Tournament' and swipe right to select Check-in. Have each player pull up their Scoreholio Player Profile and scan their QR code to check them into the tournament. Track game scoring and enter the results in each game respectively. Running the tournament bracket is not required but can be done if the players present wish to do so.
NOTE: Session event organizers are responsible for organizing team play and keeping scores throughout the event. The event organizer does not need to be the host of the session.
PITCHING DISTANCES
Contestants shall pitch from the pitcher’s box behind the 30 foot foul lines (27 ft set-set + 3 ft to hole).
CORNHOLE COURT PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE
Court Maintenance & Equipment
Cornhole courts should be free of anything that might distract a contestant during play. Each contestant is responsible for making sure the court is in good playing condition prior to starting the match. All boards must be regulation size and height (refer to the ACL website for details) and must be leveled to the best of the organizer's ability. All bags must be in good condition and within regulations.
Distractions During Play
Every effort shall be made to keep from distracting contestants during Cornhole play. Drinks and other personal belongings should be placed behind the cornhole platform.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Pitching Rotation, Lane Assignments & Bag Color
Teammates must pitch from directly opposite each other, otherwise known as a lane. A bag spin (the team in which the 'seam' of the bag points to wins) will prompt the following decisions:
The winning team pitches first.
The winning team chooses either their lane assignment or their opponent to pitch against (head-to-head)
In the best-of-three matches, the First Pitch and Pre-Match option choices go to the coin toss loser in the second game. If a third game is necessary, an additional coin toss will be made.
Frames
Every Cornhole match is broken down into frames of play during which all four bags (per team) are to be tossed. Value Of The Bag
1. Cornhole: Refers to any cornhole bag that has been pitched and passes through the cornhole board hole at any time during the frame.
2. Woody: Refers to any cornhole bag that has been pitched and remains on the cornhole board playing surface at the conclusion of the frame.
3. Foul Bag: Refers to any cornhole bag that has not been determined as a ‘woody’ or ‘cornhole’ or was designated as a foul bag as a result of a rules violation.
Foul Bags
A foul bag is a bag which was delivered in non-compliance with one of the rules of the game. It scores as a bag out of the count and is to be removed from the Cornhole court before any more bags are pitched. Bags already in the count that have been knocked into foul territory by a foul bag should be returned to their original position (including bags knocked into the hole by a foul bag).
The following are rule violations that must be called by a contestant or assigned judge. The penalty is to declare the bag a foul bag, which requires the bags to be removed from the court prior to resuming play.
(a) A bag pitched when the contestant has made contact with or crossed the foul line before the bag is released. (b) A bag pitched when the contestant has stepped completely outside the pitching box before releasing the bag. (c) A bag not delivered within the 15 second time limit.
(d) A bag pitched from a different pitchers box than the first bag.
(e) A bag that contacted the court or the ground before coming to rest on the cornhole platform. (f) A bag which struck a previously defined object such as a tree limb, wire, indoor court ceiling, etc.
NOTE: A bag that leaves a contestant's hand once the final forward swing of the delivery process has started shall count as a pitched bag (excluding a bag that is accidentally dropped by a contestant before the final forward swing).
Protests - If a contestant desires to make a protest, the protest shall be made to the event organizer at the time the problem occurs. The event organizer shall make the final ruling on all protests.
Pitching Bags
1. In doubles play, the first side of contestants alternate pitching bags until they have thrown all four bags, then the remaining contestant (pitching from the other cornhole platform) continue to alternate in the same manner until all four bags are delivered and the frame completed.
2. Each individual contestant shall deliver the bag within 15 seconds. The time shall start when the contestant steps onto the pitcher’s box with the intention of pitching.
3. Players must deliver the bags with an underhand release.
4. The team who scored in the preceding frame shall pitch first in the next frame. If neither pitcher scores, the contestant who pitched first in the preceding frame shall retain first pitch in the next frame.
5. When a team scores 11 points, both teams will switch positions with their teammate (directly across from your throwing position) and a toast will be made. The game will then continue until one team reaches 21 points.
Pitching Out of Turn
If a player pitches out of turn at any time during a frame, their pitch will be considered a Foul Bag and removed from the playing surface.
If the out of turn bag affects any bags in play, their opponent has the option of returning all bags to their original position on the playing surface or leaving all bags as they are.
If the error is not discovered until after two bags have been pitched, the frame shall continue and be scored accordingly.
If no agreement can be reached, the league organizer will be called to determine the scoring or void the frame and order it to be repitched.
Moving the Bags Before Frame is Complete
If any bags in scoring positions are moved by a player before all bags during the frame are pitched, the frame is over.
The offending team forfeits all remaining bags and tallies the score for the bags they have already thrown during the frame.
The non-offending team will tally 12 points as if they had thrown four Cornholes during the frame.
The two scores are netted for a final score for that frame.
Position Of Contestants During Delivery
The pitcher must maintain constant contact with the designated pitcher’s box during the entire address and release of the bag. The opponent, while not pitching, shall stand at least 2 feet away from the contestant who is pitching.
LENGTH OF THE GAME
Point Limits
The Cornhole match shall be played until the first team of contestants reaches (or exceeds) 21 points at the completion of a frame. The winning team does not need to win by two or more points.
The Frame Must Be Finished
The Cornhole match can never end in the middle of a frame. Thus, if a team that pitches first reaches or exceeds 21 points, the game can not end until the other side is allowed to pitch all of their bags and the frame is completed.
Ties At The End Of An Frame
If the Cornhole match is tied at 21 or more at the end of a frame, play continues until one team or the other achieves a higher score at the end of a frame and wins the match. The winning team does not need to win by 2 points.
SCORING
Game Scoring (Cancellation Scoring)
Cornholes and Woodies pitched by opponents during a frame or half of a frame in doubles play cancel each other out. Only non-cancelled bags are counted in the score for the frame.
Cancellation scoring may be easily calculated as follows:
1. The points of both contestants are calculated for Cornholes and Woodies.
2. The points are netted to determine that frame’s score. Only one team scores per frame.
League Scoring (Ranking over Time)
A player's average score (ranking) will be equal to the points earned at each attended event divided by the number of events attended.
YEAR END LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
If you have made it this far, congrats, you are the kind of dedicated player that we want in our league.
More tournament details to come as we size the number of participants, tournament format, fundraising options, etc.
New ideas to make this a more enjoyable league are always welcome. Let’s see where we can take this...
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