TRI-COUNTY HORSESHOE LEAGUE RULES
<Approved 11/02/2023>

1. League pitches every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. beginning approximately the first week in December and ending in March (exact schedule determined each year depending on number of teams and impact of holidays).
2. Any starting time changes must be agreed to by the affected team captains at least 12 hours before the scheduled time.
3. Open roster.
4. Three pairs of players from each team. 
5. When a team is short a player, one player may walk and play both ends of the court as a "pair", however, a different player must be used to walk for each game. 
	If five players, one new walker each game.
	If four players, two new walkers first two games, two pairs and one forfeit third game.
	If three players, one pair and one new walker each game, three games are forfeited.
6. Each player pitches 40 shoes per game.
7. If a player does not have an average then their scores from the first week is used to determine an average (as calculated by HSMaster). 
8. Players may change from 40 ft to 30 pitching distance at any age, but must then establish a new average. 
9. The current HSMaster statistical report must be provided to the opposing captain each week before the competition begins.
10. Score sheets must be completed after the last game has been played.  Once they are turned into the statistician no corrections can be made.
11. Each team is to have its own name.
12. Each team must have at least three home courts.
13. Play will be count-all with handicaps calculated as 80% of the difference between the combined average of each pair, with the low pair receiving the handicap.
14. The home team will supply score sheets and clip boards.
15. A six-inch scale should be available by home team to be used if there is any doubt of the measurement of the shoe to the stake.
16. The home team pairs move to the next pit between games, the visitors stay at the same pits.
17. Matches will be played on scheduled dates unless weather conditions do not permit.  Team captains are to contact one another for rescheduling.
18. Due to handicap, substitutions must be made at the beginning of each game only.
19. Ties will be carried as ties since the match will already be completed prior to calculation of score and handicap.  (one half win and one half  loss).
20. Each pair pitches three games (one against each of the opposing pairs) to complete the match. Pairings may only be changed during a match due to player shortage, see rules on walkers above.
21. Each pair will be credited with one point for each game won.
22. The home team captain must report game wins to the league statistician by 3:00 PM on the day of play.
23. Team wins are to be accumulated each week and reported by the statistician. 
24. Statistician will e-mail / mail out standings to the team captains each week.
25. Averages to be updated weekly by the team captains on the NHPA HSMaster program.  Averages must be up-to-date.  
26. Scores are final when you leave the court.  All corrections after play must be agreed upon by the two captains.
27. If there is a tie at the end of the season, a play-off for first place must be played.   Captains of each team to determine when and where.
28. Players are required to play at least 50% of the scheduled league games to be eligible for the play-off games.
29. Each competing team will pay a $50.00 sponsor fee.  Sponsor fee to be given to the league treasurer by November 18th.   Checks are to be made payable to Tri-County Horseshoe League.
30. The winner's trophy will be awarded at the banquet. The trophy will be a multi-year perpetual trophy with a citation added for the winning team. The winning team gets to keep the trophy for one year, after which it will be passed to the next year's winning team.
31. A banquet will be held at the end of the season and will be open to the horseshoe players and guests.  Banquet fees to be determined by the president. Money must be turned into the captain before the last two weeks of the season.  Captain will turn money into league treasurer prior to the last two weeks of play.
32. If a team forfeits an entire match, that team gets 0 points and the other team that showed up to play gets 5 (not 9) points.
33. The two players in a pair may pitch one pair of shoes or each player may use their own shoes.
34. NHPA rules will apply if we do not have a rule to cover a specific situation.