Game Rules

Bean Bag Tournament Rules

Placement:

Boxes (or "boards") are placed 30 feet apart from center of hole to center of hole.

Rules for Players:

  1. The bean bag toss game can be played with 2 or 4 players.
  2. Each team gets 4 bean bags to throw.
  3. When 4 players are used, team members stand at opposite ends and may throw from either side of the box.
  4. Each player throws from behind the front of the boxes. This is the foul line.
    • The player must not pass the foul line or the players throw does not count and the bag is removed from play.
  5. Each team alternates shots beginning with the team that had scored last.

Scoring:

  1. Points are scored when a player has a bag on the board or in the hole.
  2. Only one team can score per round.
    • Points cancel each other.
  3. A bag on the board is equal to 1 point, a bag in the hole is equal to 3 points.
    • An example of cancellation is as follows:
      • Team one has 2 bags in the hole and 1 bag on the board equalling 7 points (3 + 3 + 1 = 7).
      • Team two has 1 bag in the hole and 1 bag on the board equalling 4 points (3 + 1 = 4).
      • The lowest score is subtracted from the highest score to get the points earned for team one (7 - 4 = 3).
      • Team one earns 3 points in this round and gets to throw first in the next round.
  4. The game is continued until one team scores 21 points. A team can win by a white wash which is 11 - 0.
    • A white wash cannot occur in the first half of the first round. (all 4 bags in the hole by player 1 of team 1, and only 1 point or zero points by player 1 of team 2)
  5. A bag that is tossed in play and knocks another bag off or in the hole is legal.
  6. A bag that bounces from the ground onto the board is not a legal play. This bag must be removed from the board and play is then continued.

 

Game Variations

Mini Set / Dorm Play:

All rules are the same as Tournament Rules, except that boards are placed 15 feet apart from hole to hole or 13 feet apart from front to front.

Make it More Interesting:

Play the game to 21 points exactly. If a team or player goes over 21, they score no points that round and the opponent’s bags count (unless they also go over 21 - then both teams points are not awarded). All scoring should be counted at the end of the round.

Have Ideas?
If you'd like to share your game variations with fellow "Bean Bag" players, send them to us. We'd be happy to post your styles of play.

NOTE: Please do not send any information which may be of a proprietary nature as any postings will be made available to the public and we cannot guarantee how the information may be used.