2014 Summer Parma Rules

Entry Fees:

$70/team for the entire session (teams are teams of two, but you are allowed a sub).  Teams are refunded $20 at the end of the session if they do not forfeit any games or have to reschedule any games at the last second.  More on forfeits later.

Days Off:

Teams may request a MAXIMUM of one week off during round robin play (6/11, 6/18, 6/25) and one week off during divisional play.  HOWEVER, if the director is not notified several weeks in advance, there is no guarantee that the games can be made up/rescheduled.  So please, if you have a date that you know you cannot make, let me know as soon as possible to increase your chances of getting the schedule changed.  ABSOLUTELY NO DAY OF CANCELLATIONS WILL BE RESCHEDULED (barring a death in the family or some sort of horrible emergency and let’s hope we don’t have any of those).  Even in emergency situations there are weeks where I simply cannot move games like the last week or two of round robin and division play and obviously the season ending tournament.

There will be NO mandatory weeks off during the summer session other than 7/16.  NO CORNHOLE on July 16th.

Part 1 – Round Robin:

You will play every team in the league one time over the first 3 weeks.  We will then split the league into three divisions based on the results.

Part 2 – Knock Down Games:

To start Week #4 we will have the knock down games.  Team #1 overall in the standings will play Team #2 overall.  Team #3 will play Team #4, etc…  in a 2 game series.  The winner of each game gets $5/team, so you could potentially win $10/team if you win both games.

Part 3 – Divisional Play:

Weeks #4-9 – We wipe the records clean starting in week 4 (knock down games are only for money and do not count in the standings).  Each division will play all of the other teams in their division only.  Each match will be a 2 game match with a possible pitch-off.  That is, if the teams each win one game, then we will have a one inning pitch-off.  Pitch-off results are only used for tiebreakers.  They do not count as a win/loss, but simply used as a tiebreaker if needed at the end of the season.

Part 4 – Season Ending Tournament:

Week #10 – The last week of the season will be a Double elimination, best 2/3 in winners bracket, single game in losers bracket tournament for all divisions.

*NOTE – when league play is complete, the highest finishing team in Divisions II and III MUST move up to the next higher division for the season ending tournament.  They then become the lowest seed in the higher division for the tournament.

Division Payouts :

$10 per Knock Down Match plus the following:

Plus trophies will be provided with funding coming from 50/50 raffles or other fundraisers.

Forfeits – 3 Strikes and You’re Out: 

–           Each team paid an extra $20 at the start of the session to cover potential forfeit fees.  Any team forfeiting more than one game on a given night will lose $10 of their $20.  If a team forfeits again on a 2^nd night they will lose the other $10.  If a team forfeits for a 3^rd night then they will immediately be removed from the league.

–           Reschedules – any teams rescheduling without advance notice will be charged a $10 reschedule fee (if the reschedule is allowed at all) which comes out of the forfeit fee.

–           Teams that do not forfeit/reschedule at all will get their entire $20 back at the end of the session.

–           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 that drops out after the first game is played for the season.

–         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.

–          Two game matches, losers walk and pitch-offs.  When we do 2 game matches there are a couple of things to remember.  We still have a home team who gets to pick sides, bags and go first in Game 1.  After Game 1 is complete the team that LOSES has to walk.  Meaning, the team that loses, both players have to switch ends.  Teams do NO switch bags or sides, but the losing team players have to switch ends.  Also, the team that wins Game 1 gets to go first in Game 2.  Finally, if each team wins a game then we have a pitch-off.  A pitch-off is one complete inning of regular game play.  Whichever team scores more after one inning wins the pitch-off.  If the game is still tied after one inning then you play another complete inning.  Players do NOT switch ends for the pitch-off, all players remain where they were for Game 2 and the team that won Game 2 goes first in the pitch-off.

–          Teammates must pitch directly across from each other, NOT diagonal from each other.

–          Team standings are based on:

1. Win/Loss Record in Division Play
2. Total Points in Division Play
3. Head to Head Win/Loss Record (does not include the Round Robin game)
4. Head to Head Pitch-Off Results
5. Head to Head in Round Robin Play
6. One game playoff (if teams are tied for a cash spot), coin toss if teams are tied for a non-cash spot

• During round robin if there is a 3 way (or more) tie to see who makes it into a higher division and all the teams beat each other, we may have to play a couple more games to determine who moves up and who moves down

–          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.

–          Team with the better record will be home for the first game of the knock down matches.  Lower seeded team will start game #2.  All players FLIP sides of the boards for the 2nd game.  Sides of the board, not ends.

–          Teams finishing higher in the divisional play will be the home team in the season ending tournament throughout tournament. With the exception of the Championship.  The team winning the winners bracket is home for Game 1 of the Championship match.  If there is a Game 2, the higher seed will be home.

–          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 team uses a sub that is already in the league then the opponent may choose to win by forfeit if they choose to do that.  Subs should come from outside of the league, but sometimes that is not possible. However, if a team uses a sub that already plays in the league they risk forfeiting if their opponents choose to do so.  Teams choosing to win by forfeit MUST tell the league director BEFORE the game starts.

–          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 have to 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 (which also includes Midwest Cornhole Tour 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

–          Any and all games, playoffs, championships and tournaments will only be played with equipment provided by Cleveland Cornhole.

–          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.  *Note – the American Legion Hall sometimes does not offer food, when that is the case, you may bring outside food into the hall, but please, food only.

–          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.

–          League Director:  Dave Weiser – 440.570.5701 – ClevelandCornhole@att.net