Singles or doubles play
Cornhole/Corn Toss can be played as doubles or singles. In doubles
play two contestants are partners against another team of two
contestants; in singles play a contestant competes against another
contestant.
In doubles play, one member from each team pitches from one cornhole
platform and the other members pitch from the other cornhole platform.
In singles play, both contestants pitch from the same cornhole
platform. All other rules are basically the same for doubles or singles
play.
[edit] Innings
Every Cornhole match is broken down into innings of play. During each inning there is a top and a bottom round of play.
In doubles play, the top of an inning is completed when both
contestants pitching from the first cornhole platform pitch all 4 corn
bags; the bottom of the inning is completed when the remaining
contestants (pitching from the other cornhole platform) pitch all 4
corn bags.
In singles play, the top of an inning is completed when the first
contestant pitches all 4 corn bags; the bottom of the inning is
completed when the remaining contestant pitches all 4 corn bags.
An inning is never completed until all contestants pitch all four corn bags.
[edit] Value of the corn bag
1. 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.
2. 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 (sometimes called on-the-board). 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 cornhole platform, it
is a foul and must be removed from the cornhole platform prior to the
continuation of play. If a bag rests on the board but is supported or
touching the ground in any way it does not count.
3. 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.
4. If a player gets all four bags in the hole, it is an automatic 21 points and the player wins (Optional Rule).
[edit] Delivery of corn bags during play
1. In doubles play, the first side of contestants alternate pitching
corn bags until they have thrown all four corn bags, then the remaining
contestant (pitching from the other cornhole platform) continue to
alternate in the same manner until all four corn bags are delivered and
the inning completed. Delivery in singles play is handled in the same
manner (but from the same platform) with each of the two contestants
alternating their pitching of corn bags until all four corn bags have
been pitched completing the inning.
2. A contestant may deliver the corn bag from either the left or
right pitchers box (see above) but, in any one inning, all corn bags
must be delivered from the same pitchers box. Swift and precise thrust
is needed.
3. Each individual contestant shall deliver the corn bag within 20
seconds. The time shall start when the contestant steps onto the
pitchers box with the intention of pitching.
[edit] Pitching rotation during the game
The contestant who scored in the preceding inning shall pitch first
in the next inning. If neither pitcher scores, the contestant or team
who pitched last in the preceding inning shall pitch first in the next
inning.
[edit] Length of the game
The Cornhole / Corn Toss match shall be played until the first team
of contestants reaches (or exceeds) 21 points at the completion of an
inning. However, many play by the rule which states if you go ove 21
you go back to 15. The winning team does not need to win by two or more
points.
The Cornhole / Corn Toss match can never end in the middle of an
inning. 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 corn bags and the inning is completed.
If the Cornhole / Corn Toss match is tied at 21 or more at the end
of an inning, play continues until one team or the other achieves a
higher score at the end of an inning and wins the match.
The game shall be played to 21 unless a team scores 7 or more points
at the end of an inning before their opponents score any points. In
this case, the game is a skunk and the team that scores 7 or more
points wins the match. In many places the skunk rule score is 11 or
even as high as 13.
[edit] Cancellation scoring
In cancellation scoring, corn bags in-the-hole and corn bags
in-the-count pitched by opponents during an inning (singles play) or
half of an inning (doubles play) cancel each other out. Only non
cancelled corn bags are counted in the score for the inning.
1. Corn Bags In-The-Hole Hole-ins (HIs) cancel each other. A corn
bag in-the-hole of one contestant 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 points.
2. Corn Bags In-The-Count Corn bags in-the-count cancel each
other. A corn bag in-the-count of one contestant 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 point
each.
Cancellation scoring may be easily calculated as follows:
1. The points of both contestants are calculated for hole-ins and in-the-count corn bags.
2. The points of the lowest scoring contestant for hole-in corn bags
are subtracted from the points of the highest scoring contestant for
hole-in corn bags. The result is the hole-in score for the highest
scoring contestant. The hole-in score for the lowest scoring contestant
is zero.
3. The points of the lowest scoring contestant for in-the-count corn
bags are subtracted from the points of the highest scoring contestant
for in-the-count corn bags. The result is the in-the-count score for
the highest scoring contestant. The in-the-count score for the lowest
scoring contestant is zero.
3. The hole-in score for each contestant is added to the
in-the-count score for each contestant to derive the recorded score for
the inning.
4. In this manner hole-in and in-thecount corn bags from each
contestant or team of contestants are cancelled out and only non
cancelled corn bags are counted in the score.
Another scoring method is to total all points (hole-in and
in-the-count together) and subtract the opponents total - so only one
team scores each inning. Ex. Team A throws 3 hole-ins and 1
in-the-count, point total = 10, Team B throws 1 hole-in and 3
in-the-counts, point total = 6; Team A would be awarded 4 points (10
minus 6) for this inning. |