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Official Rules of Horseshoe Pitching - (continued...)
- RULE 9 - PITCHING ROTATION DURING THE GAME
- Section A.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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.
- c. One opponent shall pitch first from one end and the
opponent shall shall pitch first from the other end.
- Section B
- Any game played using count-all scoring shall be played under
an alternate pitch format found in Section A, 2 above.
- Section C
- Any game played under any kind of handicap system shall use
an alternate pitch format.
- Section D
- 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.
- RULE 10 - 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 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.
- 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.
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.
- RULE 11 - APPROPRIATE NHPA MEMBER CONDUCT>
- Section A. On the Courts
- 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.
- Section B
- 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.
- RULE 12 - 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 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.
- 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. It's 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.
- RULE 13 - TOURNAMENT AND SANCTIONED LEAGUE
ADMINISTRATION
- Section A
- All NHPA sanctioned tournaments and leagues shall have a
designated committee or director to administer the activities. The
committee or director shall:
- 1. Publicize the event.
- a. Announce the date, place, entry fee, prize list,
registration deadline, and any other information a member will
need in order to participate.
- b. Announce classifications available to entrants.
- 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.
- d. Announce the method to be used for handling ties for
individual games and at the end of round-robin play.
- 2. Obtain verifiable ringer percentages from NHPA charter
statisticians (or NATSTATS) for all entrants.
- 3. Set up the playing format, assign contestants to their
proper courts and provide contestants with a schedule of games to
be played.
- 4. Make sure all entrants are NHPA members.
- 5. Arrange for scorekeepers for each court and for their
remuneration. The method and amount of pay shall be announced
before play begins.
- 6. Have statisticians available for the compilation of
tournament results.
- 7. Have judges available.
- 8. Handle all protests and make the final decisions on any
items that may come up.
- 9. Make the decision to halt play because of inclement
weather and decide when play shall continue if conditions improve.
- 10. Make the awards and presentations at the end of play.
- 11. See that the results are sent to the charter statistician
(and NATSTATS) for proper recording.
- Section B Judges. See judging guidelines.
- 1. Judges shall be appointed by the tournament committee.
Their duties are:
- a. To enforce the rules and issue the proper penalties if
violations occur.
- b. To measure for ringers, the closest shoe to the stake and
shoes in count when asked to do so by the contestants.
- 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.
- d. To act as a liaison between the contestants and the
tournament committee in all possible situations.
- 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.
- ...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 pits.........................4 feet
4. Material..............................2x12 hardwood
5. Paint Color...................contrast stake color
FENCE
1. Minimum Distance from stake............8 feet
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