Cornhole Rules

Basic Game Play:

  • 2 teams of 2 or more players
  • Boards are placed 27 feet apart (front to front)
  • Team Partners face each other from opposite boards
  • Play starts at either side with all 8 bags
  • Each team plays with a set of 4 bags and each team has their own color
  • Opponents alternate tosses until all 8 bags are played
  • The round is then scored (see scoring)
  • Repeat from the other end and the highest scoring team from the previous throw has the honors

Scoring:

  • Each match is best 2 out of 3 games (21, 21, 15)
  • 25 minutes per match
    • If the 25 minutes are up and the score is tied, each team chooses a thrower for sudden death, next-point-wins to win the game (each team rotates players until game is won)
      • If the match is tied 1-1 after the 25 minutes and sudden death, the team with the higher point total in that game at the 25 minute mark is considered the winner of that game. 
  • A team earns 1 point for each bag that lands on the boards
    • A bag cannot hit the ground and bounce onto the board, nor can they be touching the ground.
    • It is appropriate to remove all bags that have touched or are touching the ground before play continues.
  • A team earns 3 points for each bag that goes through the hole.
    • It must go completely through the hole. Bags that are hanging only count for 1 point.
    • If your bag is knocked into the hole, that team gets 3 points
  • The score for each round is the difference in team totals.
    • For example: After 1 round or 8 bags are played; Team A has thrown 1 bag into the hole and 3 bags off the board, their total is then 3 points. Team B has thrown 1 bag on the board and 3 bags off the board, their total is then 1 point. Team B’s score is then subtracted from Team A’s score and total score for that round is Team A gets 2 points

Pitching:

  • When pitching a bag, players must release the bag before any part of the player’s body touches the ground on or beyond the foul line
  • Accidental Release
    • Any cornhole bag that leaves a players hand once the final step (if taken) and final forward swing of the delivery process has started, shall count as a pitched bag.
    • A cornhole bag that is accidentally dropped by a player before the final step (if taken) and final forward swing has started, shall not be considered a foul bag and may be picked up and pitched.
  • Pitching out of Turn
    • If a player pitches out of turn at any time during a frame, their pitch will be considered a Foul Bag and swept from the playing surface.
    • If the out-of-turn bag affects any bags in play, their opponent has the option of returning all cornhole bags to their original position on the playing surface or leaving all bags as they are.
    • If the error is not discovered until after two (2) cornhole bags have been pitched, the frame shall continue and be score accordingly.
    • If no agreement can be reached, an Official shall be called. The Official shall either determine the scoring or void the inning and order it to be re-pitched.

Determining Sides & First Pitch:

  • A coin flip is used to determine who pitches first each match in pool play
    • Loser of the coin flip may pick their color
  • The team with the higher seed has their choice of bag color in Tournament play
  • The team with the higher seed pitches first in Tournament play

Recording the Score:

  • No cornhole bags shall be moved before the scoring is determined (unless they were removed before the final through due to hitting or touching the ground).
    • If this decision is in doubt, an Official shall be called to determine the scoring for the frame in question.
  • Recording the Score: Players are encouraged to pay close attention to the score at all times. Players are required to update their score on the score board at the conclusion of each frame.
  • Players may call upon the Official between frames if any discrepancy occurs regarding the correct score.