Current NHPA rules will govern horseshoes play except for the following modifications.

I. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible. All areas of eligibility are covered in the Intramural By-Laws which are available through the Campus Recreation Office and online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.

2. In order to participate in an Intramural contest each player must present their validated FSUCard. Exceptions must be directed to the Intramural Sports Office for consideration by the IM staff during regular business hours (9:00am-6:00pm). Bring a photo ID and proof of payment to obtain a waiver from the IM staff. No such waiver will be granted on the field.

3. All players must sign-in at the sign-in table or with a supervisor at the game site prior to each game to be eligible to participate.

II. TEAM COMPOSITION

1. Players can compete on only one (1) team, regardless of league classification.

2. Horseshoe doubles teams shall consist of only two (2) players. No additional substitutes are permitted. Two (2) players must be present to begin a match.

III. EQUIPMENT

1. All players must wear shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are also permitted.

2. Horseshoes will be provided by the Intramural Sports staff at the match site. Teams must use the equipment provided by Intramural Sports.

IV. RULES AND REGULATIONS

Rule 1: Conduct of Players
A. No contestant shall make any remarks or utter any sound within the hearing of his/her opponent, nor make any movement that does or might interfere with the opponents' playing.
B. The penalty for violation of this rule shall be the declaring as foul both shoes pitched or to be pitched by the offender in the inning complained.
C. No contestant shall walk across to the opposite stake and examine the position of his opponent's shoe before making his/her first or final pitch.

Rule 2: The Foul Lines
A. The outer edges of the pitcher's box shall be known as foul lines.

Rule 3: Position of Players
A. In delivering the shoe into the opposite pitcher's box a contestant may stand anywhere inside of the foul lines.
B. Each player, when not pitching, must remain outside and back of the pitcher's box until his/her opponent has finished pitching.

Rule 4: The First Pitch
A. At the beginning of a game, the contestants shall decide who shall have the first pitch by the toss of a shoe or coin. The winner shall have the choice of first pitch or follow.
B. At the beginning of successive games between the same players, the loser of the preceding game shall have the first pitch.

Rule 5: Pitched Shoe
A. The shoe is pitched when it leaves the player's hand.

Rule 6: Broken Shoes
A. When a shoe strikes in fair territory and is broken into separate parts, it shall be removed and the contestant entitled to pitch another shoe in its place.

Rule 7: Foul Shoes
A. A shoe pitched while the player is standing outside the foul line is foul.
B. If a shoe first strikes outside of the foul lines before entering the pitcher's box, it is a foul.
C. Foul shoes shall be removed from the pitcher's box at the request of the opponent.
D. A foul shall not be scored or credited.

Rule 8: Interfering with Pitched Shoes
A. No contestant shall touch his/her own or his/her opponent's shoes after they have been pitched, until the final decision has been rendered as to the scoring values of the shoes.
B. Failure to comply with this rule shall result in both shoes of the offender being declared foul and his/her opponent being entitled to as many points as the position of his/her shoes at the peg should warrant.

Rule 9: Definition of a "Ringer"
A. A ringer shall be a shoe that encircles the stake far enough to permit a straight edge to touch both heel calks simultaneously without touching the stake.

Rule 10: Knocked off and Knocked on Ringers
A. Whenever a player knocks off his/her own or opponent's ringer, such knocked off ringers lose their scoring value.
B. If a player knocks on one of his/her opponent's shoes from a non-ringer position to a ringer position, the changed shoe has scoring value and credit for a ringer for its owner.

Rule 11: Moved Pitched Shoes
A. When a thrown shoe moves a shoe already at the stake, all shoes are counted in their new positions.

Rule 12: Regulation Games
A. The regulation game shall consist of 21 points.
B. Each game is divided into innings and each inning constitutes the pitching of four shoes, the two players each pitching two shoes.
C. An official contest between two players shall consist of best two (2) out of three (3) games.
D. Shorter matches are allowed if both participants agree prior to starting.

Rule 13: Scoring Points
A. All shoes shall be within six inches of the stake to score.
B. Closest shoe to stake scores 1 point.
C. Two shoes closer than opponent's scores 2 points.
D. One ringer scores 3 points.
E. Two ringers score 6 points.
F. One ringer and closest shoe of same player scores 4 points.
G. If a contestant shall have two ringers and his opponent one, the player having two ringers shall score 3 points.

Rule 14: Cancelled Points
A. All equals count as ties and no points are scored.
B. In case each contestant has a ringer the next closest shoe, In within six inches of stake, shall score.
C. If each contestant has a double ringer both double ringers are cancelled and no points scored.
D. In case there is a tie of all four shoes as four ringers or all four shoes are equal distances from the stake, no score shall be recorded and the contestant who pitched last is entitled to pitch first on the next throw.
E. Any shoes leaning against the stake in a tilted position shall not have advantage over a shoe lying flat on the ground and against the stake. All such shoes are ties.

Rule 15: Announcing Scores
A. All shoes shall be scored and announced only in their final position after all shoes have been pitched.
B. In all games, the player scoring the points shall call the result.

V. SPORTSMANSHIP

1. Sportsmanship is an important part of intramural sports. Teams receive sportsmanship ratings at the conclusion of each game on a scale of 0 to 4 with 4 as an excellent rating. Teams must average a 3.0 during the regular season to qualify for the playoffs.

2. Teams are responsible for keeping their spectators under control. Misconduct of spectators and players may result in ejection and/or forfeiture of the game. Spectators must remain in the out-of-play areas. Only players are permitted in the playing area.

3. Any player who uses foul language, violently protests a call, or curses an official or supervisor, will be removed from the game and will automatically be suspended from his/her team's next game. In addition, he/she will have to meet with the Director of Intramural Sports during office hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) before he/she is eligible to participate again. Any player who touches an official or supervisor will be placed on suspension from all Intramural activities for a minimum period of one calendar year from the time of the incident.

4. Teams shall assist in removing trash and equipment from their game area at the conclusion of their game.

5. Umpires and supervisors are college students employed by FSU Campus Recreation to provide a service to the participants of FSU Intramural Sports. Officials are employed regardless of experience to fulfill a need for a large number of officials to cover all the games being played. Officials undergo clinics and evaluations to help them to constantly improve in their abilities. Supervisors are trained to handle conflicts that occur during games and are there to answer questions that participants may have regarding Intramurals. The supervisors can be identified by the FSU IM shirt or sweatshirt they will be wearing. FSU IM supervisors are veteran officials or trained tournament personnel who have complete authority to make decisions regarding problems or special situations. Supervisors have been selected for their knowledge of intramural sports regulations and rules, maturity, professionalism and a sincere interest in intramural sports.

8. Additional information regarding sportsmanship may be obtained from the Intramural Sports office or online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.

Call the IM Sports Office at 644-2430 or email us for more information.