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 OFFICIAL RULES OF HORSESHOE PITCHING
Published By The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of
America (NHPA)
(Jan 1, 2004)
Official Rules of
Horseshoe Pitching -
(continued...)
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RULE 9 - PITCHING
ROTATION DURING THE GAME
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Section A.
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If the game is to be
played under
cancellation scoring,
there are two ways to
determine who shall
pitch first in the next
inning once the game has
started. The method to
be used shall be
determined before play
begins.
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1. The contestant who
scored in the preceding
inning shall pitch first
in the next inning. If
neither pitcher scores,
the contestant who
pitched second (last) in
the preceding inning
shall pitch first in the
next inning.
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2. Alternate Pitch -
Alternate first pitch is
used to guarantee each
contestant an equal
amount of first and
second pitches during a
game. It can be done in
three ways. If the game
is to be played to a
shoe limit, it is
recommended that the
limit be a number
divisible by four.
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a. One contestant shall
pitch first in innings
1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13,
14, 15... until the game
is completed. (This is
the fairest, and
recommended, way.)
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b. One contestant shall
pitch first in innings
1, 2, 5, 6, 9,10, 13,
14... while the other
contestant shall pitch
first in innings 3, 4,
7,8,11, 12, 15, 16...
until the game is
completed.
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c. One opponent shall
pitch first from one end
and the opponent shall
shall pitch first from
the other end.
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Section B
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Any game played using
count-all scoring shall
be played under an
alternate pitch format
found in Section A, 2
above.
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Section C
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Any game played under
any kind of handicap
system shall use an
alternate pitch format.
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Section D
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If it is discovered
during an inning (before
all four shoes are
pitched) that the wrong
contestant has pitched
first, the shoes pitched
so far in that inning
shall be picked up and
the inning shall be
repitched. If the error
is not discovered until
after all four shoes
have been delivered,
they shall be scored as
they lay and the correct
rotation shall be
re-established for the
rest of the game.
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RULE 10 - DOUBLES PLAY
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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
pitcher's 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.
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Section A Regular
Doubles
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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.
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Section B Walking
Doubles
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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.
1. When a shoe limit
game is scored after
each eight (8) shoes
(double inning), the
lowest rated contestants
will decide first pitch
and pitch their four (4)
shoes. After all eight
(8) shoes have been
pitched contestants walk
to the other end, decide
on the scoring, and pick
up their shoes. The
highest rated
contestants always pitch
first and their score is
recorded first after
each set of eight (8)
shoes. The decision on
which contestant pitches
first in subsequent
innings is contingent
upon the scoring system
being used following the
rules of singles play.
This procedure continues
until the game is over.
2. When a point limit
game is scored after
each inning four (4)
shoes, the lowest rated
contestants determine
the score of the four
(4) shoes their partners
pitched. The partner of
the scoring contestant
(or the last contestant
who pitched in case of a
no score situation)
calls the score and
pitches first. After all
eight (8) shoes have
been pitched the
contestants walk to the
other end. The highest
rated contestants pick
up their shoes (already
scored) and step back.
The score of the last
four (4) shoes pitched
is determined and called
to the scorekeeper. The
contestant calling the
score always pitches
first. This procedure is
continued until the game
is over. For safety or
other reasons, the
tournament director or
committee may effect an
alternative walking
sequence as long as the
proper scoring sequence
stays the same.
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RULE 11 - APPROPRIATE
NHPA MEMBER CONDUCT>
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Section A. On the Courts
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An NHPA member, while in
competition, shall make
no disturbing noises or
movements that would
distract the opponent or
competitors on adjacent
courts. The first
offense shall call for a
warning from the judge
or tournament official.
A second offense shall
call for a forfeiture of
the game being played.
Any further offenses
shall call for a
forfeiture of all games.
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Section B
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Any NHPA member who
indulges in heckling,
unfair rooting, or any
other form of
unsportsmanlike conduct
toward any NHPA member
or tournament official,
shall be subject to
expulsion from the
tournament and the
tournament site. This
covers any inappropriate
behavior (including
profane or abusive
language) in, or around,
the court area. The
member shall also be
subject to a one year
suspension from the NHPA.
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RULE 12 - TOURNAMENT
PLAY
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Section A
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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.
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Section B
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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.
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Section C
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A contestant's 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.
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Section D
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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. It's use
is encouraged, but not
required, for all NHPA
sanctioned play.
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Section E Handicapping
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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.
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RULE 13 - TOURNAMENT AND
SANCTIONED LEAGUE
ADMINISTRATION
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Section A
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All NHPA sanctioned
tournaments and leagues
shall have a designated
committee or director to
administer the
activities. The
committee or director
shall:
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1. Publicize the event.
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a. Announce the date,
place, entry fee, prize
list, registration
deadline, and any other
information a member
will need in order to
participate.
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b. Announce
classifications
available to entrants.
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c. Announce the method
of play (cancellation or
count-all), the length
of the games (how many
shoes or points) and
whether or not alternate
pitch will be used.
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d. Announce the method
to be used for handling
ties for individual
games and at the end of
round-robin play.
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2. Obtain verifiable
ringer percentages from
NHPA charter
statisticians (or
NATSTATS) for all
entrants.
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3. Set up the playing
format, assign
contestants to their
proper courts and
provide contestants with
a schedule of games to
be played.
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4. Make sure all
entrants are NHPA
members.
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5. Arrange for
scorekeepers for each
court and for their
remuneration. The method
and amount of pay shall
be announced before play
begins.
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6. Have statisticians
available for the
compilation of
tournament results.
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7. Have judges
available.
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8. Handle all protests
and make the final
decisions on any items
that may come up.
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9. Make the decision to
halt play because of
inclement weather and
decide when play shall
continue if conditions
improve.
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10. Make the awards and
presentations at the end
of play.
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11. See that the results
are sent to the charter
statistician (and
NATSTATS) for proper
recording.
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Section B Judges. See
judging guidelines.
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1. Judges shall be
appointed by the
tournament committee.
Their duties are:
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a. To enforce the rules
and issue the proper
penalties if violations
occur.
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b. To measure for
ringers, the closest
shoe to the stake and
shoes in count when
asked to do so by the
contestants.
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c. To help make the
proper decision in
situations involving
broken shoes, broken
stakes, shoes and stakes
moved by contestants
during measurements,
shoes pitched out of
turn and a contestant's
shoes mistakenly pitched
by the opponent.
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d. To act as a liaison
between the contestants
and the tournament
committee in all
possible situations.
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2. The decision's) made
by judges in 1,a-c above
shall be accepted as
final by the contestants
and the game shall
continue on from that
point.
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...end of rules...
This is similar to
drawing in NHPA rules
pamphlet)
This is similar to
drawing shown in NHPA
rules pamphlet.
This drawings is
partially similar to
drawing shown in NHPA
rules pamphlet.
BACKBOARDS
1.
Height.........................................12
INCHES
2.
Width.................................................3
feet
3. Distance behind
stake.......................4
feet
4.
Material..............................2x12
hardwood
5. Paint
Color...................contrast
stake color
FENCE
1. Minimum Distance from
stake............8 feet
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