Cornhole League Rules and Information

List of Items

Item 1: The WRL Community & Culture

Item 2: League Play & Scoring

Item 3: Fees & Prize Fund

Item 4: Teams

Item 5: Player Conduct

Item 6: League Benefits & Prizes

Item 7: League Details

Item 8: Tournament Details

Item 9: New Seasons

Item 10: Relax!  Let’s have some fun.
 

Item 1: The WRL Community & Culture

WELCOME TO THE WRL COMMUNITY! Here at Wheat Ridge Lanes our leagues are FUN and RESPECTFUL! We are a fun beer league focused on having a good time with friends.  The payout is not extraordinarily different between final rankings and everybody gets paid at the end!  So, relax, have fun, and enjoy your fellow players.

 

Please let the staff know if you have any issues with speed of play, rule violations, unsportsmanlike behavior, or inappropriate language.  Although we are currently not sanctioned, we will do our best to have the cornhole boards clean and at competition levels.  Unfortunately, weather can be an issue and we will do our best to reschedule any postponed play.  If there is an issue we appreciate your understanding and patience.

 

PLEASE treat our center and staff with respect.  ALL players should not bring any outside alcohol or food to league play.  It would be much appreciated if you would return any house bags you use to their proper home, reuse pitchers and return glasses to the bar when finished, and plates and baskets to the kitchen when done with them.  THANKS!  We look forward to a wonderful inaugural season with you and your friends!

 

Item 2: League Play & Scoring 

1. Practice starts promptly at 7:00 with scoring beginning at 7:15. Expected to wrap up by 9:30

2. Every team consists of a Team of two players. You are allowed 2 subs, but must throw before June.

3. Teams play two matches consisting of best of 3 games.

4. Best 2 out of 3 games wins the match.

5. There are six points available every week.  Three points for each two matches.

6. 3 points for a shutout, 0 if they lose the first two games, and 2 or 1 depending on a split match.

7. IF there is a forfeit, the team here will get 2 points.

8. Handicaps are possible for 1 point for every 0 recorded match excluding forfeits.

9. Each team will position a player on each side of their set of boards opposite each other.

10.  Each set of boards has 4 bags per team that are thrown with the players from each team alternating throws.  After all the bags are thrown, the players on the other board agree on a score and they do the same.

11.  Each set of boards are separate games within the match.

12.  Switching sides/boards and opponents is allowed as long as both teams agree.

13.  Teams should be playing in line with their teammate so neither team plays on the right or left.

14.  In each round, only one team scores (Net scoring). The team that scores throws the first in the next round.  IF no points were scored (tie), the team that threw first last throws first again.

15.  A bag on the board is 1 point and a bag going into the hole completely is 3 points.

16.  Each game goes to 21 points and you must win by 2 points.  Teams DO NOT have to hit 21 exactly and can go over to win the game.

17.  ANY bag which hits the ground before landing on the board is a foul and the bag is pulled  (Other bags are replaced if moved.)

18.  IF any part of the bag is touching the ground, it is a foul and the bag is pulled.

19.  Throwing Line:  Players should throw bags from BEHIND the front edge of the board.

20.  Bags can knock other bags off the board. IF a bag is knocked into the hole by another bag, the fallen bag counts as 3 points.

21. Score disputes may be handled by individual players, otherwise the teams that the scoring issue has must notify the opposing team of the issue and request assistance from the League Staff.

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Item 3: Fees & Prize Fund

1. League dues will be $20/team $10/player per week - Season - $160 per team or $80 per player.

2. 25% of the league dues will be returned through the prize fund the week after the tournament.

3. The payout for the tournament will be determined based on the teams in the league 

4. Tournament night will always be on the week following the last night of play for the league.

5. Teams must pay the entirety of their dues before week three or will be replaced.

6. Vacancies should be avoided at all costs and will obviously impact your point total.

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Item 4: Teams

1. All WRL leagues will be mixed gender and open to anyone over the age of 21.

2. ALL communication will be conducted through your team captain.  It is his/her responsibility to relay WRL league information and contact us about league questions.

3. Teams will consist of five (4) players and a suggested minimum of two (2) substitutes/alternates. A maximum of 4 players is allowed per team.

4. IF your team doesn’t field a FULL TEAM (2) every week you may be removed from the league..

5. There are no restrictions on the lineups that a team may use on a given night, it is up to each team to set their lineup before beginning the first round. 

   1. Once the first round has been completed by a team, there should be no switches to the lineup order.

6. Rules for substitutes/alternates:

   1. New substitutes or alternates will not be allowed and deleted in the league following the fourth (4th) week of the league - Week of October 8th! IF there are extenuating circumstances we can approve late substitutions.

   2. ALL players MUST have played one match by the end of the 4th week (Week of May 19th) or WILL be REMOVED from your team.

   3. Substitutes shall be registered with the cornhole staff at least 15-minutes in advance of the start of practice on their first night of the season.

   4. Substitute situations are dealt with as each team sees fit, but WRL offers these options in relation to fee payment and prize payouts:

      1. Rotations: Players on any given night are responsible for their fee payment, but also receive a percentage of the prize fund based on the number of matches they play versus the total number of matches played by the team.

      2. True Substitutions: A substitute does not pay and the bowler they replace pays for their spot. As a result, these players do not receive a share of the team’s prize fund at the end of the year.

   5. Substitutions and alternates are strongly encouraged to come in before the league begins to sign up.

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Item 5: Player Conduct

1. WRL asks that its players are respectful of our staff and center by doing the following:

   1. Being careful of their alcohol consumption.

   2. Speed of play:  IF a team or players seem to be stalling to not allow the other team to score they will lose that game.

   3. Keeping food and beverage away from the area of play.

   4. All players are expected to comply with city, county, and state health guidelines.

   5. Not engaging in inflammatory behavior because of performance.

   6. Teams should be seated where their league envelope is until league begins.

   7. Being prepared to throw when it is their turn. Breaks, including smoking, should be done immediately after turns or between games. We try to complete league by 8:30pm

   8. If there are disputes with the league itself or the rules listed here, or the conduct of another player/team, it should be reported as soon as possible to the league operator.

   9. As a rule, neighboring boards aren’t in view or shoot while players throw - etiquette.

2. WRL reserves the right to remove players from the league due to their conduct.

   1. If a team has a member removed it is their responsibility to fill the spot within a week or play the remainder of the season with forfeits.

 

Item 6: League Benefits

1. If any player hits 6 straight holers they will receive a free pitcher.

2. If both players on the team get 4 holers in a row, they will receive WRL rally rags!

   1. Team must bring a WRL staff member to approve of the occurrence. 

   2. A team can only win one prize per night.

   3. Prizes will not be carried over to other weeks.

3. Other benefits can be provided by WRL at any time, and WRL reserves the right to make changes to the league benefits offered at any time and without the need of providing advance notice.

4. Prizes & Payout Night is a fun night where you throw for free, score independently, can invite outside players to join us, likely get a free drink, and play fun cornhole games.  Please join us!  

 

Item 7: League Details

1. Spring league seasons will consist of a 8-week season with a week following to allow for payouts.

2. The league start time is:

   1. Practice begins promptly at 7:00pm on the night of the league. If there are delays because of weather or maintenance, the center will make its best efforts to assure the boards will be available at the start time. Delays will be communicated to the players as soon and as frequently as possible.

   2. IF a player is more than 10 minutes late for scoring, play will begin without them. IF they arrive late OR if they leave early, they must take a blind score and -5 points for those throws. If a player on your squad is running late, have them throw 2nd in the rotation.

   3. The start of the first game will be at 7:15pm or when practice is completed. Teams will need to prepare their lineup and insert any substitutes BEFORE this time.

   4. If there are extreme weather situations or other extenuating circumstances preventing any teams from participating on their league night, the center will do our best to reschedule those matches, likely on the following evening. 

3. WRL operates night leagues on Monday & Wednesday nights in the Spring/Summer seasons.

4. Gambling of any sort is not organized, maintained, or sponsored by Wheat Ridge Lanes.

 

Item 8: Tournament Round

1. On the last night of the league (Week 8 for most leagues), teams will be placed in brackets based on their ranking within the league to finalize positions to be paid out from the prize fund.

2. It will be a double elimination tournament and may go two weeks.

3. Teams WILL keep their handicap, BUT lose one point for every series win.

4. Teams will play best of 3 matches to move on to the next round.

5. There will be a loser’s bracket to establish the finishing position for every team.

6. The winner of the “2nd Chance” Bracket will have to beat the winner’s bracket twice to get 1st.

7. The top 3 Teams will be paid out using their final ending position in the tournament.

 

Item 9: New Seasons

1. If teams are in good standing, they will have a priority spot reserved for the same league in the next year (season). The league operator will confirm if a reserved team will bowl in advance of the league beginning. So if a team does not respond, they will be removed from the roster of teams.

2. Bowlers can sign up for the next available league, but the league will not be able to guarantee the team a spot in the league. Sign up sheets will be ordered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

3. WRL will officially post flyers/sign ups for the next league 3-weeks in advance of the league’s start night or before the previous league, whichever is earlier.

4. Teams that have attendance, conduct, or payment issues will not be invited back to the league.

 

Item 10: Relax! 

This is just a fun beer league. Let’s have a fun season! This is not a contract; so just relax.