Ringer Game Rules
RINGER is played in a ring ten
(10) feet in diameter, with thirteen (13) marbles arranged in the
center of a cross. The object is to shoot these marbles out of the
ring. The player shooting the largest number of marbles out of the
ring in any game is the winner of that game. No less than two and no
more than six can play in one game, except that in the final
championship matches only two play. In preliminary eliminations as
many as six may play in one game. All play is for fair and marbles
must be returned to the referee after each game.
RULE 1-
EQUIPMENT 
Section 1. The playing surface
shall be a smooth, level area of ground, hard clay, or other
suitable substance. The ring is inscribed upon this area, 10 feet in
diameter, and all play is within this ring: (Note: The outline of
this ring shall not be so deep or so wide as to check the roll of a
marble.)
Section 2. With the center of
the ring as a point of intersection, mark two lines at right angles
to each other to form a cross, which shall be a guide for placing
the playing marbles. Place one marble at the center and three each
on the four branches of the cross, each marble three inches away
from the next one.
Section 3. The lag line is a
straight line drawn tangent to the ring, and touching it at one
point. The pitch line is a straight line drawn tangent to the ring
and parallel to the lag line.
Section 4. Playing marbles,
called mibs, shall be round and made of clay or glass. All marbles
in any one playing ring must be of uniform size. The standard is
five-eighths inch in diameter. Slight variation may be allowed by
the referee for manufacturing fault.
Section 5. Shooters shall be
round made of any substance, except steel or any other metal, and
shall be not less than ONE-HALF INCH ( ½”) nor more than SIX-EIGHTHS
INCH ( ¾”) in diameter, by exact measurement.
RULE II- PLAN OF PLAY
Section 1. The lag is the first
operation in Ringer. This determines the order of play. To lag, the
players stand toeing the pitch line, or knuckling down upon it, and
toss or shoot their shooters to the lag line across the ring. The
player whose shooter comes nearest the lag line, on either side,
wins the lag.
Section 2. Players must lag
before each game. The player who wins the lag shoots first, and the
others follow in order as their shooters were next nearest the lag
line. Players whose shooter hits the wooden frame of the marbles
court are disqualified and go last in the order of play. The same
shooter that is used in the lag must be used fit the game following
the lag.
Section 3 On all shots, except
the lag, all players shall knuckle down so that at least one
knuckle is in contact with the ground, and they shall maintain this
position until the shooter has left his hand. Knuckling down is
permitted, but not required in lagging.
Section 4. Starting the game,
each player in turn shall knuckle down just outside the ring line,
at any point he chooses, and shoot into the ring to knock one or
more marbles out or the ring, or to hit or knock out of the ring the
shooter of an opposing player, or players, if any remain inside the
ring.
Section 5. If a player knocks
one or more marbles out of the ring, or hits the shooter of an
opponent, or knocks an opponent's shooter out of the ring, he
continues to shoot. He ceases to shoot after his first miss, and
then is credited with the marbles he has scored.
Section 6. If, after a miss, a
player's shooter remains inside the ring, he must leave it there and
his opponents are permitted to shoot at it.
RULE. I I I
PLAYING REGULATIONS
Section 1. Marbles knocked out
of the ring shall be picked up by the player who knocks them out.
Section 2. Whenever a marble or
shooter comes to rest on the ring line, if its center is outside the
ring line, if its center is outside the ring or exactly on the ring
line, it shall be considered out of the ring. If its center is
inside the ring, it shall be considered inside the ring.
Section 3. A player hitting an
opponent's shooter inside the ring but not knocking it out, shall
pick up any marble he chooses and shall proceed to shoot again.
However, he shall not hit the same opponent's shooter again until
after he hits another shooter, or knocks a marble out of the ring,
or he comes around to his next turn to shoot.
Section 4. A player knocking an
opponent's shooter out of the ring shall be entitled to pick up any
marble from the ring as their point.
Section 5. If a shooter knocks
out two or more marbles, or hits an opponent's shooter and a marble,
or hits two opponents' shooters, or completes any other combination
play, he shall be entitled to all the points scored on that shot.
Section 6. When a shooter slips
from a player's hand, if the player calls "slips" and the referee is
convinced it is ,a slip, and If the shooter did not travel more than
10 inches the referee may order "no play" and permit the player to
shoot again. The referee's decision is final.
Section 7. Players are not
allowed to walk across the ring to retrieve their points, but
instead must walk around the ring.
Section 8. A game shall end
when one player knocks out 7 marbles.
RULE IV SCORING
Section 1. For each marble
knocked out by a player, he shall be credited with the score of
one.
Section 2. For each time of
players hits a shooter of an opponent and does not knock it out of
the ring, he shall be credited with the score of one.
Section 3. For each time a
player knocks an opponent’s shooter out of the ring, he shall be
credited with the score of one.
Section 4. The player having
credited to him the largest number of marbles at the completion of
the game, shall be the winner of that game.
Section 5. In games where more
than two players are engaged, if two or more players lead with the
same score, those in the tie shall play a new game to break the tie.
Section 6. A player refusing to
continue a game, once it is started, shall be disqualified, and if
only two players are engaged, the game shall be forfeited to the
offended player.
Section 7. The score of a
forfeited game shall be 7-0.
RULE V -- OFFICIALS
Section 1. The officials shall
be a referee and a scorer, if a scorer is unavailable. He shall
interpret these rules and have power to make decisions on any points
not specifically covered by these rules. He shall have authority to
disqualify players for un-sportsmanlike conduct. He shall have
authority to order from the playing field, or its vicinity, the
coach or other representative of player, who conducts himself
improperly.
Section 2. The decision of the
referee is final.
Section 3. The scorer shall
keep a record of the game, marking the score of each player shot by
shot and at the termination of each game shall notify the referee of
the score, and the referee shall announce the winner. The scorer may
assist the referee in enforcing the rule against coaching, and call
to the attention of the referee any infraction of the rules.
RULE VI-PENALTIES
A player shall not --
Section 1. Lift his hand until
the shooter has left his hand. This violation is known as "histing."
Section 2. Move his hand
forward until the shooter has left his hand. This violation is known
as "hunching."
Section 3. Smooth or otherwise
rearrange the ground, or remove any obstacles. He may request the
referee to clear obstructions.
Penalty: If any marbles were
knocked out or dislocated on the shot, they shall be restored to
their place, and the player shall lose his shot.
Section 4. Change shooters
during the course of any game, except that he may choose a new
shooter on each lag, provided he uses that shooter in the subsequent
game.
Penalty: The player shall be
disqualified from the game.
Section 5. Communicate in any
way with his coach during the course of the game.
Penalty: Forfeiture of all
marbles he has knocked out of the ring, said marbles to be returned
to the game, and placed on the cross.
Section 6. A coach shall not
give instructions to either his own or any other player engaged in
the game.
Penalty: Coach shall be ordered
from the playing field, if, after being warned once, he continues
his violation.
Section 7. Players must not
walk thru the marble ring.
Penalty: The referee may
require the forfeiture of one marble to be returned to the ring and
placed on the cross.
RULE VII - AGE OF PLAYERS
Section 1. The tournament is
open to boys or girls of 14 years or under.
Section 7. A boy or girl who
turns 15 on or after June, 10 2006 is eligible to play, and one who
comes 15 any time before June 10, 2006 is not eligible to play.
RULE VIII-DEFINITIONS
The term "marbles" in these
rules is used to denote the object or target marble only, variously
known as a mib, miggs, commies, hoodles, ducks, etc.
The term "shooter" is used to
denote the offensive marble, variously known as the taw, aggie,
moonie, glassie, etc.
"Knuckling down" is the act of
resting a knuckle or knuckles ground when shooting.
"Shooting" is the act of
holding the shooter between the thumb and first finger and releasing
it by forceof the thumb.
"Hunching" is the act of moving
the hand forward across the ring line when shooting from the line,
or forward from the point at which the shooter came to rest, when
shooting inside the ring. (FORBIDDEN)
"Histing" is the act of raising
the hand from the ground in shooting. (FORBIDDEN)
"Roundsters" is the privilege
taking a different position on the ring line for shooting and is
permitted only at the start of the game or on a turn after a shooter
has passed out of the ring.
"For fair" is playing for
sportsmanship only, when marbles are returned at thee end of each
game their owners. All Marbles Tournament games are FOR FAIR
"Lofting" is the act of
shooting in an arch thru the air to hit a marble. This is the most
skillful shot in Ringer.
"Bowling" is the act of rolling
a shot on the ground to hit a marble with topspin.
“English” is the act of
shooting with backspin and a very advantageous means of shooting.
A match may be decided in one,
three or five games.
