The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Bylaws
The game of cornhole, also known as “bags”, is a game suited for the most distinguished individuals only. It is a game of honor, respect, and loyalty. The cornhole court is sacred ground where we embrace great competition among true friends, while consuming delicious substances. As a member of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (“LEG”), you agree to represent the characteristics that are expected of an extraordinary gentleman.
Best Regards,
Kurtis Peters
Commissioner and League Founder
OFFICIAL RULES:
CHAPTER 1: Bags Playing Equipment (Boards and Bags)
LEG Approved Equipment Specs:
- Hardwood plywood playing surface measuring 47.5” to 48” x 23.5” to 24”.
- The playing surface has a minimum thickness 1/2” – 5/8”.
- Each hole is ~7” diameter (measured via my limp wiener), centered 9” from the top of the board and 12” from each side edge.
- The front of the board is ~ 4” from the ground to the top of the playing surface.
- The back of the board is ~12” from the ground to the top of the playing surface.
- The playing surface should be finished.
- The playing surface can be painted with a high gloss latex paint or varnish. The surface should allow bags to slide when thrown, but not be so slippery that the bags slide back down the platform.
- Each bag is made from two fabric squares with stitched seaming. The bags should be made from a durable fabric like canvas, twill, or Jeff Garavalia’s collection of ex-girlfriends’ used panties. Each bag measures roughly 6” by 6” and weighs 15 to 16 ounces.
- Or, you can simply purchase a quality cornhole set via the internets and skip items 1 – 8 above.
NOTE: All equipment should be designed/built/purchased while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
CHAPTER 2: Bags Court Layout
Bags Court: A regulation size bags court is 8 feet wide and a minimum of 40 feet long and must have a vertical clearance of twelve (12) feet if played indoors. This court consists of two (2) player’s lanes:
- Lane 1: designated pitchers boxes, on the left side of the board.
- Lane 2: designated pitchers boxes, on the right side of the board.
- Bags Boards: Boards are positioned 27’ from the front edge to front edge of the opposing board.
- Bags Pitchers Boxes: A designated pitchers box is a 4’ x 3’ area at each end of the court and on both sides of each board; (4) boxes in all.
- Bags Foul Lines: The front edge of the bags board is the foul line.
2.2 Bags Court Preparation and Maintenance
Every effort shall be made to keep the bags playing surface in perfect playing condition.
Players are responsible for making sure the court is in good playing condition prior to starting the match. Ex: Sweep blades of grass and dirt off the boards, empty ashtrays, pick up beer bottles, refill Barker’s bong, etc.
- No foreign substance (such as Pledge®, Gold Bond, JV’s shitty boxers, or semen) may be applied to the playing surface or bags by an individual player before or during bags play.
- A dry clean cloth may be used to wipe down the boards prior to the start of the game.
CHAPTER 3: Bags Scoring
Traditional 21: The game shall be played to the pre-determined number of twenty-one (21) points. The first player/team to reach (or exceed) that amount at the conclusion of a frame is the winner.
Terminology
– Safety– Refers to any bag that has been pitched and remains on the bags board playing surface at the conclusion of the frame.
– Cornhole – Refers to any bag that has been pitched and passes through the bags board hole at anytime within the frame.
– Foul Bags – Refers to any bag that has not been determined as a “safety” or “cornhole”, or was designated a foul bag as the result of rules violation.
– Foot Snag – Refers to any foul bag that an opposing player catches with their foot and maintains possession like a hacky sack. In the event of a foot snag, the player who pitched the foul bag must finish their beer (preferably by chugging) before play can resume.
– Designated Foul Bags
- Any bag pitched when the player has crossed over the foul line before the bag lands.
- Any bag pitched without the player being completely inside the pitcher’s box at the time of releasing the bag.
- Any bag not pitched within the 20 second shot clock.
- Any bag that comes to rest touching the ground and the board.
- Any bag which struck a previously defined object such as a tree limb, wire, indoor court ceiling, rainbow, double rainbow, etc.
Methods of Scoring
Net Scoring: The approved method of scoring for LEG is “net” scoring. In net scoring, the points of one player are cancelled by any points scored by their opponent during the frame. Using this method, only one player/team can score in each frame. For example, if Nick Winkler throws 2 cornhole (6 points) and his opponent, Coach Mike, throws 1 cornhole (3 points), Nick wins the frame with 3 points.
– Safety: Each Safety is worth one (1) point
– Cornhole: Each Cornhole is worth three (3) points
Recording the Score
No bags shall be moved before the scoring is determined. If this decision is in doubt, a Certified Official shall be called and determine the scoring for the frame in question.
Recording the Score: Players are encouraged to pay close attention to the score at all times. Players are required to confirm the score with other players in the game at the conclusion of each frame. Players may call upon a Certified Official between frames if any discrepancy occurs regarding the correct score.
Calling the Score: When a third party is being used to keep score, it is the responsibility of the player/team who scores in each frame to call out the score to the score keeper. It is the responsibility of the players/teams to ensure the score is correct at the conclusion of each frame before moving to the next frame.
NOTE: Complaining three turns into the match that the score is wrong will earn you a kick to the dick.
Despite these rules, assume the most spoken sentence each week will be “What’s the score?”
CHAPTER 4: Play of the Bags Game
Brief Overview Doubles Play
Doubles Play:
- Team A competes against Team B – each team is comprised of two (2) extraordinary gentlemen.
- Each team will stay in their designated lane for the whole game. Piss between games.
- Player 1 from Team A will pitch one of his bags, followed by Player 1 from Team B pitching one of his bags. This alternating pitching method continues throughout the match.
- Player 2 for Teams A and B, respectively, will confirm scoring of Players 1, then resume pitching back to the other cornhole board.
Pitching Rotation, Lane Assignments, & Bag Colors
The First Pitch, Lane Assignments, and Bag Colors: The format of the league will help determine who tosses the first pitch in a game.
Seeded leagues (e.g., playoff format):
- The player/team winning the coin-toss pitches first, or
- The player/team winning the coin toss can choose bag color. Color Blind? See note below.
Random Matches (e.g., regular season play)
- The player/team winning the coin-toss pitches first, or
- The player/team winning the coin toss can choose bag color.
NOTE: If you are color blind… sucks to be you.
Pitching Bags
Pitching
– Players pitch all 4 bags (alternating method, as explained previously) until each player has pitched all (4) of his bags.
– Players must not cross the foul line with their feet before the bag has landed.
Pitching the Next Frame:
– The player/team who scored the most in the preceding frame shall pitch first in the next frame. If neither player/team scores, the player/team who pitched first in the preceding frame shall retain first pitch in the next frame.
Accidental Release (no exemptions for being too drunk or high)
– Any bag that leaves a players hand once the final step (if taken) and final forward swing of the delivery process has started, shall count as a pitched bag.
– A bag that is accidentally dropped by a player before the final step (if taken) and final forward swing has started, shall not be considered a foul bag and may be picked up and pitched.
Pitching Out of Turn:
– If a player pitches out of turn at any time during a frame, their pitch will be considered a Foul Bag, they will be kicked in the dick, and the bag will be removed from the playing surface.
– If the error is not discovered until after two (2) bags have been pitched, the frame shall continue and be scored accordingly with the other team being kicked in the dick for being slackers and not paying attention.
– If no agreement can be reached, a Certified Official shall be called. The Certified Official shall either determine the scoring or void the frame and order it to be re-pitched.
Time Limits – Pitching and Scoring
– Pitching – A player must pitch each bag within twenty (20) seconds of the pitched bag coming to rest.
– Scoring – The frame will be scored 5 seconds after the last bag has come to rest on the playing surface. Any bag that moves in position after 5 seconds will be scored based on its previous position.
Other General Rules
Moving Boards and Bags: A player can only straighten bag boards if there aren’t any bags being thrown towards or resting on that board.
Timeouts
– Each player is allowed one thirty (30) second time out per game. If retrieving a beer, please do so when you aren’t pitching.
– A player may only call a time out when it is his turn to pitch.
– Both players may walk to the other boards to examine bag position during the timeout.
– Players may not touch the bags or boards during a timeout. NO TOUCHING!
Important Note: Official time outs may be granted in the case of a busted bag, equipment malfunctions, beer shits, or other circumstances at the discretion of a Certified Official. A player will not be charged for time out.
CHAPTER 5: Player Conduct
Player Conduct
On the courts: A bags player/team while in competition shall make disturbing noises or movements that would distract the opponent or players on surrounding courts. Other appropriate behavior would include profanity, abusive language, obscene gestures, pooping your pants (ask JV), etc. Basically, everything is allowed except physical abuse/contact while a player is pitching.
Sportsmanship: Any bags player who indulges in heckling or unfair rooting, uses profanity or abusive language, makes obscene gestures, or exhibits any other form of unsportsmanlike conduct toward other players…is cool by me.
Giving/Receiving Player Advice: It is legal for a teammate or spectator to provide advice on bag position and/or next pitch recommendation. This isn’t euchre, pussy.
Dress Code: Participants competing in the LEG will be expected to abide by the LEG Dress Code below:
– Shirts cannot be sleeveless, unless you’re tracking the number of beers you’ve drank on the front of the sleeveless shirt, then it’s ok.
– Closed-toe shoes must be worn unless you absolutely must expose your disgusting feet to the other players of the league.
– Further dress code restrictions may be imposed by LEG Officials if all members are notified no later than the 2 weeks before the event date (e.g., Cinco de Mayo, Jean Shorts day, or ‘Merican Pride day).
Alcohol, Tobacco Products, and Illegal Substances:
– Illegal Substances are permitted at a LEG Event
– Players can drink alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages while playing, but drinks must be placed outside the live court area, in a safe zone, on a drink stand/holder, or in your hand.
– The use of alcohol, any form of tobacco and illegal substances while in the confines of the courts is recommended for all players, officials, and scorekeepers. This rule will be enforced at every tournament. Violations may result in the forfeiture of games or even worse, sober playing.
Cell Phones:
– The use of cell phones while in the confines of the courts is prohibited for all players and scorekeepers. Violations may result in the forfeiture of games and the complete destruction of your phone.
Audio & Visual
– The use of audio and visual equipment in the confines of the event premises is allowed. Your presence in the filming/photography area constitutes consent to be recorded/photographed. However, if a player is documenting some drunken act without the inebriated being aware of the recording for purposes of sharing on social media, the player filming will be kicked in the dick repeatedly. Keep what happens at LEG…at LEG.
CHAPTER 6: League Schedule
Location and Time
-In an effort to avoid burdening any one player with continuous difficult commutes to LEG, the weekly league schedule will rotate sites. The site will be determined based on players who are willing and able to host the weekly games. LEG Officials will make every effort to determine the location at least 1 week in advance.
-Weekly games will be played every Thursday each week and games will promptly begin no later than 6:30 pm. Game times are subject to change (i.e., we may start earlier) if all league members are in agreement with the change.
Regular Season
-Since it is likely that not all players can participate every week, the regular season will follow a round-robin format where each week every player rotates partnering with the other players. A player’s win-loss record will be individualized, rather than tracking partnership records. For example, if JG and JV are partners when playing and beating Paul and Bushie, the records would be as follows: JG 1-0, JV 1-0, Paul 0-1 and Bushie 0-1. Cumulative records will be kept like this throughout the regular season, and will drive the weekly and cumulative regular season standings.
Postseason Championship (format also applicable to any Preseason Kick-Off tournaments)
-The Road to the Cup will culminate with a Postseason Tournament. A Draft Lottery will be held to determine teams for the Postseason Championship. The player ranked #1 in the final regular season Power Rankings will have the best odds at the #1 overall pick, followed by the #2 ranked player having next best odds, etc. Once the Draft Lottery order is determined, the draft will begin with the #1 overall pick selecting from the pool of players who were not selected for the Draft Lottery.
Note: The players in the Draft Lottery is subject to the number of players participating in the Postseason Championship, but will always be half of the total players participating in the tournament. For example, if 16 players are participating in the Postseason Championship, the top 8 players in the Power Rankings will be eligible for the Draft Lottery.
-Once teams are established, a round-robin format will be played to determine seeding for the Postseason Championship.
-Tournament play will be triple-elimination format. Teams are only eliminated once they have lost three matches, including the championship match. For example, if Team A goes through the winner’s bracket undefeated to reach the championship match, while Team B loses two games prior to reaching the championship match, Team B must beat Team A three times to be crowned champions.
-Winner of the Postseason Championship will receive LEG Championship Trophy.