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 7: Scoring

7.1 Traditional 21 Scoring – This is a negation or cancellation format where opposing players' frame points cancel one another out. Only those points that do not cancel out apply to the total overall score. Example: Red team scores 7 points in a frame and Blue team scores 9 points in the same frame. The difference is 2 (9-7=2). Blue team scores 2 points in that frame.

7.2 Frame Game Scoring – Unlike the negation process, Frame Game players are trying to accumulate as many points as possible over 13 complete frames. The perfect score, or maximum amount of points available, is 156 points, meaning a player would need to throw 52 of 52 cornholes. The player with the highest cumulative score at the end of 13 frames is declared the winner. All Woodys and Cornholes for each player are counted toward their score for the frame.

7.3 "TRADITIONAL 21" LEAGUE FORMAT (Recommended. Applies to Doubles and Singles)

• Play one match per team or player in an outing
• 1 match = 3 games
• Games are scored with Traditional 21 scoring (negation scoring)
• Winner of best of three games wins the match
• 1 league point is given for:
  • Each game won within a match
  • Winning a match
    
    

    EXAMPLE: • Game 1: Bailey Geers 21 – Max Charles 19 (one point BG) • Game 2: Bailey Geers 19 – Max Charles 21 (one point MC) • Game 3: Bailey Geers 21 – Max Charles 13 (one point BG) • Match winner Bailey Geers (one point BG) • Bailey's league points: 3 (2 for games; 1 for match) • Max's league points: 1 (1 for game)

    
    League also tracks:
    • Games Won
    • Games Lost
    • Matches Won
    • Matches Lost
    • Average Points Scored in Games
    • Average Points Given up in Games

7.4 "TRADITIONAL 21" TOURNAMENT BRACKET (Recommended)

• Best of Three winner moves forward loser goes home
• Traditional Bracket Structure
• Seeding recommended as best option but random luck of draw works fine
• Ideally 16 / 32 / 64 / 128 / 256 team brackets recommended

7.5 "FRAME GAME" LEAGUE FORMAT – In development set to release second quarter of 2007.

7.6 "FRAME GAME" TOURNAMENT FORMAT – In development set to release second quarter of 2007.