What is Polish Horseshoes?
Polish Horseshoes is a game in which teams take turns tossing a frisbee at a pole with a can or bottle on top, attempting to knock the can/bottle off the pole. With a range of ways to score, the first team to 21 wins!
What materials are necessary to play?
You need two Polish Horseshoes poles, two cans or bottles, and a frisbee. That's it! Sets are available from this site and include everything you need (except the cans/bottles), all in a handy drawstring backpack!
How do you play Polish Horseshoes?
Setting Up
The two poles should be placed 20 - 40 ft apart. An empty can or bottle is placed on the top of each pole. Each team stands next to one pole (teammates are on the same end of the court). Every player must have a beverage in his/her hand at all times, so that only one hand is free to throw and catch.
Play
A member of one team throws the frisbee, trying to hit the opposing team's can or pole in order to knock the can off. Players on each team alternate throwing the frisbee. The receiving team tries to catch the frisbee (**the frisbee must be "catchable," or within a few steps of the pole, as determined by all players and spectators). However, they may not reach in front of the pole to catch the frisbee (called an "early grab"). If the frisbee falls short (doesn't get all the way to the pole), the opposing team may make their next throw from where the frisbee has landed. A "low throw" refers to a frisbee that is within the height of the bottom section of the pole.
Scoring
**Points can only be earned by the throwing team. Points values are as follows:
- The disc is not "catchable" = 0 points
- The receiving team catches both the frisbee and the falling can = 0 points
- The receiving team does not catch or drops the frisbee on a "low throw" = 0 points
- The receiving team does not catch or drops the frisbee = 1 point
- The receiving team catches the falling can but not the frisbee = 1 point
- The receiving team "traps" the bottle or frisbee using a body part other than the hand = 1 point
- The receiving team makes an "early grab" of the can before it falls = 2 points
- The receiving team catches the frisbee but not the falling can = 2 points
- The receiving team catches neither the frisbee nor the falling can on a "low throw" = 2 points
- The receiving team catches neither the frisbee nor the falling can = 3 points
- The receiving team makes an "early grab" of the frisbee in front of the pole = 3 points
Winning the Game
A team wins the match by being the first to reach or exceed 21 points at the end of an inning. The winning team must win by two or more points.