HORSESHOE CANADA ASSOCIATION

    OFFICIAL RULES   GOVERNING  

THE SPORT OF HORSESHOE PITCHING

RULE 1 - COURT LAYOUT

Section a.  A court shall occupy a level area 54 feet (1647 cms) long (in a north-south direction when outdoors) by six (6) feet (183 cms) wide and consist of two (2) court pits, each six (6) feet (183 cms) square with their sloped stakes in the exact centre 40 feet (1220 cms) apart measured at the approved surface level of the clay, synthetic substance or sand. The court pits shall be level with each other, in true alignment, located in such a manner that the front edges are parallel to each other and 34 feet (1036 cms) apart. Two (2) pitchways or walkways, 18 inches (46 cms) wide and 46 feet (1402 cms) long are recommended. A minimum of four (4) feet (122 cms) behind each court pit is required for fencing. Where no fence is provided a substantial backstop must be placed no more than four (4) feet (122 cms) at the back of each stake. This backstop must be four (4) feet (122 cms) wide and 20 inches (51 cms) high. A distinct foul line, a minimum of two (2) inches (5 cms) wide and six (6) feet (183 cms) long must be placed three (3) feet (91.5 cms) in front of each stake. Additional foul lines must be placed on the two (2) pitchways or walkways 13 feet (396 cms) in front of each stake.

Section b.  When a number of courts are constructed adjacent to each other, as required for a tournament, the stakes of one court shall be at least ten (10) feet (305 cms), but 12 feet (366 cms) is preferred, from the stakes of adjacent courts. Foul lines in front of the court pits shall be in a straight line.

RULE 2 - COURT PITS

Section a.  Each court pit shall be six (6) feet (183 cms) square with the stake in the exact centre and consist of a scoring area of sand, clay or synthetic substance flanked by two (2) pitchways.

Section b.  The two (2) pitchways shall be six (6) feet (183 cms) long and 18 inches (46 cms) wide. The scoring area for sand must be 36 inches (91.5 cms) wide, 72 inches (183 cms) long and eight (8) inches (20 cms) in depth. The scoring area for clay and synthetic substance shall have a minimum measurement of 32 inches (81 cms) wide, 42 inches (107 cms) long and four (4) inches (10 cms) in depth. The maximum is 36 inches (91.5 cms) wide, 48 inches (122 cms) long and four (4) inches (10 cms) in depth.

Section c.  The material around the stake must be level with the pitchways before the players start their warm-up for each game.

Section d.  The court pit clay cannot be worked during a game unless approved by an official, except to replace disturbed clay after a measurement. When sand is used it must be kept up to level standards at all times. Players are responsible for leveling and watering the court pits prior to their next scheduled game. Players may have someone do this for them.

RULE 3 - STAKES

Section a.  Stakes shall be round one (1) inch (2.54 cms.) diameter, cold rolled steel or synthetic substance. The top of each stake shall extend not less than 14 inches (36 cms) nor more than 15 inches (38 cms) above the approved level of the court pit material and with a slope of three (3) inches (7.6 cms) in 15 inches (38 cms) toward each other.

Section b.  When a stake breaks during an end, the game shall be discontinued and that end replayed to the new stake. The players shall be allowed four (4) warm-up pitches before the game continues. Tournament officials may move the players to another court or set a later time to complete the interrupted game. A broken stake or distorted stake is one that is not in its originally approved position.

RULE 4 - PITCHING DISTANCE

Section a.  The pitching distance for men shall be 40 feet (1220 cms) measured between the stakes at the approved surface level of the clay, synthetic substance or sand with a foul line three (3) feet (91.5 cms) in front of each stake.

Section b.  The pitching distance for ladies, juniors and senior-seniors shall be a minimum of 30 feet (915 cms) measured the same as for men with a foul line 13 feet (396 cms) in front of each stake. (NOTE: The foul line is three (3) feet (91.5 cms) in front of each stake if the court is a 30 foot (915 cms) court.)

Section c.  All 30 foot players may pitch a distance anywhere form 30 feet (915 cms) to less than 40 feet (1220 cms) but must pitch form a pitchway on either side of the stake. No 30 foot player will be allowed to pitch from the middle of the court.

Section d.  Senior-seniors men may pitch either at 40 feet (1220 cms) or a distance anywhere form 30 feet (915 cms) to less than 40 feet (1220 cms), but must establish a ringer percentage at each pitching distance.

RULE 5 - INDOOR PITCHING

Section a.  Ceiling height shall be a minimum of 12 feet (366 cms).

Section b.  All safety precautions such as required fences, rails and backstops must be in place during pitching.

Section c.  A portable court pit using sand shall consist of a scoring area 36 inches (91.5 cms) wide, 72 inches (183 cms) long and the sides sloped form 12 inches (30 cms) at the back to the base in front giving an open front. A portable court using clay or synthetic substance shall consist of a scoring area with a minimum measurement of 32 inches (81 cms) wide, 42 inches (107 cms) long and four (4) inches (10 cms) in depth. The maximum is 36 inches (91.5 cms) wide, 48 inches (122 cms) long and four (4) inches (10 cms) in depth.

Section d.  The pitchways and walkways shall be 18 inches (46 cms) wide and 46 feet (1402 cms) long and properly marked on the floor area. Suitable belting material or indoor/outdoor carpeting may be used.

RULE 6 - FOUL LINES

Section a.  Foul lines, a minimum two (2) inches (5 cms) wide, shall be clearly located three (3) feet (91.5 cms) in front of each stake across the front edge of the court pits. Foul lines are also located on the pitchways 13 feet (396 cms) in front of each stake for the 30 foot players.

Section b.  When pitching a horseshoe, the players must remain behind the foul line until the horseshoe has left the hand.

RULE 7 - FOUL HORSESHOES

Section a.  Any horseshoe pitched while the player's foot extends on or over the foul line while the horseshoe is still in the hand, shall be declared a foul and removed.

Section b.  Any horseshoe pitched by a player which lands outside the court pit scoring area is a foul horseshoe and shall be removed. Any horseshoe that lands in fair territory and hits the backstop or other object and comes back into the scoring area shall be called a foul horseshoe and removed after it has come to rest.

Section c.  When a foul horseshoe disrupts the position of horseshoes in fair territory, the foul horseshoe shall be removed and all other horseshoes are to remain as they are, not as they were.

Section d.  A foul horseshoe is recorded on the scoresheet as a horseshoe pitched.

RULE 8 - BROKEN HORSESHOES

Section a.  When a horseshoe lands in fair territory and is broken into separate parts, it shall be removed and the player is allowed to pitch another horseshoe in its stead.

Section b.  When a horseshoe lands in fair territory and breaks an opponents horseshoe, an official will give the benefit of doubt to the opponent.

RULE 9 - OFFICIAL HORSESHOE

Section a.  An official horseshoe shall not exceed 7 1/4 inches (18.4 cms) in width, 7 5/8 inches (19.4 cms) in length and shall not weigh more than two (2) pounds ten (10) ounces (1192 gms). On a parallel line 3/4 of an inch (1.9 cms) from the straight edge touching the points of the open end of a horseshoe the opening shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches (9 cms). All measurements are maximum there is no minimum.

Section b.  A sanctioned horseshoe must not be altered form its original approved design. Altered means to change the contour of a horseshoe by adding to or subtracting form the horseshoe any feature such as a caulk, notch, weight, etc., other than normal wear and tear through usage. Altered horseshoes are illegal for sanctioned competitions.

RULE 10 - MEASUREMENTS

Section a.  Measurements to determine scoring points shall be made with calipers (wheeled type preferred), a straight edge and a six (6) inch (15.2 cms) ruler.

Section b.  A horseshoe must be six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from the stake to score.

Section c.  A ringer is declared when a horseshoe encircles the stake far enough to allow the touching of both heel caulks simultaneously with a straight edge and permit a clearance of the stake. A player's horseshoe should be measured by an official. A player while measuring his own horseshoe for a ringer or point accidentally moves the horseshoe, the result is no ringer or point. A player while measuring the opponent's horseshoe for a ringer or point accidentally moves the horseshoe the result is a ringer or a point.

RULE 11 - PRACTICE PITCHES

Section a.  Between games in a tournament players shall be limited to four (4) practice pitches when the scorekeeper and both players are on the court ready to start the next game.

RULE 12 - CHOICE OF PITCH AND PITCHING

Section a.  Choice of first pitch to start a game shall be determined by the toss of a coin, by flipping a horseshoe, or by each player flipping a horseshoe. In successive games between the same players, the loser of the previous game shall have the choice.

Section b.  Once in position, the length of time to pitch two (2) horseshoes by the same player in an end is 30 seconds. If a disturbance at either end of the court occurs, the player may step back and restart the pitch. If the player stops and steps back for no other reason than to disturb the opponent, the official shall give a warning to the player. A second or subsequent warning by the official shall result in a foul and the horseshoe shall be removed. All players are allowed a reasonably short time to file a burred horseshoe before or after the opponent has pitched. If a player exceeds the 30 second limit, the second horseshoe pitched shall be declared a foul and removed.

Section c.  When pitching the horseshoe, the player shall stand on the pitchway at either side of the court pit.

Section d.  A player must pitch the second horseshoe form the same pitchway as the first horseshoe in any end and shall not change sides in subsequent ends without the consent of the opponent. The penalty for not pitching the two (2) horseshoes from the same pitchway in any end is both horseshoes pitched are foul horseshoes and shall be removed.

Section e.  A player may replace horseshoes between ends any time during a game. A replacement cannot be made after the first horseshoe has been pitched unless the first horseshoe pitched is broken. The penalty is the second horseshoe pitched is declared a foul horseshoe and shall be removed.

Section f.  A player will use only two (2) horseshoes on the courts during a game. Any use of a third or more horseshoes to carry or for any other purpose shall be prohibited. Spare horseshoes are to be kept in the horseshoe box or somewhere off the court. Penalty is both horseshoes pitched in the end where incident occurred shall be declared foul horseshoes and removed.

Section g.  A pitched horseshoe which strikes an object such as a bird, animal, a rolling horseshoe from another court, a player, etc., before landing, shall be repitched. A pitched horseshoe striking a tree, limb, an electrical wire or the ceiling of an indoor facility shall not be repitched. Objects that cannot be avoided call for a re-pitch. Those objects that can be seen and avoided do not call for a repitch.

Section h.  It it is discovered during an end that a player has pitched an opponent's horseshoe, that entire end shall ill be re-pitched using the correct horseshoes from the same court pit. If the players fail to discover the error until after all four (4) horseshoes have been pitched, each player shall receive credit for their own horseshoes as they lay regardless of who pitched them.

RULE 13 - PLAYER CONDUCT

Section a.  No player, while the opponent is in a pitching position shall make any remarks, nor utter any such sounds within hearing distance of the opponent, nor make any movement that does or might interfere with the opponents playing. Penalty - first offense shall be a warning by the official. Second and subsequent offenses both horseshoes pitched, in the end where incident occurred shall be declared foul horseshoes and removed.

Section b.  Any player who is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct against an opponent in a tournament, whether with malicious intent or otherwise shall be expelled from the tournament. Further suspension will depend on a fair hearing before a grievance committee.

Section c.  No player shall move any horseshoes in the court pit until the winner of the point or points have been agreed upon by both players, or decisions rendered by an official. The official shall declare horseshoes that are pitched by the player who moves them in violation of this rule as foul horseshoes and award points to the opponent according to the position of the opponent's horseshoes.

Section d.  In a singles game no player shall walk to the opposite court pit to determine the position of the horseshoes prior to the completion of the end. Penalty both horseshoes of the offending player shall be declared foul horseshoes and removed.

Section e.  A player, while not pitching, must remain on the opposite pitchway to the player who is pitching, and on the rear one-fourth of the pitchway. All players in the 30 foot classes must remain three (3) feet (91.5 cms) behind their opponent on the opposite pitchway when their opponent is pitching.

Section f.  Drinking of alcoholic beverages, chewing tobacco or smoking on the courts is prohibited.

RULE 14 - SCORING RULES

There are two (2) official methods of scoring.

1. The cancellation method.

2. The court-all method.

Method 1 - Cancellation Scoring

Section a.  A regulation game shall be 40 points cancellation where a National title is to be declared. (NOTE: This rule may be changed by the tournament executive council to a pre-determined number of horseshoes pitched by each player, if very special circumstances dictate the change such as National television coverage where a corporate sponsor's time is involved.)

Section b.  Game points in other events may be determined by the tournament executive council. (Example - a 35 point game or a 50 horseshoe, alternate pitch cancellation game.)

Section c.  A game is divided into ends and each end constitutes the pitching of two (2) horseshoes by each player.

Section d.  Points shall be scored according to the position of the horseshoes in an end after the players have each pitched two (2) horseshoes.

Section e.  Ringer credits shall be given in each end after the players have each pitched two (2) horseshoes.

Section f.  The winner of points in each end shall call the result to the scorekeeper. In the case of a be, the player who pitched last shall call the result.

Section g.  The player having first pitch in an end shall pitch two (2) horseshoes in succession before the opponent pitches two (2) horseshoes.

Section h.  The player scoring points shall pitch first in the next end. In the case of no score, the player who pitched last in the end shall pitch first in the next end.

Section i.  Closest horseshoe to the stake, if six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from the stake scores one (1) point, when no ringers are pitched.

Section j.  Two (2) horseshoes closer to the stake than the opponents two (2) horseshoes, if six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from the stake scores two (2) points, when no ringers are pitched.

Section k.  One (1) ringer scores three (3) points.

Section l.  Two (2) ringers score six (6) points.

Section m.  One (1) ringer and closest horseshoe, if six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from stake, of the same player, scores four (4) points.

Section n.  A player having two (2) ringers against one (1) ringer for the opponent scores three (3) points.

Section o.  All equals count as ties. If each player has a horseshoe touching the stake or equal distance from the stake, they cancel each other and the closer of the other two (2) horseshoes shall score one (1) point it six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from the stake.

Section p.  When each player has a ringer, the next closest horseshoe, if six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from the stake scores one (1) point.

Section q.  A horseshoe leaning against the stake has no value over a horseshoe touching the stake and shall cancel each other. A clear leaner counts one (1) point.

Section r.   Method of calling score.

(I) No score - Four (4) horseshoes - called as no score.

(II) One (1) point - called as one (1) point.(

(III) Two (2) points - called as two (2) points.

(IV) One (1) ringer - called as one (1) ringer, three (3) points.

(V) One (1) ringer - one (1) point - called as one (1) finger four (4) points.

(VI) Two (2) ringers - called as two (2) ringers, six (6) points.

(VII) One (1) ringer each - called as one (1) ringer each, no score.

(VIII) One (1) ringer each, one (1) point - called as one (1) ringer each, one (1) point.

(IX) Three ringers - called as three (3) ringers, three (3) points.

(X) Two (2) ringers each - called as four (4) dead, no score.

In each end, the player calling the score must give his/her name and must be the player scoring. In a no score situation the player who pitched last in the end shall make the call to the scorekeeper.

Method 2 - Count-all Scoring

Section a.  A regulation game consists of a pre-determined number of horseshoes pitched by each player. (Example 40 horseshoes, 20 ends). However, the number of horseshoes pitched to constitute a game may be set by league of tournament officials to meet the conditions.

Section b.  Each player shall receive credit for all points according to the position of the horseshoes at the completion of each end. Thus it is possible for each player to score six (6) points in the same end. Ringers count three (3) points and horseshoes six (6) inches (15.2 cms) or less from the stake count one (1) point each.

Section c.  Players shall double alternate the first pitch. This means a player shall pitch first for two (2) consecutive ends, then the opponent shall pitch first for the next two (2) consecutive ends and alternate in this manner for the duration of the game.

Section d.  Tied scores at the end of a game are recorded as a tied game and each player shall be credited with a half win, unless stated otherwise by the tournament executive council to have tie games broken.

Section e.  When a player is required to pitch a number of qualifying horseshoes to determine a ringer percentage, the player shall pitch two (2) horseshoes in succession as if pitching in a regular singles game and the scorer shall count the ringers and total points after the two (2) horseshoes have been pitched. The player shall repeat this procedure until the total number of required horseshoes have been pitched.

RULE 15 - DOUBLES GAME

Section a.  Two (2) players are partners and pitch from opposite court pits of the court against a similar combination of opponents. Partner's points are added together, but the individual record of ringers and horseshoes pitched should be kept, otherwise the game is the same as the singles game. One exception is a player may signal a ringer or whatever to the partner while the end is in progress.

Section b.  A walking doubles game may be used, especially if the partners pitch a different make of horseshoe. In this case both teams should walk to the opposite court pit to pitch the next horseshoes and against the same opponent.

RULE 16 - THREE HANDED GAME

Section a.  In three handed cancellation games, when two (2) of the players have a ringer and the third player no ringer, the player with no ringers is out of the scoring and the other two (2) players score according to the position of their horseshoes.

RULE 17 - RECORDING OF RESULTS

Section a.  The recording of results shall be as follows:

W -  Games won Dr -Double Ringer

L - Games lost SP - Horseshoes pitched

T - Games bed OP -Opponents points

P -  Points PR - Ringer percentage

R -  Ringers HC - Handicap

 

NOTE: Horseshoe Canada Rules Committee shall legislate, technical issues not covered by these rules.

 

JANUARY 1990