Cornhole is one of the best backyard games for bonding with family and friends. Although cornhole has become a popular game across ages, many people aren’t aware of the proper cornhole regulations.
If you’re playing with multiple cornhole boards, you should follow the official rules for spacing them on the field. Let’s get into the basics of cornhole board rules.
Cornhole Court Basics
According to the American Cornhole Association (ACA), a cornhole board should be 27 feet apart from each other. A regulation-size cornhole court should be around 45 feet long and 8 feet wide to have two cornhole boards 27 feet apart from each other.
It is crucial to understand the cornhole court basics to fairly place your cornhole boards. If you place them too close together, it can ruin the suspense of the game. If you place them too far apart, it becomes too difficult to score any meaningful points.
When you are setting up your court, make sure it has a predominantly flattened area. Flat ground is ideal for a seamless cornhole game without unknown accidents. It even makes game play smooth as compared to if there was uneven terrain.
The Cornhole Board
To ensure that the cornhole board meets the specified regulations, it should have the following features:
- The board should be made from hardwood plywood and a thickness of ½”
- The board should be smooth enough to counter the weight of the bean bags without them sliding off
- The board should weigh more than 25 lbs and have the standard measurements: 47.5” to 48” x 23.5” to 24”
- The diameter of the hole should be 6” around a 9” center from the top of the board.
- The cornhole board playing surface should be 3” to 4” from the front ground to the top of the board. The back should be positioned at 12”.
According to these guidelines, you can create your own cornhole board or purchase the boards online.
Pitcher Boxes
Pitcher boxes (also called throwing spaces) are essentially designated rectangular areas measuring 4 ft by 3 ft at each end of the court. These boxes make sure that when you are pitching bags to the opposite side, you do not overstep the boundary.
Foul Lines
There is an imaginary boundary at the frontal side of the pitcher boxes which is known as a foul line. For instance, if the corn hole player’s foot passes the line while aiming at the pitching bags, a foul occurs and the result of the throw is automatically nullified.
What counts as a foul?
- If you step over the foul line
- If you throw from the wrong pitcher’s box
- If the bag pitched hits the ground before hitting the cornhole board
- If it hits any object besides the cornhole board
- Any pitching bag that is not pitched within 15 seconds
You or your team gains no points if you throw a foul bag. If you are able to pass the bag through the cornhole, you gain 3 points and if the bean bag lands on the cornhole playing surface then you get 1 point.
Distance Between Cornhole Boards
For a regulation game, the American Cornhole Association (ACA) specifies that cornhole boards should be 27 feet apart–measuring the distance from the front edge of one corn board to the other.
They are also measured by the distance from one cornhole to the other cornhole on the opposite end. The front side of the hole should be 33 feet away from the other cornhole on the opposite end.
There are instances where people follow the 24 feet distance rule if they are playing in the backyard or tailgating. In that case, you do not need to set up a 45 feet cornhole court, a 32 feet cornhole court playing surface should suffice.
Multiple Cornhole Courts
Sometimes you may be at a tailgate party or a cornhole game where multiple people are playing. To increase the fun, you can set up multiple cornhole keyboards at different ends.
If you are setting up multiple cornhole boards, you must be wondering how much space there should be. This depends on how much space you have.
If you have enough space for a regular size cornhole court, you can alternate pitching bags between these two courts.
Most recommend at least 10 feet between two cornhole boards but you can increase it to twelve feet if you have enough space.
Distance For Kids And Seniors
For most juniors and seniors, the recommended distance can be overwhelming. Typically, they are allowed to throw their cornhole bags at 21 feet from the cornhole board. So, this means that a junior or senior can step six feet ahead of the foul line to throw their pitched bag at the other cornhole board.
However, who fits within that category? Juniors below the age of 17 are regarded as juniors though the age can go lower to 14 and under. On the other hand, senior citizens usually range from 65 years and above but it can vary. Even people with disabilities of any kind can toss from 21 feet.
If your kids are below the age of ten, you can also consider setting your boards no more than 15 feet for ease of direction and comfort.
Conclusion
You do not have to always adhere to the cornhole rules if you are having a casual game or tailgating. The essence of a cornhole game is the thrill that accompanies opposing players. It doesn’t have to always be technical.
However, it’s good to have a general idea of how the courts should be set up and how the game ensues. Depending on the skill of your players and the designated space, you can choose many cornhole distances for your game!
