THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES, GUIDELINES, AND SPECIFICATIONS

FOR THE SPORT OF HORSESHOE PITCHING

(aka The RGS Book)

Published by The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA)

(January 1, 2007)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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 GAME, BREAKING OF TIE GAMES
Section A - Length of Game
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

GUIDELINES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

PART I - SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEAGUE AND/OR TOURNAMENT PLAY

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

PART II - OTHER REQUIREMENTS For Sanctioned League and/or Sanctioned Tournament Play

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 - World Title
Section D - Division Winners
Section E - Playoffs
Section F - Records
Section G - Eligibility
Section H - 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

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 Specifications
Section C - Raised Pits
Section D - Court Sanction Waiver
Section E - 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