These pages were brought to you by Holliday Real Estate serving Hamilton County Indiana and surrounding area.
They are now out of date, since I've retired from the sport and have not kept up with the changes.
For more up to date information go to Bloomfield Horseshoe League.
Thank You
OFFICIAL RULES FOR HORSESHOE PITCHING
As adopted by the
American Horseshoe Pitchers' Association of America
Revised 10/28/2001
SCORING RULES
Sec. 6.1: A game is divided into innings and each inning constitutes the pitching of two shoes by each contestant.
Sec. 6.2: Score all points earned, in figures only, as follows:
No Score...........................0
Points........................1 or 2
Ringer.............................3
Ringer and Point...................4
Double Ringer......................6
Sec. 6.3: Definition of a Ringer. - A ringer is declared when a shoe encircles the stake far enough to allow the touching of both heel caulks simultaneously with a straight edge.
Sec. 6.4: The points shall be scored according to the position of the shoes at the inning's end, that is, after the contestants have each thrown two shoes.
Sec. 6.5: Ringer credits shall be given on the same basis.
Sec. 6.6: A leaning shoe has no value over one touching the stake.
Sec. 6.7: A shoe must be within six (6) inches of the stake to score.
Sec. 6.8: No contestant shall touch their own or opponent's shoe or shoes until winner of point or points has been agreed upon by contestants or decision rendered by the referee. Referee shall declare foul, shoes thrown by a contestant failing to comply with this rule, and award points to the opponent according to the position of his or her shoes.
Sec. 6.9: The points of the persons name on top of score board will be called first.
Sec. 6.10: Recording of the Results. - The recording of results shall be as follows:
G - Games pitched; P - Points; R - Ringers; DR - Double Ringers.
SANCTIONED STATE TOURNAMENTS
Sec. 7.1: A player must use their previous years highest average until the AHPA league they pitch in begins, or until they have pitched their first AHPA tournament.
Sec. 7.2: Non-league players must have their actual tournament scores dated and initialed by the tournament secretary on the back of their state cards. The card average shall be used until the state average sheets includes the pitcher's average.
Sec. 7.3: To establish an average in tournament play, the entire session will be used.
(Example, in a five game session, five games must be used. In a three game session, three games will be used, etc.)
Sec. 7.4: A pitcher who pitches in more than one AHPA chartered league must use his or her highest AHPA average in tournament play. (This includes sub average of 600 or more shoes.)
Sec. 7.5: Tournament awards available to win: Class A and Class B may win any position in their respective class. Classes C through H may win any position in their respective class or overall handicap.
Sec. 7.6: All tournament trophies state AHPA, year, and class.
Sec. 7.7: Dress code. - Shirt, pants or shorts, dresses or skirts and shoes are required wearing apparel at all state tournaments. (Recommended, name on back of shirt.)
Sec. 7.8: CLASS NON STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
BREAKDOWN TWO YEAR TRIAL PERIOD 2001 & 2002
CLASSES WHERE NO HANDICAPS ARE USED IN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
POINT SPREAD POINT SPREAD
WOMEN MEN
91-Over...Class A 100-Over...Class A
80-90.....Class B 90-99......Class B
CLASSES WITH HANDICAPS USED IN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
80-89......Class C Men Only
70-79......Class D Men and Women
60-69......Class E Men and Women
50-59......Class F Men and Women
40-49......Class G Men and Women
39-Under...Class H Men and Women
Sec. 7.9: Men pitchers 70 years and over or handicapped may declare to pitch a minimum of 30 feet. They will compete in their division according to their averages along with the 40 foot men pitchers.
Sec. 7.10: Anyone who in the past has been a Class A pitcher, (For the year with a minimum of 600 shoes pitched), but has dropped to a lower class, can declare to pitch in Class A if he or she desires.
Sec. 7.11: A minimum of 1/2 hour warm-up time prior to pitching shall be available.
Sec. 7.12: No player may pitch alone.
Sec. 7.13: A judge appointed by the tournament director shall decide points when contestants are in doubt. He shall also see that the rules are complied with.
Sec. 7.14: The interpretation of the tournament director covering technical points and their rulings on matters uncovered by these rules shall be final.
Sec. 7.15: If rain or other elements interfere, players must stop play and not resume until officials authorize. On resuming play, score at time of interference will be in effect; also the same courts will be used by contestants unless they agree otherwise. Must complete 3 games in a 5 game tournament. (All games must consist of 50 shoes.)
Sec. 7.16: All ties for winners will be CO - champions. All ties in money tournaments will be broken by ringers first and double ringers second.
Sec. 7.17: Appeal may be made to the tournament director if a ruling of the judge is not considered proper. Decision of the tournament director shall be final.
JUNIOR DIVISIONS
Sec. 8.1: A player will be considered a Junior for the entire season if his 18th birthday occurs on or after the start of the calendar year, January 1st. Minimum age for the youth division in tournaments will be 12. Juniors may not compete in ladies or men's divisions.
Sec. 8.2: Juniors under 18 must have parents or guardians written consent.
Sec. 8.3: Their will be one handicapped class for the youth, boys and girls combined.
Sec. 8.4: There will be no entry fee for the youth class. The juniors will pitch only two (2) games. These games may be pitched between sessions or when extra courts are available. If the junior pitches with the adults he or she must declare which games to score before pitching their first shoe.
Sec. 8.5: All Junior leagues or tournaments will be conducted strictly on an amateur basis with the only awards being trophies, ribbons and medals or such awards having no monetary value. It shall be the responsibility of each Junior player and their parent or guardian to make certain their participation in AHPA tournaments does not jeopardize their amateur standing in sports or activities in which they might be interested.
Sec. 8.6: Playing rules for Juniors are the same as for men with the single exception that the pitching distance shall be a minimum of 30 feet between stakes (27 feet from foul line to the opposite stake).
SPECIAL AWARDS
Sec. 9.1: Awards are to be sanctioned, certified and governed by the AHPA Board of Directors.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sec. 10.1: The state championships may consist of the following events for AHPA members: Adult individuals, Juniors, Senior citizens, Mixed doubles, Mother/daughter and Father/son.
Sec. 10.2: STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BREAKDOWN TWO YEAR TRIAL PERIOD 2001 & 2002
CLASSES WHERE NO HANDICAPS ARE USED IN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
| POINT SPREAD |
POINT SPREAD |
| WOMEN |
MEN |
| 91-Over...Class A |
100-Over...Class A |
| 81-90.....Class B |
90-99......Class B |
CLASSES WITH HANDICAPS USED IN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
| WOMEN |
MEN |
| |
80-89...........Class C |
| 66-80...........Class D |
70-79...........Class D |
| 51-65...........Class E |
60-69...........Class E |
| 36-50...........Class F |
50-59...........Class F |
| 35-Under........Class G |
40-49...........Class G |
| |
39-Under........Class H |
Sec. 10.3: Junior AHPA events will consist of four (4) games. Juniors may not compete in the adult individual events and the junior's event.
Sec. 10.4: Mixed doubles, (five games) must consist of one male pitcher and one female pitcher.
Sec. 10.5: Mother/daughter division and father/son division will consist of five (5) games. Grandmothers may pitch with granddaughters. Mother-in-laws may pitch with daughter-in-laws. However, those combinations will compete as mother/daughter and only one must be a member of the AHPA. The same applies to the male gender.
Sec. 10.6: Senior citizens will pitch five games. They will be classified as separate women's and men's senior class. A player is a senior after their sixty-second birthday.
Sec. 10.7: The winners for the classes of the senior citizens, mixed doubles, mother/daughter and father/son will be determined in the following method: All contestants will have their scores totaled two (2) ways, actual and actual with
handicap.
First: The contestant with the highest actual score will be considered the actual champion.
Second: The highest handicapped total of the remainder of the contestants will be considered the handicap champion.
Third: The highest actual total of the remainder of the contestants will be considered the actual runner-up.
Fourth: The highest handicapped total of the remainder of the contestants will be considered the handicap runner-up.
Sec. 10.8: If rain or other elements interfere, players must stop play and not resume until officials authorize. If conditions are sever enough rescheduling may be required as all games must be completed.
Sec. 10.9: To pitch in the state championships you must be a resident of that state.
Sec. 10.10: A pitcher must have pitched at least 750 shoes in league or tournament play combined. Tournament averages will be figured from the total actual scores of the previous 12 months plus two days. League shoes pitched after the state championships will not count towards 750 shoe requirement. No requirement of number of shoes for Section 10.3 through 10.6.
Rules Index
Rules Sections 1 - 5
AHPA Home Page
E-MAIL AHPA