Official Rule Book
Need to brush up on your yard game knowledge? We've got you covered.
From classics, like Bocce and Cornhole, to some (perhaps) lesser-known games like Kubb and Molkky, find out everything you need to know to play all of your favorite yard games right here!
Click here to download a printable version of the full Rule Book (PDF)
Bocce Ball
SET-UP / GAME PLAY
Split up into 2, 3 or 4 teams; each team or individual has two bocce balls of one color.
To start the game, one team (determined by a coin toss) tosses the pallino (small white ball) anywhere on the playing field.
Players from each team then alternate throwing their bocce balls, trying to get their balls as close to the pallino as possible.
Play continues until each member of each team has thrown his or her bocce ball.
SCORING
After all the bocce balls have been tossed, the team with the bocce closest to the pallino wins the frame and earns 1 point (2 points if the bocce is touching the pallino).
The team that won the frame tosses the pallino and play continues. Try to keep the same throwing order throughout the game.
The first team to reach 10 points wins!
Can Jam
SET-UP / GAME PLAY
Set buckets 50 feet apart; partners face each other from opposite sides
Both partners complete one throw each before the next team’s turn*
*For the very first throw of the game, only one partner throws the disc before passing to the other team
Play continues until one team reaches EXACTLY 21 points
SCORING
1 point for hitting the bucket with partner’s assistance (one hand only)
2 points for hitting the bucket with no assistance
3 points for discs hit into the bucket
SLOT* = GAME OVER
*Top Slot: If a player throws disc into the top of the bucket without assistance, it counts as a "slot"
GOING OVER
If a team exceeds 21 points, the points from that play are deducted from their current score
Example: a team has 19 points and accidentally dunks a bucket (3 points); their score is reduced to 16 points (19-3)
OVERTIME
If a team reaches 21 points, the opponents have the number of chances it took the first team to reach 21 to tie the game and go into overtime
The team that tied the game chooses whether to throw first or second during overtime
Each team gets one turn; highest score wins
SPECS/MATERIALS
Buckets: Height=21.25”, Diameter=14.5”, Front Slot=15”x3”
Disc/Frisbee: 10.5” diameter
Cornhole
SET-UP / GAME PLAY
Boards are placed 27 feet apart
Team partners face each other from opposite boards
Opponents alternate tosses until all 8 bags are played
Players can throw from anywhere behind the front of the board
The highest scoring team from the previous throw plays first in the next round
SCORING
The first team to reach 21 or more points wins
Bag on the board = 1 point*
*Any bag that bounces on or touches the ground does not score
Bag in the hole = 3 points
Cancellation scoring: The team with the highest score adds the difference of both scores to their total
SPECS/MATERIALS
Cornhole Boards: 2’x4’ CDX plywood & 2x4s; finished with weather-resistant polyurethane
Bags: regulation 6”x6” weather-resistant bags made with 12-ounce durable duck canvas and filled with recycled plastic pellets. Weight 14-16 ounces
Holes: 6” diameter
Jenga
SET-UP
Build a tower by placing three blocks per story. All blocks must be perpendicular to each other
GAME PLAY
Players take turns removing blocks. Blocks must be below the top three levels
Only one hand can be used while removing blocks. You can tap the structure in order to find out which pieces are loose
If you’ve moved a piece you didn’t want to, you must put it back before taking out another
piece
Players must always complete the top level with three blocks before starting another one
The last player who put the block on top before the tower collapsed wins
SPECS/MATERIALS
Blocks: 10.5” 2x4 pieces, stained and finished
Kubb
SET-UP
Place the king in the center of the playing field, with 5 Kubbs placed at regular intervals along each baseline
Kubbs standing in their starting position on the baseline are called “Baseline Kubbs”
Kubbs thrown in the middle of the field, during gameplay, are called “Field Kubbs”
GAME PLAY
To decide which team starts, one person from each team throws a stick as close to the king as possible, without hitting it. The team with the stick closest to the king starts
Sticks must always be thrown vertically and underarm
Team A throws six sticks, from their baseline, at their opponent’s Baseline Kubbs
Kubbs that are successfully knocked down are then thrown by Team B onto Team A’s half of the pitch*. Team A then stands the field kubbs upright
*Any field kubb that is touching another kubb can be stacked on the other, thereby giving an advantage to the throwing team
Play then changes hands and Team B throws the sticks at Team A’s kubbs, but must first knock down any standing field kubbs. Again, kubbs that are knocked down are thrown back over onto the opposite half of the field and then stood upright
If either team leaves field kubbs standing, the kubb closest to the king now represents that side’s baseline, and throwers may step up to that line to throw at their opponent’s kubbs.
Play continues until a team knocks down all field kubbs, baseline kubbs and, finally, the King
SPECS/MATERIALS
Kubbs: 2.75”x2.75”x5.5” stained and finished wood
King Kubb: 3.5”x3.5”x12” stained and finished wood
Sticks: 12” long 1” wooden dowel, stained and finished
Ladder Golf
SET-UP
Ladders are set up about 15 feet apart
Partners face each other from opposite sides
GAME PLAY
The first player tosses all 3 bolas before the next player tosses his/her bolas
The winner of the round earns the first toss in the next round
Game is played to EXACTLY 21 points
If a player goes over 21 points in a round, the points for that round don’t count
In the event of a tie, as many overtime rounds are played as needed until one team ends a round 2 points ahead of the other (the 2-point rule only applies in overtime rounds)
SCORING
3 points for the top step
2 points for the middle step
1 point for the bottom step
1 bonus point for hanging all 3 bolas from the same step or by hanging a bola on all 3 steps
SPECS/MATERIALS
Ladders: 42” tall, 23” wide; Leg/base width 24”
Bolas: 2 golf balls connected by 6” of nylon rope
Molkky
SET-UP
Skittles are arranged as pictured below:
7 9 8
5 11 12 6
3 10 4
1 2
GAME PLAY
On a rotating basis, all players throw the throwing dowel (the Molkky) on the skittles
The throwing player receives either the sum of the fallen skittles (if more than one fall), or the number of points marked on the skittle (if only one falls)
The first team to reach exactly 50 points wins
ADDITIONAL RULES
After each turn, all fallen skittles are placed exactly on the spot where they fell
A skittle only counts as “fallen” if it does not lie on another skittle or on the Molkky
If no skittles are hit after a throw, it is considered a strike. If a team has 3 strikes in a row, that team is automatically out
If a team throws more than 50 points, they fall back to 35 points
SPECS/MATERIALS
Skittles: 7” stained and finished (2”) dowel rod
Throwing Dowel: 9” stained and finished (2”) dowel rod
Washers
SET-UP / GAME PLAY
Boards are placed 10 feet apart
Team partners face each other from opposite boards
Opponents alternate tosses until all 6 washers are played
Players can throw from anywhere behind the front of the board
The highest scoring team from the previous throw plays first in the next round
SCORING
The first team to reach 21 or more points wins
Washers can flip, bounce and roll before landing in a hole. However, a washer may not roll, bounce or flip off a person or the ground
1 point for the nearest hole
3 points for the middle hole
5 points for the farthest hole
Cancellation scoring: The team with the highest score adds the difference of both scores to their total
SPECS/MATERIALS
Boxes: 16”x48” CDX plywood & artificial turf
Washers: 1/8” thick, 2.5” diameter
Holes: 4” diameter
Yard Pong
SET-UP / GAME PLAY
Fill 12 5-gallon buckets about halfway with water and set them up in triangle formation with 6 buckets on each side
Teams play on the same side, across from their opponents
Each player on a team throws once, aiming for the other team’s buckets
If a ball goes in a bucket, that bucket is removed
Teams are allowed ONE re-rack per game
Once one team eliminates all the other team’s buckets, they win!
REBUTTALS / OVERTIME
If a team eliminates all their opponent’s buckets, the opposing players each get one chance to tie. Players shoot until they miss
3 buckets per side in triangular formation are used in overtime and the winning team throws first
Overtime game play is the same as normal game play
ADDITIONAL RULES
Players must throw from BEHIND the last row of buckets on their side
If 2 buckets are made in the same turn, the throwing team gets the balls back
If a ball bounces back towards the throwing team, both teams can battle for the ball. If the throwing team recovers the ball, the person who recovered it can attempt a trick shot (behind the back or between the legs)
No interference
No “island”, “heating up” or bounce rules