Cornhole Rules

NIAGARA REC SPORTS CORNHOLE RULES & REGULATIONS

SCORE REPORTING

NRSscores@outlook.com
At the end of the hour both teams are to verify with each other and send in the score for that evening in the following format.

Ie.
Email title – Tuesday Evening Cornhole

Team 1 – 3
Team 2 – 2

MATCH START

Rock Paper Scissors – Winner will decide if they want second pitch or the bag colour.

To begin, the players from each team will stand directly across from each other at opposite boards. Each team will have 4 coloured bags.

With a 4-person team, two people from the team will stand at one board and two at the other board. They will rotate their pitches.

Example

Team 1, Player 1 pitches,

Team 2, Player 1 pitches,

Team 1, Player 1 pitches,

Team 2, Player 1 pitches,

Team 1, Player 2 pitches,

Team 2, Player 2 pitches,

Team 1, Player 2 pitches,

Team 2, Player 2 pitches.

This rotation will stay the same for the duration of the frame (to 21).
Once the frame is over the players MUST rotate to the other board, staying on the same side of the board so they are now throwing with their throwing hand opposite of the previous frame in relation to the board.

With a 2-person team, both players will be on the same side and must alternate each throw with the other teammate.

With a 3-person team, two people from the team will stand at one board and one person at the other board. At the end of each end (when all 4 bags are thrown), the members will rotate so there are always 2 people throwing the bags at all times, one person who just threw bags will join the player now throwing so there are always 2 people throwing.

Playoffs – a min of 3 players are required to play in the playoffs.

With a 3-person team, two people from the team will stand at one board and one person at the other board. At the end of each end (when all 4 bags are thrown), the members will rotate so there are always 2 people throwing the bags at all times, one person who just threw bags will join the player now throwing so there are always 2 people throwing.

MATCH DURATION

We play for 1hr. There will be a clock at the court’s for official game time.
Time begins right at your scheduled game time regardless if the teams are ready to play or not.
This includes a 5min warm-up and 55min game time.
We play as many games as we can get in within the allotted time.
Games will end right on the hour. If time expires before the final game is complete there must be a total of 10 combined points for that game to count.
A game can not be called in the middle of an end. If at least one bag is thrown and time expires the end must be completed (not the game) such that all 4 bags are thrown from each team to complete the end. This is the rule for when time expires.
Playoffs are best 2 our of 3 games.
3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie.

PLAYERS

4 vs 4
A min of 2 people to play if teams are short that week (4 max).
All players at the game must play.
If you have subs rotating in you must have the same 4 players playing for the entire frame (to 21), once the frame is complete you can rotate in the subs for the 4 players playing in the next frame.
All players must be registered with Niagara Rec Sports in order to play.

FORFEIT

If a team for any reason is not able to start or complete a match they shall forfeit. The opposing team will take their current score, or a 3-0 win (which ever is higher).
We require min 24 hrs notice of a forfeit so we can inform the opposing team and referee.

PITCHING

The person pitching must pitch from behind the front edge of the cornhole board.
The bag must be pitched underhand.
A pitch is considered complete once the forward swing of the arm takes place and the bag is released. There are no “do overs” if a pitch is dropped after the forward arm swing takes place.
If a bag is dropped on a back swing of the arm it is not considered a pitch and can be retaken within the 20 second allotted time.
Blocking a bag is not permitted.
The team who scored in the previous frame shall pitch first in the next frame. If the frame ended in a tie, the team who pitched first in the previous frame shall maintain first pitch in the next frame.
Winner of the previous game throes second in the next game. Losers throw first.

SCORING

Games are to 21.
The first team to reach or exceed 21 after any frame wins.
At the end of each frame, the score will be counted before anyone touches the 8 bags.
The score must be counted and agreed upon by both teams before removing the bags from the board.
Scoring is as follows:
- 1 point – a “Woody” is any bag that remains on the board at the end of the frame.
- 3-points – a “Cornhole” is any bag that was pitched or knocked through the hole at any time during the frame.
- 0 points – a “Foul Bag” is a bag that:
  - Is pitched by a person who stepped past the front edge of the board.
  - Touched the ground or another object before resting on the board.
  - Is touching the ground and the board.
  - Is thrown out of order.
  - If a foul bag makes contact with any bag on the board the foul bag is removed and the opposing team decides if the bags that were moved are returned to their original position or left where they lie.
  - A Foul Bag must be removed from the board before the next bag is thrown.
- Cancellation scoring will be used. The points of one team cancels out the points of the other team. Example: If one team scores 4 and the other team 2. The team who scored 4 would be awarded 2 points (4-2=2). Only one team will be awarded points for a frame.
- A game point will be rewarded to a team every time they reach or exceed 21.
- A min of 10 total points must be scored for the game to be official.
- Play as many games as possible within the time limit.

CONTINUITY OF PLAY

Players are not to intentionally stall play.
A player must make a throw within 20 seconds of the last throw to keep the game moving.
If a player does not throw within 20 seconds that throw will be forfeited and the bag will be a “Foul bag”.
Score counting will be done in a timely manner and once the score is recorded for that frame the first player has 20 seconds to make their pitch.
There are no time outs.

LATE PENALTIES

There is a 5 minute warm up that begins on the scheduled game time. Ie. 6:30 scheduled game time 6:35 warm up is over and the points game begins.
Once the 5 min warm up is over, if one team is at the game ready to play (after the 5min warm up) and the other team is not ready to play, after 5 minutes has passed one set will be awarded to the team that is ready to play.
After 10 minutes, the team that is at the game ready to play, will be awarded a second set.
After 15 minutes, the team that is ready to play, will be awarded the win.

PLAYOFFS

Double elimination (teams may have more than one game each night during the playoffs)
Best 2 out of 3 games
Games are to 21 (first team to get to or exceed 21 is the winner)
Some teams will play more than one game each night depending on if you win or loose. Pay attention to the schedule to see when you play next after a win or a loss.
Playoff Late Penalties During Playoffs
See late penalties for regular season.
If neither teams show up after 10min a coin toss will decide the winner. Pay attention to the schedule and time.
Don’t be on the patio and miss your game.

EQUIPMENT

Teams can use their own bags and must be official size and weight – 6″ x 6″ 14-16oz
NRS has bags at the courts if teams do not have their own.
Boards are 27’ apart from the front of each board.

GENERAL

WEATHER

Indoor – We play inside.
Outdoor Summer – If it rains we play inside when possible.

Overall Standings Tie Breakers

If there is a in the standings based on points the following will be used as a tie breaker.
Total Most Overall Points (standings 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie)
Plus minus
Points for
Points against
Head to Head (if applicable)
If everything is equal a coin toss

Player Eligibility

All players must register online and sign the online waiver in order to be eligible to play in the league.
Once registration is complete (fully) the name of the registrant will appear under the team name on the roster section of the website. Only people that are on the roster can ply for the team.
If teams are caught playing with unregistered (illegal players) they will loose their existing game and the next.
Team captains are responsible to ensure all players are eligible to play.
If teams are short they can borrow players from another team ONLY if the opposing team captain agrees to it BEFORE the game begins. Borrowed players must be registered with another team in the NRS league. Outside players are not allowed and must fully register with the team before playing.

Process for challenging player eligibility

All players must carry some form of picture ID and be ready to show the referee or the opposing team captain if asked.
The team captain of the team challenging the eligibility of an opposing team’s player(s) must pull up the team rosters on the phone and approach the opposing team’s bench and speak to the team captain regarding the player in question with the roster.
If the team captain refuses to do so the team will get an automatic loss and the player in question will be removed from the field immediately.
The team captain (of the team in question) must verify the player in question is in fact on the roster and ID must be shown by the player to verify they are in fact the person listed on the roster on the website.
If the player is found not to be on the team roster and/ or does not show ID to prove they are who they say they are, the offending team will take a loss for that game.
Teams have until the beginning of their game to register players. All registrations are time stamped in our back end.
This process can take place until 5 minutes after the game is complete (if in playoffs once the team begins the next game the team they are playing must take up the process and the previous game can not be challenged.)
The team playing has to be the one to start the process.
Rosters are locked 3 weeks before the playoffs.

Forfeit Fine – Less than 24hrs notice

All teams must give min 24hrs notice if they are not able to field a team or they will be charged a $50.00 late notice forfeit fee. The team will not receive any league points in the standings until the $50.00 fee is paid. Points not received during this time will not be reinstated. No team can play in the playoffs with an outstanding fine. If you owe a fine at the time the playoff schedule is being made/ updated your game will not be scheduled and the game will be considered a forfeit.

If a team fails to pay the $50.00 fine within a week the league can look for another team to take their place.

This is to ensure we are able to give opposing teams and referees enough notice that your team will not be able to make it to the game. No one likes going to a game only to find out the other team did not bother to show up.

This normally is not an issue as most teams respect each other enough to give proper notice, this fee is for those that don’t.

We are very lenient with this policy and as long as you have a few people show up and can form a team with other players playing before your game at the diamond, field and/ or court so the opposing team has a game to play your team will not be fined.

At the end of the season any money collected from the forfeit fine will be donated to a local charity such as project share.

If a team forfeit’s 3 times during the season they risk removal from the league.
If a team does not pay the fine within a week they risk removal from the league.
No points will be awarded to to the team in the standings until the fine has been paid.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Understand, appreciate and abide by the rules of the game.
Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials and NRS staff.
The referee has final say in all calls.
Respect your opponent and congratulate them in a courteous manner following each match whether in victory or defeat.
Be responsible for your actions and maintain self-control.
Refrain from using foul or abusive language.
Have fun!

Niagara Rec Sports reserves the right to remove or disallow any player from the league at any time throughout the year. No refunds will be given if/ when players are removed from the league.

Niagara Rec Sports reserves the right to add, alter, remove rules either verbally or on any rules page at any time as we deem fit, any rule changes will be effective immediately. Rules discussed at the team captains meeting are to be considered part of the league rules.

For other league rules visit this page.