OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS: THE TRUE NORTH SHOOTOUT SERIES

Governing Body: Ontario Cornhole Association (OCA) 

Effective Date: January 2, 2026 

Series Duration: January 1, 2026 – June 1, 2026 (Qualifying Period)

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 “The Series” refers to The True North Shootout Series.

1.2 “The Board” refers to the Board of Directors of the Ontario Cornhole Association.

1.3 “Qualifying Event” refers to any sanctioned Cornhole Canada Singles Regional tournament held within the Province of Ontario during the Qualifying Period.

1.4 “The Championship” refers to the final tournament to be held at the 2026 OCA Provincial Championships (July 10-12, 2026, in Cornwall, Ontario).

2. ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION

2.1 Participation Fee: To be eligible for Series points and The 2026 Championship, a player must pay a one-time Series Registration Fee of $20.00 CAD. 

2.2 Open Qualification: Participation is open to all members in good standing with the OCA and CCL 

2.3 Tier Classification and “Series Lock”:

  • Initial Classification: Players must register for The Series based on their official Cornhole Canada League (CCL) player rating/tier at the time of their registration. This establishes their “Series Tier.”
  • Tier Locking: Once registered, a player’s Series Tier is “locked” for the duration of the Series Qualification Window and The Championship.
  • Player Promotion: In the event a player is promoted to a higher skill tier by the CCL during the Series:
    1. The player must compete in their new, higher tier at all subsequent Qualifying Events (in accordance with CCL rules).
    2. Points Transfer: Any points earned in the higher tier at Qualifying Events will be fully credited toward the player’s standings in their original locked Series Tier.
    3. Championship Eligibility: The player will compete in their locked Series Tier at the Provincial Championship, regardless of their current higher CCL rating. 

2.4 Point Accumulation and Retroactivity:

  • January Grace Period: To be eligible to receive Series points for Qualifying Events held in January 2026, a player must register and pay the Series Registration Fee no later than February 7, 2026.
  • Late Registration: For any player registering after February 7, 2026, Series points will only be awarded for Qualifying Events occurring on or after their official date of registration. Retroactive point allocation for events played prior to the registration date is strictly prohibited.

3. QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE (“ROAD TO NATIONALS”)

3.1 Qualifying Window: Points may be earned at Qualifying Events scheduled between January 1, 2026, and June 1, 2026. 

3.2 Points Calculation:

  • A player’s Series Standing will be determined by their top six (6) finishes in singles regional events during the Qualifying Window.
  • Scores from events exceeding the six-event cap will not be counted toward the Series Standing. 

3.3 Championship Qualification:

  • The top sixteen (16) ranked players in each Tier, based on final Series Standings, will qualify for The Championship.
  • Seeding: Seeding for The Championship will be strictly based on the final Series Standings.

4. CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FORMAT

4.1 Location: The Championship will take place at the OCA Provincial Championships in Cornwall, Ontario. 

4.2 Bracket Format: The tournament will utilize a Straight Double Elimination bracket. 

4.3 Gameplay Rules:

  • Matches will be played using “Shootout Style” rules.
  • Round Limit: All games are subject to a 16-round limit.
  • Overtime: If the game is tied or no player has reached 21 points by the end of the 16th round, the player with the higher score is declared the winner (or standard overtime rules apply as per OCA discretion).

5. PRIZE POOL AND DISBURSEMENT

5.1 Guaranteed Purse: The OCA guarantees a minimum prize pool of $1,200.00 CAD per division.

  • Note: The Board reserves the right to increase this amount based on participation levels.

5.2 Prize Breakdown: The prize pool for each division will be allocated as follows:

  • 1st Place: 50%
  • 2nd Place: 30%
  • 3rd Place: 20%

5.3 RESTRICTED DISBURSEMENT (EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT POLICY):

  • Purpose of Funds: Prize monies are strictly designated as a travel and registration stipend for the National Championships. This is not an immediate cash payout.
  • Condition of Payment: Winners must provide valid proof of registration and attendance of a minimum of 1 singles event and and 1 doubles event at the Canadian National Championships.
  • Required Documentation: To claim the prize, the winner must submit the following within 30 days after the National event:
    1. Proof of registration for the National Championships.
    2. Receipts of National Championship registration for a minimum of 1 singles event and 1 doubles event
  • Forfeiture: Failure to attend Nationals, or failure to provide adequate documentation by the 30-day deadline, will result in the forfeiture of the prize money. The forfeited funds will revert to the OCA general fund or be distributed at the Board’s discretion.

6. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND LIABILITY

6.1 Right to Modify: The Board reserves the exclusive right to interpret these rules and to amend, modify, or cancel the Series or any portion thereof at any time if deemed necessary for the benefit of the sport or the Association. 

6.2 Code of Conduct: All participants must adhere to the OCA Code of Conduct. Unsportsmanlike behavior, collusion, or manipulation of scores may result in immediate disqualification from The Series without refund. 

6.3 Tie-Breakers: In the event of a tie in the Qualifying Standings (regarding seeding or the final qualifying spot), ties will be broken using the following order of operations, utilizing statistics derived exclusively from the six (6) specific events contributing to the player’s final Series Standing:

  • 6.3.1 First Tie-Breaker: Highest Differential Per Round (DPR).
  • 6.3.2 Second Tie-Breaker: Highest Points Per Round (PPR).
  • 6.3.3 Third Tie-Breaker: Highest number of total Qualifying Events participated in during the Series Duration.
  • 6.3.4 Fourth Tie-Breaker: If a tie persists after applying all statistical metrics, the winner will be determined by a Coin Toss administered by the Board. 

6.4 Final Authority: All decisions made by the Board regarding seeding, eligibility, and rule enforcement are final and binding.

7. POINTS
1st – 50
2nd – 40
3rd – 35
4th – 30
5th – 6th – 15
7th – 8th – 10
9th – 12th – 5