EXERCISEºRECREATIONºSPORT


Table of Contents

January 2016

THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES, GUIDELINES, AND SPECIFICATIONS
FOR THE SPORT OF HORSESHOE PITCHING


(aka The RGS Book)

printable versions require adobe reader

Links
Table of Contents
Playing Rules
Requirements
Guidelines
Specifications
Glossary
Shoe and pit illustrations (page 48 in printed book)
 
Printable version
Complete Book

Published by The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA)

(January 1, 2016)


I. PLAYING RULES
RULE 1 - PITCHING DIVISIONS
Section A - Juniors
Section B - Open Men
Section C - Open Women
Section D - Seniors
Section E - Elder Men

RULE 2 - GAME PREPARATION
Section A - Court Assignment
Section B - Pit Preparation and Maintenance
Section C - Painting of Stakes
Section D - Start of Each Tournament/Class
Section E - Court Rotation

RULE 3 - PLAY OF THE GAME AND VALUE OF THE SHOE
Section A - Innings
Section B - Value of the Shoe
Section C - Delivery of Shoes
Section D - Position of Contestants During Delivery

RULE 4 - FLOW OF THE GAME
Section A - Possible Delays

RULE 5 - FOUL SHOES
Section A - Removal from Pit
Section B - Enforcing Violations

RULE 6 - SCORING THE GAME, CALLING THE SCORE
Section A - Methods of Scoring
Section B - Calling the Score
Section C - Recording the Score

RULE 7 - PITCHING ROTATION DURING THE GAME
Section A - Cancellation Rotation
Section B - Count-All Rotation
Section C - Handicap Rotation
Section D - Pacer Rotation
Section E - Pitching Out of Turn

RULE 8 - LENGTH OF THE GAMES, BREAKING OF TIE GAMES
Section A - Length of Games
Section B - Breaking of Tie Games

RULE 9 - BROKEN OR CRACKED SHOES
Section A - Broken Shoes
Section B - Cracked Shoes

RULE 10 - LOOSE OR BROKEN STAKES
Section A - Loose Stakes
Section B - Broken Stakes

RULE 11 - TOURNAMENT/LEAGUE PLAY
Section A - Standard Method of Sanctioned Tournament Play
Section B - Determining Class Winners, Breaking of Ties
Section C - Ringer Percentage
Section D - Seeding Contestants
Section E - Mixed Classes
Section F - Handicapping
Section G - Forfeits

RULE 12 - APPROPRIATE NHPA MEMBER CONDUCT
Section A - On the Courts
Section B - Sportsmanship
Section C - Dress Code
Section D - Alcohol, Tobacco Products, and Illegal Controlled Substances
Section E - Cell Phones
Section F - Protests


II. REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENT 1 - TOURNAMENT/LEAGUE OFFICIALS
Section A - Duties and Responsibilities
REQUIREMENT 2 - ALL NHPA TOURNAMENTS/LEAGUES
Section A - Sanctioning
Section B - Eligibility
Section C - Fees
Section D - Division Size
Section E - Tournament Credit
Section F - League Credit
Section G - Count-All Scoring
Section H - Total Ringers/Shoes
Section I - Reporting Results

REQUIREMENT 3 - CHARTER/STATE INFORMATION
Section A - Championship Play
Section B - Newsline Magazine
Section C - Delegates
Section D - Compliance

REQUIREMENT 4 - WORLD TOURNAMENT PLAY
Section A - Committee and Director
Section B - Division
Section C - Championship Finals
Section D - World Title
Section E - Division Winners
Section F - Playoffs
Section G - Records
Section H - Eligibility
Section I - Awards

REQUIREMENT 5 - FOR SPECIAL TOURNAMENTS OR EVENTS
Section A - Events
Section B - Waiver

REQUIREMENT 6 - CADET AND JUNIOR PITCHERS
Additional Information

Section A - Adult Divisions
Section B - Eligibility
Section C - Awards
Section D - Responsibility

III. GUIDELINES GUIDELINE 1 - DOUBLES PLAY
Section A - Regular Doubles
Section B - Walking Doubles

GUIDELINE 2 - CALLING THE SCORE
Section A - Recommended Calls
Section B - Alternative Calls

GUIDELINE 3 - KEEPING SCORE
Section A - Before the Game
Section B - During the Game
Section C - After the Game
Section D - Scoreboards
Section E - Electronic Scoring Devise
Section F - Hand Signals

GUIDELINE 4 - JUDGING
Section A - Responsibilities, Expectations and Duties

GUIDELINE 5 - PACERS
Section A - Use of Pacers
Section B - Qualified Pacers
Section C - Awards and Statistics

IV. SPECIFICATIONS
I - EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Section A - Sanctioned Horseshoes
Section B - Altered Horseshoes
Section C - Legal Horseshoe Repair
Section D - Horseshoes Sanctioned in Other Countries
Section E - Pitching Accessories

II - SPECIFICATIONS FOR COURT LAYOUT
Section A - Sanctioning of Courts
Section B - Court Sanction Requrements/Specifications
Section C - Specifications For Raised Pits
Section D - Specifications for Covered and Indoor Courts

GLOSSARY
Altered Shoe – Burr
Bylaws – Dress Code
Extended Platforms – Inning
Judges – Pit
Pit Substance – Round
Round Robin Play – Scoring Area
Scoring Radius – Welded Shoe