THE RULES
OF THE GAME.

The playing rules, clearly explained: setup, throwing, balls back, re-racks and match formats.

2027 playing rules

Equipment & setup

Use official EUROPONG equipment with standard specifications.
Table: 2.40 m long × 0.60 m wide × 0.70 m high.
Cups: 12 cm high, 9.8 cm top diameter and 6.1 cm bottom diameter. Balls: 3-star, 40 mm, 2.8 g; no fixed number is specified (“as many as you can hold”).
Each team sets up 10 cups, filled between one-third and one-half with water. Arrange them in a pyramid inside the marked triangle, with all cups touching.

Equipment & setup

Start with 10 cups arranged in a pyramid. Check that they contain enough water before playing.
A random draw determines which team starts the first leg.
If further legs are needed, the other team starts the next leg, and the starting team alternates thereafter.
In a tied knockout match, the team with the best cup difference starts the deciding leg.

Starting a game

Each team throws at least two balls: player A, then player B. In singles, the player throws at least two balls.
Crossing the table edge with the elbow is allowed.
Keep the game moving: approximately 10 seconds maximum per ball. Excessive delays may result in a cup penalty.

If the first two shots score, player A may throw an additional ball. If that scores, player B throws next, and so on: balls back are unlimited.
After the initial two shots, the first miss immediately passes possession to the opposing team.
Eliminating three or more cups in one run is called a “run”.
A “perfect run” means making 10 successful shots on the first attempt and winning the leg.

Balls back & runs

Re-racks are allowed at 6, 3 or 1 cups remaining and must be performed at the end of a throwing phase.
The base of the cup pyramid must touch the base of the marked triangle.
A team or player may choose not to request a re-rack before the end of their run.
If 5, 4 or 2 cups remain at the end of a throwing phase, use the specified formation with the closest positions left empty.

Re-racks

A successful bounce shot counts for two cups.
The defending team chooses the second cup to remove.
A bounce shot may be intercepted after the ball has touched the table at least once.
A missed non-bounce shot that ricochets off the table or another object and then scores counts for only one cup.
Intercepting a direct throw results in a cup penalty for the defending team.

Bounce shots & interference

Blowing into a cup is prohibited.
A cup accidentally knocked over in a team’s own area is removed from play.
If the ball touches a player’s body before landing in a cup, that cup is removed.
If a ball directly knocks over a cup, the throw is invalid.
Fair play, good spirits and the ability to laugh at yourself are mandatory.

Group stage: groups of 9 or 10 teams or players.
Rock–paper–scissors determines who chooses whether to start or let the opponent start. Balls back on the opening turn are limited to four cups.
Each group-stage match is played over one leg.
Knockout “round of 32/16”, as written in the original sheet: best of 3 legs. Following rounds: best of 5.
Semi-finals: best of 7 legs. Final: best of 7 or 9 legs.
The organisers may adjust the number of knockout legs if necessary.
The player or team with the best cup difference starts the deciding leg.

Team of 6 players.
Individual registration. Players are assigned to mixed-nationality teams for the 6v6 format.
German players are ranked by playing level using the annual Bundesliga ranking, then allocated first across the teams concerned.
Players from other nations are allocated afterwards, with no more than one player from each of those nations per team.