The American Cornhole Organization

The Governing Body For The Sport Of Cornhole

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American Cornhole Official Rules

Official Cornhole Rules and Regulations	Printer Friendly Version
CORNHOLE RULES: Overview CORNHOLE RULE 1: Court Layout CORNHOLE RULE 2: Pitching Distances CORNHOLE RULE 3: Playing Equipment (Boards and Bags) CORNHOLE RULE 4: Court Preparation and Maintenance CORNHOLE RULE 5: Play of the Game	CORNHOLE RULE 6: Length of the Game CORNHOLE RULE 7: Scoring CORNHOLE RULE 8: Appropriate Conduct CORNHOLE RULE 9: ACO Ranking and Awards CORNHOLE RULE 10: ACO Sanctioned Tournament Play

CORNHOLE RULE 5: Play Of The Game

5.1 Singles Or Doubles Competition – American Cornhole can be played as doubles or singles. In doubles play, two players are partners against another team of two (one member of each team pitches from one board and the other member pitches from the other board). In singles play, a player competes against another player (both pitch from the same board). All other rules are the same for doubles or singles play.

5.2 Distance During Play – In Doubles play, the coin toss winner has the choice of picking who pitches against whom or which side of the board to play from. The coin toss winner also decides who pitches first. In Singles play, the coin toss winner decides who pitches first and what side of the board to play from.

5.3 Position Of Players – In Doubles play, each player's partner is directly across from them in the opposite box at the other board. So each team has one player throwing from the left pitcher's box and one throwing from the right. Each player is assigned a pitcher's box and will be required to pitch from their box the entire game.

In Singles play, a player from the left pitcher's box of the head board would move to the foot board and toss from the right pitcher's box.

The pitcher must not go outside the designated pitcher's box during the process of pitching. The opposing player is to stand just behind their own pitcher's box while competitor is tossing. American Cornhole Official Rules 6 of 12 American Cornhole Official Rules 7 of 12

5.4 Delivery Of Bags – Every match is broken down into frames of play. During each frame of play each player must pitch all four bags. In Doubles play, the "headboard" players (players pitching first) alternate until they've pitched all 8 bags, completing a frame. The "footboard" players (players pitching second) then call out the score before removing the bags. Once the footboard players also pitch in the same manner, their frame is completed. In Singles play, players alternate pitching until all 8 bags have been pitched, completing the frame. Players must deliver the bag within 15 seconds of stepping into the pitcher's box with the intention of pitching.

5.5 Pitching Rotation – The player who scored in the preceding frame shall pitch first in the next frame. If neither pitcher scores, the player who pitched first in the preceding frame shall pitch first in the next frame. (In Doubles and Singles play, players switch "Pitchers Boxes" after each game.)

5.6 Scoring Designations

• Cornholes – A bag-in-the-hole (or Cornhole or Holer) is a bag thrown through the hole in the board. A bag can be pushed in by other bags from either player.
  1 Cornhole = 3 points.
  
• Woody or Boarder – A bag that is not in-the-hole but lands with any portion resting on the board.
  It may not touch the ground before landing on the board. If it does, it's called a "DIRTY" and must be removed from the playing surface before another bag is tossed. A bag hanging on the board surface but touching the ground as well is also a "DIRTY" and has no point value and should be removed from playing surface before play continues.
  1 Woody or Boarder = 1 point.
  
• Stanker or Foul Bag – A bag which is not a Cornhole or Woody, or a bag which was delivered in
  non-compliance with one of the rules of the game. It has no point value, scores as a
  "DEAD BAGGER" and is to be removed from the board surface before any more bags are pitched.
  Bags knocked into foul territory by a foul bag should be returned as closely as possible to their
  original position. This also applies to bags that are knocked into the hole by a foul bag.
  1 Stanker or Foul Bag = 0 points.
  
  • The following rule violations, if spotted and called by a player or assigned judge, will result in
    the foul bag being declared a "STANKER" and removed from the court:
    • Any bag pitched when the player has made contact with or crossed over the foul line before the bag is released.
    • Any bag pitched when the player has started or stepped completely outside the pitcher's box before releasing the corn bag.
    • Any bag not delivered within the 15 second time limit.
    • A bag pitched from a different pitcher's box than the first bag.
    • Any bag that contacted the court or the ground before coming to rest on the board surface.
    • Any bag which struck a previously defined object such as a tree limb, wire, indoor court ceiling, etc.
    • Any bag that leaves a player's hand once the final forward swing of the toss has started shall count as a pitched bag. A bag that is accidentally dropped by a player before the final forward swing has started shall not be considered a "STANKER" and may be picked up and pitched.
      
  • A player's bag shall be called a "STANKER" if the player removes it before the scoring of that
    bag has been agreed upon. A judge shall be called if a decision cannot be reached. The judge
    shall determine the scoring for the frame.