General League Information
First and foremost welcome to the league! We have a new record 73 teams this session! While that’s great, it comes with some negatives including everyone having to take 2 (of the 12) weeks off. Longer nights (although still hoping to be done no later than 10pm, aiming to have the final games of the night SCHEDULED to start around 9:35pm). Several years ago I used to schedule games after 10pm, so it’s still way better from that perspective. And some nights longer wait times between games. Unfortunately I have not been able to find a bigger place for the league that does not want to charge us a ton of money. If you have suggestions please let me know.
The schedule for Monday has now been posted. You can always view the schedule, standings and more by going to www.ClevelandCornhole.com and then clicking on “Mondays” at the top left.
The goal is to get everyone a minimum of 5 games a week and a maximum of 7 (unless you have to make-up games). The target is roughly 6.5 games per week, but depending on the number of teams in a division, that’s not always achievable.
The league starts THIS MONDAY 1/13 for most of you and will end on 3/30 unless we have to cancel a night for some reason like bad weather (note that teams that end up in Divisions 6 and 7 will end their season on 3/23 which will be their playoff night). If you have not paid your $120/team entry fee, please do so on Monday or the first night that you play.
Weather
I believe in the 8 years that I’ve been running leagues that I’ve only cancelled due to snow maybe 2-3 times, but it’s certainly possible. If weather is bad on a league night please check www.ClevelandCornhole.com to make sure we are playing. I try and make a decision no later than 4:30pm. I will also try and email if we cancel.
Times and Game Play
5:30pm – boards are almost always set up by 5:30 unless the gym is in use which isn’t common, happens more during basketball season
6:25pm – end of warm-ups and announcements are made
6:30pm – games start (typically we start on time) – if you have a 6:30 game you should be ready to play at 6:30, when I call your game that is not the time to go to the bathroom or get a drink, please do your best to be ready to play when your game is called.
Games are usually called in the order that’s on the schedule, however, if a team comes late or we have a forfeit then games may be moved around. The first 16 games on the schedule are called first and then as soon as a game ends the next game on the schedule is called out.
The first team called out is the “Home” team. The home team gets to go first, pick their side of the board (you must line-up directly across from your partner, not diagonal) and if you and your opponent have the exact same color bags, the Away team must switch.
Games start with a down and back warm-up round and then you start. Games SHOULD all start at the scoreboard end. Why? Because the one different rule we use is the full inning rule, so a game is not over until all players have thrown the same number of bags. For example, you start at the scoreboard end, the player pitching from that end puts their team up 22-18 (games are up to 21 or more, you do not have to land right on 21). The non scoreboard end gets to finish the inning. If the other team scores 5 or more they would win. If they score 4 to tie it at 22, then you play another full inning until someone wins.
Winning team please report that you won to me immediately following the game. We have almost 200 games to play each night, so the longer you take to report your game the longer the night will go. If you lose you do NOT report your game results.
Once you have played all of your scheduled games for the evening you are free to leave. If you are there at the end of the night any help cleaning up is always appreciated, but not required. If you’re not sure if you are done for the night just ask and I’ll let you know.
Prizes
In most cases the top 3 teams in EACH division will win money for the regular season and the top 4 teams in each division will win money in the playoffs. Trophies are also awarded to the top 2 teams in each division for the regular season and also to the winner of the playoffs in each division.
Money Games
Every team will play 2-4 money games during the season. These games do NOT count in the standings and are already included in your entry fee. This is just a way I came up with to give every team a chance to win part of their entry fee back. These games will be worth either $5 each or $10 each and you will play one (or more) of the teams directly next to you in the standings. These games will likely happen towards the end of the session. Any money won will be paid out at the end of the season.
Team of the Week!
The team of the week will return this session. Each week I will review the results and nominate teams for team of the week. A poll will be added to the website and whichever team gets the most votes is named the team of the week! Winners of the team of the week will each receive beer money the following week.
Forfeits
Unfortunately forfeits happen, but please do what you can to avoid them. We DO allow subs in the league, but we do require that the sub be the same skill level (or worse) as the player they are replacing. It’s not fair to other teams if you replace a person with a better player. If you bring a player that is better and a team complains, then you will lose that game by forfeit unfortunately.
New This Session! If you forfeit a night you will lose $10 of any prize money that you win. If you forfeit a 2nd night you lose an additional $10. And if you forfeit a 3rd night you are immediately removed from the league. I understand there can be emergencies or your job keeps you late and you weren’t expecting it, but again, we allow subs and asked for each team to provide an off night if needed, so I do everything I can to avoid forfeits.
Here is a breakdown by division how each division will work this session.
Premier/D1
We have 18 teams that either were placed in D1 or asked to play in D1. An 18 team division is very difficult to manage and thus for this session it will work as follows. The first 6 weeks each team will have one week off and also play each of the other 17 teams twice each. After 6 weeks based on standings we will then form the new “Premier” division and also D1 with roughly 8-10 teams in each.
The team with the best record after 6 weeks will be crowned the “Premier Division 1st Half Winner” and are guaranteed a spot in the Premier division regular season championships.
After 6 weeks the records are reset to 0-0 for all teams, the teams are split into Premier and D1 and we play the second half which will be 5 weeks with each team having one week off.
In the Premier division the winner of the 2nd half will play the winner of the 1st half in a best 2/3 match on 3/23 to determine the Division champion.
In D1 the team with the best record over the last five weeks is crowned the division champion.
The final week of the session (3/30) is the playoffs. Playoffs will be seeded by 2nd half standings, regardless of who the division champion is. So in theory the division champion could be the #4 seed for example.
Division 2
We have 10 teams in D2 this session. D2 will have a first half of the season which will run 6 weeks and every team in this division will be off TWO of the first 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks we will crown the “D2 1st Half Champ” and all records are reset to 0-0. The 2nd half will run 5 weeks NO off weeks.
On 3/23 the 1st half winner will play the 2nd half winner a best 2/3 to determine the division champ.
The final week of the session is the playoffs. Playoffs will be seeded by OVERALL record this session, regardless of who the division champion is. So in theory the division champion could be the #4 seed for example.
Division 3
We have 11 teams in D3 this session. D3 will have a first half of the season which will run 6 weeks and every team in this division will be off one of the first 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks we will crown the “D3 1st Half Champ” and all records are reset to 0-0. The 2nd half will run 6 weeks with each team having a week off.
On 3/23 the 1st half winner will play the 2nd half winner a best 2/3 to determine the division champ.
The final week of the session is the playoffs. Playoffs will be seeded by OVERALL record this session, regardless of who the division champion is. So in theory the division champion could be the #4 seed for example.
Division 4
We have 11 teams in D4 this session. D4 will have a first half of the season which will run 6 weeks and every team in this division will be off one of the first 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks we will crown the “D4 1st Half Champ” and all records are reset to 0-0. The 2nd half will run 6 weeks with each team having a week off.
On 3/23 the 1st half winner will play the 2nd half winner a best 2/3 to determine the division champ.
The final week of the session is the playoffs. Playoffs will be seeded by OVERALL record this session, regardless of who the division champion is. So in theory the division champion could be the #4 seed for example.
Round Robin
We have 23 teams in Round Robin this session. You will play all of the other teams in round robin 1 time each over the first 4 weeks. Once that is complete you will be split up into divisions 5, 6 and possibly 7 based on the standings. After week 4 you will all start over with a 0-0 record and only play teams in your division for the remainder of the session. The team with the best record in each division will be the division champion. Also between weeks 5-12 each team will be off two of those weeks. Exact off dates will not be determined until round robin is complete.
The playoffs for each division will either be 3/23 or 3/30. It is likely that the D6 and D7 playoffs will be 3/23.
Remaining League Rules
– Should a team forfeit during round robin play, the league director holds the right to move them up into a higher division for division play should he feel that’s where the forfeiting team belongs.
More Details:
– No refunds will be offered for any team. If you are signed up you are expected to pay the entry fee even if you have to withdraw from the league.
– There will be home teams assigned to each game. This will give the home team their choice of bags, who goes first, and which side of the board their players would like to pitch from. The first team called to the boards is the home team.
– Teammates must pitch directly across from each other, NOT diagonal from each other.
– Full innings will be played in each game. An inning consists of both players on both teams throwing 4 bags. Cancellation scoring will be used. Once a team reaches 21 points OR MORE, they have won the game.
– Teams finishing higher in divisional play will be the home team in the season ending tournament for all games EXCEPT the finals. The team that is undefeated in the finals is home team the 1st game. Should there be a 2nd game then the higher seed is home the 2nd game.
– League commissioner reserves the right to re-schedule games at any time for any reason, including teams arriving late based on extreme circumstances. (weather, emergencies etc…)
– Subs may be used at any time, but subs should be of a similar skill level (or worse) than the player they are replacing. This will be strictly enforced for the season ending tournament. If a sub is needed for the season ending tournament you should discuss it with the league director before hand. If a player who is going to miss is listed in the “Player Rankings”, you may not replace that player with anyone listed higher than them in the rankings.
– Appropriate conduct will be strictly enforced! Please review this rule carefully. Foul language is not necessary and needs to be kept in check. Throwing bags out of anger, hitting boards, punching walls may be cause for dismissal and the player may be suspended for their actions. Cleveland Cornhole holds the right to suspend any player for any amount of time due to inappropriate conduct. Any damage to the cornhole equipment or to the host establishment itself will be paid for by the player causing the damage. If you are removed or asked to leave from any host site for any reason you will be removed from that specific league with no refund and most likely a significant suspension from all future Cleveland Cornhole leagues and events. PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL MEAN IMMEDIATE EJECTION FROM THE LEAGUE! Physical violence will never be tolerated. Along with that, threats of violence are also not acceptable, you may get a warning for threats, but no warnings for actual violence. Misconduct such as throwing bags down, kicking boards/walls and/or punching walls will be dealt with as follows. Any actions worse than those listed will most likely result in immediate suspension from the league.
First Offense – verbal warning
Second Offense – forfeiture of current game (or next game should the action come after completing a game or while between games)
Third Offense – ejection from the league
– Please do not bring any outside beverages to any Cleveland Cornhole Leagues or Tournaments. We are using most of our host establishments at little to no cost. Food and beverages are sold within the host establishment and they have requested that no outside food or beverage be brought in. We take great pride in our relationships with our hosts, and feel it is our duty as a league to support their businesses.
– If a player desires to make a protest or there is a dispute with a foul, the players are to discuss the issue in a civil manner to determine the outcome of the issue. If an agreement or decision cannot be made, the protesting team captain will ask the league director who will make a final decision. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL A GAME IS OVER TO BRING UP ANY ISSUES! If there is an issue in the middle of a game that cannot be resolved by the players, find the league director immediately to discuss.
– The final schedule along with standings for each specific league for all teams will be posted online at www.clevelandcornhole.com. All teams are responsible for obtaining their own start times. Please do not email, text or call asking what time your team plays. You are responsible for your own team. If there is an issue with the standings please let me know as soon as possible so that I can get it corrected.
– League Director: Dave Weiser – 440.570.5701 – ClevelandCornhole@att.net