Cornhole Tournament

This rules sheet is not meant to be all-inclusive; rather it is a summary of the more common rules, policies, and procedures used by the Intramural Sports Program. All team managers and players are responsible for reading this document and understanding the rules, policies, and procedures prior to participating in this activity.

Team Participation - Individuals may only play on one team..
 
Identification - All players MUST present a UVM Cat Card to the IMS Supervisor prior to each game. Players who do not have their Cat Card will be subject to the terms of the Campus Recreation ID Policy.

Liability Waivers - All players should sign the online waiver when they registered on IMLeagues. Those who have not, may fill out a copy on site.
 
Team Rosters - The official team roster consists only of those individuals who are eligible and who have signed the official online IMLeagues roster/waiver. Individuals must be listed on the official online IMLeagues roster. Confirming that all players are listed on the official online IMLeagues roster is the responsibility of the Team Manager. 

 
Communication with Staff - All players should seek out campus recreation staff regarding rule enforcements or to ask a clarifying question. All matches are self-officiated by the teams playing. Any serious disputes should result in the teams replaying the point.

Sportsmanship - All participants are expected to respect their opponents, equipment, and the game. Disrespectful statements, continual badgering, or boisterous gestures may be considered un-sportsmanlike conduct and could result in a warning or ejection from our facility/league. Team managers are encouraged to demonstrate positive sportsmanship and be leaders of the team. All protests must come from the team captain or the acting captain of that contest. Teams will not receive a refund in the event that an unsportsmanslike situation takes place.

Players - Teams are comprised of two (2) players. Teams must have a minimum of two (2) players to start a match. In the event that a player becomes injured or has to leave the game (other than ejection) the game shall continue until it is deemed a farce by the IMS Supervisor. 

Equipment - All equipment is provided. Teams must use the bags provided.

Duration of Game & Scoring

Game Length

  • Teams play 1 game to (21), win by two (2). Teams may go over (21) without penalty.
    • Games are limited to fifteen (15) minutes. (If time ends - the current score stands)
  • Tournament format guarantees all teams at least two matches.


Game Play

  1. A coin toss will precede the match, with the winner having the choice of picking which side of the board from which they would like to play. The winner also decides who will throw first.
  2. The object is to score points by tossing the bean bags and landing them on the board or in the hole.
  3. Boards will be placed 27 feet apart in a straight line (front to front).
  4. Players must throw the bag from behind the front edge of the board.
  5. Each player's partner is positioned directly across from him/her in the opposite box at the other board. Each team will have one player throwing from the left pitcher's box and one player throwing from the right pitcher's box.
  6. The thrower must not go outside the designated pitcher's box during the process of throwing. The opposing player is to stand just behind his/her own pitcher's box while his/her competitor is throwing.
  7. A frame consists of players tossing their bags, alternating shots, until all 8 bags in the frame have been thrown.
  8. The team who scored in the preceding frame shall throw first in the next frame. If neither team scores, the team who threw first in the preceding frame shall throw first in the next frame.
  9. Players must deliver the bag within 10 seconds of stepping into the pitcher's box with the intention of throwing.
  10. Cancellation scoring rules will apply, in which opposing teams' frame points cancel out one another. Only those points that do not cancel out apply to the total score. (Example: Team Black scores four points, and Team Gold scores three points. Team Black is awarded one point).
  11. Point system
    1. 3-points - for a bag thru the hole or pushed into the hole by your own team or the opposition.
    2. 1-point - is awarded to any bag at the end of sequence which is lying on the board or hanging on the board. (Permissible as long as it did not touch the ground at any time during play.) 


Game Time is Forfeit Time!  - All intramural events are tightly scheduled based on facility availability to allow for maximum participation, so keeping the games on schedule is very important. Please have your team at the field checked-in and ready to play by your exact game time. Game time is forfeit time! If one team is late/is not present, the team's captain that is present and has the minimum number of participants required ready to play will be given two options (once a decision is made it cannot be changed):

  • Take the forfeit immediately
  • Give the team five (5) minutes to show with a penalty of (5-0). The game will begin with only the remaining amount of time.

Reserve Clause: the IMS Staff reserves the right to make time adjustments to accommodate scheduling conflicts