Beer, food, friends: tailgaiting games explained

Flip-Cup

Also Known As: Flippy Cup
Players: 6 or more

Standard Rules: 
Teams line up on opposite sides of the table. Each player has a plastic cup about a quarter full. Players match their cups up across the table to know who their partner is.
Once the game begins, the player must finish everything in his or her cup, place the cup right side up and then attempt to flip the cup so the top is down on the table.
The player must continue flipping until the cup lands upside down and stays on the table.

Why it’s my favorite:
It’s competitive because you’re divided into teams. I like the environment. Plus, it’s anti-swine flu because everybody uses their own cup.
– Mollie Tavel, senior

Beer Pong

Also Known As: Pong, Beirut
Players: 4

Standard Rules:
Each team has two players and ten cups set in triangle formation. Both players have one chance each to shoot the ping-pong ball into one of the opponents’ cups. If the ball is bounced in, the other team must remove two cups. If both players make a cup in the same turn they get to shoot again (known as “Bring Backs”). Each team has two opportunities to re-rack its cups. This cannot be done in the middle of a turn.



Why it’s my favorite:
It’s an easy game that everyone knows how to play. I love it when I get a crowd around my game. That’s when I know I’m successful.
– Jenna Soldano, sophomore

Football Toss

Also Known As: Hillbilly golf
Players: 4

Standard Rules:
Goal posts are placed 25 feet away from each other. Similar to cornhole, one member of the team is on each end.  Each team has three bolos. Players alternate turns and attempt to get his or her bolo wrapped around the highest rung. A bolo wrapped around the top rung is worth three points, the second rung is worth two points and the lowest rung is worth one point. Points do cancel out. The first team that exceeds 21 points wins. For a bigger challenge, attempt to score 21 points exactly.


Cornhole

Also Known As: Bags, Baggo
Players: 4

Standard Rules:
One player per team is on each side of the boards. The game can be played to 11 or 21 points. If the bag lands on the board, it is one point. If the bag goes in the hole, it is three points. The points cancel each other out so that only one team can score points per turn. If the same number of bags are on the board for each team, it is known as a “wash.” According to the American Cornhole Association, there must be 27 feet from the front of one board to the front of the other board. To win, the team must score 21 or 11 points exactly. If this doesn’t happen, the team continues to revert back to the previous score.

Why it’s my favorite:
I enjoy playing cornhole with my buddies. In an intense game, I tend to open a cold brew to replenish my electrolytes and prevent severe dehydration.
– Matt Goodman, sophomore