1	WELCOME to the
2	WELCOME to the
3	Handout Package Local Club Flyer State Association Flyer NHPA Rules and Flyer NHPA Distributor NHPF Flyer Other Information
4	Horseshoe Associations National Horseshoe Pitchers Association 3 The governing body for horseshoe pitching worldwide. 3 Publishes the only horseshoe pitching magazine in the world: Horseshoe Pitching Newsline ($12 yr.) 3 Sponsors the World Tournament held at a different location yearly.
5	Horseshoe Associations State Horseshoe Pitchers Association 3 Cities with Sanctioned pitching 3 Yearly fee 3 Tournament fee Your Hometown Club
6	National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation Educate the public about and promote the game of horseshoes. Maintains the Hall of Fame, Museum and Library in Joelton, Tennessee. Contributions are tax deductible The NHPF, P.O. Box 1628, Penn Valley, CA 95946
7	Game History Horseshoe pitching is patterned after the game of quoits. Quoits is a modification of an old Grecian game of discus throwing. The camp followers of the Grecian armies, who could not afford the discus, took discarded horseshoes, set up a stake and began tossing horseshoes at the stake. The first horseshoe pitching tournament in which competition was open to the World was held in the summer of 1909 in Bronson, Kansas. The winner was Frank Jackson. The stakes were only 2” high then. Quoit: A ring of rope or metal
8	Game History Other researchers believe the origin of horseshoe pitching goes back to the days of the Roman Empire. Soldiers pitched horseshoes discarded from horses used to drive their chariots. Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War pitched horseshoes for recreation on the Boston Common. In 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers pitched horseshoes donated by White Distributors.
9	Why Pitch Horseshoes? EXERCISE: Throwing, bending, reaching, walking, working the clay. CAMARADERIE: Local clubs, sanctioned tournaments, life long friends, practice alone or with someone. COMPETITION: Can be made as serious and as fun as you want. AGE/GENDER: There’s no advantage of being young or old, male or female.
10	The Pitching Shoe Select a shoe that fits your pitching style. Size and weight are important. A balanced shoe is important to the serious pitcher.
11	Shoe Specifications All shoes must be sanctioned and approved by the NHPA. 1. Weigh no more than 2 lbs., 10 oz. (there are no minimum standards) 2. Not exceed 7-1/4 inches in width 3. Not exceed 7-5/8 inches in length 4. Shoe opening must not exceed 3-1/2 inches (A 1/8 inch tolerance to 3-5/8 inches is allowed on used shoes.) 5. May not exceed one inch in thickness
12	The Pitching Court
13	The Pitching Court 1. 40 foot Distance: measured front to front of each stake 2. Back stops: 12” high 3. Pitching platforms: 18” wide 4. Stakes: 1” cold rolled steel, 14-15” high, measured perpendicular from pit area with 78° (3 inch) lean 5. Foul lines: 36” in front of stakes 6. Pitching platform and pit area: 6 feet square
14	The Pitching Stake STAKES: 1” cold rolled steel, 14-15” high, measured perpendicular from pit area with 78° (3 inch) lean
15	The Pitching Stake STAKES: 1” cold rolled steel, 14-15” high, measured perpendicular from pit area with 78° (3 inch) lean
16	Pit Material SAND CLAY (blue or potters) KLAWOG processed clay: brick pieces & sawdust mixed in with a natural clay, mined from an old coal mine. (Klawog sells for $8.95 per 50 lb. bag in skids of 40 bags, plus shipping.) SYNTHETIC CLAY
17	The Pitching Uniform THE TOUNAMENT SHIRT: A shirt with your first name over the front pocket, last name with large letters across the back, and your home town and state below that. Sweat shirts and jackets with the same identification are worn in cooler weather. Caps with horseshoe graphics are an added attraction.
18	Other Equipment & Items Horseshoe carrying box with 2 pairs of shoes. Hook, gloves, file, calipers, coin container, band aids, calculator, shop cloths. CLOTHING: Always wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
19	Basic Rules Observe FOUL LINES (37 feet for 40 footers and 27 feet for 30 footers) Elders, females, juniors pitch at 30 feet (Those under age 70, who qualify under the NHPA health clause, pitch at 30 feet) Stay on pitching platform when pitching Agree on the score before picking up the shoes Court maintenance
20	Basic Etiquette Flip a shoe to see who starts game. Shake hands before and after competition. Step off to right in front of pit after pitching. Stand quietly, 2 feet behind opposite platform when not pitching. Be a good sport— win or lose. Encourage and help each other to enjoy the game.
21	Basic Etiquette Without loss in competitive spirit, all participants shall maintain a friendly, civil attitude with one another, officials, scorekeepers and spectators, all of whom are expected to reciprocate in like manner. Boasting, fault finding, whining and complaining only serve to lessen respect for individuals and for the sport. Horseshoe pitching should be based on skill and not distraction or psychology.
22	Scoring Count all (All points are counted) Cancellation (Ringers cancel, closest pt. counts) Backyard Rules (11, 21, 25, etc.) Sanctioned counting rules: Ringers = 3 points Within 6 inches = 1 point Backyard and Bar League rules: Within width of shoe = 1 point
23	Calling the Score CALL Ringers Points No score - - 1 ringer each no score X X - - 2 ringers each no score XX XX - - 1 ringer each one point X´ X 1 - 1 point 1 - 2 points 2 - 1 ringer 3 points O 3 - 3 ringers 3 points XO X 3 - 1 ringer 4 points O´ 4 - 2 ringers 6 points OO 6 -
24	Various Score Sheets League Play - Singles League Play - Doubles Sanctioned Singles Play Sanctioned Doubles Play
25	Pitching the Shoe What You Want to Accomplish… Open Shoe: An open shoe landing. Distance: The same distance constantly. Alignment: Making sure of hitting the stake (the most difficult). Rhythm: Pitching with ease and comfort.
26	GRIP 3/4, 1-1/4, 1-3/4, Flip or any variation
27	Assume a Stance PLACEMENT OF FEET: side by side, or left foot in front, or in back of right, with good balance and comfort, allowing for one step, and enough room so foul line won’t be stepped on. Short/long strides
28	Address the Stake Preparing to pitch. Getting comfortable with good balance. Staring at the stake. Taking a deep breath, taking aim. Blocking out distractions, concentration.
29	Back Swing The back swing of your arm. It starts with pushing the shoe in-line toward the stake. The height of the back swing is usually when your arm is parallel to the ground or comfortably behind you.
30	The Step BALANCE: Distributed equally between the two feet. Weight shift from right foot to left foot. Observe foul line. The placement of the feet in relation to one another is a thing which varies widely and is the controller of the step. The most natural seems to be to stand with the feet even. However, good pitchers will trail with the right or left foot. Placing the left foot forward tends to shorten the stride while placing the right foot forward will lengthen the stride. These different positions of the feet will change your entire delivery.
31	Front Swing The front swing of your arm. The height of the front swing is usually shoulder high, in-line with the stake, in front of you.
32	Release and Lift At the height of the front swing, shoulder high, letting go of the shoe. Elbow should bend as arm goes up. No stiff arm release. The shoe will not turn at all if you hold it level and release it without dragging your fingers and/or rolling your forearm.
33	Follow Through The nice easy motion of allowing your body to stay in place as you watch your shoe go on for a ringer. The front swing should continue straight up after releasing the shoe.
34	Putting it together
35	Learn at Home Videos Books Web sites www.HorseshoePitching.com Horseshoe Pitching Newsline Magazine State and Local Newsletters
36	Demonstrations 3/4, 1-1/4, 1-3/4, Flip or any variation. Short game Demonstration with Scorekeeper. Pitchers will call the score as in sanctioned pitching.
37	Hands-on, Let’s Pitch Observation, Tips, and Coaching by the “Experts.” PRACTICE by joining a Local Club. COMPETE by pitching in tournaments.