BEERLAY
Beerlay Rules (4v4)
Objective:
The objective of the game is for all four team members to finish their leg of the relay as fast as possible.
Setup:
To play the Beerlay, you will need at least 2 official Pro Beer Sports tables, 11 official cups, 1/2 pitcher of water, 20 official balls, 1 official Cornhole/Ponghole board, 2 official Cornhole/Ponghole bags, 3 unopened cans of 12oz beer, 1 empty can of 12oz beer.
The official Pro Beer Sports table dimensions are 8’ (length) x 2’ (width) x 2.5’ (height).
The official Pro Beer Sports cups are 22 oz fluted stadium cups.
The official Pro Beer Sports balls are 3-Star table tennis balls.
The official Cornhole/Ponghole board dimensions are 48” (length) x 24” (width) x 1/2” (height) with holes that are 6” in diameter.
The official Cornhole/Ponghole bags are roughly 6 square inches and 14-16 ounces.
With the 20 cups, make two 10 cup pyramid on both short ends of the table. Each cup pyramid needs to have four cups in the back row that are touching the edge of the table. Each pyramid must align with the center of the table as much as possible. Once the cups are in place, pour the pitcher of water evenly amongst all 20 cups.
In the 3rd quadrant of the starting table, have the 1 cup ready for the flipper.
About 8 feet from the end of the starting beer pong table, place the throwing bags for the Cornhole/Ponghole thrower. Place the Ponghole board about 10 feet from the bag throwers position.
About 8 feet behind the Cornhole/Ponghole board, set up the other beer pong table. Set up 2 of the unopened cans side by side in the back center of the table away from the thrower. Set the 1 empty can on the top middle of the unopened cans.
Who goes first:
All teams start the first leg at the same time.
Gameplay:
The Beerlay is a sequence of four unique Beer Sports that tests both a team’s skill and their speed against the other competing teams. In the Beerlympics, each team is seeded into the tournament based on the time it takes them to complete the Beerlay.
The Beerlay requires four members of a team to each occupy one of the four individual sections, or “legs”. Each leg of the Beerlay must be completed sequentially (1st leg, 2nd leg, 3rd, then 4th).
The teammate at the 1st leg will be given one unopened beer. This beer is called the “beer-ton” and will remain unopened until it reaches the final leg of the Beerlay. Each teammate must pass the beer-ton consecutively to the next teammate once they have completed their own leg of the Beerlay.
The referee will signal the start of the Beerlay, typically with a whistle or a countdown (3, 2, 1, GO!) or a combination of both. The ref will then start a stopwatch to track the time.
Like a baton in a Track and Field relay race, the handoff of the beer-ton must be from the teammate who just completed their leg to the next teammate in order. Only the teammate who has just completed their leg of the Beerlay may move toward the next teammate to handoff the beer-ton.
Once a teammate has possession of the beer-ton they may begin their leg of the Beerlay.
1st Leg – Beer Pong
The 1st leg teammate must consume a cup filled with 4 oz of beer. Once the beer is consumed, they must make a beer pong shot on any cup from a full rack of pong cups (10). Only one ball may be shot at a time. Once a cup has been made, they must pass the beer-ton to the teammate at the 2nd leg. Once the beer-ton is passed, the 1st leg teammate has completed their portion of the Beerlay.
2nd Leg – Flip Cup
Once the teammate at the 2nd leg has possession of the beer-ton, they must drink a cup filled with 4 oz of beer. Once the beer is consumed, they must flip the cup so that it lands upside down on its top rim. The cup must always be flipped from its base, not from the top rim. Once the cup has successfully landed, they must pass the beer-ton to the 3rd leg teammate. Once the beer-ton is passed, the 2nd leg teammate has completed their portion of the Beerlay.
3rd Leg – Cornhole/Ponghole
Once the teammate at the 3rd leg has possession of the beer-ton, they must drink a cup filled with 4 oz of beer. Once the beer is consumed, they must successfully make a bag toss at an open Cornhole/Ponghole board. Only one bag may be tossed at a time. Once a toss lands through any hole on the board, they must pass the beer-ton to the 4th leg teammate. Once the beer-ton is passed, the 3rd leg teammate has completed their portion of the Beerlay.
4th Leg – Sticky Wicket
Once the teammate at the 4th leg has possession of the beer-ton, they must throw a ping pong ball at the “Stack” of cans attempting to knock down the top empty can, called the “wicket”. Only one ball may be thrown at a time. Once the wicket is knocked off the two full base cans of the “Stack”, the 4th leg teammate will open the beer-ton and consume the contents entirely. Once the can is empty, they must place it on the table signaling to the ref that they are done. The ref stops the stopwatch and Beerlay is finished.
Winning:
The team with the fastest time wins.
Special Rules:
When shooting the pong ball, both feet must be touching the ground, your body and clothes can’t move the cups or table in front of you, and your hand can’t cross the halfway point of the table.
The teammate in possession of the beer-ton may choose to set it down while attempting to complete their leg of the race. You are not required to hold the beer-ton while performing the necessary task needed to complete your leg.
The teammate waiting at the 4th leg can field and grab any missed bag tosses and toss them back to the 3rd leg teammate during the Cornhole/Ponghole throws.
At no point during the Beerlay can the beer-ton be tossed or thrown from one teammate to another.
Players may not use their hands to assist a flip cup to land or settle. Even if it is “close”, if their hands touch the cup to help it settle, it doesn’t count.
Judgement Rulings:
If any player is seen to be spilling excessive amounts of beer while attempting the Beerlay, the refs will add at least a 10 second penalty to their recorded time for each offense. This is at the discretion of the ref.
Remaining beer left in the beer-ton after the 4th leg is completed will be measured in our “beer check” shot glasses. If the beer is under the finish line, no penalty is incurred. If beer is over the finish line, a 10 second penalty will be added to the recorded time. If over the penalty line, a 50 second penalty will be added in addition to the finish line penalty.
FAQ:
Can I bounce the ball?
Not in the Beerlay! Shots only count that go from the hand, through the air, and into the cup. If a shot ball hits any object other than a live cup during the shot, it is a dead ball. For example, if the ball hits the table, a drink on the side of the table, someone’s body behind the table, etc, and then goes into a cup in play, that will not count as a hit cup. If a shot ball hits a live cup and bounces into another live cup, that will count as a hit cup.
What happens if the shooter in the 1st or 4th leg run out of balls before they hit the cup/can?
That player needs to run to the other end of the table and retrieve some balls. They can then return and continue shooting with the balls they picked up. Another player may not throw them back their balls.
Are distractions allowed?
Respectful distractions are allowed, but not over the cups, table, boards, or in the way of the Beerlay path. Anyone not playing must always remain on the side of the game during play. You may not blow or try to generate wind in any way towards the games as a distraction. You may not try to shake the ground, tables, or boards as a distraction. Personal insults will not be tolerated, be more creative.
What happens if we drop our beer-ton or accidently shake it up?
Pick it up and hope your 4th player can manage. No new beer-tons allowed in the middle of the game. Be careful and make sure you have secure handoffs.