Beer Pong Tournament Rules:
I Starting Games
1.) Each game,s first possession during the round robin stage will be determined by one game of
"rock, paper, scissors" between one player from each team.
2.) Each game's first possession during the championship bracket will be chosen by the team with
the superior rank.
3.) The team who gains first possession will receive both balls, one shot per team member.
4.) Table sides will be predetermined and issued during tournament registration.
II Cup Formation
1.) To start each game cups should be placed in the form of 2 pyramids, consisting of 6 cups
each in a 3-2-1 formation.
A.) The 2 pyramids should be centered on the table, with the nearest cups to the opposite pyramid
between 6-10 inches apart.
B.) The back row of each pyramid (or other various other cup formations) should stay consistently
1-2 inch from the edge of the table.
2.) Cups should be placed flat on the table allowing lips of cups to touch evenly.
A.) In other words, cups should be touching each other but not leaning on one another.
3.) Throughout the game cup formations should stay even on the table’s width as well as consistently 1-2
inches from the tables back edge.
III Re-racking Cups
1.) Re-racks occur immediately after a player's ball successfully lands in an opponent's cup, subsequently
re-racks take place from cups 12-1.
A.) Re-racks take place regardless of a team being “mid-turn.”
2.) Re-rack formations; from back edge of table:
A.) 6 cups remaining forms a pyramid (3-2-1)
B.) 5 cups remaining forms a house (2-2-1)
C.) 4 cups remaining forms a diamond (1-2-1)
D.)3 cups remaining forms a triangle (2-1)
E.) 2 cups remaining forms a line (1-1)
F.) 1 cup remaining is centered on the table
3.) Once 6 cups are successfully made be a team, opponents must combine their remaining cups to form one
pyramid (3-2-1), placed at the center of the table.
4.) Each player is responsible to re-rack cups in front of him/her until cups combine, where it would
become the responsibility of the team.
5.) Although cups should be re-racked immediately, it is the responsibility of each team to oversee this process.
IV Shooting
1.) Players are permitted to shoot only when their team has possession of both balls.
A.) Teams will take turns shooting.
2.) Each player must shoot their own ball; one player may not shoot both shots for any reason.
3.) There are no restrictions for which cup a player can shoot for; cross-table shots are permitted.
4.) Players must stand with both feet behind (not touching) the stripe.
5.) A ball hitting or bouncing off an opposing player or any object connected with the top of the table
(water cup, empty cups, etc.) is determined "in play".
A.) Balls that come in contact with an opposing player or objects deemed "in play" and land in
a cup is counted.
6.) Player's are permitted to shoot both shots simultaneously if desired.
7.) Player's may utilize the entire width of the table while shooting; players may switch sides to shoot.
A.) Player's may not break the plane of the width of the table; shooting from the side of the
table is prohibited.
V Distractions
1.) Distractions are permitted under the following restrictions:
A.) CBPC, as an LLC, is not held responsible for any heckling a player might receive for attempting
to distract an opponent.
B.) Players attempting to distract their opponents may not break the plane that separates them from
the table and cups. (See rules for Interference)
C.) Distractions may not violate any local, state or federal laws.
VI Interference
With ball
1.) A ball that is interfered with during its flight path and before it comes in contact with any cup
will result in a re-shot by the same player who previously shot.
A.) One warning per team, per game. If either player interferes with a ball again, there will be a
re-shot plus a one cup penalty.
2.) If during a shot a ball hits an opposing player and lands in a cup, either by the player not paying
attention or acting essentially as a human backboard, that cup will be counted.
3.) Attempting to blow a ball out of a cup is a penalty.
A.) One warning will be given per team for the tournament, interfering with another ball in the same manner
his/her team will be subject to game forfeit, despite the outcome of the shot.
4.) There is no penalty for interfering with a ball if a player is "pulling a cup."
A.) Though they may not attempt to swat, grab or block a ball from entering the same cup. In other words,
if a players hand is touching the cup to "pull it," there is no penalty.
5.) If, for any reason a fan, spectator or individual not participating in the game interferes with any
ball while it is in play, a re-shot will be assessed.
With Cup(s)
1.) If a player interferes with one of his own cups either through a swatting or grabbing attempt, failure
to pay attention or virtually any other reason the cup(s) that were knocked over will be counted.
2.) If cups happen to drift out of place within the rack, players on the opposing team may request the
cup(s) to be moved back to their appropriate positions.
3.) Cups may not be moved or situated at any time except for re-racks.
4.) If, for any reason a fan, spectator or individual not participating in the game interferes with any cup,
those cups are to be replaced.
During Re-rack
1.) If a player interferes with a ball while attempting to re-rack his/her teams cups there will be no penalty
assessed and that shot will be lost.
2.) If a player chooses to shoot during a re-rack, the rules for interfering with a ball are vetoed and if the
ball does not successfully land in a cup, the result will be loss of shot.
VII Balls Back
1.) "Balls Back" occurs when both players from one team sequentially sink their shot in opposite cups on
the same possession
A.) Means both balls are returned to the team who just shot.
2.) "Balls Back with a Bounce" occurs when a team sequentially bounces one shot into a cup and sinks the other
shot into an opposite cup.
A.) 3 cups are counted plus "Balls Back."
VIII Balls Back Same Cup
1.) "Balls Back Same Cup" occurs when both players from one team sequentially sink their shot in the same
cup on the same possession.
A.) Both balls are returned to the team who just shot (Balls Back) plus one additional cup is counted.
2.) "Balls Back Same Cup Bounced" occurs when a team sequentially bounces one ball and sinks the other in the
same cup.
A.) The team who just shot receives “Balls Back” and 4 cups are counted.
3.) "Balls Back Same Cup Both Bounced" occurs when both players from a team sequentially bounce both of their
balls into the same cup. Although rare the rewards are significant.
A.) 5 cups will be counted plus "Balls Back."
IX Rules for Bouncing
1.) A ball that is intentionally bounced into an opponent's cup is worth 2 cups.
A.) A ball may only come in contact with the table once during a bounced shot to be counted for a one
cup bonus.
B.) Balls that are intentionally bounced and land successfully in a cup after 2 bounces are worth only
1 cup.
2.) Balls may hit the table an infinite amount of times and still be counted as a successful shot as long as the
ball hits an objects deemed "in play."
A.) These bounced shots will count for only 1 cup.
3.) Players are permitted to attempt a bounce at their own discretion (see Swatting and Grabbing.)
X Pulling Cups
1.) After a ball successfully lands in any cup that cup may be removed or "pulled" immediately by either player to avoid sinking of another ball resulting in "Balls Back Same Cup."
XI Swatting or Grabbing
1.) A ball may be swatted or grabbed if the opposing team tries to bounce their ball into one of the cups, as to
prevent a potential 2 cup bonus.
2.) A ball may also be swatted or grabbed any time after the ball comes in contact with the table once.
A.) Unless intentional, balls that hit the table are “dead” and may be interfered with by an opposing
player.
3.) A ball may not be swatted or grabbed while it is contact with any cups, however a ball may be swatted or
grabbed after it comes in contact and pops up in the air.
XII Empty Cups
1.) Previously made and or empty cups should be placed along the tables side away from remaining cups, as not
to distract or confuse opposing players.
A.) Cups may be stacked or standing separately.
XIII Made Cups
1.) A cup is counted when a ball lands in the cup under regulations for a counted shot.
2.) A ball that knocks over a cup is counted under the following restrictions:
A.) As long the cup was knocked over as a result of the ball hitting inside the lip. In other words a ball
may not be thrown directly at the outside of any cup(s).
XIV Balling own Cups
1.) In the event a player drops his/her own ball into one of their own cups, either intentionally or unintentionally there will be no penalty assessed.
XV Ending the Game
1.) "Redemption" or "rebuttal" is non existent.
A.) Games will be considered to be over when the last cup is made, regardless of how many cups remain.
3.) At the end of each game an official score card is to be filled out.
A.) Score cards log the winning and losing teams, as well as cups remaining for the losing team.
a.) Cup differentials will be used for seeding in the championship bracket.
4.) Score cards are to be signed by both team members from both teams as well as game official(s).