Shuffleboard

History:

The modern version of shuffleboard gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the advent of ocean liners, where the game was commonly played.  Many believe that shuffleboard evolved from coin-sliding games which have been played in taverns for centuries.  In fact, in some of his plays, Shakespeare describes games known as shovelboard or shove groat, which feature many similarities to modern-day shuffleboard.

Object of the Game:

Two or more players use a long stick (known as a cue) to push discs on a court marked with a scoring area.  A player or team wins by scoring 75 points.

Playing Field:

Shuffleboard is played on a 52 foot long court, with a 39 foot long playing area that is 6 feet wide at the base line.  The scoring diagram is a 9 foot long triangle set 18 inches from the baseline.  A dead line runs across the court.

Equipment:

Cue- maximum length of 75 inches
Discs- 6 inches in diameter, 1 inch in height, 11.5-15 ounces in weight.  There are four black and four red (or yellow or white) discs.

Rules:

All discs are lined up within the 10-off area (the "base" of the triangle), with each player shooting from one half of the 10-off area.  A player cannot cross the base line while shooting.

Players or teams play one color in the first game, and then switch colors in the second.  Discs are shot alternately (black, red, black, red, etc.) and the first 3 discs are considered practice shots, which are removed from the court.  The remaining disc stays in play.  The player with the disc closest to the dead line gets to choose which color to play.  If the last black disc moves the red disc, red player wins.

A frame comprises one shooting turn with all 8 discs.

The first player/team to score 75 points wins.  Play continues in event of a tie (2 frames for singles play, 4 for doubles).

The first side to win 2 games out of 3 wins the match.

The red disc starts the game.  Play alternates between colors.  Red discs are always shot from right side of whichever end is being played.  The beginning end is the head end, the opposite end is the foot end.

Both players start at the head end.  After all discs have been shot, players walk to the foot end and play again, with black going first.  This sequence continues until game is won.

Scoring:

In order to score, a disc must be completely within a numbered area.  Scores are recorded after all 8 discs have been shot from one end.

If one disc lies atop another disc, both discs are scored.

A disc that falls short of the far dead line is dead and out of play.  A disc touching the far dead line is in play.

Players may prevent opponents from scoring by knocking their discs out of the scoring area.

Players are penalized as follows: A disc shot not started from the 10-off zone (5 pts), stepping over the base line (10 pts), interference while opponent is shooting (5 pts), shooting before an opponent's disc is still in motion (10 pts), failure to shoot in a continuous movement (10 pts), shooting without the disc and cue moving in a straight line (10 pts), playing two shots in a row or shooting out of turn (10 pts).

Officials are not required in informal games.  In tournament play, there is a referee and/or official scorekeeper.