We realize that there are hundreds of sets of rules for beer pong depending on where you play. An attempt was made to consider all rules known to us and to pick a standard set common to as many people as possible. Although no one set of rules is perfect, the rules outlined below are compatible with most people's game. We appreciate a location's "house rules" but we wish to keep a standard set of rules for fairness so that everyone can enjoy the game of beer pong. That being said, here are the rules...

New/Updated Rules in Red

1. Drinking: The drinking of beer is completely optional. Please drink responsibly.
2. Shooting: A team must shoot both balls before the other team shoots and one ball per person.
3. Leaning: Leaning is permitted so long as both feet remain in contact with the floor until the ball is released. There is no "elbow rule". A player may not use the table as leverage with their non-shooting hand. Still need convincing on this rule, read the essay: To Lean or Not to Lean by Jim Reiter.
4. Bring-backs: When a team hits both of its shots they receive one bonus shot known as a "bring-back". If a cup is knocked over by a shot, this counts toward a bring-back, regardless of whether the ball remains in the cup. If a cup is removed for a reason other than a shot, this does not count toward a bring-back. Either player may shoot the bonus shot.
5. First Shot: The team who shoots first is decided by coin flip. The team who wins the flip may choose to either a.) shoot one ball and choose which side of the table his/her team will play from or b.) allow the other team the first shot, let them choose the side, and shoot the next two shots.
6. Cups The cups will be of one uniform type for both sides. Cups must be filled with approximately 4 oz of water. The game begins with a 10-cup triangle formation (in some tournaments the consolation bracket may use 6 cups). The base of the triangle starts 1 inch from the table edge.
7. Re-racks: Re-rack at 6 cups and 3 cups remaining and are placed in a standard "triangle formation". Re-racks occur whenever the cups reach 6 or 3 regardless of turn. The last cup must be centered upon request. Teams are not permitted to shoot at 6-cup or 3-cup racks prior to re-rack and such shots will not be counted.
8. Out-of-formation Cups: Cups that are leaning or out of line from the triangle formation will be fixed upon request of either team. Before someone moves any cups, both teams must acknowledge that the cups will be moved. Neither team may shoot until the cups are reformed.
9. Fallen Cups: Cups that fall over so that a.) the rim touches the table, b.) the cup falls off the table to the floor, or c.) the cup tips over such that a majority of its beer spills, either by a legitimate shot or by fault of the player(s), are counted as hit cups. Cups which fall over from other means are returned into play. The final cup is not an exception to this rule. A cup can be caught before it falls and returned into play.
10. Rebuttals: When a team's final cup has been hit, each player on that team will have the opportunity to shoot until he/she misses. If the team succeeds in hitting all of his/her opponents remaining cups, the game will go into overtime. A team will have this opportunity regardless of how their cups were hit.
11. Overtime: Overtime will be three cup triangles on each side. The team who hit the last cup first will go first and will receive both balls. There is no limit to the number of overtimes in a single game.
12. Hitting Cups: A ball which is shot into a cup is counted regardless of how it gets there. An uncontrolled ball off a shot which goes into a cup is counted. Two consecutive shots in the same cup count as a single shot followed by a wasted shot (does not count as a double-up or game winner). A bounced shot which makes it into a cup only scores that particular cup. Balls that ricochet off of a wall or other permanent manmade structure do not count.
13. Defense: A defending player may only make contact with the opposing shot after the ball has touched a cup, the table, or crossed the vertical plane of the table edge. A defending player may not touch the cups until the opposing shot has completed. There is no blowing or 'fingering' allowed.
14. Interference: Balls shot by one player that are touched by the opposing player(s) before the ball passes the edge of the table or makes contact with either a cup or the table, are returned to the shooting player as a re-shot. Intentional interference after the first offense results in the forfeit of one cup per interfered shot. The team whose shot was interfered with may choose which cup is removed. Moving cups during a shot is also considered interference.
15. Distraction: A team may do whatever they feel necessary to prevent the opposing team from making shots except: a.) crossing to the other teams side of the table b.) physically interfering with the opposing teams shot or c.) crossing the vertical planes of the table.
16. Officiating: The people in charge of the tournament have the final say in disputes. Unsportsmanlike behavior will be dealt with in a case by case basis. Any team with sufficient disregard for the game or the people around them will forfeit their spot in the tournament. If either player is asked to leave the hosting establishment by the staff, the team will forfeit their spot in the tournament. Players that engage in a physical altercation with another person will receive a 4 week suspension with second time offenders receive a life time ban.
17. Equipment: The official table is 8 feet long and 27.5 inches high. Adam's Balls are the official ping pong balls (standard 40 mm size). The preffered cups are Fabri-Kal RK16 (clear plastic, 16 ounces) although cup type is not guaranteed.
18. Gambling: Gambling is strictly prohibited during our events. This is including but not limited to betting money on the outcome of matches or wagering on individual shots. Teams caught gambling will be removed from the tournament and will receive a 3 tournament suspension.
19. Teammates: Teams are allowed one permanent player change per year (excluding individual league nights). Otherwise, new teams must be formed when players play with different partners.

1. Participation: League teams are not required to attend every week and the number of games played are based solely on the decision of that team.
2. Opponents: League teams may play which ever team they wish but may only play each team a maximum of 3 games per league night.
3. Mandatory Match-ups: Some league nights will feature mandatory match-ups between two teams. These games must be played before the league night is over. An automatic win will be given to teams whose mandatory match-up opponent is absent.
4. Win Streaks: If any team wins 5 games in a row on any particular table, they are required to leave the table to play their next game. The exception to this rule if for mandatory match-ups.
5. Maximum number of games: Teams may not play more than 15 games on a single league night.
6. Reporting: The winning team is responsible for reporting wins to the league coordinators.
7. Substitutes: A team may substitute one of their players each week.Teams are permitted to switch to substitute one player during league play (in between games). A substitute player may only play on one team per league night.

1. Qualification: A team must either qualify or receive a special invite in order to participate in the State Tournament. The qualification criteria are subject to change and will be posted on the State Tournament webpage.
2. Notification: A team that has qualified for the State Tournament will be notified at least one week prior to the set State Tournament date.
3. Multiple Qualifications: Any one player that qualifies for the State Tournament on more than one team, may only play on one team during the State Tournament.
4. Substitutes: A team that has qualified for the State Tournament may have one substitute player, provided one of the following criteria are met: a.) the substitute player has played in at least one tournament with the original player during the year b.) the substitute player has played with the original player in a league (not as a substitute player).