General Shuffleboard 
Tournament Information

The club has hosted and sponsored competitive shuffleboard tournaments for over 82 years. We anticipate that the 2007-2008 season will be busy and successful.

If you are new to the shuffleboard tournament scene then you may find the following general information about our tournaments to be helpful.

Registration Deadline and Fee 
Players should arrive well before 9 am on the first day of the tournament to find parking and to be sure they and their partner are properly registered before the 9 am registration deadline.

Currently, there is a nominal $5.00 registration fee for each player in state, district, area and club tournaments.      Top

Pre-Tournament Ceremonies
Pre-tournament ceremonies usually start between 8:45 and  9 am and include an invocation, national anthem or pledge and announcements.  After the ceremonies, the Tournament Director will announce when he or she is ready for the players to draw their position on the tournament chart for their division.     Top

Tournament Director
The Tournament Director (TD) controls all aspects of the tournament.  He or she will oversee and/or conduct the registration, draw, chart set-up and court assignments for the tournament.  Furthermore, the TD will settle any questions or concerns relating to any aspect of tournament play.  After the draw, the TD will conduct the tournament from the Tournament Booth. The TD may appoint one or more officials.      Top

Charts
Each division in the tournament will have a chart and the players will engage in a "draw" (prior to any tournament play) to determine their position on the chart for their division.  When players draw their position on the chart they draw a line number on that chart.  This permits the random placement of players (or teams) on the chart - as opposed to a seeded draw which sets up a series of matches to try to meet a certain objective.  Before each match the players should compare their line numbers because the player (or team) with the lowest line number must play the first game on the yellow disks. Example:  If player A has line number 52 and player B has line number 49, then player B will play the first game on the yellow disks.
    
The TD will post a chart for each division on the bulletin board behind the Tournament Booth.  The charts will be updated throughout the tournament so that the players may keep track of the progress of each division in the tournament.    Top

Referees
Most tournaments do not have a referee assigned to each court.  However, a referee may be assigned if one is requested.  The TD may appoint Divisional Referees, who will each oversee the competition on a particular section of courts and the TD may also appoint a Head Referee.

The TD will announce the name of the official who will make the "3rd and final call" on disks.  The official named may be the Head Referee or someone else. Sometimes the TD will elect to make the "3rd calls" him/herself.

Any matter pertaining to tournament rules or regulations that is not resolved by a Divisional Referee is referred to the Head Referee.  If a matter remains unresolved (or if there is no divisional or head referee) then it is referred to the TD for a final  ruling.            Top

Basic Eligibility
All tournament players in district, area and state tournaments must be at least 18 years old and an annual member of an affiliated shuffleboard club. 

St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club tournaments have an open-door policy for participation.           Top

Tournament Levels
State-level tournaments allow all eligible players in the state of Florida to enter their appropriate division.  District and area-level tournaments allow all eligible players in the Pinellas County, Florida area to enter their appropriate division.  All club-level tournaments allow all players to enter their appropriate division. 
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Pros and Amateurs
In state-level tournaments (and in a few local-level tournaments) there will be separate divisions for "pro" and "amateur" players. 

"Pro" players in shuffleboard are players who are serious competitors who have expert level skills in the game.  They usually have extensive tournament experience and they  can provide challenging competition.  Entering the "pro" (or expert) division is suitable for players who enjoy intense competition and all  those who aspire to the expert level of play.  However, it can be a daunting experience for the uninitiated.  Therefore, even though any player is eligible to enter the "pro" division in most tournaments, it is usually only "pro" players and wannabes who actually do so. 

Amateur players are any players who do not have "pro player" status in the State of Florida. They are divided into two categories.  They are either  "District Ams" or "State Ams".  District Ams are the beginning level amateurs and the State Ams are the more knowledgeable and skillful amateurs.  All amateurs are eligible to enter the state amateur tournaments, however the State Ams are not eligible to enter any division in any tournament specifically designated for District Ams.

A player who earns "pro player" status by placing in the main event of a pro tournament can elect to become an "Instant Pro", which means that they can no longer play in any amateur division in any state, district, area or club tournament from that moment forth.  Or that player can elect to wait to assume "pro player" status until the beginning of the next season - the next October 1st.  The player must declare their choice to the TD immediately upon earning "pro player" status by placing in the main event of a pro tournament. (A player might choose to wait if they have commitments to amateur partners for the rest of the current season.)

Pro players may only compete in "pro" divisions in state tournaments, in "Open" divisions in local tournaments or in certain local tournaments such as variations of a Pro-Am - called "No 2 Pros".         Top

Partners
Usually  players choose their doubles partners well before a tournament - they sometimes arrange partnerships a year or more in advance. However, if a player arrives at a doubles tournament and does not have a partner then he/she should report the fact to the TD who will refer the player to any other eligible players who are also "looking for a partner". 

Some local tournaments are "draw doubles" which means all players will participate in a draw to determine partnership.  This tends to have an equalizing effect on the playing ability of the teams.          Top

Doubles Teams 
State tournaments have pro-men and pro-women divisions. Each team in each division consists of 2 men or 2 women, respectively.  If a state amateur tournament has am-men and am-women divisions then the teams are 2 men or 2 women, respectively.  Most state pro tournaments have gender specific divisions. However, most state amateur tournaments are not gender specific and are called "any am" which means that a team may be 2 men, 2 women or 1 of each.

In local tournaments the team members are qualified by their skill levels and the tournaments are not gender specific.  Many district, area and club tournaments are "No 2 Pros" type tournaments which require pro players to play with amateur partners.  They are called "No 2 Pros" instead of Pro-Ams because all teams do not have to be 1 pro and 1 am. Some teams may be 2 ams.  The "No 2 Pros"  format gives the amateurs competitive playing experience with the pros and it also keeps powerful pro teams from dominating local  play. All "No 2 Pros" teams may be 2 men, 2 women or 1 of each.            Top

Single Elimination Tournaments
All of our tournaments are single elimination tournaments.  However, the entrants who lose the first round in the main event of their division are eligible to enter the consolation bracket of that division. 

After the first round of the tournament, one player or team is eliminated in each match throughout the rest of the tournament until a winner is determined in the final match of each division.
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Game = 75 Points  
All tournament games (except in 1-day tournaments) are 75 point games.  The player or team who reaches 75 or more points first (on the scoreboard) wins the game. If both players or teams reach 75 or more points at the same time then whichever player or team has the higher score wins the game.

If there is a tie score of 75 or more points then the players will continue play until each player on the court has had one more "hammer" (last shot).  Whichever player or team has the higher score, after each player has had one more "hammer", wins the game even if the score is less than 75 - which could occur if one or more of the players loses points in the ten-off.          Top

Match = 2 Out Of 3 Games
The player or team who wins 2 games first wins the match and moves on to the next round in the tournament.         Top

1 Day Tournaments
Tournament matches in 1-day tournaments are played a specific number of frames, such as 12, 14 or 16 and whichever player or team has the higher score at the end of the specified number of frames wins the match and moves on to the next round.  The players will change colors at the middle of the match.     Top

Rounds
The number of entrants in a division determines how many rounds must be played to complete that division.  Many divisions require 5 or 6 rounds.  Most tournaments limit the maximum number of rounds a player must play each day to 3 full rounds. However, if there is an uncompleted match (any match where the players at least started the first game) left to be played from a previous day, then the counting of the 3 full rounds (for the players involved in that match) begins after the completion of the delayed  match. Byes or sub-brackets may affect the number of rounds a player may have to play in their division.            Top

Practice
In all  2-out-of-3-games matches players are entitled to 2 rounds of practice on their designated color prior to the beginning of the first game. Shooting the disks from the "head" of the court (the end with the scoreboard) to the "foot" of the court (the opposite end) and back constitutes 1 round. After the first game, the players change colors and they are entitled to 2 rounds of practice on their new color before the second game begins.  No additional practice is permitted prior to the beginning of a third game, if a 3rd game is needed.

In 1-Day tournament matches, the players are entitled to 4 practice shots on their designated color prior to the beginning of match play.  After the players have played half of the specified number of frames they change colors and are entitled to 4 practice shots on their new color before match play resumes.
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Court Assignments
A player usually receives his/her first court assignment when they draw their position on the chart for their division.  Otherwise, court assignments are announced by the TD. 

TDs may announce (call) court assignments up to 4 pm each day which means that sometimes players may be playing until 6 pm or later.  Players should be prepared for a long day.       Top

Time Limits To Arrive At The Court
After a player or team has received a court assignment, whether by draw or announcement, they have 5 minutes to arrive at the assigned court.  If a singles player or both members of a team do not arrive at the assigned court on time then the TD will make a "2nd call" of the court assignment.  If the player or team does not arrive at the assigned court within 5 minutes of the "2nd call" then the TD will announce the "3rd call" of the court assignment.  If a player or team does not arrive at the assigned court within 5 minutes of the "3rd call" then the match is considered a forfeit and the player or team that did not arrive at the assigned court on time will be eliminated from the tournament.          Top

Lag For Color
If a third game is needed in a 2-out-of-3-games match, then the players will "lag for color" (also known as "shoot for color") to decide which player or team will win the choice of the disk color they will play in the third game. 

The "lag" is shot from the "head" of the court - the end with the scoreboard - in all walking singles and doubles matches. (In non-walking singles divisions, in the matches that are being played at the foot of the court ( the end opposite the scoreboard) the players will lag for color from the foot of the court.)  The shooters (either member of a team may shoot the "lag") will "lag" with the same color disks they used while playing  the second game.  Both players shooting the "lag" will each shoot  4 disks - with the first 3 being for practice and the fourth being the final "lag" shot. 

The objective of the "lag" is to place the final "lag" shot exactly on (or nearest to) the farther foul (or lag) line. The foul (lag) lines are the two lines between the diagrams on the court.

To start the "lag for color", yellow will shoot the first practice shot to the farther foul line.  After it stops, black will shoot their first practice shot to the line.  At this point the two disks are removed from the court by whoever is "taking the lag" (officiating the lag).  Yellow then shoots the second practice shot followed by black's second practice shot.  These are removed and the third practice shots follow and are subsequently removed.  

The fourth shots are the final "lag" shots and once they have been shot they are not to be touched until they have been inspected by at least one member of each team and a determination has been made as to the winner of the "lag for color".  If one or both final lag shots are moved prematurely by one team then the opposite team wins the choice by default. 

Yellow shoots their final "lag" shot.  The shooter on the black disks must be careful not to allow his final "lag" shot to touch yellow's final shot.  If black's last shot touches yellow's last shot then it is a foul and yellow wins the color choice by default.  Otherwise, whichever shooter has their "lag" shot directly on the line or closest to the line (on either side of the line) wins the choice of disk color for the third game.  If both "lag" shots are touching the line then whichever disk has it's center closest  to being exactly on top of the line wins the choice. 

In most instances, the winner of the "lag for color" is obvious. However, occasionally the situation requires (very) careful measurements with a ruler to determine which disk is closer to the line. And in rare circumstances, a "lag" will be declared a tie and the shooters must reshoot their fourth disks to determine a winner.                                                              Top

Breaks
Players are entitled to a 10 minute break after the completion of each game.  A player should check with the TD before taking a lunch break at the completion of a match unless the TD has already made a "lunch break" announcement. (Lunch breaks should only occur at the completion of a match.)       Top

Scorecards
At the end of each game both players or teams should verify the correctness of the scores recorded on the scorecard. At the end of each match the winning player or team should sign the scorecard and promptly turn it in to the TD.      Top

Prizes
Small cash prizes are awarded to the winners of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places in both the main event and the consolation event of each division of each tournament.      Top

Points 
Points are awarded to pros who win 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th place in the main events of the state tournaments - 5, 4, 3 and 2 points, respectively.  Points are also awarded to pros who win 1st,  2nd or 3rd place in the consolation events of the state tournaments - 2, 1 and 1 point, respectively.  Pros earn points to establish their seasonal standing and to build their overall record totals.

Ams receive 1 point for winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th place in the main event of a district am or state am tournament.  They also receive ½ a point for winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in a district am, state am or pro consolation event. Ams must accumulate
5 points within 3 consecutive years to advance to the pros on points.    Top

Food and Beverages
Coffee and donuts are available in the lunchroom before tournament play begins each day.  Players should bring their lunch.  Soft drinks are available.       Top