Idaho Cornhole League RULES and POLICIES

ICL RULES AND REGULATIONS

I. BOARDS

  1. Boards shall be made of wood for use in ICL sanctioned events. The most common types are maple, birch, and oak.
  2. Boards shall have a finished coat that features a smooth texture.
  3. Boards must measure 2 ft wide and 4 ft long, with a +/- ¼ in. tolerance.
  4. The hole must be 6 in. (+/- 1/8 in.) in diameter, centered widthwise.
  5. The center of the hole must be 9 in. (+/- 1/8 in.) from the back edge of the board.
  6. Boards must have a minimum top layer thickness of ¾ in. with cross-section support.
  7. Boards must have a weight of at least 15 pounds.
  8. The front edge of the board should be raised 3 ¼ in. from the ground (+/- ¼ in.).
  9. The top of the board should rest 12 in. above the ground (+/- ¼ in.).
  10. No foreign substances may be applied to a board after it has been purchased from a manufacturer. Substances include but are not limited to baby powder, cleaning spray, and silicone sprays.
  11. A dry cloth may be used to wipe down a board prior to play.

II. BAGS

  1. Players must supply their own ICL-approved bags for play in an ICL-sanctioned event.
  2. Directors may provide players with bags if they meet the bag criteria listed below:
    1. Bags must measure 6 in. wide and 6 in. long (+/- ¼ in.). Square in shape.
    2. Bags must weigh 16 oz (+0.50 oz or -0.50 oz)
    3. Bags must measure 1.25 in. (+/- 0.125 in. in either direction)
    4. Bags may be filled with any filler that does not damage or leave residue on a board.
    5. Rounded corners are allowed, but the corner should measure 0.625 in. Accepted tolerance will be reviewed by ICL
  3. After purchase from the manufacturer, bags may not be altered in any way.
    1. Alterations include repairing, stitching, removing resin, adding resin, ironing, and any other manipulation that results in a bag becoming different than the original state of purchase.
    2. Players may wash bags using fabric softener and/or detergent and dry in the dryer.
      PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DYE BAGS A DIFFERENT COLOR.
    3. Players may label their bags with initials or name with a permanent marker. The label must not exceed 1 in.
    4. Bags with holes where plastic resin can leak will not be allowed.
  4. Bags are not required to, but usually feature two different materials on each side.
    1. Any cloth, suede, or fabric-like material is permitted for use on either side of a bag.
    2. There are currently no banned materials for use, but the Idaho Cornhole League reserves the right to deem a set of bags “not permitted” if a material is found to be either:
      • Damaging to equipment
      • Damaging to the integrity of the game.
        All three of the other bags must have a gray suede side and a red duck cloth side.
  5. Players may dry bags, but no foreign substances can be applied to the outside of a cornhole bag.
  6. All bags in a set of four must have the same design and color for each corresponding side on all four bags.
    1. For example, a player may use a gray suede side and a red duck cloth side for a cornhole bag. All three of the other bags must have a gray suede side and a red duck cloth side.
    2. For example, a player cannot have four bags that have a gray suede side and alternating colors of red, blue, yellow, and green on the duck cloth side of the bag.
    3. A player may not switch bags during a singles game (but can after a single game in a series) unless a bag has been unintentionally damaged and leaking or if a bag mid-game has been unintentionally altered such that it affects the play of the game differently for one player in comparison to the other. In the event of a damaged bag, all four bags in that set must be swapped out at the end of the round for a new set of four bags (intentional damage leads to forfeiting of the game).
  7. If a player finishes a tournament and has earned prize money for his or her performance, the Idaho Cornhole League reserves the right to inspect all bags used by that player throughout the tournament.
    1. If any bags used by that player are inspected and found to not meet the criteria above, the player will forfeit all of his or her prize money for that tournament.

III. LAYOUT

  1. COURT
    1. A court is defined as the total area of play for a cornhole game consisting of two boards.
    2. PITCHER’S BOX
  2. A rectangle measuring 3 ft wide by 4 ft long (length of board) on either side of a board designates a player’s pitcher’s box.
  3. LANES
    1. A lane is defined as two pitcher’s boxes directly across from one another on two different boards on one court.
    2. If a right-handed player is in the pitcher’s box forcing his right hand to be directly over a board, the other pitcher’s box in his or her same lane would be on the opposite board, forcing his right hand to be on the outside towards the edge of play.
    3. In doubles play players on the same team will line up directly across from each other in the same lane, not diagonally from each other in opposite lanes.
  4. BOARDS
    1. Two boards should be located exactly 27 ft (+/- ½ in.) apart, from the front of one board to the front of another.
    2. The front edges of the two boards must face each other.
  5. FOUL LINE
    1. The foul line is designated as the front end of the board, which is also marked by the front edge of a player’s pitcher’s box.
  6. VERTICAL CLEARANCE
    1. For play indoors or under covering, the recommended minimum vertical height of a ceiling or covering is 12 ft. If you have a ceiling height lower than this, you will need to disclose this on your event page prior to the event.
  7. SCORE TOWER
    1. At least one score tower per court (two sets of boards) can be used and be placed a minimum of 1 ft behind one board, outside of the field play.
    2. Score towers are not required for play.

IV. PRE-GAME

  1. COIN TOSS
    1. Each game begins with a coin toss. One player or team flips a coin, and the other player or team calls their choice “heads” or “tails.” (Bag spin works in leu of a coin flip)
    2. In singles play, the winner of the coin toss will choose which lane he or she will pitch in for the entirety of the game and choice of bag color OR First Bag to be thrown to start the game.
    3. In doubles play, the winner of the coin toss will choose bag color and either choose (not both):
    4. The lane and location of each player of that team will be permanent for the entirety of the game and the first bag to be thrown to start the game.
    5. The player matchup for each board.
    6. In doubles play, the loser of the coin toss will get to decide the outcome of the other option in the previous bullet not selected by the winning coin toss team.
    7. In a series best of 3. The loser of the coin toss in game 1 will have the first choice in game 2. If the match goes to a 3rd game, you will use a coin toss to determine the choice.

V. PRACTICE

  1. Unless unanimously decided otherwise by all players on a court, it is customary to complete a “down and back” practice round before beginning a game.
  2. For singles play, players will complete one round of practice throws, walk down to the other board staying in their same corresponding lanes, and then complete one additional round of practice throws before the game begins.
  3. For doubles play, competing players on one board will complete one round of practice throws, and then each player’s corresponding doubles partner will complete a practice round of throwing from the opposite board in the same lane as their partner before the game begins.

VI. BAG CHALLENGING

  1. If a player or team believes that the opposing player or team is using a set of bags that do not abide by the bag policy, they may challenge the bags before the beginning of the game.
  2. To complete a challenge, an Idaho Cornhole League director or board member (also referred to as an official) not currently playing in the game must be contacted and he or she will complete a bag inspection.
  3. If the set of bags is approved, the game is set to begin as scheduled.
  4. If the set of bags is not approved, that player or team is given a warning, and the bags cannot be used for that game. The team or player must find an alternate set of bags to use for the remainder of a tournament.
  5. If a player or team already with a warning during one season has the same set of bags challenged OR has a different set of bags challenged that are, in turn, disallowed, that player or team forfeits all remaining matches in that tournament and is given a 1-month suspension from the Idaho CornholeLeague.
  6. If a player who has already served his or her 1-month ban is found to be playing with bags in an ICL sanctioned tournament that does not meet the bag requirements again, he or she will be suspended for the remainder of the season and or the following season also.
  7. Bags that are not challenged prior to a match are deemed acceptable for use during that match.
  8. As mentioned previously, ICL still reserves the right to inspect a player’s or team’s bags used in a tournament at its conclusion. If any of the bags do not meet the bag requirements, that player or team will forfeit the winnings for the tournament.

VII. GAME PLAY – PROPER PITCHING TECHNIQUE

  1. A pitch is defined as one player throwing a cornhole bag towards the opposite board from which he or she is standing attempting to make the bag onto the board or into the hole.
  2. A player is not necessarily required to attempt to contact the board. He or she may voluntarily choose to earn zero points on a pitch by pitching the bag intentionally off to the side or short of the board.
  3. The pitch of a cornhole bag must be underhand. NO overhand pitches.
  4. Upon release of the bag during a pitch, a player must have at least part of one foot inside the pitcher’s box.
  5. A player may not step on or over the foul line during a pitch of a cornhole bag and during a follow-through step.
  6. In the event of a player stepping over a line at any time during gameplay, excluding during a timeout, an official can be requested to officiate the match.
  7. Once the official is requested, he or she will officiate the remainder of the match.
  8. Once the match is being officiated by an official for every pitch from that point in the match onward any player steps on or over the foul line, he or she will have the bag corresponding to that pitch forfeited.
  9. A forfeited bag will be removed from the area of play during that round by the official.
  10. For every bag that is touched by a forfeited bag…
    1. Own bags that are on board during the touching of the forfeited will be removed and valued as 0 points.
    2. Any opposing bags touched on board will be removed and become an automatic 3 points per bag.

VIII. SEQUENCE OF PLAY

  1. Rounds
    • A round is defined as a complete sequence of eight bags thrown by two players (four each) towards on board.
    • Scoring is calculated at the conclusion of each round.
    • A player may adjust the board to which he or she is pitching only before the start of a round if it is misaligned or not at the correct distance.
  2. Pitch Sequence
    1. A game begins with a round in which the winner of the coin toss chooses who pitches the first bag.
    2. The opposing player at the same board in the opposite lane then pitches his or her first bag.
    3. Pitching alternates until all eight bags (four by each player) have been pitched which concludes the round.
    4. For singles play, the players will then walk to the other board, remaining in their designated lane, and complete another round of pitching.
    5. For doubles play, the two players’ partners at the opposite board will then complete another round of pitching.
    6. Playing continues until a score of at least 21 points is achieved by one team at the conclusion of a round.
      1. A player or team does not have to win by a minimum of two points.
      2. A player or team is not penalized for achieving a score over 21 points, the game is finished, and that player or team wins the game.
      3. If a player pitches in an incorrect sequence, the bag or bags that is incorrectly pitched is forfeited. Then, to reestablish the correct sequence of pitching, the opposing player will pitch two consecutive bags.
      4. If a player refuses to finish a game, that player will forfeit the game by a score of 21-0.
      5. If a player refuses to finish a game, that player will forfeit the game by a score of 21-0.
      6. If one partner of a doubles team cannot finish the match for any reason, that game will be forfeited by the team that could not finish by a score of 21-0.
  3. Timing
    1. Each player will have 15 sec to pitch his or her bag from the moment the opposing players’ bag comes to rest on the other end.
    2. If a player has the first pitch in a round, they will have 45 sec from when the last bag from the previous round comes to rest on that side of play for doubles and 1 minute for singles play.
    3. Bags must not be picked up while still moving. Players can pick up bags 5 sec after the bag comes to a complete stop.
    4. In singles play, each player is awarded two 60-sec timeouts.
    5. During a time-out, a player may leave the pitcher’s box to view the other board.
    6. If a player crosses the foul line prior to pitching a bag attempting to get closer to the opposing board for viewing purposes, it is inferred that the player is choosing to take a timeout.
    7. Timeouts taken in excess of the allowed timeouts will lead to that player or team forfeiting all remaining bags during that round.
    8. In doubles play, each team is awarded two 60-sec timeouts.
    9. During a time-out, a player may leave the pitcher’s box to view the other board.
    10. If a player crosses the foul line prior to pitching a bag attempting to get closer to the opposing board for viewing purposes, it is inferred that the player is choosing to take a timeout.
    11. Timeouts taken in excess of the allowed timeouts will lead to that player or team forfeiting all remaining bags during that round.
    12. Touching bags is prohibited.
    13. If a player (or player’s teammate) touches their own bags that are on the board during the timeout (or during play outside of a timeout before the round is complete), the touched bags will be removed and valued as 0 points.
    14. Any opposing bags touched on the board will be removed and become an automatic 3 points per bag.
    15. If any bags still need to be thrown, all untouched bags will remain on board when play is resumed.

IX. SCORE

  1. A bag that neither went through the hole nor is lying on top of the board at the end of the round is valued at 0 points.
  2. Bags that are lying on top of the front edge of the board but are touching the ground are valued at 0 points.
  3. Bags that touched the ground or any other surface before touching the board or going into the hole are valued at 0 points and must be removed from the board by an official.
    1. If this bag causes other bags on the board to move, the final resting places of the bags will count.
  4. In some instances, the bags in the hole will stack on top of each other until they reach the threshold of the hole. In this instance, a player may ask a spectator to “sweep” the bags from under the hole.
    1. If a player throws a bag and it “hangs” in the hole but is touching a bag in the hole, an official must come and, if possible, “sweep” the bags in the hole without disturbing or touching the hanging bag.
    2. If the hanging bag does not fall into the hole after a correct “sweep”, the bag is valued at 1 point.
    3. If the hanging bag unavoidably falls into the hole after a correct “sweep”, the bag is valued at 3 points.
  5. Players must wait 5 sec after a bag comes to a stop on the board before the players may pick up a bag at the end of the round. If a bag is slick enough that it begins to slide down on the board, players must wait for that bag to come to a complete stop before proceeding with a round.
  6. If a player interferes with the flight of a bag, the rest of that player’s bags are forfeited for the remainder of the round and the pitching player gets to re-pitch the bag.

X. PLAYER CONDUCT

  1. Talking, yelling, or movement that is distracting to the opposing team is not permitted.
  2. ICL and its officials reserve the right to deem any behavior inappropriate if it harms the integrity of the game.
  3. Officials may award warnings to any players who display inappropriate behavior.
    1. If a player continues to display inappropriate behavior during a tournament after receiving a warning from an official, the official reserves the right to disqualify the player for the remainder of the tournament.
  4. Coaching by spectators is not permitted during a match. Spectators standing on the opposite side of the board may not comment on specific bag situations.
    1. Spectators may not give specific strategic advice to a player during a game. This includes spectators who may be in the ear of a player on the same side of the board during a game.
    2. Spectators may encourage players with general statements like “push the bags in” or “drag the bags in” or “nice block” if it is not intended as coaching the player.
    3. In doubles and other team events, teammates may coach players if they are clearly identifiable and do not interfere with the timing of the play.
  5. Officials may award warnings to any players who display inappropriate behavior.
    1. The ICL directors and the league may punish spectators and players engaged in coaching however they see fit.
    2. The ICL and its officials reserve the right to deem any coaching behavior inappropriate if it harms the integrity of the game or the reputation of the ICL.
    3. Officials may issue warnings to any players who display inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to negative references towards the ICL, throwing bags in anger, cursing, fighting, inappropriate gestures, and comments disparaging the ICL, its staff, sponsors, players, and fans.
    4. If a player continues to display inappropriate behavior during a tournament, on social media or in the presence of sponsors after receiving a warning from an official, the official reserves the right to disqualify the player for the remainder of the tournament and/or ban them from playing in the ICL for the entire season.
    5. If a player does make physical contact with another player or spectator with the intent to harm that player will be suspended for 6 months and the League Championship. If a player does this a second time, that player is suspended for the remainder of that season and the next 2 seasons.
  6. Slander, or any comments deemed derogatory, directed at the ICL or any of its’ directors by a player on social media will not be tolerated. Punishments up to player suspension will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

XI. ICL LEAGUE

  1. ALL leagues will follow the same guidelines for the leagues except the regional director will have the authority to choose how they handle subs and ghost play for their league. ALL POINTS ARE AWARDED BASED ON THE REGULAR SEASON.
  2. Regional directors will need to post the league rules on their group page and define their substitution policy and ghost play policy.

XII. ICL POINTS

2024-2025 Membership = 500 points

Memberships are $60 for the 2024-2025 season. Non-members are allowed to play in local and regional tournaments; however non-members will not accumulate points and are NOT eligible for any of the added money in the regional tournaments.

Regional events will be hosted by Cornhole Unlimited, Moneyshot Cornhole, Portneuf Valley Cornhole along with several other regional clubs. Regionals will consist of two events each, singles and BYOP

Tier Levels and Seeding Regional and Championship events will be seeded for player tier levels following a round-robin set of games. A minimum of four round-robin doubles will be played to determine player seeding, based on players’ PPR into Tier Levels 1 through 4, both doubles and singles will be seeded from this round-robin. Example: 100 teams play round-robin, Tiers 1 through 4 will have 25 teams. The number of teams in each tier will be as even as possible taking into account the possibility of players being tied.

The championship event will be held in May 2025, TBD on the actual date/location. Players will have the option to drop three major events out of the total six events held throughout the year.

Example: Players play all six events, and only three will count for overall points; the lowest finishing three event points will be dropped. This is actually 12 tournaments over six events if the player plays both doubles and singles at each of the six events, which will go towards overall points. 

The total available points with membership points are 1,700 for Regional and Championship events.

Local events will be held monthly throughout the season starting in September and ending in May at each of the host clubs. The formats of the local events are up to the local director holding the event. Switcholio, Blind Draw, BYOP, or Singles are acceptable.

  • Players can earn local points at any of the hosting clubs.
  • Players will earn local points for their best 14 events. Local points will be added to overall points for the ICL 2024-2025 season.

The total available points from local events is 350.

XIII. ICL PRO STATUS

ICL Pro Status will be awarded to the highest points earning doubles team and singles player.

Pro Status players will receive the following.

  • ICL Season 2024-2025 Membership.
  • Paid entry into the 2024-2025 Championship event, respectively to the division of Pro Status
  • Custom (Player name and sponsors) ICL Pro Jersey

ICL TIER PRO STATUS

ICL Tier Pro Status will be awarded to the highest overall points in Tier 2-4. This is one individual per Tier combining all points earned. ICL Tier Pro’s will receive the following.

  • ICL season 2024-2025 Membership
  • Custom (Player name and sponsors) ICL Tier Pro Jersey

One ICL 2024-2025 membership to Pro or Tier Pro status per player.

Regional Points

Tier 1 – 1st place = 200 points
Tier 2 – 1st place = 175 points
Tier 3 – 1st place =150 points
Tier 4 – 1st place = 125 points

EXAMPLE:

Tier 1 Regional Points

Tier 2 Regional Points

Tier 3 Regional Points

Tier 4 Regional Points

Local Points

Tier 1 – 1st place = 25 points
Tier 2 – 1st place = 15 points

EXAMPLE: 

Tier 1 Local Points

Tier 2 Local Points

XIV. ICL COST

Regional Series – per event entered (3 max out of 6)

  1. Member – $40 = $10 host club, $5 ICL end-of-season championship tournament, $25 to event payout
  2. *Event center cost to come from payout pool

Local Events (14 max)

  1. Member – $20 Entry = $5 host club, $5 ICL end-of-season tournament, $10 to event payout
  2. Non-member entry $25 = $5 host club, $5 ICL end-of-season tournament, $15 to event payout
  3. *Event center cost to come from payout pool

XV. PAYOUTS

Local Events

Tier 1

  • 1st 34% total pool
  • 2nd 28% total pool

Tier 2

  • 1st 22% total pool
  • 2nd 16% total pool

Regional Events

A table lists payout percentages for four tiers. Tier 1, 3: 1st-25%, 2nd-20%, 3rd-17.5%; Tier 2, 4: 1st-15%, 2nd-12.5%, 3rd-10%.
A table showing the percentage of player pool payouts for four tiers, detailing the percentages for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.

Note: There will be two different pools of added money—one for Tiers 1 and 2, and another for Tiers 3 and 4.
75% of the added money will go to tiers 1 & 2 and 25% will go to tiers 3 & 4

Under no circumstances can any director change the payout structure agreed upon by the owners.

ICL Cornhole League reserves the right to make changes to the rules and regulations as they see fit during or after the 2024-2025 season. If the rules are adjusted, the rules will be reposted for ICL directors to share with their regions.