Official rules and guides for popular sports.
Looking for backyard game ideas? See our Best Backyard Games →
Sports rules pages cover official rules, scoring, and equipment requirements for recreational and competitive play. We focus on the version most people actually play: backyard games, league rules, and casual setups rather than Olympic-level professional variants.
For official governing body rules, consult the relevant association (USA Volleyball, USTA, etc.). Our pages are written for recreational players who want to understand the game quickly.
Cornhole is the most universally played backyard game in the US. It's easy to set up, works for all ages and skill levels, and games run 15-20 minutes. Beer Pong is the most popular at adult parties specifically.
Standard cornhole is played to exactly 21 points using cancellation scoring. A bag in the hole = 3 points, a bag on the board = 1 point. Cancellation means opposing scores cancel each other each round. See the full cornhole rules →
Only one team scores per round. The team with the bocce ball closest to the pallino (target ball) scores 1 point for each of their balls closer than the opponent's nearest ball. First to 12 (or agreed total) wins. See the full bocce rules →
See our full list: Best Backyard Games →