GLOSSARY
This glossary includes the definitions for most of the
horseshoe terms used in this RGS Book, and for terms found in other horseshoe-related
literature. To make them easier to find, these terms/definitions are arranged
in alphabetical order. At the end of each definition, there may be references
to other areas of the RGS book where additional or more specific information can be
found. The use of this glossary may also make it easier to find the location of
a term that is used within the RGS text material. Additional information can also be found on
the NHPA website at www.horseshoepitching.com. Note: This glossary is intended as a quick
reference only. Any final rulings or decisions should be based on the text
information found in the Playing Rules, Guidelines, or Specifications sections.
Altered Shoe – Refers to any shoe that has been changed
from its original design. (See I – EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS, Section B.) Alternate
Pitch – Alternate first pitch is a pitching rotation used
to give each contestant an equal number of first and second pitches during a
game. (See RULE 7, Section A.2) Backstops/Backboards
– Refers to the barriers installed at the far end of each pit for safety
reasons. (See II – SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT LAYOUT, Section B, 10.a; also see
drawing on back cover) Caliper
– A measuring tool that can be adjusted to determine
which shoe is closest to the stake. Cancellation Scoring – A method of play, whereby opponents’ ringers cancel
each other. The same holds true for opponents’ shoes (single points) that are
of an equal distance from the stake. (See RULE 6, Section A.1.) Class
– Refers to the group(s) of pitchers (usually 6-12 contestants/class) within a
particular Division. Count-all
Scoring – A method of scoring
where both contestants receive credit for all live shoes scored in each inning.
(See RULE 6, Section A.2, also GUIDELINE PART I, #2, Section F) Crossover Areas – Refers to the
areas in front of and/or behind the pits, where contestants may cross over to
the opposite platform after the delivery of their shoes, if they've pitched
first. (See RULE 3, Section D.3).
Contestants may also “cross” over as they move toward the opposite end of the
court, in anticipation of who may be pitching first in the next inning. Dead
Shoe – Another term for a
foul shoe that was delivered in non-compliance with one of the rules of the
game. This term may also refer to a ringer that has been “cancelled” by an
opponent’s ringer. (See RULE 3, Section B, 1.b) Division
– There are currently five (5) divisions recognized by the NHPA. They are:
Juniors, Open Men, Open Women, Seniors, and Elders (this division includes
Physically Challenged Men). Some of these Divisions may not be contested at all
tournaments. (See RULE 1, Section A-E) Doubles
Play – In doubles play, two
contestants are partners against another team of two contestants. (See GUIDELINE
PART I, #1, Section A and B) Extended Platforms
– A forward extension of the full-distance pitching platforms, toward the
opposite pit, for an additional ten feet (10’), or for the entire distance between the opposite platforms, to
accommodate short-distance pitchers. (See II SPECIFICATIONS
FOR COURT LAYOUT, Section B.4, b.2; also see court diagram on back cover) Feeler Gauge – A tool containing thin
strips of metal of varying thicknesses. Used mainly by judges to determine
measurements for the closest shoe and/or for determining if shoes are ringers. Foul
Shoe – Another term for a
“dead” shoe that was delivered in non-compliance with one of the playing rules
of the game. (See RULE 4) Handicap
– A handicap is a
predetermined number of bonus points given to a player in addition to the
actual “scratch” score pitched in a game. Handicapping may be used where there
is a large “spread” of ringer percentages within a class. (See RULE 11, Section
E; also the NHPA Sanctioned Club/League “Red” Book) Heel
or Heel Calk – The area of the
horseshoe (at the open end) that includes the “tips” and the “hooks". (See
drawing on back cover) Hooks – Refers
to a tool used, by some, to pick up horseshoes from the pit. May also refer to
a portion of the heel calk, designed to secure ringers. (See I – EQUIPMENT
SPECIFICATIONS, Section E) Inning – The game is divided into innings. In
singles play, each inning consists of four (4) pitched shoes; two (2) by each
contestant. (See RULE 3, Section A.) Judges
– Judges are appointed by Tournament/League Officials
to enforce the Playing Rules of the game, and to help resolve any questions
that may arise during the event. (See GUIDELINE PART I, #4) Leaner
– A live shoe that comes to rest vertically while
touching the stake. This shoe has a scoring value of one (1) point. (See RULE
3, Section B, 1.b) Legal Shoe – Any official horseshoe
that is sanctioned and approved by the NHPA.
(See I – EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS, Section
A) Live
Shoe – Refers to any shoe that has been pitched in
compliance with the rules of the game and that comes to rest within the pit
area. (See RULE 3, Section B, 1.a) Medical Exemption –
Physically challenged male pitchers may be given permission by their governing
Charter or NHPA officials to move onto the extended platforms and observe the
twenty-seven-foot (27’) foul lines before the age of seventy (70) years. The
prior completion and approval of a Medical Exemption Form (available from
Charter/State Secretaries) is required. (See RULE 1, Section E.2) Mixed
Classes – Mixed
classes may include pitchers from any of the different Divisions such as Open
Men, Open Women, Juniors, Elders, etc. (See GUIDELINE PART II, #3, Section A.2)
National Card – An annual
membership card required for all pitchers participating in NHPA Sanctioned
Leagues and/or Tournaments. (See NHPA By-Laws, also NHPA Sanctioned Club/League
Program “Red” Book) NATSTATS – Stands for National Statistics; a service of the NHPA
that receives, stores, and calculates the current, average ringer percentage
for all NHPA members who have competed within the calendar year. (Also see NHPA Website listed
above) Newsline Magazine – More
officially, “Horseshoe Pitching Newsline” is the official magazine of the NHPA. (See GUIDELINE PART II, #3, Section B) NHPA – Stands for National Horseshoe Pitchers
Association; the official organization for the sport of horseshoe pitching.
(See the NHPA website listed above for additional information) NHPF – Stands
for the National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation; the official spin-off
organization of the NHPA, established to promote the game of horseshoes, and to
provide and maintain the NHPA Hall of Fame facility. (See the NHPA website listed
above for additional information) Out
of Count – Refers to a shoe that is outside of the scoring
area and/or a foul shoe. (See RULE 3, Section B.3) Pacer – Refers to an individual
who may fill a vacated position during round-robin tournament play. (See GUIDELINE PART I, #5) Pit – A rectangular area
around the stake, and between the platforms, that is filled with a pit
substance into which the shoes are pitched. (See RULE 2, Section B, and II – SPECIFICATIONS
FOR COURT LAYOUT, Section B, 4.a) Pit Substance – The material
into which horseshoes are pitched. Clay, sand, dirt, and approved synthetic
compositions are all legal pit substances. (See II – SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT
LAYOUT, Section B, 11) Pitcher's Box – The six-foot
(6’) by six-foot (6’) square area located at each end of the court. This area
includes the pit, and pitching platforms. (See II – SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT
LAYOUT, Section B, 4) Pitching Platforms
– The area from which contestants deliver their horseshoes. The full-distance
pitching platforms flank the pits for the entire length of the pitcher’s box.
(See II – SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT LAYOUT, Section B, 4.b) Point
Limit Game – Refers to a game that
is played to a pre-determined number of points. (See RULE 8, Section A.1) Point
Limit or Shoe Limit Game – Refers to a game
that is played to a pre-determined number of points or to a pre-determined number of shoes. For example, forty (40)
points or fifty (50) shoes; whichever comes first. (See RULE 8, Section A.3) Portable
Pits – Usually
made of treated plywood and framing lumber, these above-ground-level pits are
often set up and used in arenas or other hard-surfaced areas for exhibitions,
special tournaments, and/or special events. (See II – SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT
LAYOUT, Section B.6) Ringer – A ringer is a shoe
that comes to rest while encircling the stake. A straightedge touching either the points or any
part of the heel calks of the shoe must clear (not touch) the stake in order to
be declared a ringer. A ringer has a value of three (3) points. (See RULE
3, Section B, 2.a) Ringer
Percentage – A pitcher’s ringer
percentage (for a game, tournament, or NATSTATS) is determined by dividing the total number of
ringers by the total number of shoes pitched. (See RULE 12, Section C) “Ringers
Only” Scoring – A variation of
Count-all scoring where both contestants receive credit for only the ringers
they have pitched in each inning. (See RULE 6, Section A, 2.b) Round
– Refers to any one of the games of a round-robin schedule. (See Round-robin
Schedule, below) Round-robin Schedule – Refers
to the printed/posted schedule of round-robin play used in tournament
competition. In round-robin play, each contestant is scheduled to play all
other contestants in the Class. (See GUIDELINE PART I, #3, A.2) Sanctioned
Club/League Program – The
NHPA Sanctioned Club/League Program introduces new and veteran horseshoe
pitchers to League Play and provides instruction for an exciting, competitive,
and healthful activity for all men and women; young, old, and/or physically
challenged. (See the NHPA Sanctioned Club/League
“Red” Book for additional information) Sanctioned Tournament – The NHPA Tournament Sanction Certificate certifies
that “THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES, GUIDELINES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SPORT
OF HORSESHOE PITCHING (aka The RGS Book) will be enforced, including the
requirements of membership and use of sanctioned horseshoes. (See NHPA Regional
Directors Guidelines) Scorekeeping – The recording of scores is a very essential part of
the game and the scorekeeper must be familiar with a variety of calls, how to
record the score, etc. (See GUIDELINE PART I, #3 for additional information) Scoring
Area – Refers to the pit area
within which a live shoe may come to rest and still score points. It
can be thought of as the area which includes the one inch (1") stake, plus
the six inch (6”) “Shoe in Count” area surrounding the stake, plus an additional
distance of approximately nine inches (9”) around the stake where a shoe could come to rest and still be a
“Shoe in Count”. This scoring area becomes an approximate thirty-one inch
(31") diameter circle with the stake in the very center. Scoring Radius – May be used in reference to the fifteen inch
(15”) distance between the stake and the outside perimeter of the scoring area.
This area extends outward, in all directions, from the stake and includes the
“Shoe in Count” area. Scratch
Play – Refers to a game where a
handicap system is not used. (See GUIDELINE PART II, #3, Section A.2 and NHPA
Sanctioned Club/League “Red” Book) Seeding – The placement of contestants, by the Tournament
Director of Committee, into Classes for tournament play. For sanctioned events,
this placement should be based on their current NATSTATS average ringer
percentage. (See GUIDELINE PART II, #1, Section A, 1.b for additional
information and exceptions) Shoe
in Count – Refers to any live shoe that is a ringer, or
that may come to rest at a distance of six inches (6”) or closer to the stake.
(See RULE 3, Section B, 2.a & b) Shoe
Limit Game – Refers to a game that
is played to a pre-determined, even number of shoes. (See RULE 8, Section A.2) Shoe Out of Count – Refers to any
shoe that comes to rest further than six (6”) inches from the stake. (See RULE
3, Section B.3) Single
Point – Refers to any (non-ringer) live shoe that is six
inches (6”) or closer to the stake. Stakes – The stake is the target
at which the shoe is pitched. (See II – SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT LAYOUT,
Section B.7) Straightedge – Usually a metal bar
tool that is straight along one or more edges, is about eight inches (8”) in
length, and that is used in the measurement of ringers. Time
Limit – Contestants must deliver both shoes within thirty
(30) seconds. (See RULE 3, Section C.2) Toe
– Refers to the area of the horseshoe that is farthest from the open end. (See
drawing on back cover) |