GAME RULES
Welcome to the first yard game with a Splash! Here you will learn about the pieces, setup and rules about how to play Cannonball.
The Game Basics
• 2-8 players , ages 6 and above
• Game time is approximately 15 minutes
• Standing preferred but not required
• Caution: Players may get splashed with water
Video of Cannonball's setup and rules
Game Items
• 3 Scoring Rings
• 1 Perimeter Rope
• 1 Treasure Chest cup
• 8 Scorer Balls (4 Dark, 4 Light)
• 8 Cannonballs (heavier balls, all black)
• 8 Gold Pieces (small balls for throwing in Treasure Chest)
• 1 kids size pool (3' Jr. & 4-5' Regular) feet in diameter
(later filled with 6 inches of water)
The Balls
Scorers are balls used to throw into the center of the rings. Scorers in the rings will be counted at the end of each round. 1 point per Scorer ball.
Cannonballs are heavier balls used to disrupt the pool and are often used for defense. It is allowable to knock other game pieces (balls or rings) from the pool.
Gold Pieces are used to throw into the Treasure Chest. Limited to one per player per game, and will not be returned once thrown. If the Gold Piece lands in the cup of the Treasure Chest, it is worth 10 points.
GAME SETUP
• Place pool in centered location, preferable on flat ground and fill with 6” of water.
• Set up Perimeter Rope 3 feet from edge of pool.
• Evenly divide players into two teams. Everyone will receive a Gold Piece and Cannonball. One team will use the Light Scorers and one team will use the Dark.
• Put teammates around the pool and behind the Perimeter Rope in alternating order.
• Place one ring in the center. Everyone will throw a Scorer at once. Whoever is in the ring, or closest to the ring’s edge, will be the first thrower in the game. If two or more are in the ring, repeat till a single winner is determined.
• After the winner is determined, take all three Scoring Rings and the Treasure Chest to put into the center of the pool.
• Release the Rings. They may drift apart or stay together but do not touch them.
RULES (PDF): CANNONBALL | CANNONBALL JR.
GAME PLAY
• At each turn, the thrower will select which one of the three balls they wish to throw.
• Scorers and Cannonballs will be returned after each round. Gold Pieces are one-time use.
• Each ball can only be used for its intended use. Using a ball for its unintended purpose disqualifies the throw and more than two will result in a point reduction.
• Rotate clockwise around the circle with each person taking a throw of the ball of their choice.
• A round is complete after everyone has made a throw of one of their three balls.
• Each new round will begin with a new person as the lead thrower. It will rotate clockwise starting from the person who won the honor to start the game.
• Leave the rings where they end each round. Do not reset to starting configuration.
• If a Scoring Ring or the Treasure Chest are ever knocked out of the pool, finish the round, then reset the Rings and Treasure Chest to the Starting Configuration.
Scoring
• First team to reach 11 points will be declared the winner (not win by 2).
• Points will be counted at the end of each round after every person has had a chance to throw.
• 1 point for a Scorer in a ring. Multiple balls can be in one ring. See more details below.
• 10 points for a Gold Piece in the Treasure Chest (at any point during the round).
• If opposite colors are in the ring at the end of the round, no points will be awarded for that ring. This is regardless of the number of balls in the ring.
• If two balls or more balls from the same team end the round in a ring, a bonus point will be awarded (1 point for each Scorer plus an additional 1 point = 3 points total).
• If two rings stack on each other, and a ball is within both of them at the end of the round, teams will score points in each ring.
• Stepping over the Perimeter Rope while throwing will result in a 1-point penalty and the throw not counting.
Tiebreaker
• If both teams are tied at 11 following the conclusion of a round, the game moves to a tiebreaker.
• The pool and all game pieces will remain as they were at the end of last round.
• Only Scorers and Cannonballs will be used in the tiebreaker round.
• Each team will select a single thrower to start.
• Whichever team started the game will throw last in the tiebreaker.
• Both throwers will get a single toss of the Scorer or Cannonball.
• The team with the most points after both throwers have gone is the winner.
• If still tied, go to the next thrower. Everyone must go before someone can throw a second time. Repeat until the winner determined.
