1. A match shall consist of two (2) eight (8) frame games, total score for sixteen(16)
frames, or two (2) ten (10) frame games, total score for twenty (20) frames. If a tie game
results at the end of sixteen (16) or twenty (20) frames, play is continued in regular
rotation untill two (2) additional frames are completed, or in like manner untill a winner
has been decided
2. Color Choice: A coin toss will determine color choice when a player or team is
called to the court. In a doubles match the player at the scoreboard end will toss the coin
for the team.
3. Each player is allowed one shot to determine if the speed of the court is acceptable.
If the court is then modified by the addition of beads or waxing of the discs, an additional
shot is allowed to determine if the court is acceptable to all four (4) players The player
shooting yellow at the head of the court is allowed four (4) practice shots. These discs
are removed and the player shooting black at the head of the court is allowed four (4)
practice shots. Players at the foot of the court will then be allowed four (4) practice shots
in a similar manner. At the end of eight (8) or ten (10) frames players change color
for the second half of the match. No speed shot is allowed but an additional four (4)
practice shots per player in the manner described above are allowed.
4. After the original preparation of the courts, the referee shall apply beads to the
courts, or cause discs to be waxed, only if so requested by a majority of the players
involved. In the case of a tie vote by the players a toss of a coin shall decide if the court
is to be modified. When applying beads to the court the referee shall apply them evenly
over the entire court in the amount requested by the players. Addition of beads to the
court or waxing of discs shall be done at the start of the match. Once beads are added
or discs are waxed there is no provision for removal except in normal play. In case of
rain delay, courts shall be treated as at the start of the match. There is no penalty
for a player marking or identifying discs.
5. In doubles, partners shall play the same color at both ends of the court. After taking
places at the head and foot of the court, the coin shall be tossed. The winner of the coin
toss gets color choice - loser has the option to change ends with partner before speed
andpractice shots.
6. To start a game, the yellow disc is shot first. Play alternates yellow, then black, until
all discs have been shot. Yellow shall always be played from the right side of the head of
the court and left side of the foot of the court. The head end of the court is at the
scoreboard end.
7. Error in Color Lead: Error in color lead shall be corrected if discovered before
completion of the play of eight (8) discs. Correction in this instance means returning all
discs to their place of origin and played over with the correct color lead. If all
eight (8) discs have been played before discovery of lead error, play shall continue as
though the proper lead had been made.
8. Players shall place their four (4) discs from within and not touching the
lines of the respective half of the ten (10) off area.
9. Discs touching lines: It is a common practice with some players to jockey or slide the
disc back and forth to see if there is sand or other materials which might interfere with
the disc sliding evenly. No penalty is to be called on this practice if lines are touched or
crossed while jockeying. Cue shall not leave the disc while jockeying. If the cue leaves
the disc in the count area of the court, it shall be considered a shot and such disc shall be
removed from play. Disc in motion may cross outside diagonal line.
10. No hook shot is allowed. The shot must be delivered in a straight line with
continuous forward motion of the cue and disc.
11. Player must not step on or over baseline of court, or extension of the baseline while
executing a shot. Player may cross extension of baseline to gather discs or remove disc
which are out of play.
12. Players shall not step on the playing surface of the courts. If after a warning from
the referee, player continues to step on the playing surface of the court the referee may
penalize the player five (5) points for each violation.
13. Player must not touch a foot, a hand, a knee or any other part of body to the court on
or over the baseline or extension of the baseline at any time while executing a shot.
14. Player must wait until opponents disc comes to rest before shooting.
15. A disc which stops between the farthest deadline and the starting area is a dead disc
and shall be removed whenever observed by the players. However, if a subsequent shot is
made before the error is discovered, the disc shall remain in play for the remainder of that
half frame. If a disc is touching the farthest deadline it is in play. Any disc that clearly
leaves the court beyond the farthest baseline, or goes off the side of the court, is a dead
disc. A disc which stops less than eight (8) inches beyond the farthest baseline shall be
removed. A disc which is more than halfway over the side of the court, or which rests or
leans on the edge shall be removed.
16. Hard Shooting: Any disc which is shot hard enough to leave or to cause an object
disc to leave the playing area and go over the back stop or to go onto the adjacent court
and displace a live disc, shall incur a penalty of five (5) points off for the next violation
and ten (10) points off for subsequent violations for the shooter, at the discretion of the referee after one warning
17. Player may walk in the gutter between the courts to the nearer deadline in order to
observe the location of the discs at the other end of the court. Player may ask the referee,
or his partner, or in singles a person at the other end of the court to give the position of a
disc on the court.
18. Player must not leave court, except with opponent's permission.
19 Player must not stand in the way of, or have a cue in the way of, or interfere in any
way with opponent while said opponent is executing a shot. After completing a shot,
player shall step to rear of court and hold cue in an upright position.
20. Any remark or motion to partner which indicates coaching is prohibited. Player may
indicate by word or action which discs are good and advise score. When color choice is a
question, player may ask partner for color preference. Any other conversation between
partners is prohibited. Players must not talk or make remarks to disconcert opponents
play.
21.Players shall not touch live discs at any time. If a situation arises whereby a player
moves a live disc or discs before play is completed from the other end of the court, the
disc or discs shall be replaced to their original position. If players cannot agree on
this, the referee shall be called. If the referee cannot get the players to agree on the
placement of the discs, the half -round shall be played over and the person moving the
disc shall be penalized ten (10) points by the referee.
22. A disc or discs returning to, or remaining on the playing area of the court after
having struck an object outside the playing area, shall be removed from further play.
Such disc is called a dead disc. If a live disc is moved by a dead disc, the live disc shall
be replaced to its original position.
23. If a cue, slipping from a players hand, does not touch or displace a disc, there is no
penalty.
24. Intentional stalling or delay of the game is not allowed. A time of twenty (20) seconds
is deemed sufficient time to make a decision and shoot. If any player continually exceeds
this limit, the referee, after warning, may impose a penalty for delay of game.
25. Rain: If it starts to rain during a game, play shall be terminated at the completion of
any half-frame or any full-frame,and the score card marked indicating the half-frame or full frame number as appropriate. Completion of a unfinished game shall be resumed
later at the score, half-frame or frame, and color lead where play terminated. Resumption
of play will be at the discretion of the tournament manager.
26. Substitutes: In case of physical disability of one player in doubles, a substitute
player may take up play at any point during the playing of a match, providing such
substitute has not entered in a previous match in this tournament. Disabled player cannot
return. The tournament manager has final decision on the legality of the substitution.
27. In keeping score, the written number shall be carried forward at all times and any
score which is in the hole shall be indicated by a circle around the number.
28. If an error is posted on the scoreboard and it is discovered before the next eight (8)
discs have been played, the error shall be corrected. Otherwise the score as posted must
stand, unless both sides agree to the correction.
29. The winner of a match must sign the score card, thus approving the record thereon.
It shall be the responsibility of the winner to present the score card to the scorer's table as
promptly as possible.
30. The referee's decision on whether a disc is good, or no good, is final. There is no
appeal.
31. Any player or team losing first match by default is not eligible to enter consolation.
Any player or team winning first match with a bye or default and losing second match is
eliminated from the tournament.
32. If there is no referee on the court the person playing yellow at the scoring end of the
court advises the status of a disc or discs. If person playing black does not agree, then
a referee is called. Thereferee's decision is final. There is no appeal. Once a disc has been declared good or nogood and play has been continued in normal rotation the status of said disc cannot bechanged.
33. Call to play; 2nd call made in five (5) minutes; 3rd and final call made in ten (10)
minutes (fifteen (15) minutes total). If no answer is made to the final call, the team loses
by default.
34. A player shall not be assigned to play on a court upon which he or she has played
previously on the same day.
35. No player or team shall be requested to play more than four (4) twenty-frame
matches in a day. If all parties involved agree, then a fifth match may be played. If a
match consists of sixteen (16) frames instead of twenty, then the players may be
requested to play a fifth match.
36. No player or team shall be called to play a match after 4:30 P.M. However, if all
players involved agree, match may be played.
37. Each Texas State Shuffleboard Association sponsored tournament will be an open
tournament. That is, players from any Park/Club may team with members of any other
Park/Club and participate in a scheduled tournament. Any Park/Club may declare
themselves as a closed Park/Club. The term "closed" means that members of that
Park/Club may not go outside of their own membership to get a partner for a tournament.
Any Park/Club declaring itself as a closed Park/Club and holding a TSSA-sponsored
tournament must accept entries from any other Park/Club whether open or closed.
38. If because of inclement weather a tournament is postponed less than a week, each
club chairman is responsible for collecting all entry fees for names turned in, and paying
same to the host park. If a tournament is postponed for more than a week all entry fees
are to be returned to the players and a new draw made up.
39. If, because of inclement weather, a tournament if postponed one day only, those
players originally scheduled to play the second day will play the first day of the
postponed tournament, and the players originally scheduled for the first day will play the
second day of the new schedule. If postponed for two days or more the original schedule
will be moved back.
40. A point system has been established to rate players in an Amateur or Expert Class.
Points are accrued by placing in a tournament. The Secretary of the Texas State
Shuffleboard Association is the record keeper and will furnish information on the point
system upon request. Said point system is an integral part of these rules.
41. Smoking is not permitted on the court, in the stands or the sourrounding area during a Scheduled Tournament Game.
42. Cell phones are permitted on courts only in extreme emergencies.
43. There shall be no practice on any tournament courts on the day of the tournament,
except in an official match according to TSSA rules.
44. Referees are required to wear Distinctive vest and Badge for all Scheduled Tournaments.
OFFICIALS
1. Each member Park of the Texas State Shuffleboard Association (TSSA) that Hosts and/or
conducts an Approved Tournament shall appoint-designate-elect a "Tournament Manager"
to conduct the Tournament. The "Tournament Manager" will have absolute control of the
Tournament, within the guidelines of the TSSA and the Rio Grande Valley Shuffleboard
Association (RGVSA).
2. Duties of the "Tournament Manager" are listed below:
a. Appoint a Draw Master.b. Oversee the drawing, pairing and assignment of courts.c. Determine the type of draw, Sprinkle or Random.d. Select and inform the referees of their duties.e. Inspect all courts and equipment to insure compliance with Rule B-4 and Part B, National Shuffleboard Association Rules.f. Insure all TSSA Rules are followed as closely as possible.g. Forward a list of Tournament Winners (full name & park) to the Secretary of the TSSA who keeps the point records for all Players.h. Other duties as needed. 3. TheTournament Manager shall provide a display draw sheet in an area apart from the Tournament Managers desk.
4. Referees shall be appointed by and under the Supervision of the Tournament Manager.
Referees will be completely familiar with the Rules and the interpretation of the same. A
Referee shall have the authority to enforce such penalty as he/she sees fit. In case of point
penalty being assessed, such penalty shall not exceed ten (10) points for any violation.
5. When requested to do so by the players, the referee shall make known to all players whether
a disc is good or no good.
6. All Tournament Managers are to coach their referees on the proper way to make a call.
Referees are not to use a ruler, paper straight edge, or any such item, in making a call on a
disc. Referee shall make decision on whether a disc is good or no good by visual inspection
only, approaching it from the back side of the disc, looking straight down over the edge of
the disc. Under no circumstance is the referee, or any players involved, to touch a disc. Use
of a flashlight or magnifying glass is allowed.
7. It is not the duty of the referee to attempt to watch all players for rule violations, or to watch
the scoring. The referee becomes involved only after being requested to do so by the players
(Except for Rule # 12). It is then the duty of the referee to issue warnings to players
regarding rule violations. After warning, if the violation is repeated the referee may assess a
point penalty of five (5), not to exceed ten (10) points for any violation. When a referee is called
to make a decision on a scoring error he shall make a determination based strictly on the
tournament rules. Under no condition is the referee to allow a spectator to become involved
in a scoring decision.
8. If a situation arises which is not specifically covered by these rules, the referee shall
refer the facts to the Tournament Manager for a decision.
EQUIPMENT
1. The playing court shall be as described in Rule B-4, court under the Official Rules of
the National Shuffleboard Association.
2. Other equipment shall be as described in Part B, Equipment under the Official Rules
of the National Shuffleboard Association.
These Rules were adopted at the fall meeting held on 5 Nov. 2007, and will become effective at the start of the 2007-2008 season.
