RULES

One-on-one – You pitch from the same side of the boards when you travel to the opposing board. Non-diagonally. (see Rule 1 diagram). 

Two-on-two (a.k.a. couples or doubles) – Your partner pitches from the diagonal side of the board (see Rule 2 diagram).

There are 4 quoits (2 for you and 2 for your partner).

Quoit Rules

Quoits can be played with two people, four people, or, if you want to practice, individually. Below is a list of all of the standard rules.

Starting A Game:

1. The quoit boards are placed 18 feet on center (from hub to hub).
2. Who throws the first pitch of the first game.  After the first game, the loser of the prior game makes the first pitch to start the game.
3. Pitching turns alternate with each quoit.
4. The pitcher’s forward foot may not extend beyond the hub of his “home” board.

Determining The Score:

1. The first person or team to reach a score of 21 wins the game.
2. Every “ringer” (meaning the quoit landed on the hub) is worth 3 points (see P1 below).
3. If a player should make a ringer and have his second quoit closer to the hub than his opponent, he receives 4 points (Three points for the ringer and 1 point for the quoit closest to the hub).
4. Each ringer pitched counts as 3 points (see P1 below), except when the same player pitches two ringers, one directly on top of the other. This player is then awarded 3 additional points, for a total of 6 points (see P3 below).When the first player pitches a ringer which is topped by an opponent, it is the opponent only who receives 3 points (see P2 below). When the first player pitches a ringer which is topped by an opponent and then topped by the first player again, the last ringer made by the first player counts as 3 points for the first player. As a premium, when four ringers are made, the player pitching the last ringer wins the game.
5. Every “leaner” (meaning the quoit is leaning against the hub but not a ringer) is worth 1 point (see P4 below).
6. If there are no ringers and leaners, the person who throws the closest quoit gets one point. If the same person’s second quoit is the next closest he/she gets two points (see P5 below).
7. The rings on the board are used to determine the closest quoit. If you cannot determine the closest quoit from the front side (closest side of the quoit to the hub) you can usually determine it by comparing the backside (the side of the quoits furthest from the hub) to the outer rings (see P6 below).
8. If a quoit is touching the ground, or has touched the ground, it is a “dead quoit“. Remove it from the board before the next pitch. If you don’t remove it any quoits that touch a dead quoit are also dead (see P7 below).
9. A quoit can be hanging off the side of the board. As long as it has not touched the ground the quoit is still good (see P8 below).  This is called the daylight rulebecause you can see “daylight” through the quoit since it is hanging off of the board.  This rule is sometimes disputed, so decide if you want to play “Daylight Counts” before you start playing against your opponent.
10. Interference due to a wandering dog or small child (which sometimes happens) is grounds for a “re-throw” (a.k.a. do-over) if the quoit is deflected during release or in mid-air.

P1    P2

P3    P4

P5    P6

P7    P8