Cornhole Rules
RULE 1 - COURT LAYOUT
Section A. Dimensions - A Cornhole / Corn Toss court shall be a level
rectangular area 10 ft wide and a minimum of 45 ft long. The court should
consist of two corn platforms, designated pitchers boxes and foul lines. A
north-south setting is recommended for outdoor courts to minimize the effects of
the sun.
Section B. Pitcher's Box - The pitcher's box is the rectangle 4 ft by 3 ft at
each end of the court, parallel and on both sides of Cornhole platforms. Each
contestant must remain in the pitchers box while pitching the corn bag.
Section C. Multiple Courts - To eliminate distraction and safely separate
activity, Cornhole / Corn Toss courts adjacent to each other shall be a minimum
of 10 feet apart. A greater distance (at least 12 feet) is preferable.
Section D. Foul Lines – There are two sets of foul lines: (1) open adult play
and (2) junior play. The open adult play foul lines shall be defined as an
imaginary line 30 ft. from the beginning of the hole in the opposite Cornhole
platform. For Cornhole / Corn Toss this foul line will be parallel to the front
of the cornhole platform. The junior play foul lines shall be defined as an
imaginary line 21 ft. from the beginning of the hole in the opposite cornhole
platform. See the diagram below.
Section E. Covered Or Indoor Courts - The regulations for covered and indoor
Cornhole / Corn Toss courts are exactly the same with the additional stipulation
that they shall have a minimum 12 foot vertical clearance to the lowest possible
obstruction.
RULE 2 - PLAYING EQUIPMENT - CORNHOLE PLATFORMS AND BAGS
Section A. Equipment Standards
1. Each Cornhole platform shall be a 48" x 24" rectangle made of half inch
plywood. The game should only be played with wooden Cornhole platforms as there
is significant variance in play between wooden and plastic or other surfaces.
2. The hole in the Cornhole platform shall be six inches in diameter and be
centered nine inches from the top and 12 inches from each side of the Cornhole
platform edges.
3. The front of the Cornhole platform shall be from 2-1/2” inches from bottom to
top and be at near a 90-degree angle to the deck face.
4. The back of the Cornhole platform shall be 12 inches from ground to the
highest point of the deck at a 90-degree angle to the deck face.
5. The Cornhole / Corn Toss play surface shall be finish sanded to a very smooth
texture and there shall not be any blemishes in the wood surface that might
disrupt or distort play.
6. The Cornhole / Corn Toss play surface shall be painted with a high gloss
latex paint resulting in a surface that allows corn bags to slide but is not so
slippery that it allows the bags to slide back down the platform. The preferable
color is white, but any easy to see color is acceptable for tournament play.
7. The corn bags should be made from10 to 12 oz/sq yd duck canvas and may be any
color that is easy to see during Cornhole play. Each bag shall be filled with
approximately 2 cups of corn feed and finished bags should be a minimum of 6" X
6" square and weigh between 14 and 16 ounces.
RULE 3 - PITCHING DISTANCES
Section A. Adults - All open adult contestants shall pitch from the pitcher’s
box behind the 30 foot foul lines. Physically impaired adults or seniors may, if
agreed by all contestants, observe the 21 foot foul lines.
Section B. Juniors - Junior contestants may pitch from any place, but must
observe the 21 foot foul lines.
RULE 4 – CORNHOLE COURT PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE
Section A. Court Maintenance - Every effort shall be made to keep the Cornhole /
Corn Toss play surface in perfect playing condition. Cornhole / Corn Toss courts
should be free of anything that might distract a contestant during play. Each
contestant is responsible for making sure the court is in good playing condition
prior to starting the match. During a match, a contestant shall not be allowed
to alter the Cornhole / Corn Toss court in any manner without the consent of the
opponent or a tournament official.
Section B. Distractions During Play - Every effort shall be made to keep from
distracting contestants during Cornhole / Corn Toss play. Drinks and other
personal belongings should be placed behind the cornhole platform in designated
beverage holders or other secure locations to keep from distracting contestants.
RULE 5 - PLAY OF THE GAME
Section A. 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 of 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.
Section B. Innings - Every Cornhole / Corn Toss match is broken down into
innings of play. During each inning of play each contestant must pitch all four
corn bags.
Section C. 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. 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.
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.
Section D. Delivery Of Corn Bags -
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 pitcher’s box. A contestant shall pitch the entire tournament with the same
hand or arm, except in the case of a medical emergency.
3. Each individual contestant shall deliver the corn bag within 20 seconds. The
time shall start when the contestant steps onto the pitcher’s box with the
intention of pitching.
Section E. 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 who pitched second (last) in the preceding inning shall
pitch first in the next inning.
Section F. Position Of Contestants During Delivery -
1. The pitcher must maintain constant contact with the designated pitcher’s box
(See diagram above) during the entire address and release of the corn bag. The
only exception is for junior and physically challenged contestants, who must
simply remain completely behind the 21 ft. foul line when the corn bag is
released. The opponent, while not pitching, shall stand behind the cornhole
platform at least 2 feet to the rear of the contestant who is pitching. After a
short distance contestant (junior or physically challenged) pitches first they
must return to the cornhole platform if the opponent or any contestant on an
adjacent court is a full distance pitcher.
2. If both contestants use the same pitchers box to deliver their corn bags, the
contestant pitching first should cross over to the other pitchers box in front
of the cornhole platform and then move to the proper position. (see #1 above) As
the first contestant is crossing in front the second contestant should be
crossing over in back and mounting the pitchers box from the rear. If both
contestants use opposite pitchers boxes, the contestant who pitches first should
step directly back to the proper position described in #1 of this section.
Section G. Foul Corn Bags - A foul corn bag is a corn bag which was delivered in
non-compliance with one of the rules of the game. It scores as a corn bag out of
the count and is to be removed from the Cornhole / Corn Toss court before any
more corn bags are pitched. Corn bags already in the court that have been
knocked into foul territory by a foul corn bag should be returned to the scoring
area. Additionally, corn bags that are in the count, but are knocked into the
hole by a foul corn bag must be returned to their original scoring position.
1. The following are rule violations that must be spotted and called by an
contestant or assigned judge. The penalty is to declare the corn bag a foul corn
bag, which requires the corn bags to be removed from the court prior to resuming
play.
(a) Any corn bag pitched when the contestant has made contact with or crossed
over the foul line before the corn bag is released.
(b) Except as provided above, any corn bag pitched when the contestant has
started or stepped completely outside the pitching box before releasing the corn
bag.
(c) Any corn bag not delivered within the twenty second time limit.
(d) A corn bag pitched from a different pitchers box than the first corn bag.
(e) Any corn bag that contacted the court or the ground before coming to rest on
the cornhole platform.
(f) Any corn bag which struck a previously defined object such as a tree limb,
wire, indoor court ceiling, etc.
(g) Any corn bag that leaves a contestant's hand once the final forward swing of
the delivery process has started shall count as a pitched corn bag. A corn bag
that is accidentally dropped by a contestant before the final forward swing has
started shall not be considered foul and may be picked up and pitched.
2. A contestant's corn bags shall be called foul if the contestant removes any
corn bag before the scoring of that corn bag has been agreed upon. A judge shall
be called if a decision cannot be reached. The judge shall determine the scoring
for the inning.
Section H. Protests - If a contestant desires to make a protest, the protest
shall be made to the judge or tournament official at the time the problem
occurs. The tournament judge shall make the final ruling on all protests.
RULE 6 - LENGTH OF THE GAME
Section A. Point Limits - 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. The winning team does not need to win by two or more points.
Section B. The Inning Must Be finished - 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.
Section C. Ties At The End Of An Inning – 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.
Section D. Skunks - 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. It
this case the game is a skunk and the team that scores 7 or more points wins the
match.
RULE 7 – SCORING
Section A. Cancellation Scoring - In cancellation scoring, corn bags in-the-hole
and corn bags in-the-count pitched by opponents during an inning or half of an
inning in 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 (HI’s) 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.
Section B. Score Calculation - 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.
4. 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.
5. In this manner hole-in and in-the–count corn bags from each contestant or
team of contestants are cancelled out and only non cancelled corn bags are
counted in the score.
Warranty - Return Policy
Our Cornhole Bags are guaranteed for 30 days after date of shipment. If
you have a break in the seams stitching during the first 30 days it will be
replaced at no charge to you.
Returns and refunds will only be granted for up to 30 days after
receipt of your order. Orders cancelled prior to shipping will receive a
full refund. For orders cancelled after shipping, customer must pay for
the original actual shipping cost to the customer and actual shipping cost to
return the loft to us. Returned units will be inspected, if returned unit is
undamaged and in new condition the customer will receive a refund of the
purchase price less the actual shipping costs less a 10% return processing and
restocking fee. If damaged due to improper packaging during the return,
the customer will receive a refund less the cost to repair or replace the
damaged components, less the actual shipping costs, less the 10% return
processing and restocking fee. Before returning it to us, you must contact us to get a Return Authorization
Number from us. Items returned without a Return Authorization Number will
not be refunded.
What labeling do I need to put on the boxes?
Please put the purchasers name, email address and Return Authorization Number on the
outside of all boxes returned. Send Returns to:
College Bed Lofts
382 Upper Oakwood
Ave.
Elmira, NY 14903
607-739-2331
Make sure you write
the Return Authorization Number on each package.
