SECTION A: PRE-GAME RULES

Minimum Age

• Minimum age is 18.

• Two players per team.

• No substitutes.

Target Quality

• Targets should be relatively new and of sound quality prior to league commencement.

• When targets deteriorate to a point where excessive movement or ‘wiggling’ of the axes occur when they land in the damaged area causing or risking good throws to fall out, the boards should be switched out to ensure fair play.

• If a large piece of wood or chunk falls out during play, the player may request to have the board changed but the ultimate decision will fall on the axe throwing referee (coach).

• Targets must be sprayed with water from spray bottle prior to the start of league play.

• If boards are continually hard, league members may request to have more water sprayed on the boards.

Warm Up Throws

• Players may have 1 practice throw prior to each game.

• The axe throwing referee will notify players when their match will commence.

• The league will allow practice throws before official league start time subject to availability, fairness and consent of referee on premises.

SECTION B: GAMEPLAY

• Each league night allows every participant 4 matches.

• Each match is played against different opponents, selected at random and consists of the following:

  • 10 throws per match.

  • In each match, players will take 5 throws then switch sides.

    • This ensures fair play when there’s varying density in wood.

  • The winner of the match will be the person with the most points after 10 throws.

  • In the event of a tie after 10 throws, there will be sudden death:

    • The players will throw again (11th time) and the winner will be the person that scores the higher points during that throw.

    • If both players tie again, they must continue with sudden death throws until there is a winner.

    • Points are not counted or tallied during sudden death.

• The match points and win/loss will be recorded and uploaded to the leaderboards.

• After 7 weeks, the 8th and final week of each season will be the playoffs and final match to determine the season champion. See Playoffs section for details.

SECTION C: SCORING

Points

• The color line awards points associated with the ring.

• 5 points for the bullseye Black ring

• 3 points for the Red ring.

• 1 point for the Blue ring.

• 7 points for the Clutch black dots.

  • The Clutch shot is only available on the 5th and 10th throws of the match.

    • The referee will ask the throwers if they want to throw Clutch or not.

    • The thrower with the higher points at the time will throw first.

    • The points are awarded only if the Clutch is hit.

• Touching the Line: As long as the axe is touching the ring, the points are awarded.

• Stick and Stay Policy: The axe must remain in the target for the throw to count. If the axe falls out before the axe is retrieved, then the throw will be counted as 0 points.

• No Delays in Throws: Players may not “delay” in throwing the axe in hopes that opponent’s axe may fall out of the target or use delays for strategic advantage.

• Oddball Throws: On the rare occasion that the axe sticks to the target with the back of the blade, the shaft of the axe or any other part of the axe, the throw still counts and points awarded accordingly.

SECTION D: AXE THROWING

Axe Throwing Technique

• Players are allowed to throw axes in one of two ways:

  • 1 hand holding the axe & over or behind the head.

  • 2 hands holding the axe & over or behind the head.

• No other style of throws are permitted.

• Rotation: the axe must make approximately 1 rotation in order for it to count.

  • If the axe is close to making a full rotation (ie. 50% rotation) and a portion of the blade touches and sticks to the target, the throw counts.

Axe Throwing Distance

Players will throw from the black line marked on the floor, 14 feet away from the targets.

• Players must have at least one foot touching the black line when throwing the axe.

• A player’s foot is not allowed to touch the red line during the throw.

  • If any part of their foot is over the red line at the commencement of their throw or at or after the release of the axe throw, their throw will be counted as a zero.

SECTION E: ATTENDANCE

Late Players and/or Early Departures

• If a player arrives late, after the official start time or leaves earlier than the league completion time:

  • The player that was scheduled to go against him will be granted an automatic win, but will perform 10 throws and have their points recorded.

  • The late player will automatically receive a loss and a zero for all throws.

• Exceptions are allowed with consent of opposing players affected that day and approval from referee.

Playoff Exception

• Players are required to arrive to the playoffs at the start of regulation play.

• If a player is not present when their match begins, a 10 minute grace period will be offered.

  • If the player does not show up, they will forfeit their match and the player that is present will be awarded the win.

  • If the player arrives during their grace period, but is late for their next match, they will be immediately disqualified.

Absences

• Players are allowed to miss 1 day of regulation play during the season. If games are missed, those games must be made up within the prior week. If the games are not made up within 1-week, all missed games will be marked as a loss and the team will receive zero points for all missed games.

• No missed matches and throws are to be performed during week 8 (playoffs) – the seven week mark is the cut off.

• In order to miss a regulation league night, players are required to give a minimum 2 day notice to the league administrator of their absence.

SECTION F: AXES

• House axes will be provided. You can bring your own, as long as it meets IATF guidelines and is approved by a Woodchuckers Axe Throwing coach.

• All axes must conform to the following standards:

  • The axe can weigh up to 2.5 lbs maximum.

  • The blade on the head should be no longer than 4″ maximum.

  • The handle must be wood and length be at least 13″ inches long and maximum 17” long, including the handle in the eye of the head of the axe.

    • The length includes the top head of the axe where the wood is inserted, to the bottom of the shaft.

SECTION G: COACHES

• Coaches must always be present while members are throwing during league play.

  • A 6′ radius should be maintained around every participant holding an axe, however, the coach may approach the participants and enter this 6′ radius to provide instruction.

  • An axe should never be thrown until a coach has provided a demo and instruction for which the participant has been present.

  • If not throwing an axe, then player must be outside of the throwing area.

• Throwing: Axes from each player should be thrown at the same time.

  • If an individual throws an axe after the other axe has hit the target, the individual who threw their axe late will have their throw disqualified and counted as a zero.

    • Coaches may give up to 2 warnings per match to individuals who throw up to 3 seconds after the first throw (when both players are at the line and ready to throw).

    • Coaches may give up to 2 warnings per match to individuals who are throwing too early.

• Axes are to be retrieved only when both axes have hit the target or the floor.

• Axes shall never be thrown when a participant is picking up an axe from the target area. This will result in an immediate disqualification (counted as a loss) for that match.

SECTION H: SAFETY

• Axes – Each and every axe is inspected prior to each league night to ensure the axe is up to standard.

• Broken axes may not be used.

• Coaches ensure the blades of the axes are sharp enough to hit AND stick to the target, but are not razor sharp to the touch.

• Participants are instructed to grip the axe by the handle and only the handle.

SECTION I: REGULAR SEASON

• The entire season lasts 8 weeks including playoffs.

• There are 7 weeks where players can work on their season total allowing for 280 throws that officially contribute to each player’s season standings.

SECTION J: PLAYOFFSS

• All players will make it to the final week of playoffs where a champion is crowned. In the event of a tie at the end of the season, the amount of match wins will determine the standings for playoffs.

• The tournament format will be a double-elimination bracket playoff.

• Player must be paid in full by end of Week 7 in order to qualify for the Playoff Week 8.

All rules are subject to change at the discretion of the League Administrator.

Questions?

• Any of our coaches onsite are happy to answer questions!

• You can also email events@WoodchuckersAxe.com

• Or, call or text 412-973-7723.

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