Rules to play Horseshoes
21. Pit preparation and maintenance
Section A. Every effort shall be made to keep the substance in the pit in soft putty like condition so the shoes will not bounce or move around after coming in contact with the substance. The substance in the pit shall be watered (if necessary) and leveled to the top of the surrounding platforms (unless the pits are raised) before a game starts. Each contestant is responsible for one pit, but a contestant may have someone else do the preparation. During a game, a contestant shall not step on, mash, or otherwise repair any of the substance in the scoring area of the pit without the consent of the opponent or a tournament official. Repair needed because of a measured shoe or a shoe which was buried shall be handled using the same guidelines.
22. Game preparation
It is customary for contestants to find out their court assignments and warm up on the court for their first game with the proper opponent. The court should be prepared for play during this time. When the tournament official announces the start of play, the contestants shall flip a shoe or coin with the winner having the choice of first or second pitch.
After a game is completed, a contestant shall go to the next assigned court and prepare one pit for play. When the other contestant arrives, the same procedure shall be followed. When both contestants have arrived and prepared the pits, they may pitch four warm up shoes each and then must start their game, using the method in the previous paragraph to decide first pitch. It is legal for a contestant to practice alone if the second contestant is late in arriving.
After a game is completed, a contestant shall go to the next assigned court and prepare one pit for play. When the other contestant arrives, the same procedure shall be followed. When both contestants have arrived and prepared the pits, they may pitch four warm up shoes each and then must start their game, using the method in the previous paragraph to decide first pitch. It is legal for a contestant to practice alone if the second contestant is late in arriving.
23. Play of the game and value of the shoe
1. Ringer A ringer is a shoe which comes to rest encircling the stake. A straightedge touching both points or any part of the heel calks of the shoe must clear (not touch) the stake in order for a shoe to be declared a ringer. A ringer has a value of three points.
2. Shoe in Count A shoe which is not a ringer but comes to rest with any portion of it within 6 inches of any part of the stake is a shoe in count. A shoe in count has a value of one point. A leaner, or any other shoe which is touching the stake (but not a ringer), is considered a shoe in count and has a value of one point.
3. Shoe Out of Count A shoe which comes to rest further than 6 inches from the stake is a shoe out of count and has no scoring value. A shoe which is declared to be a foul shoe (see Section H) is considered to be a shoe out of count (no matter where it comes to rest).
2. Shoe in Count A shoe which is not a ringer but comes to rest with any portion of it within 6 inches of any part of the stake is a shoe in count. A shoe in count has a value of one point. A leaner, or any other shoe which is touching the stake (but not a ringer), is considered a shoe in count and has a value of one point.
3. Shoe Out of Count A shoe which comes to rest further than 6 inches from the stake is a shoe out of count and has no scoring value. A shoe which is declared to be a foul shoe (see Section H) is considered to be a shoe out of count (no matter where it comes to rest).
24. Length of the game
The length of a game shall be determined before play begins. There are two options:
1. Point Limit The game shall be played to a predetermined number of points. 40 points is the suggested amount. The first contestant to reach (or exceed) that amount is the winner.
2. Shoe Limit The game shall be played to a predetermined amount of shoes. It shall be an even number. When that amount is reached, the contestant with the highest score is the winner. If the score is tied, there are two options:
a. Each contestant shall receive 1 2 win and 1 2 loss. (This option should be used if a handicap system is in effect.)
b. A two inning tie breaker shall be played, using the same method of play that was used in the game. In the event of another tie, the same process shall be repeated and this procedure shall continue until the tie is broken.
1. Point Limit The game shall be played to a predetermined number of points. 40 points is the suggested amount. The first contestant to reach (or exceed) that amount is the winner.
2. Shoe Limit The game shall be played to a predetermined amount of shoes. It shall be an even number. When that amount is reached, the contestant with the highest score is the winner. If the score is tied, there are two options:
a. Each contestant shall receive 1 2 win and 1 2 loss. (This option should be used if a handicap system is in effect.)
b. A two inning tie breaker shall be played, using the same method of play that was used in the game. In the event of another tie, the same process shall be repeated and this procedure shall continue until the tie is broken.
25. Doubles play
In doubles play, two contestants are partners against another team of two contestants. One contestant from each team shall be at each end of the court and the contestants shall be matched by the tournament officials to that the highest rated contestant (by percentage) from each team shall be at the same end. The tournament committee shall determine the length of game and type of play and the scoring shall be done on one score sheet, just like for singles play. When contestants are pitching their shoes, the contestants at the other end shall be well behind and to the side of the pitchers box (for their own safety) and in a stationary position so as not to disturb the contestants on their own and adjacent courts. Otherwise, all rules for singles play shall apply.
Section A Regular Doubles
In regular doubles, each team uses one pair of shoes and the contestants stay at the same end of the court for the entire game. To begin the game, the highest rated contestants shall decide first pitch and pitch their shoes, just as in singles competition. Their partners at the other end shall decide and call the score, retrieve the shoes and pitch them back and the same procedure is followed. The decision on who pitches first in each inning is contingent upon the scoring system being used, following the rules of singles play.
Section B Walking Doubles
In walking doubles all contestants pitch their own shoes. The highest rated contestants will decide first pitch and pitch their four shoes from the official designated starting end to start the game. A single score sheet shall be used that clearly shows the ringers and shoes of each contestants.
Section A Regular Doubles
In regular doubles, each team uses one pair of shoes and the contestants stay at the same end of the court for the entire game. To begin the game, the highest rated contestants shall decide first pitch and pitch their shoes, just as in singles competition. Their partners at the other end shall decide and call the score, retrieve the shoes and pitch them back and the same procedure is followed. The decision on who pitches first in each inning is contingent upon the scoring system being used, following the rules of singles play.
Section B Walking Doubles
In walking doubles all contestants pitch their own shoes. The highest rated contestants will decide first pitch and pitch their four shoes from the official designated starting end to start the game. A single score sheet shall be used that clearly shows the ringers and shoes of each contestants.
26. Tournament play
Section A
The standard method of NHPA sanctioned tournament play is round robin play with contestants being seeded into classes. Each contestant will play every contestant in the class.
Section B
At the end of round robin play, class winners shall be determined by win loss records or ringer percentage. In addition, total points may be used if the scoring was done using the count all method. If ties occur, they shall be settled by playoff, who beat whom or one of the other methods that was not used to determine the winner. The tournament committee shall decide how winners are to be determined and how ties are to be broken and announce these procedures before tournament play begins. If playoff games take place, the method of play and the length of the games shall be decided by the tournament committee.
Section C
A contestants ringer percentage shall be determined by dividing the total number of ringers by the total number of shoes pitched. Shoes pitched in playoff games and in extra innings pitched because of tie games shall be included in these totals.
Section D
The rules used to seed contestants in all NHPA sanctioned tournaments are found in Articles X XII of the NHPA Bylaws. In addition, rules regarding game length and format and tie breaking situations in State, Regional,National, and World Championship play are found in the same Articles. The NHPA Dress Code for World Tournament play is found in Article X. Its use is encouraged, but not required, for all NHPA sanctioned play.Section E Handicapping Handicapping may be used in open tournaments and league play. The amount of the handicap shall be determined by the tournament committee. Game handicapping shall not be used in any World, National, or Regional Tournament or in the championship class of a designated division of any State Championship Tournament.
The standard method of NHPA sanctioned tournament play is round robin play with contestants being seeded into classes. Each contestant will play every contestant in the class.
Section B
At the end of round robin play, class winners shall be determined by win loss records or ringer percentage. In addition, total points may be used if the scoring was done using the count all method. If ties occur, they shall be settled by playoff, who beat whom or one of the other methods that was not used to determine the winner. The tournament committee shall decide how winners are to be determined and how ties are to be broken and announce these procedures before tournament play begins. If playoff games take place, the method of play and the length of the games shall be decided by the tournament committee.
Section C
A contestants ringer percentage shall be determined by dividing the total number of ringers by the total number of shoes pitched. Shoes pitched in playoff games and in extra innings pitched because of tie games shall be included in these totals.
Section D
The rules used to seed contestants in all NHPA sanctioned tournaments are found in Articles X XII of the NHPA Bylaws. In addition, rules regarding game length and format and tie breaking situations in State, Regional,National, and World Championship play are found in the same Articles. The NHPA Dress Code for World Tournament play is found in Article X. Its use is encouraged, but not required, for all NHPA sanctioned play.Section E Handicapping Handicapping may be used in open tournaments and league play. The amount of the handicap shall be determined by the tournament committee. Game handicapping shall not be used in any World, National, or Regional Tournament or in the championship class of a designated division of any State Championship Tournament.
