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The sport of horseshoe pitching affords a healthy, scientific, pleasant and competitive sport suitable to all persons with a desire to unify horseshoe adherents, standardize horseshoe pitching rules, authorize and conduct tournaments of local, state and national scope, promote the establishment of league and clubs. We the horseshoe pitchers of Michigan, in convention assembled do here establish the following Constitution and By-laws for the Association.



The name of this Association shall be MICHIGAN HORSESHOE PITCHERS ASSOCIATION (MHPA).



Section 1.
All legislative power herein granted shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall consist of the president, 1^ST and 2^ND vice presidents, secretary/treasurer, MHPA statistician and the chairperson of the standing committees.

Section 2.
The Board of Directors is required to meet a minimum of two times each year with one such meeting at the State Championship Tournament. The Board of Directors is responsible for the business of the MHPA. A two - thirds majority of the Board of Directors must be present to form a quorum. A majority vote by the members of the Board of Directors present is required to transact any business.

Section 3.
The officers of this Association shall consist of a president, 1st and 2nd vice-presidents and secretary/treasurer. The officers shall be known as the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall be in charge of the Association's operating affairs. They shall be empowered to transact such business in the interest of the game and the Association as they deem advisable providing this is not contrary to the Constitution and By-laws or the Board of Directors.

Section 4.
The president and 2nd vice-president are to be elected in even-numbered years. The 1st vice-president and secretary/treasurer are to be elected in odd-numbered years. Their term of office shall be two years. Election of officers may be by secret ballot. Elections are held during the state Championships Tournament. Elected officers are to begin January 1. A member nominated for office shall be present at the meeting to accept the nomination. A letter of acceptance for a nomination may be submitted if the member cannot be present at the meeting.

Section 5.
In case of death, resignation or removal of an officer between state meetings, the president may make an appointment to fill the unexpired term. Any appointments are to be subject to a two - thirds vote of the Board of Directors within thirty days. Should the office of president become vacant due to death, resignation or removal, the 1st vice president shall become president and the 2nd vice president shall become the 1st vice president. The 2nd vice president position shall be filled at the next scheduled meeting.

Section 6.
State officers may be removed from their positions upon failure to perform the duties of the office or for any action the brings discredit to the MHPA. A two - thirds vote by the remaining Board of Directors is required to remove an officer. Voting may be done by registered mail or telegram.

Section 7.
The Constitution and By-laws, Rules and Regulations may be revised by submitting changes at any membership meeting or sent to the chairperson of the Constitution and By-laws Committee by July 15. Such proposed revisions shall be published in the MHPA's August newsletter. All proposed revisions shall be voted upon at the State Tournament meeting. Any additions, deletions and/or changes shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of members present at the meeting and shall become effective January 1 of the following year. The president may at his/her option, have the State Tournament meeting later if tournament scheduling or other unforeseen reason does not allow proper time for the meeting to be held during the tournament.

Section 8.
The 1st vice-president shall be the chairperson of the Constitution and By-laws Committee. The 2nd vice-president shall be the chairperson of the Grievance and Credentials Committee. The secretary shall be the chairperson of the Membership Committee. The chairpersons and committees shall be appointed by the president from the membership of the MHPA. No member shall be selected for more than two committees or be a chairperson of more than one committee

A. Auditing and Finance
B. Hall of Fame
C. Publicity
D. Any other committee the president deems advisable for the good of the MHPA.

It is necessary for majority of members of standing committees to be in actual attendance only if a problem arises which requires action by a particular committee. No committee shall decide an issue without a majority present. Should an occasion arise in which immediate action by a committee is required the president shall have the authority to dissolve the existing committee and appoint a new committee if a majority is not present. It shall be the duty of all committees to serve willingly and in the best interest of the MHPA. Any committee member may be removed by the Board of Directors.


Section 1.
All officers shall have their books, records and property belonging to the MHPA at all membership meetings. If unable to be present, the officers must forward these to the president by registered mail before the first day of the meeting. Officers shall turn over to their successors all records and property of the MHPA that may or should be in their possession at the end of their term.

Section 2.
Any bill of account or expense against the MHPA amounting to over one hundred dollars, except routing supplies, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors and paid when approved by the Board of Directors. Any bill not approved in this manner, or any amount contested by the Board of Directors, shall be brought before the membership for approval by a majority of members present.



The secretary/treasurer shall be the custodian of all membership records and act as recording secretary at all meetings, handle the issuance of NHPA cards and membership reporting to the NHPA.

The secretary/treasurer shall also be the custodian of the funds of the MHPA. He/she shall furnish a complete statement of monies received and paid out at each membership meeting and/or any time the Board of Directors demands. He/She shall furnish a complete statement to the membership of monies received and paid out at the spring meeting and after the close of business of October 1st and/or any time the Board of Directors demands. During the annual state tournament meeting.

Secretary/Treasurer shall provide a verbal update of the bank account

Any election of the secretary/treasurer shall be invalid if the elected person does not furnish the necessary information to be bonded or if he/she cannot be bonded for a minimum of $10,000.

The bonding should be done no later than January 1st, when officers take over their positions, and a copy of the bonding turned over to the chairperson of the Audit and Finance committee to verify the bonding.



The statistician is to gather and maintain a State Tournament record of statistics that may be pertinent to the MHPA such as longest game, most consecutive ringers, State Champion, consecutive four-dead, etc. The statistician shall be the custodian of printed materials and other documents belonging to the MHPA. The statistician shall maintain current ringer percentages and report all tournament results to NATSTAT. The statistician shall turn over these records upon demand of the Board of Directors or the authorized representative(s) of the MHPA.



Section 1.
A club charter may be granted to any group requesting to sponsor a MHPA tournament if the following guidelines are fulfilled:

A. The club shall furnish to the MHPA treasurer the name of a club member or a local Parks and Recreation Department who shall receive money from the MHPA.
B. The club shall furnish to the MHPA secretary the name of a club member who will be responsible for organizing tournaments sanctioned by the MHPA at the Scheduling Meeting.

C. The club shall have a minimum of nine clay horseshoe courts. There shall be nine courts set up for less than 40 feet pitching..

D. The club shall designate one member to handle publicity.

Section 2.
Objectives of all clubs and members.

A, To stimulate and maintain interest in horseshoe pitching.

B. To inform all interested persons in the rules governing the sport.

C. To promote sound ethics in fair play.

D. To encourage greater participation in local, regional, state and national contests.


Section 1.
The MHPA shall have jurisdiction over all members and guests at any MHPA function.

Section 2.
The MHPA shall maintain at least a $300.00 balance in the treasury to carry over to the coming year.

Section 3.
All applications for State membership (when accepted) automatically entitle members to all courtesies and privileges extended to clubs and associations.

Section 4.
Annual membership dues are $35.00. Dues shall be distributed as follows:

A. $17.00 - NHPA Membership Dues

B. $4.00 - General Fund

C. $4.00 - State Tournament Fund

D. $7.00 - Newsletter

E. $1.00 - Secretary/Treasurer

F. $1.00 - Statistician

G. $1.00 - Michigan - Ontario Fund

If there are two or more cards bought in the same household the cost of the second and subsequent cards shall be $28.00 each if requested.

Section 5.
The MHPA shall pay NHPA membership dues for juniors.

Section 6.
The MHPA shall pay compensation of $100.00 per year to the editor of the newsletter.

Section 7.
The host club shall retain $2.00 out of each adult entry fee for court fees. In the event that a club or community would like to hold a MHPA tournament, but does not have the knowledge or capability to do so, they may request the Board of Directors to appoint an individual, a committee or the officers of the MHPA to act as tournament director or committee. In return, the tournament director or committee shall be paid 50 cents for each adult entrant. The 50-cent fee is to be paid from the $2.00 court fee. It is imperative that the Board of Directors is precise and explicit concerning the individuals who shall make up the tournament committee.

Section 8.
The cost of the newsletter shall be $8.00 to people who are not members of the MHPA.

Section 9.
Roberts Rules of Order, revised and reading as follows shall govern the order of conducting all meetings.

A. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting.

B. Approval, additions or corrections of the minutes.

C. Reading of the financial report.

D. Reports of officers, boards and standing or special committees.

E. Memorandum of the President.

F. Unfinished business.

G. New Business

H. Report of good and welfare work.

I Election of officers.

J. Adjournment.

Members shall not speak on any subject more than twice. Members shall speak no longer than five minutes the first time and no longer than three minutes the second time. Committee reports, recommendations and visiting guests shall be exempt from time limitations.

Section 10.
The president shall refer all resolutions made from the floor or received in writing to the appropriate committee.

Section 11.
The Hall of Fame Committee is to made from current Hall of Fame members when possible. Replacement of Hall of Fame Committee Members shall be selected by the existing Hall of Fame Committee chairperson and members. This committee shall decide the criteria for election into the Michigan/MHPA Hall of Fame. Recommendations are to be presented to the president before any announcement. The committee may solicit information from the membership or introduce possible candidates independently.

Section 12.
Recommendations for lifetime membership shall be made by the Membership Committee to the president before any announcement.There shall be no more than six lifetime members of the MHPA at any time.

Criteria for selection to lifetime membership of the MHPA are as follows:

A. Mandatory: A minimum of 15 years membership with the MHPA.

B. Mandatory: Minimum age of 60 years.

C. Mandatory A resident of Michigan at time of selection.

D. Mandatory: A member of MHPA Hall of Fame.

Section 13.
In the event this association should take action to no longer function, the assets of the association shall be awarded to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA).


Section 1.
The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the host club's actions and decisions during district tournaments. The Board of Directors may suspend the sponsorship of the district tournament by the host club if the Constitution and By-Laws, Rules and Regulations are not followed.

Section 2.
The host club is responsible for having the courts ready for all tournaments they hold and for furnishing shovels and water cans. The players are responsible for conditioning the courts at the start of each game. Players playing in the last shift are to condition and cover the courts upon conclusion of play.

Section 3.
District tournaments under jurisdiction of the MHPA shall start at 9:30 A. M. All participating members must be signed in by that time.

Section 4.

Entry fees for district tournaments shall be $10.00 (minimum) with the following prize money breakdown

	Four person	Five person	Six person	Seven person	Eight person
1ST:	18.00	18.00	22.00	22.00	22.00
2ND:	14.00	14.00	16.00	16.00	16.00
3RD:	--	8.00	10.00	10.00	14.00
4TH:	--	--	--	8.00	10.00

Section 5.
The scorekeeping fee for all tournaments shall be One Dollar ($1.00) per player per game, including juniors

Section 6.
The host club or tournament committee has the option to decide how ties for positions shall be broken. The host club or tournament committee decision shall be expressed before the tournament if different from recommended options. Recommended options are as follows:

A. All two-way ties for first place to be decided by a play-off game.

B. All other position ties to be decided by ringer percentage.

C. Three-way ties for first place shall be decided by the two lowest percentage pitchers to play one game with the loser placing third. The winning pitcher plays the highest percentage pitcher for first and second places.

D. Four-way ties for first place shall be decided by the highest percentage pitcher playing the lowest percentage and the second highest percentage pitcher playing the third highest percentage pitcher. The winners shall play for first and second places and the losers shall play for third and fourth places.

E. All other circumstances shall be decided by the tournament director, the tournament committee and/or the Board of Directors.

Section 7.
MHPA tournaments are to be NHPA sanctioned.

Section 8.
Sanctioned horseshoes shall be used in all tournaments.

Section 9.
A member’s average is based upon the method established by NHPA By-laws, Article XII: All NHPA Tournaments, Section 3., which reads as follows: ”All pitchers“ averages shall be based on the three highest NHPA sanctioned tournaments pitched in the 12 months or the last ten tournaments during the same period, whichever comes first. Members with less than three tournaments shall use the combined average of the one or two they have pitched. Out of state tournaments pitched are reported to the pitchers' home charter by NATSTATs and are used in calculating their average.

Section 10.
A new member or a member who does not have an established ringer percentage shall pitch 100 qualifying shoes that must be witnessed by 2 NHPA members or use a NHPA sanctioned league ringer percentage based on four hundred (400) or more shoes.

Section 11.
All MHPA sanctioned tournaments shall be 35 point cancellation. Any game between two pitchers with a 25% or lower ringer percentage shall play to 35 points or 50 shoes, whichever occurs first. In case of a tie game the pitchers shall pitch down and back (four shoes) until a winner is decided. If a class consists of only 5 players, they will be allowed to pitch to 40 points. The 25% rule would remain the same.

Section 12.
Rain procedures.

A. If raining at starting time each group will be allowed one hour and thirty minutes delay. If still raining money will be refunded to all players in the effected classes.

B. If rain starts after classes have started play and less than one-half of the games have been completed, classes will be allowed one hour delay. If it is still raining play will be canceled for the effected classes and money refunded except court fees.

C. If rain starts after classes have started play and one-half or more games have been completed, classes will be allowed one hour delay. If still raining, play will be canceled and winners will be decided by wins and losses of games completed.

D. These rain procedures are not to apply to special preregistered tournaments. The tournament director will select rain procedures for these tournaments.

E. A rained out tournament shall not count as an eligible tournament for the State Tournament.

Section 13.
Forfeits:
In tournament competition, the wins and losses and all statistics accumulated shall remain in the books for a pitcher who has forfeited one or more games for any reason. A pitcher may miss any number of games due to illness or legitimate reason approved by the tournament director or tournament committee and still be allowed to return to competition. If a pitcher forfeits for an unapproved reason, the pitcher will not be allowed to return to competition and will forfeit all prize money and/or awards. Any pitcher who forfeits for an unapproved reason may be suspended from tournaments for up to one year. The Grievance Committee is required to meet within two weeks upon notification of a pitcher forfeiting for unapproved reasons. The decision of the committee shall be final.

Section 14.
Any pitcher leaving a tournament when they have money coming and does not wait for final positions to be posted, shall forfeit all money to the MHPA. Money forfeited shall be used by the Friends of Horseshoes for a flower fund.

Section 15.
After a tournament schedule has been completed and announced there shall be no refund of entry fees to a no-show or a pitcher that drops out of the tournament. Pitchers that are no-shows to a preregistered tournament are required to pay the entry fee and any additional fee. The pitcher shall be suspended immediately and shall not be reinstated until all fees have been collected. Notification shall come from the secretary to tournament directors. The repayment may be added to entry fees or membership dues, whichever comes first. Upon receipt of this fee the member shall be reinstated and the tournament director shall notify the secretary.

Section 16.
Groups scheduled for the second or later shifts shall not begin warmups until announced by the tournament director. Only pitchers scheduled for that shift shall warmup.



Section 1.
To qualify for the State Tournament a member must have completed four sanctioned tournaments within Michigan, from the previous State Tournament; each weekend at one site constitutes two tournaments (recognizing a sanction league as one tournament). A junior must complete one sanctioned tournament.

The high three tournament percentage shall decide the placement in his/her class. The presiding class A State Champion shall be the top seed in their respective divisions.

All classes are to be scheduled by the State Tournament Committee consisting of the current President as Tournament Director and the rest of the Executive Council as assistants. The committee has the option to set up classes to the best of their abilities. All entries and qualifications for the State Tournament must be received by the secretary or tournament director on the Sunday one week before the tournament.

Section 2.
A resident of the Upper Peninsula must compete in three sanctioned tournaments in a recognized association or league to enable the member to qualify for the State Tournament.

Section 3.
Seniors (age 60 and over) may compete in Senior and open divisions at the State Tournament.

Section 4.
While pitching, all participants of the State Singles Tournament shall wear a shirt or blouse with their last name professionally lettered on the back.

Section 5.
There shall be two trophies or plaques per class for the State Singles Tournament.

Section 6.
The State Tournament entry fee shall be $40.00.

Section 7.
Any club that meets the requirements of 18 similar and lighted courts shall provide a check to the association in the amount of $350.00 (three hundred fifty dollars) to bid to host the state singles tournament, bids are accepted at the fall membership meeting the year prior to hosting the state singles tournament.

If more than one club bids for the state singles tournament in the same year, the losing club shall have their check returned. The executive council has the authority in determining if a club meets the requirements for hosting the state singles tournament. If there are no bidders for the state singles tournament the executive council will then contact qualified clubs and award one of them the tournament.

Section 8.
This association shall award the Junior Boy and Junior Girl State Champion a $100 scholarship each. These scholarship monies shall be awarded upon a college, university or trade school's letter of enrollment to the association. This award must be claimed before their twenty-first birthday.



Section 1.
To qualify for the State Doubles Tournament a MHPA member must have completed one sanctioned event or league within Michigan during the last 12 months.

Section 2.
The combined NatStats average of both players must not exceed 120.

Section 3.
All classes are to be scheduled by the Tournament Director (current president of the MHPA). The Tournament Director has the option to set up classes to the best of his/her ability.

Section 4.
If two juniors enter as a team they do not pay or receive money. They are only eligible to win patches, trophies or plaques.

Section 5.
A trophy or plaque will be awarded to the first place winners in each class.

Section 6.
Entry fee is $40.00 per team.

Section 7.
Sign-up deadline is 9:30 a.m. on the day of the tournament.

Section 8.
While pitching, all participants of the State Doubles Tournament shall wear a shirt or blouse with their last name professionally lettered on the back.

Section 9.
Any MHPA club that meets the requirements of having 12 similar courts may be able to host the Doubles State Tournament. Bids will be accepted at the fall scheduling meeting. If more than one club bids, Tournament Directors present will vote to award the club. The club must be able to host a cookout/potluck meal in between the morning and afternoon sessions. The host club must add $200.00 to the prize money. Only the host club will be able to run 50/50 drawings during the tournament.

Section 10.
The cost of the cookout/potluck meat will be paid for by the MHPA.



Section 1.
All NHPA playing rules and regulations shall apply.

Section 2.
Referees or judges appointed by the Board of Directors, tournament committee or tournament director shall decide points when contestants are in doubt. Decisions of the referee or judge shall be final. Referees and judges shall ensure that rules are followed

Section 3.
All pitchers and score keepers shall wear shirts and blouses.



A. Copies of rules, regulations and the Constitution and By Laws shall be given to all new members and published in the newsletter each year for current members.

B. Jean Swarthout, Dorothy Smith, Dick Frakes, Paul "Dewey" Howard, Bob Wells and Paul Wishon are granted lifetime membership to the MHPA. (Lee Jacobs will forever remain on the active membership rolls. See F below.)

C. The fiscal year for the MHPA shall be Mar 1 through February 28.

D. The MHPA shall purchase the NHPA ‘Newsline’ for the president and newsletter editor.

E. Up to 40 Ringer percentage sheets are to be made available to the membership monthly.

F. A resolution passed by the membership of the MHPA on March 20, 1994 has retired MHPA/NHPA card number 300001 in honor Lee Jacobs. Mr Jacobs is to forever remain on the active membership rolls of the MHPA.