Official Cornhole Game Rules | ACO Rules

Official Cornhole Game Rules for Cornhole Playing Equipment, Cornhole Court Layout, Cornhole Scoring, Play of the Cornhole Game, Other General Rules and Livestream Rules.

Cornhole Playing Equipment

1.1 Equipment Approved by ACO (American Cornhole Organization)

Not only ACO branded equipment is allowed

• Boards approved by ACO can be used for organizing ACO Regional tournaments during ACO Season 16
• Bags approved by ACO can be used for both ACO Regional and Major tournaments during ACO Season 16 and at the ACO World Cornhole Championships 16
• To be considered approved by ACO, the equipment must follow the rules below.

1.2 Boards Approved by ACO

• The playing surface must be made of hardwood plywood, measuring between 47.5″ to 48″ long and 23.5″ to 24″ wide.
• The playing surface should be at least 1/2″ thick with backing, or 3/4″ thick with or without backing.
• Each board must have a hole 6″ in diameter, centered 9″ from the top edge and centered between the sides.
• The front of the board should be 3″ to 4″ above the ground.
• The back of the board should be 12″ above the ground.
• The playing surface must be smoothly sanded. There should be very few blemishes that could disrupt or alter play.
• The surface can be painted with high-gloss latex paint or varnish. It should allow bags to slide when thrown, but not be so slippery that the bags slide back.

1.3 Bags Approved by ACO

• Bags that have been approved by the ACO can be used at ACO Tour Events (ACO Regionals, Majors, Conference Championships, State Championships)
• Players can bring their own ACO approved bags to ACO Tour Events
• A full list of bags pre-approved by ACO can be found on the website americancornhole.com/bring-your-own-weapon
• Approved bags don’t necessarily have to be listed on AmericanCornhole.com – they can also be approved by the Official in charge on the event day if they meet the approval requirements

1.4 Specifications for ACO Approved Bags

• Each bag must be filled with plastic resin/beads that won’t break down
• Each bag must weigh between 15.75 ounces (447g) and 16.25 ounces (461g)
• When laid flat, each bag cannot be thicker than 1.5 inches (3.8cm)
• When laid flat, each bag must be at least 1.125 inches (3.18cm) thick
• When laid flat, each bag must be at least 5.75 inches (14.60cm) wide at its narrowest point (side to side)
• When laid flat, each bag cannot be wider than 8.25 inches (21cm) at its widest point (corner to corner)
• Each bag must clearly show the manufacturer’s logo/name and series name printed on it
• Bags must be one primary color
• Bags can have rounded corners but not more rounded than 0.5 inches from the corner on a 6 inch by 6 inch bag

1.5 Player Responsibilities for Bags

• Bags must meet all the ACO approved specifications listed above, even if they are worn
• Bags must clearly show the manufacturer’s logo and series name printed on them
• Bags must not be altered from their original state – no new seams, refilling, re-stamped logos, etc.
• No foreign substances like sprays or talcum powder should be applied to the bags
• Bags must not leave any residue on the playing surface
• Bags should appear clean and not excessively worn
• Bags must be one primary color

1.6 Additional Guidelines for Players’ Bags:

• Bags may be inspected at any time by an ACO Official
• Before a game starts, players can inspect and toss their opponent’s bags once
• Players can request an ACO Official to inspect their opponent’s bags before the game
• Once a game begins, the bags are considered legal and the game result will stand
• When choosing bag colors before a game, the higher seeded/coin toss winner picks their color first, then the opponent picks a distinguishable color
• During a game, each player must use all 4 bags of the same series from the same manufacturer
• Players violating bag policies may face disciplinary action:

1st violation – Those bags can’t be used for the rest of the tournament. Player must use different approved bags or provided house bags.

2nd violation – Forfeit that game. Must use provided house bags for the rest of tournament.

3rd violation – Disqualified from tournament. Possible membership suspension review.

Violations at 2 separate events in one season – Disqualified and possible membership suspension review.

• The ACO Official has the final say on disputes. They can require players to use provided house bags at any time.
• For televised/streamed games, if a player’s bags look too old/dirty/worn, they may have to use provided house bags.

Here’s that section rewritten in simple wording:

Cornhole Court Layout

2.1 Cornhole Court Layout

Cornhole Court:

A regulation size cornhole court must be 8 feet wide and 40 feet long. It is recommended to have a vertical clearance (height) of twelve (12) feet. If the court has a clearance of less than 12 feet, this must be noted in the tournament details before the event.

This court consists of two (2) player lanes:

Lane 1: Contains the two designated pitcher’s boxes on the left side of the board.

Lane 2: Contains the two designated pitcher’s boxes on the right side of the board.

Cornhole Boards: The boards are positioned 27 feet apart, measuring from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other board.

Cornhole Pitcher’s Boxes: There is a designated 4 feet x 3 feet pitcher’s box at each end of the court and on both sides of each board, making four (4) boxes in total.

Cornhole Foul Lines: The front edge of each cornhole board acts as the foul line.

Score Tower: Each court will have a score tower to help keep track of the score. Copy

2.2 Preparing and Maintaining the Cornhole Court

Every effort should be made to keep the cornhole playing surface in perfect condition. Players are responsible for ensuring the court is in good playing condition before starting the match.

• No foreign substances (such as Pledge, talcum powder, baby powder, silicone sprays) may be applied to the playing surface or bags by any player before or during the game.
• A dry clean cloth can be used to wipe down the boards before starting the game.

Cornhole Scoring

3.1 Length of Games

Traditional 21 The game is played until one player/team reaches or exceeds 21 points. The first player/team to reach or go over 21 points at the end of a round is the winner.

3.2 Bag Terminology

Woody – This refers to any bag that lands and stays on the surface of the cornhole board at the end of a round.

Cornhole – This refers to any bag that goes through the hole in the cornhole board at any point during a round.

3.3 Foul Bags

Refers to any bags that are not considered a “woody” (on the board surface) or a “cornhole” (through the hole). A foul bag meets any of these criteria:

• Any bag pitched when the player didn’t have at least one foot completely inside the pitcher’s box at release time
  • Must be witnessed and enforced by a Certified Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count and Certified Official Strike against player
• Any bag thrown when the player foot-faulted
  • Must be witnessed and enforced by a Certified Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count and Certified Official Strike
• Any bag not pitched within the 15 second time limit
  • Must be witnessed and enforced by a Certified Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count and Certified Official Strike
• A bag pitched from a different pitcher’s box than the designated one
  • Can be enforced by player, opponent or Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count
• Any bag that contacted the ground before resting on the board surface
  • Can be enforced by player, opponent or Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count
• Any bag resting while touching both the ground and board
  • Can be enforced by player, opponent or Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count
• Any bag that struck an object like a tree, wire, ceiling etc. before landing
  • Can be enforced by player, opponent or Official
  • Penalty: Bag doesn’t count

3.4 Methods of Scoring

Cancellation Scoring – This is the approved way of scoring in cornhole. In cancellation scoring, the points scored by one player/team cancel out the points scored by the opponent in the same round. This means only one player/team can score points in each round.

Woody – Each bag that lands and stays on the board surface (“woody”) is worth 1 point.

Cornhole – Each bag that goes through the hole (“cornhole”) is worth 3 points.

Example:
Red player scores 1 woody and 2 cornholes in a round (7 total points)
Blue player scores 2 woodies and 0 cornholes in the same round (2 total points)
7 points – 2 points = Red player scores 5 points for that round

3.5 Recording the Score

• No bags should be moved before the scoring for that round is determined. If there is any doubt, a Certified Official will decide the scoring for that round.
• Players should pay close attention to the score. Players must update the score on the score tower at the end of each round. Players can call a Certified Official between rounds if there is any disagreement about the correct score.
• When there is a dedicated scorekeeper managing the score tower, it is the responsibility of the player/team who scored in that round to call out their score to the scorekeeper. Players/teams must ensure the score is correct on the score tower before moving to the next round.

Play of the Cornhole Game

4.1 Overview of Singles and Doubles Play

Singles Play

• Player A competes against Player B
• Each player stays in their designated lane for the whole game
• Players start the game at one cornhole board and take turns pitching all 4 of their bags
• Then players walk to the other end of their lane to the opposite board, record the score, and resume pitching bags back towards the first board

Doubles Play

• Team A with 2 players competes against Team B with 2 players
• Each team stays in their designated lane for the whole game
• At one board, the players from both teams take turns pitching until all 4 of their bags are pitched
• At the other board, the players record the score and then resume pitching bags back towards the first board

4.2 Pitching Rotation, Lane Assignments, and Bag Color

Who pitches first, which lane each player/team uses, and which bag color they get is normally decided by the tournament format.

Seeded Tournaments

• The player/team with the higher seed chooses their bag color first.
• The player/team with the higher seed pitches first.
• In singles play, the higher seeded player chooses which lane each player uses.

In doubles play, the higher seeded team chooses one of these options:

1. Choose which lanes each team uses
2. Choose which opponent player they pitch against (head-to-head matchups)

• If they choose option 1, the higher seed picks their lane first and stands in those pitcher’s boxes. Then the lower seed picks which lane/pitcher’s boxes they want to determine the head-to-head matchups.
• If they choose option 2, the lower seed picks their lane first and stands in those pitcher’s boxes. Then the higher seed picks which lane/pitcher’s boxes to determine the head-to-head matchups.

NOTE: If playing best 2 out of 3 games, the higher seed gets first pitch and lane choice in game 1, the lower seed gets it in game 2. If a third game is needed, it goes back to the higher seed for first pitch and lane choice.

Randomly Seeded Tournaments

• The player/team that wins a coin toss chooses their bag color
• The player/team that wins the coin toss pitches first

In singles play, the coin toss winner chooses which lane each player uses.

In doubles play, a coin toss determines which player/team selects one of these options:

1. Choose which lanes each team uses
2. Choose which opponent player they pitch against (head-to-head matchups)

• If they choose option 1, the coin toss winner picks their lane first and stands in those pitcher’s boxes. Then the losing team picks their lane/pitcher’s boxes to set the head-to-head matchups.
• If they choose option 2, the coin toss loser picks their lane first and stands in those pitcher’s boxes. Then the winning team picks their lane/pitcher’s boxes to set the head-to-head matchups.
• If playing best 2 out of 3 games, the coin toss winner gets first pitch and lane choice in game 1, the loser gets it in game 2. If a third game is needed, another coin toss determines who gets first pitch and lane choice.

4.3 Throwing Cornhole Bags

Throwing

• Players take turns throwing bags one at a time until each player has thrown all 4 of their bags.
• A player must throw all 4 cornhole bags from the throwing box area marked for them.
• Players must throw the bag in an underhand motion.
• One foot must be completely inside the throwing box when releasing the bag.
• A player cannot step over the foul line in front of them before their bag hits the board at the other end. If a player steps over the foul line too soon, it will be considered a foot foul.

4.4 Foot Foul

A foot foul happens when a player steps over the foul line in front of them before their bag hits the board at the other end.

Procedures and Penalties for Foot Fouls:

• If the other player sees a foot foul, they must call a timeout and notify an official referee. The player will not be penalized for the timeout.
• An official referee will come to the court to watch the game.
• The referee will tell both players why they were called over, as a warning.
• If the referee sees more foot fouls, these are the penalties:
• 1st Violation: The player gets a “1st Strike” and their thrown bag is removed from the playing area. The other player can put any moved bags back where they were or leave them.
• 2nd Violation: The player gets a “2nd Strike” and their bag is removed. The other player can reposition any moved bags or not.
• 3rd Violation: The player loses and forfeits the current match on the third foot foul.

NOTE: An official referee can also choose to watch the game without the players requesting it.

4.5 Accidentally Releasing the Bag

• If a cornhole bag slips out of a player’s hand after they take their final step (if they take a step) and start their final forward swing to throw, that bag is counted as thrown.
• If a player accidentally drops the bag before taking their final step (if they take a step) and starting their final forward swing, it is not considered a thrown bag. The player can pick it up and throw it properly.

4.6 Throwing for the Next Round

• The player/team who scored points in the previous round will throw first in the next round.
• If neither player/team scored, the player/team who threw first in the previous round will throw first again in the next round.

4.7 Throwing Out of Turn

• If a player throws their bags when it was not their turn to throw, it is considered throwing out of turn.
• If this happens, the proper throwing order will be restored as soon as it is discovered, with no penalty.
• Any bags that were thrown out of turn are returned to the thrower and repitched in the proper order.

4.8 Touching Bags Before Round is Finished

If any player touches bags that are scoring points (on the board or in the hole), whether on purpose or accidentally, before all bags for that round have been thrown, the round is over.

The team that touched the bags loses. They get the points for any bags they had already thrown that round.

The other team that did not touch the bags gets 12 points for that round, as if they had sunk all 4 bags in the hole.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The 12 points are NOT automatically added to the overall game score. The 12 points only count for that one round before it was stopped.

EXAMPLE:

• Red team had thrown 3 bags worth 5 points so far that round
• Blue team had thrown 3 bags worth 7 points so far
• Blue accidentally grabs the bags
• The round stops
• Blue’s remaining unthrown bag doesn’t count
• Blue gets their 7 points from bags already thrown
• Red gets 12 points for that stopped round
• 12 Red points – 7 Blue points
• So Red scores 5 points for just that one round

4.9 Time Limits

Throwing and Scoring

Throwing: A player must throw each cornhole bag within 15 seconds after their opponent’s bag has stopped moving.

Procedure and Penalties for Taking Too Long:

• If the other player sees a time violation, they must call a timeout and notify an official referee. The player won’t be penalized for the timeout.
• The referee will come watch the game.
• The referee warns both players why they were called.
• If the referee sees more time violations:
  • 1st Violation: Player gets a 1st Strike
  • 2nd Violation: Player gets a 2nd Strike
  • 3rd Violation: Player loses and forfeits the current match NOTE: A referee can choose to watch without players requesting it.

In singles games, once the last bag is thrown, each player has 30 seconds to walk to the other end, pick up their bags, and get ready to throw again.

• The referee can make exceptions for disabilities.

Scoring: The round will be scored 5 seconds after the last bag is thrown and hits the board.

• If a player thinks bags are still moving, they must immediately tell their opponent not to touch the bags, and start counting out loud “One ACO, Two ACO…Five ACO”
• Any bag that moves position after 5 seconds counts from its previous spot.
• If timing can’t be agreed on, the referee will score or cancel that round.

Other General Rules

5.1 Moving Cornhole Boards and Bags

A player can only straighten or adjust the cornhole boards between rounds, and only if their opponent agrees. If there is a disagreement about where to place the boards, an official referee can be called to decide the proper placement.

A player is only allowed to cross the foul line and go to the opposite board during a round in these three (3) situations:

1. If a timeout has been called
2. To use a rake to remove bags piled up inside the cornhole hole
3. To sweep away any bags that went off the board and are considered foul (don’t count)

5.2 Going to the Opposite Boards

A player is only allowed to go to the opposite cornhole boards during a round in these three (3) situations:

1. If a timeout has been called.
2. To use a rake to remove bags that are piled up inside the cornhole hole.
3. To sweep away any bags that went off the board onto the playing surface area (these don’t count).

5.3 Timeouts

• Each player or team gets two 1-minute timeouts per game.
• Timeouts can last up to one minute.
• A player can only call a timeout when it is their turn to throw.
• During the timeout, both players can go to the other boards to look at where the bags landed.
• Players cannot touch the cornhole bags or boards during a timeout.

Important Note: Official timeouts may be allowed by the referee in cases like a broken bag, equipment issues, or other situations. Players will not be charged a timeout in these cases.

5.4 Raking Cornhole Bags

If bags get piled up inside the hole in a way that would block the next throw, or if there’s a question about whether a bag would have fallen through the hole on its own, a player can request to rake (remove) the bags that fell into the hole. To request this, the player must say it out loud.

• One or both players can walk to that board and rake the bags out from under it. One player rakes while the other watches.
• If both players agree, a spectator can be asked to do the raking.
• If the players disagree, they can request an official referee to rake the bags.
• Anytime 4 bags have gone into the hole, or you can see a pile of bags in the hole, a player can request raking without using a timeout.

Important note: When raking, try not to disturb any bags still on the board surface, leaving them in their natural positions. And be careful not to accidentally knock in bags that are hanging on the hole’s edge. If unavoidably raking causes a bag resting on others to fall into the hole, it should count as going in the hole.

5.5 Sweeping Away Foul Cornhole Bags

If a thrown bag misses the board and lands on the playing surface area or comes to rest touching both the ground and the board, it is considered a foul bag and must be removed right away.

If a player throws a foul bag that ends up affecting or moving any of the other bags that were already on the board, the opposing player has the choice of either:

1. Putting all the bags back in their original positions on the board surface before the foul bag hit them

Or

2. Leaving all the bags as they are after the foul bag hit and moved them

6.1 Distracting Behavior

While playing cornhole, players should not make loud noises or movements that could distract or bother their opponent or other players nearby. If a player feels there is an issue with another player’s conduct, they should immediately alert an official referee.

Examples of inappropriate and distracting behavior includes:

• Swearing/cursing
• Using abusive language
• Making obscene/rude gestures
• Flipping or juggling the bags
• Reaching down to pick up bags on the board
• Making noise while opponent is throwing
• Other loud noises or excessive movements

6.2 Procedure and Penalties for Distracting Behavior

• If the opponent witnesses distracting conduct, they must call a timeout and notify an official referee. The player will not be charged for this timeout.
• The referee will come to the court to observe the game.
• The referee will warn both players about why they were called over.

If the referee sees more distracting conduct after the warning, these are the penalties:

• 1st Violation: The player gets a 1st Strike
• 2nd Violation: The player gets a 2nd Strike
• 3rd Violation: The player forfeits and loses the current match on the 3rd offense
• Any further offenses after that may result in disqualification from the tournament/event and suspension of membership.

NOTE: A referee can choose to monitor the game without players requesting it.

6.3 Sportsmanship

Cornhole players (and spectators) are not allowed to do any of the following unsportsmanlike actions:

• Heckling/taunting others
• Swearing or using abusive language
• Making obscene/rude gestures
• Making unwanted physical contact with other players
• Any other type of unsportsmanlike behavior

Players who act in an unsportsmanlike way towards other players, spectators, or officials will be subject to being kicked out of the tournament and removed from the event site.

6.4 Giving/Receiving Player Advice

It is allowed for a teammate or spectator to provide advice to a player about where the bags landed and/or recommendations on how to throw their next bag.

Livestream Rules

7.1 Video Release for the American Cornhole Organization

By becoming a member of the American Cornhole Organization or purchasing a ticket/entry to any of their events; You are giving the American Cornhole Organization and its affiliates permission to use your physical image, video or photos of you, as well as recordings of your voice from audio or video. Your images/recordings may be edited, copied, shown, published or distributed FOR ANY USE. You waive (give up) the right to inspect or approve the final product. You also waive any right to royalties or other payment related to the use of your image or recording.

7.2 Bags

• Players being livestreamed cannot use bags that are the same or very similar color as their opponent’s bags.
• In a seeded tournament, the player/team with the lower seed ranking must switch their bag colors if they are too similar to their opponent’s.
• In an unseeded tournament, the player/team that lost the coin toss must switch bag colors if too similar to their opponent’s.
• Bags with logos or markings from other cornhole organizations will not be allowed on the livestream videos or in the final rounds of ACO Major tournaments.

7.3 Dress Code

Players appearing on the livestream in the final rounds of an ACO event must wear clothing with the ACO branding/logo, or apparel that has been approved by the ACO. Failure to follow this dress code could result in forfeiting the match.

Players are not allowed to wear any of the following on the livestream:

• Cut-off sleeve shirts
• Logos or designs representing other national cornhole organizations

Cornhole rules PDF Download

FAQ’s