Cornhole Rules

No longer simply a backyard game for your summer cookout, cornhole is quickly rising as a sport of its own. The ACL, or American Cornhole League, has compiled an official list of cornhole rules and regulations regarding everything from boards and bags to the rules of play. Make sure you’re ready for your next ACL-sanctioned game by brushing up on all of the American Cornhole League’s rules.

The Bags and Boards

A regulation cornhole board must be:

  • Made of an ACL-approved wood such as birch or oak, with a smooth finish
  • 4’ long and 2’ wide, within a quarter-inch margin
  • At least ½'’ thick at its top layer if you’re using cross-section supports
  • At least ¾'’ thick at its top layer if you are not using cross-section supports
  • Raised between 2½'’ and 3½'’ off the ground at the front
  • Raised 12’’ off the ground at the back, within a half-inch margin
  • Free of any foreign substances such as baby powder or silicone spray on the surface

The distance between cornhole boards must be 27 feet, within a half-inch margin. The front edges of both boards must line up and face one another.

When you’re shopping for cornhole bags, make sure you buy a brand that’s approved by the ACL. Every year, it releases a list of approved brands—and luckily, Gladiator Cornhole Gear is among them. You must supply your own bags at an ACL-sponsored tournament, so gear up with a set of our regulation pro cornhole bags.

Keep the following things in mind as you shop for the perfect cornhole bags:

  • The bags must be 6” long and 6” wide, within a quarter-inch margin.
  • Each bag must weigh between 15½ and 16¼ ounces.
  • You are not allowed to alter the bag in any way after purchase. This means you cannot stitch up or repair any tears, and you may not add or remove any resin from the outside.
  • Each set of 4 bags must be identical in color and design.
  • Your bags are subject to random inspection by directors, especially if you win prize money in a tournament.

Now Let’s Move On To The Game Itself. As With Many Sports, It All Starts With A Coin Toss.

If you’re playing singles cornhole, the winner of the coin toss gets to choose their lane for the entirety of the game. If you’re playing doubles, the winner will choose either the lane and location of all the other players or the player matchup for each board. (They may not choose both.) No matter what, the winner of the coin toss will decide who gets the first throw.

It’s customary to do a round of practice throws before you begin the game in earnest. Think of it as warming up. Once you begin the game, it’s time to focus on your pitch. Underhand and overhand pitches are both allowed, and you’re not outright required to attempt contact with the board. You may elect to earn 0 points by pitching it off to the side.

When you release the bag, at least 1 part of your foot must be inside the pitcher’s box, and no part of your body may cross the foul line before you release the bag. Stay in alignment with the center of the cornhole board, and do not straddle the board to try and stabilize your shot. Your body must line up with the center of the board, with the exception of your hands and arms.

The first time you cross a foul line, the official will give you a warning. After that, each violation will cost you 1 bag for the round.

How Do Rounds Work Under American Cornhole League Rules?

A round encompasses a series of 8 throws—4 from each player—toward 1 board. If you need to adjust a misaligned board in any way, do so before the round begins, and stay within board regulations.

The winner of the pregame coin toss will determine who pitches first. The excitement of the game may increase your speed, but don’t throw your bag until your opponent’s bag has come to a complete stop, either in the hole or on the ground.

When it’s your turn to pitch, you have 20 seconds to do so, from the moment your opponent’s bag lands to the moment you release your own bag. If you snooze, you lose—meaning you forfeit that bag.

In singles cornhole, each player is allowed (2) 90-second timeouts. However, you must not touch any cornhole bags that are still in play. If a bag is in play, that means it’s “on the board,” whether in the hole or to the side of the board. Touching a bag that’s still in play—whether before a round ends or during a time-out—immediately ends the round. You don’t even have to physically hold the bag—any jumping or stomping near the board that causes the bags to move counts as touching.

Keep a cool head during the game, because getting too eager could cost you valuable points. If you pitch your bag before your opponent’s has even landed, you’ll forfeit that bag for the round. The same applies if you pitch 2 bags in a row. Should that occur, you will forfeit a bag and your opponent will get 2 throws to correct the pitching sequence.

These are the basics of how the game moves. Scoring is tallied up at the end of each round, and play continues until one team gets 21 or more points at the end of a round. You will not be penalized for getting 22 or 23 points.

If you cannot finish a game or you voluntarily walk away, you will forfeit that game immediately for a score of 21-0. If you’re playing doubles, your team will forfeit.

How Do Cornhole Scoring Rules Work In The ACL?

Scores are tallied at the end of each round. Bags that sit on top of the board count for 1 point, as do bags that “hang” in the hole (not fully inside the hole, but hanging on the edge).

 If your bag is pinned to a spot by another bag, it’s time to get an official involved. If the official removes the pinning bag and yours remains on the board, it counts for 1 point. If it slides off onto the ground, it counts for 0. Bags that are fully inside the hole at the end of a round count for 3 points.

 Scoring in ACL-sanctioned games features cancelation. Let’s say that Player X tosses 2 bags into the hole and 2 on the board, for a total of 8 points. Their opponent, Player Y, manages to get all 4 bags on the board, but none in the hole, for a total of 4 points. So Player X will receive 4 points at the end of the round—that's how many more points they scored than their opponent.

 Player conduct is also serious business in the ACL. As with many other sports, you are expected not to interfere with your opponent’s pitch with taunting or sudden movements. If your movement disrupts your opponent’s pitch, you forfeit all your bags for that round. Any yelling or heckling with the intent to disturb opponents is outlawed, but spectators and coaches may coach a player during the round with the intent to guide them.

 At the end of the day, the game officials and the director of the tournament are in charge. If they deem any behavior inappropriate or determine that any equipment does not follow regulations, they can issue penalties, forfeitures, and disqualifications at their discretion.

 When you enter an ACL-sponsored cornhole tournament, you thereby agree to follow the league’s cornhole rules and respect your opponents. Equip yourself for success with Gladiator Cornhole Gear’s bags, backpacks, and gloves; our patent-pending designs will help you improve your game and point you toward championship

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