VFW Post 7916

 ANNUAL SHUFFLEBOARD TOURNAMENT

March 18, 2006 at 1230 Hours

 “LUCK OF THE DRAW”

Shuffleboard TOURNAMENT Rules

Official Shuffleboard Rules and Regulations

Official Horse Collars Rules and Regulations

Corned Beef and Cabbage hosted by the VFW Post 7916 Ladies Auxiliary

 Click Here For Corned Beef

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History of the Game

All sports have unique histories, but few, if any, have been as affected by political and international events as shuffleboard.

Now, to research shuffleboard you don't exactly go to your 'Funk & Wagnalls' and find everything neatly compiled. So, in lieu of that, you do the next best thing -- you call Sol Lipkin. Sol's name may not come up when people are talking about the great players of the game, but if he isn't "the father of modern shuffleboard" in this country, then no one is! No one has -- or ever will -- love the game more than Sol. He's played, promoted and been involved in the manufacturing of shuffleboard for over 60 years. Even today (at age 83) he is still actively involved with the American Shuffleboard Co., in Union City, N.J.

True shuffleboard -- first called shoveboard and then, inexplicably, shovelboard -- seems to have originated in England, where there is a record of its being played in 1532, and in its earliest form consisted of shoving coins across a polished tabletop as a pastime for royalty. But the game became so popular with the masses that people stopped going to work, causing it to be banned. Shuffleboard first came to the United States around the time of the Civil War and enjoyed tremendous growth during the late 1800s and early 1900s. In fact, the great hotels in Atlantic City and all the first-class hotels in the East had five or six tables right through the Roaring '20s.

Then came Prohibition. Speakeasy’s didn't need or want games of skill. They had been assured of all they needed to be successful in their businesses by the U.S. Congress. It was during this eight- to 10-year period that shuffleboard began to decline. Following the repeal of Prohibition, pockets of shuffleboard players began to reappear, largely on the East Coast. And the tavern industry began to change. All the bars before Prohibition had backrooms with small restaurants. But on the heels of the Great Depression, people didn't have the money to go out to eat. Gradually, some backrooms were converted to shuffleboard areas.

"It brought the people out. We were selling boards at that time for $149," said Sol, who also became a promoter. "We would set up a match (sometimes played to 75 points) and pack the place. "People would stay all day long." Leagues began to form and shuffleboard was on the move again.

With World War II, men from all across the country were routed through New York and the Northeast on their way to Europe. As a result, shuffleboard went national after the war, with soldiers bringing a love of the game back home with them. Over the next few years more than 100 companies started manufacturing boards because of the demand. The original boards were 32 feet long, but were shortened to 28 and then to 22 feet because how they were packed and shipped nationally. The weights went from heavy brass to the streamlined stainless steel of today. Sand, used to speed the boards, evolved into fine corn and silicone waxes. Regional tournaments began to take place everywhere and the first national event was held at the Armory in Springfield, Ill., in 1948, with 574 taverns represented by l0-man teams. By the mid-1950s, shuffleboard had jumped into the foreground. They were on military bases, in fraternal clubs, rehabilitation hospitals, youth clubs, town centers, seniors centers and taverns everywhere.

But despite all this popularity, the shuffleboard movement lacked a couple of key ingredients. Not having consistent rules or amateur events created a lot of in-fighting among the leaders and manufacturers. And problems couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. It was the dawn of the electronic game age. However, a very strong grassroots group of players kept the sport alive. As Sol Lipkin says: "It's the game that makes shuffleboard great." That has remained constant.

Shuffleboard has made a strong, steady climb back through this decade. This time it appears things will be different. Now, there are national rules and sanctioning; media exposure; and a policy board of professional players. Interested sponsors.

Shuffleboard finally has come full circle. A 100-percent increase in participation and new manufacturers. More than one million shuffleboards are in use. New leagues are springing up everywhere. Despite a long and sometimes bumpy history, the game has endured. Fifty or 100 years from now the "new history" will show that in the late 1980s and '90s the sport used lessons of the past and wisdom of people like Sol Lipkin to keep it growing for many, many years to come." (Reprint, Tavern Sports, June/July 1989)

Shuffleboard TOURNAMENT Rules

Official Shuffleboard Rules and Regulations

Official Horse Collars Rules and Regulations

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"The History of Shuffleboard Part II"

Provided by:
American Shuffleboard Co.
Phil-American Shuffleboard Co.
and
The Board Talk

Shuffleboard in the Great Hall at Littlecotes
Wiltshire, England, 1740

Back in 15th Century England, folks played a game of sliding a "groat" (a large British coin of the day worth about four pence) down a table. The game was called shove groat and/or slide groat. Later, a silver penny was used and the name of the game became shove-penny and/or shovel-penny. The game was played by the young and old, and was a favorite pastime in the great country houses of Staffordshire, Winchester and Wiltshire.

While our Founding Fathers were busy putting together the makings of this great country, there were big shuffleboard matches being conducted throughout the colonies. Shuffleboard was popular among the English soldiers as well as the colonists.

In his play, "The Crucible," concerning the historic witch trials of Salem, Mass., Arthur Miller wrote: "In 1692, there was a good supply of ne'er-do-wells who dallied at the shuffleboard in Bridget Bishop's Tavern." That item provides a written record of the entrance of the game into the New World.

The fame of the game spread, and soon it came upon the public scene in more ways than one. In 1848, in New Hanover, Pennsylvania, a case of "The State vs. John Bishop" to decide the question, "Is shuffle- board a game of chance or a game of skill?" came up for trail. The judge ruled thus:

"Though the defendant kept a public gaming table, as charged, and though diverse persons played thereat and bet spiritous liquors on the game, the game was not a game of chance, but was altogether a game of skill. "

The game shed its crude beginnings when American cabinetmakers such as Hepplewhite and Duncan Phyfe turned out some of their finest inlaid cabinet work on shuffleboard game tables for the wealthy homes of New York City.

By 1897, table shuffleboard rated as much space in the metropolitan newspapers in the New York City area as prizefighting and baseball. Highly publicized tournaments played by such colorful characters as "Big Ed" Morris, Dave Wiley, Alex Scott, Ed Gardland, and George Lavender drew hordes of fans. The fans faithfully followed the players to tournaments in New York City; Newark. Paterson, Hoboken, Jersy City and Bloomfield, New Jersey, and even into Philadelphia. The fans included important figures of the business, theatrical, and political worlds.

Shuffleboard made its way across the country. In 1904, Gentleman Jim Corbett, an avid player, had a tavern owner named Croll install a table in his Alameda, California,' pub. "Doc" Croll, his son, claimed it was the first shuffleboard in that part of the country.

World War II opened the "Swinging Forties" and shuffleboard really came into its own. The intrinsic appeal of the game -- skill, diversity, competitiveness, availability to young and old, strong and disabled, the serious game, the fun game, offered the kind of release needed in those turbulent years.

Hollywood climbed on the shuffleboard bandwagon and took it up, at first, as a source of good publicity. Then when the pin-up girls and bandleaders and actors discovered they really liked the game, shuffleboards found their way into the studios and homes of the stars. People like Betty Grable, Harry James, Merv Griffin, Alan Ladd, all had their own shuffleboards.

Shuffleboard grew to its greatest height in the 1950s. Most major shuffleboard manufacturers sponsored nationwide shuffleboard tournaments. These were the biggest tournaments ever held; one had 576 teams participating.

Fierce competition among major manufacturers and suppliers, lack of uniform rules and organization, the inability to gain sponsorship of the sport, and general internal strife in all facets of shuffleboard, led to a demise of the game in the '60s and '70s. Some feared it was damaged beyond "repair," but others invested their time, efforts and talents to breath life into the sport that they loved. That dedication paid off; by the mid-'80s, shuffleboard experienced a revival, a revival that has extended and strengthened in the '90s.

While organization, cooperation and communication have been key elements in the revival of shuffleboard, probably the most important factor has been an almost universal realization in The World of Shuffleboard that new young shooters will he the continued lifeline of the sport. Across the nation, established shooters have made it their top priority to help novice players develop their talents and nurture their enthusiasm for league and tournament play. As long as that remains a priority, shuffleboard will continue to grow.

One major accomplishment in this decade wits the establishment of a National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame in 1995. This achievement was due in large part to the efforts of six volunteers who serve on the NSHF Board of Directors: Glen Davidson, Oklahoma, president; Hal Perry, California, vice president; Louise Freer, Pennsylvania, secretary; Bob Hunt, California, treasurer and chief financial officer; Larry Creakbaum, Indiana, director; and Jim Foran, Washington, director. Helping them realize this long-sought dream have been individual shufflers, associations, and fans who have made financial and/or memorabilia contributions.

To date, five people have been inducted into the National Hall of Fame: Bob Miles of Oregon. Mickey Mickens of New Jersey, Earl Kelly of Texas, PeeWee Ramos of Califomia (all deceased), and Sol Lipkin of the American Shuffleboard Company (now American International Shuffleboard Corp.). Several others are currently going through the nomination process. It is the NSHF's goal to recognize excellence for all deserving participants in The World of Shuffleboard and to finance a "home" for preserving the history of shuffleboard so that generations to follow will have a knowledge of and appreciation for that history.

--Information provided by the American Shuffleboard Company, the Phil-American Shuffleboard Company, and The Board Talk.

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OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES Written and developed by The Shuffleboard Federation and the Player Policy Board. Printer Friendly
1.	All players shall shake hands before and after each match.
2.	All games are fifteen points unless specified otherwise.
3.	Short foul line rule is in effect.
4.	If there is no score in a frame, the hammer switches.
5.	If the leading weights in a frame are tied, (regardless of whether there are any other weights on the board), there is no score and the hammer changes.
6.	Any weights in question will be called by a minimum of three people, and five people in the money rounds or in a game deciding situation.
7.	Any weights in danger of falling off the end of the board may be made safe by an official at the request of any of the players involved. If a weight is made safe, any weight of the opposite color which subsequently out distances it will not count.
8.	You may wax dry spots on the rails up to the foul line, out of the containers only, only on the end of the board you are shooting, only when it is your shot, and only prior to the end of the frame. All other re-waxing shall be done by the officials or by mutual agreement only.
9.	No drinks, cigarettes, or any other foreign objects in hands or mouth while shooting.
10.	Flip for choice of hammer or color prior to the beginning of the game. For two out of three events, the loser of the flip has choice in the second game, flip again in game three, if necessary.
11.	If the player who has the hammer shoots first, they loose that privilege and must complete the frame in the same rotation.
12.	Players shall be allowed to use their own weights, which must have red and blue caps. Switching caps is not allowed. You do not have to offer your opponent the option of using your weights. However, all weights are subject to inspection by the tournament officials, who have the right to disallow weights that do not meet accepted tournament standards.
13.	Players may walk to the opposite end of the board to examine the position of the weights.
14.	No coaching of a player in a singles event by anyone. In doubles, advice may be given by a person's partner only. One warning, one point penalty per infraction thereafter. Team captains may offer advice to any member of their team.
15.	All boards will be siliconed each morning prior to the start of that days events. Subsequent spraying will be done as follows: for single game, double elimination events - every fifteen games, for two out of three events - every six matches, for five out of nine events, (single board) every three matches.
16.	The following criteria must be met for a shot to be a legal delivery: one foot must be on the ground, both feet must be behind the deuce line when the shot is delivered. Penalty for violation shall be the loss of that shot. Any weights that have been knocked off or moved shall be replaced.
17.	All contestants shall show respect for the players on the board next to them.
18.	No blasting on a clear board, no warning, one point penalty.
19.	If the object weight has wax on the side which may result in a "soft" or "mush" hit, you may have an official wipe it off and re-spot it.
20.	No double release shots shall be permitted.
21.	Players shall stand behind their opponent while opponent is shooting, one warning then a one point penalty thereafter.
22.	No physical or verbal harassment, no warning, two point penalty.
23.	Changing house weights from one board to another shall result in automatic disqualification.
24.	No tampering with or altering of weights, wax, or boards. Violations shall result in automatic disqualification.
25.	For events that are single game, double elimination. First available board, first available game format shall be used. Two out of three and five out of nine events shall have pre-designated boards and starting times.
26.	No meetings at the middle of the board are allowed until one team reaches eleven points. Maximum of one meeting per frame thereafter. Maximum of one minute per meeting.
27.	Before an event starts, you may practice on any board. Once an event starts, you may not practice on the board you are scheduled to play on next.
28.	Any player not present when they are scheduled to play, will be given a five minute grace period and then be assessed a one point per minute penalty. For doubles, if one player from a team is present, he/she will be allowed their team's practice time.
29.	More than 30 seconds between shots shall constitute slow play and result in a one point penalty per offense.
30.	No player shall play consecutive games in the same event on the same board on the same day.
31.	Each player in singles shall have four practice weights from each end, for doubles each player shall have four practice weights from their end. The team with the hammer practices first.
32.	Teams	Places	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5/6	7/8	9-12	13-16
	8 or less	2	67	33
	9 - 12	3	58	28	14
	13 - 16	4	55	26	13	6
	17 - 24	6	52	24	12	6	3
	25 - 32	8	50	24	12	6	3	1
	33 - 48	12	47	23	11	5	3	2	1
	49 - 64	16	46	22	11	5	2.75	1.75	1	.75
33.	All generally accepted rules of good sportsmanship shall apply.
34.	All decisions by the officials are final, any player who makes a scene concerning an officials decision or verbally abuses the officials or tournament director is subject to disqualification.
35.	Every player should consider it his or her responsibility to report any violation of these rules to a tournament official.
"FRIENDSHIP THROUGH COMPETITION" Back to Home         Return to Top

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VFW - 7916 OFFICIAL SHUFFLEBOARD RULES AND REGULATIONS I. COMMON COURTESY    A. All generally accepted rules of good sportsmanship and good conduct should apply at all times during a match.    B. It is considered common courtesy for each player to step back from the board after he has delivered a Weight, in order to give his opponent complete freedom of the board, with no interference while shooting. II. SHORT WEIGHTS    A. Any Weight not completely clearing the foul line (on long boards this means the foul line nearest the player) after being delivered, shall be considered an illegal Weight and shall be deposited in the alley immediately.    B. Any Weight which was legal when delivered, but is subsequently knocked back on the near side of the foul line by another Weight, is then considered to be an illegal Weight and shall be deposited in the alley.    C. Any Weight which, after being delivered, clears the foul line, but subsequently bounces back into the illegal zone after striking another Weight(s) or cushion, is considered to be illegal and must be removed from the board. However, its action upon any other Weight(s) before it bounced back, is considered to be legal. III. VIOLATIONS WHICH DO NOT CARRY PENALTIES    A. Should a player accidentally shuffle an opponent's Weight, said Weight is to be replaced with one of his own, in its final position.    B. A Weight shuffled upside down is a "dead" Weight, and must be removed from the board immediately.    C. If a Weight that is shuffled upside down knocks off a Weight(s) already on the board, the Weight(s) knocked off shall be replaced in the position occupied before being knocked off, and the upside-down Weight removed from the board. Where the Weight(s) cannot be replaced properly, see penalty.    D. Any Weight that is shuffled off the board and which rebounds back onto the playing field is a "dead" Weight, and shall be removed. Should such a Weight knock off a Weight(s) already on the board, the Weight(s) knocked off shall be replaced in their previous position.    E. Any Weight(s) struck and knocked upside down by another played Weight, shall be replaced right side up, and the round continued. Same also applies to a delivered Weight.    F. Should a Weight slip from a player's hand while in the act of shooting, the player shall have the privilege of another try provided that his arm has not moved in the forward motion for making the shot. Once the forward motion of the arm is started, any Weight which leaves the hand is considered played, and shall not be replayed.    G. A player shooting out of turn and delivering first Weight when he has the privilege of last Weight, loses that privilege and must complete the round in the same rotation.    H. In Cushion Board play, a Weight which does not strike a side cushion, or which strikes both cushions after being delivered, shall be considered a "dead" Weight and removed from the board. IV. VIOLATIONS CARRYING PENALTIES All of the following violations carry a penalty of one point. Thus one point is deducted from the score of the offending player or team, and he or his team must shoot first Weight in the next round, regardless of who wins the round in which the offense occurs:    A. While shooting, the lower half of the player's body shall not extend beyond the end of the shuffleboard table.    B. Playing Weight must not be held in the hand, while an opponent shoots. Similarly, the person shooting may not hold another Weight in his free hand.    C. In team play, a player may not go beyond the foul line nearest him at any time during the playing of a round, but he may ask or be advised of the position of Weights by his partner. However, in singles play, each player may approach the scoring end of the board, to determine the exact position of Weights on the playing field.    D. Player while in the act of shooting must not touch the playing surface of the board with his free hand, although free hand may rest on the frame of the shuffleboard table.    E. Player while in the act of shooting must not touch the playing surface of the board with his playing hand, either before, during or after making a shot.    F. Player preparing to shoot must not rub his hands over the playing surface in any manner, since this either introduces foreign substances onto said playing surface or removes the powdered wax already on the board.    G. Player shall not cause any vibration, such as slapping table, leaning on table, stamping on floor, etc., whether intentionally or otherwise.    H. A player may not touch a Weight in play while his partner or either opponent is shooting.    I. A player may not touch the playing surface or frame of the table while his partner or opponents are shooting.    J. Players at the opposite end of the board from the delivery of Weights may not touch Weights in the gutter until all shooting for the round has been completed.    K. When a legal Weight(s) is moved or knocked off the board by a "dead" Weight and cannot be replaced in the previous position, the player or team who delivered the "dead" Weight shall be penalized.    L. It is understood that if any of the above infractions are committed byother members of the participating teams, who may not be actively engaged in play at the time, the same penalties will apply to their teams. V. SCORING AND RAIL "HANGERS"    A. A Weight overhanging the edge of the board at any point is "dead" if it falls from the board before the opponent's following Weight ceases motion. {Exception: See rule G, below.)    B. After opponent's following Weight has been delivered and ceases motion, a scoring or rail "hanger" is legal, and must be replaced if it falls from the board without being directly hit by another Weight.    C. Should a hanging Weight fall from the board for any other reason than being legally knocked off, such as slapping the table, stamping on the floor, etc., it must be replaced in its original position and considered a legal Weight. A one-point penalty is made against the offending player or team (see Section IV, G).  Back to Home         Return to Top VFW POST 7916 HOUSE COLLAR RULES  Overview Games are played one-on-one or with two or more teams of two people    Team members play on same end of the board each player using one set of weights red or blue, however depending on the number of teams may need to alternate ends as the changes frames.  Games are played in frames until one team scores 51 points, however scoring 51 points first does not necessarily make that team the winner.  Every team gets to finish that frame and the highest score is the winner.  If the team that scores 51 or more has the hammer (the last team to play) then they are declared the winners.  Before a team can score at least one weights must be a 3 or more.   Weights are considered in play if they are on the board and past the foul line furthest from the shooter (i.e., a long foul line). How to Play If playing singles one player will throw all eight weights, if playing teams (2 players) one player will throw 4 weights of the same color, then the other player will throw the remaining 4 weights.  The objective is to get at least one weights into the 3 zone (or a hanger if your feeling good or lucky) to get the scoring started.  You may bump or tap weights to accomplish this or simply lag one in.  All weights must be past the long foul line or off the board, if a weights remains on the board that is not past the long foul line no points can be awarded.  However if it is not the last weights it may be knocked off Scoring In order to score a team must have at least one weights being worth 3 or more, it does not have to be the first weights thrown in order to score though.  For example if a team throws 1 weight worth 3 points and 2 weights worth 2 points and 3 weights worth 1 point and all weights are past the long foul line or off the board this team would score 10 points. Hangers are worth 13 points, that is a weight is hanging partially of the end of the board.  Corners are worth 26 points, that is a weight is hanging partially of the end and partially of the side. Note that just hanging off the side of the board does not have any special meaning or point value. Games are played in frames until one team scores 51 points, however scoring 51 points first does not necessarily make that team the winner.  Every team gets to finish that frame and the highest score is the winner (51 or more).  If the team that scores 51 or more has the hammer (the last team to play) then they are declared the winners. Not scoring constitutes a Hickey, those that gamble sometimes place a dollar or five into the Hickey Jar which the winner of the game gets.  This is just something to make the game more interesting and may or may not be included in your tournament. Scoring example below is worth 6 points. Miscellaneous Before a player shoots, the player can dust the board if dry spots are showing. Note: In tournaments this may be restricted to the edge of the board. Shooters must have one foot behind the playing surface while they are shooting. Hitting or shaking the table is never allowed. Back to Home         Return to Top The History and Irish Tradition of Corned Beef There are few things better than simmering corned beef with carrots, onions, potatoes and spices.   According to the US department of Agriculture Originally "Corned Beef and Cabbage" was a traditional dish served for Easter Sunday dinner in rural Ireland. The beef, because there was no refrigeration at that time was salted or brined during the winter to preserve it, It was then eaten after the long, meatless Lenten fast. However other Irish people feel that Corned Beef and cabbage is about as Irish as Spaghetti and meatballs. That beef was a real delicacy usually served only to the kings. According to Bridgett Haggerty of the website Irish Cultures and Customs she says that their research shows that most likely a "bacon joint" or a piece of salted pork boiled with cabbage and potatoes would more likely have shown up for an Easter Sunday feast in the rural parts of Ireland. Since the advent of refrigeration, the trend in Ireland is to eat fresh meats. Today this peasant dish is more popular in the United States than in Ireland. Irish-Americans and lots of other people eat it on St. Patrick's Day, Ireland's principal feast day, as a nostalgic reminder of their Irish heritage. Corning is a form of curing; it has nothing to do with corn. The name comes from Anglo-Saxon times before refrigeration. In those days, the meat was dry-cured in coarse "corns" of salt. Pellets of salt, some the size of kernels of corn, were rubbed into the beef to keep it from spoiling and to preserve it. Today brining -- the use of salt water -- has replaced the dry salt cure, but the name "corned beef" is still used, rather than "brined" or "pickled" beef. Commonly used spices that give corned beef its distinctive flavor are peppercorns and bay leaf. Of course, these spices may vary regionally. Back to Home         Return to Top