Do you love to play cornhole—also known as bags—with your friends and family? Or are you involved in a league and want to hone your skills and knowledge of the game to increase your chances of success? No matter what your reason or occasion to play this fun, interactive game, being aware of the official rules will always help you.
According to the American Cornhole Association (ACO), here are some common rule violations in the game and how to avoid them.
Incorrectly Placing the Boards
According to official cornhole rules, cornhole boards should be placed 27 feet apart from front edge to front edge. If you are just ballparking the distance or if you have to place the boards closer to each other due to space constraints, be aware that you are not playing a regulation game of cornhole. This likely won’t be an issue if you’re playing a casual backyard game with your friends, but could be a problem if you are doing league or other competitive play.
Not Keeping the Boards in Playing Condition
The boards need to be kept in proper playing condition according to official cornhole rules. This means that no foreign substances such as talc powder, wood cleaner, or silicone sprays should be applied to the boards before or during the game. If the boards need to be cleaned, this can only be done with a dry clean cloth.
Scoring Foul Bags
Foul bags—or those that do not land on the board or go through the hole—should not be counted as points. Bags are also considered ‘foul’ if they violate one of the following cornhole rules: touching the ground or court before resting on the playing surface; not pitched within the 15-second time limit; touching the ground while also on the board; striking a foreign object before landing on the board.
Pitching the Bag Incorrectly
Bags must be pitched correctly for them to count for points according to official cornhole rules. To pitch a bag correctly, players must use an underhand release, must pitch all their bags from their designated pitchers box, must keep one foot inside the pitchers box at time of release, and must release the bag before any part of their body touches the ground on or beyond the foul line.
Moving the Cornhole Boards During Play
There are very specific rules when it comes to moving or adjusting the cornhole boards during play. If a board needs straightened, a play can only do so between frames and with the approval of their opponent. If there is a dispute over whether or not a board needs to be straightened or adjusted, a Certified Official must be called in to make the final determination.
Playing by Official Cornhole Rules
Though you may not need to know all the ACO rules if you’re playing a casual game with friends or family, it’s always a good idea to know the official rules so you can play the game properly. If you are playing league or any type of competitive play, it’s vital that you play according to ACO rules so you don’t run the risk of penalties or disqualification.
