Lincoln Area – Toad in the Hole League Rules
(Updated Feb 2025)
Match rules
- Each match consists of seven games – four singles games, two doubles games, and one team game for four players.
- Each game is worth ONE point to the winners, with a total of 7 points available during the match – i.e. four points are available for the singles, two for the doubles, and one for the team game.
- Each team must field a minimum of 4 players per match.
- All games are best of three legs. The Home team would always name their player(s) first. There would then be a toss of a coin (or similar fair method), the winner to decide in which leg to go first. Players go first in alternate legs. The third leg need not be played if it is 2-0. If it is 1-1, another toss will be made for the final leg.
- The rules of each leg are – each player throws four toads, 31 down, BUT first player throws two toads, second three, then 4 each. Once score required is less than four, one toad is played per point needed, and an exact number is required to finish. (Four toads in the hole does NOT automatically win the leg.) Any player may choose not to throw all of their toads in any turn.
- Any toad which hits the back board or falls to the floor cannot be a scoring toad under any circumstances. However, such a “dead” toad CAN influence the play of another valid toad – e.g. by knocking it into the hole to increase its score, or, indeed, by knocking it into the back or off the table to invalidate its score.
- If at the start of a game a player inadvertently throws more toads than permitted, the first toads thrown shall count (as if the extra toad(s) had not been thrown).
- If a player busts but still has a spare toad, they can throw the last toad to LOWER their score.
- The throwing distance shall be a minimum 7ft 9 ¾inches from the throwing line to the backboard of the table. This minimum throwing distance can be longer to accommodate local features (existing line or marker) but should be no greater than 8ft 6 inches.
- Each team must use the same table and lead top throughout the season for their home games.
- Prior to each match, the home team should ensure that all of their toads are able to pass through the hole (some teams use a set with different sized toads). If there is any restriction that prevents a toad from passing through the hole, then the home team is permitted to ease the hole to allow all toads through before match has started; once the match is under way there are to be no further attempts at easing.