James Cellphone

Cornhole is a game that is enjoyed by many, especially during the spring and summer when the weather is just right for playing games outside and a little friendly competition.

Cornhole games are also common at fundraisers, backyard bar-be-ques, kids’ parties, and other outside events. Cornhole sets are easy to put up and the game is easy enough so that anyone can learn how to play very quickly. The game can be set up on a lawn, in the backyard, in a driveway, or even in a parking lot at a tail gating party. Aside from being easy to set up, it is also a game that doesn’t require a lot of skills, so that even young children will be able to have fun playing.

Just like any game there are official rules for people to play by that include how the game should be scored, the layout of the court, pitching distances, and the length of the game.

The official rule for how the court is laid out is that there must be 2 boards, and 4 designated pitcher’s box, which help serve the function of foul lines as well. The those of you who play in an unofficial type of environment, it just means that the four feet on each side of the board is where you throw your pitch. If you step outside the boundary, that is defined as the front edge of the board, that is a foul. The two boards need to be about 27 feet apart, which is average throwing distance.

The rules concerning the boards are very specific. Each cornhole should be six inches in diameter. Each board should measure 48” x 24” rectangle for best results. The board should be at a 90 degree angle from the ground. The bags that are used for cornhole should be made of a durable material that is double stitched to prevent the corn feed from spilling out. It should weight about 15 or 16 ounces once finished. The ACO (American Cornhole Officials) recommend the board be made of 1/2” plywood to ensure that is sturdy enough to use.

Scoring the game is simple. If you throw a cornhole, meaning you land the bag into the hole on the board, you score three points. If landing on the board anywhere except into the hole, you score 1 point. This is called a Woody or Boarder. If the bag is handing off the board, still touching the ground, it does not count. If you land anywhere else, there are zero points to be given.

There are two ways in which you can limit your cornhole game. You can play until one team reaches 21 points, which is common for similar lawn games, such as horse shoes or ladder toss. The other way to score when playing cornhole is to play 13 frames. In this option, the winning team is the one who scores the most out of a possible 156 points. In the event of a tie, cornhole boils down to sudden death. Whichever player throws the better toss, wins the game.

Some stories have it that the first Cornhole game was played in Germany during the 14th Century. Supposedly it was then reintroduced in Kentucky during the last century. Others say it was invented in Cincinnati, Ohio. Still, the creator and the location are unknown. The game started to gain popularity in the late 1990′s in the Cincinnati area when universities enjoyed the activity. Today it is popular in the Midwest and is a fun summertime past-time that has also spawned tournaments and other competitions for cornhole enthusiasts.

The Cornhole game consists of players taking turns pitching the cornhole bags. These bags are mostly cotton duck bags. Each bag is filled with feed corn. The player throws the cornhole bag at a raised platform. It has a hole at the far end and by throwing the bag into the hole, a player receives the most points.

If the player lands the cornhole bag in the hole there is a score of three points. If the bag ends up on the platform there is a score of one point. The first player to reach the score of 21 is the winner of the Cornhole game. Aside from the bag being tossed perfectly into the hole, a player can also receive the three points by sliding the bag into the hole or knocking the bag into the hole by using another bag. A one-pointer can be lost if another bag knocks it off the platform.

The game can also be played by a team of two people. The winning score still remains 21, even if there are four people playing opposed to just two people playing. This game is also fun for kids because it is safe and does not involve any type of tools or materials that may be dangerous. It is a great game to have available for backyard parties, birthday parties, or even for just having fun outside.

There are specific regulations in the Cornhole game. The platform must measure four feet by two feet. The back end must have a height of 12 inches. The front end can vary from 2 1/2 inches to 4 inches off the ground. The inside edge of the hole diameter must measure 9 inches. The player than stands a minimum distance of 33 feet from the cornhole hole.

Players throw four bags during each period which is known as an inning. The player must throw the cornhole bag within 20 seconds after stepping into the pitcher’s box. The Cornhole game can be played as either singles or doubles.

The Cornhole game has an interesting group of terms that are used. For example, ‘cornfusion’ is when players or teams cannot agree on the scoring of a certain inning. The ‘leprechaun’ involves a player attaining all four bags onto the board – however none of them go into the hole. The ‘ace’ or ‘cow pie’ is when a bag lands on the platform earning one point. Players do not like to receive a ‘Sally’ otherwise known as the ‘corn patty’ as this indicates the toss was thrown so weakly that it lands on the ground before ever reaching the platform.

Many job seekers have a tendency to start their job search with the “Ready, Fire, Aim” approach. There are numerous reasons, which include things like just being let go from a current job, the desire to get out of the present employment quickly, or simply a lack of understanding or focus.

Drawbacks of the Ready-Fire-Aim Approach

Although it is good that a job seeker is excited, energetic, and enthusiastic about launching their job search, doing so before being fully prepared is a mistake. Without clearly defining what it is you are looking for, how can you effectively go after it? Here are some of the consequences of this approach:

It is difficult to prepare a winning resume when you cannot define where you are headed. Even a professional resume writer will struggle, and the document will lose some effectiveness, because the content is not geared in a specific manner.

You will spend a lot time reviewing postings and submitting documentation for opportunities that do not really mesh with what you want.

You can quickly become discouraged, as you may find that the recruiters or companies contacting you are doing so for positions that are not a proper fit.

How to Aim Before You Fire

One of the best things you can do before you launch your job search and before you put together a resume is to take a step back. Take some time to really assess where it is you want to be with your career. This includes the type of position, the type of company, the industry you want to be in, and the geographic market you prefer. You need a clear understanding of your willingness to travel, commute, relocate, etc. Please understand, the process could take a few hours for some, but it could also take several days or weeks for those who do not really know what they want.

Once you know where you want to go, it will make it much easier to prepare a targeted resume and for you to conduct a focused job search.

I know, I know, it all makes sense, but you need a new job…like yesterday, right?

I hear you loud and clear, but my advice is still the same. What good is there in paying for and sending out an ineffective resume? What purpose does it serve to spend hours scanning the Internet listings for jobs when you lack any direction? Do you honestly think you will do well on the interview?

Listen, I know you are in a hurry, but take the time upfront to get it right. In the end, it will save you hours of wasted time, money, and energy.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have those kind of resources in mass quantity. I need to invest them carefully. And wise people invest in wise council because they know they can’t be an expert at everything.

If you aren’t sure how to develop your target, find someone who can help you. I understand that funds might be tight, but this is your livelihood we are talking about. Scrimp elsewhere if you have to. You need to get this right.