Shovel Rules

Safety:

1. Shovels may be inspected for safety purposes and compliance with rules at any time before or during competition.

2. Shovels may be thrown by the handle only.    

3. No throws may occur unless the lane is empty.

Gameplay

1.  Each game consists of ten throws by each player from a distance of at least 12 feet.  When two targets are being used, the throwers must switch targets after five throws.  When one target is being used, the throwers shall alternate sets of five throws.

2.  If the game is tied after ten throws, the judge or venue representative shall roll a six-sided die.  Each thrower must hit the target area corresponding with the number shown on the top face of the die.  The player who hits the target area is declared the winner.  If both players either hit or miss the area, the process is repeated starting with a new role.  If the game remains tied after five additional throws, each thrower must throw at a kill shot.  The closest player to the kill shot will be declared the winner.

3.  When two targets are being used, throwers must make their throws within a reasonable amount of time of the first throw.  The judge may, at their sole discretion, issue a ten second warning to the second thrower. 

4.  Any violation of throwing rules or actions deemed unsafe may be declared a fault resulting in zero points for the thrower.

5.  For throws resulting in zero points, once per game, a judge may award a single “flair” point for style at their own discretion.  No more than one flair point per thrower is permitted per game.     

Tournament Play

1.  Tournaments consist of three preliminary rounds, each consisting of a single game (however, at the venue/organizer’s discretion, these rounds may consist of three games in a two out of three format) and as many elimination rounds as required to reach a champion. 

2.  Players in the first round will be randomly matched. 

3.  In the second round, all first round winners will be matched against other first round winners.  Winless throwers will play each other.

4.  In the third round, all throwers with a 2-0 record will receive a bye.  Throwers with an 0-2 record are eliminated.  All remaining 1-1 throwers shall be matched randomly against each other. 

5.  At the conclusion of round three, all throwers with at least 2 wins will advance to the elimination rounds.  Elimination rounds are single elimination matches consisting of, at the venue/organizer’s discretion, either single games or two-out-of-three matches.  Winners will advance, losers are eliminated.

6.  Seeding in elimination rounds is based on average score across all throws in the tournament.  Highest seed will be matched against lowest seed.

7.  After the semifinal round of elimination (consisting of four throwers), the two losing throwers will complete a third-place round, followed by the finals thrown between the two semifinal winners.