Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How close do I stand when I pitch my horseshoes?
A: All youth 13-18 (called "Juniors" by the NHPA) may pitch as close as the 27ft foul line (stakes are placed 40ft apart). This short distance foul line is measured 27ft from the stake you are pitching toward. Only those boys turning 19 in this calendar year must pitch from the full distance (37ft foul line). See Court Diagram
Q: Why do only the Top-5 on a team compete in matches?
A: Although everyone who want to join a team is welcome, there are a few reasons match play is limited to the top-5.
- Like all team sports, the goal of participants is to improve in their skill in order to build team success. Like Basketball and Wrestling, for example, team members are constantly pushing each other in practice vying for the top "starting" positions, which elevates the whole team. This motivation drives team members to truly work on improving their game.
- Matches last 1-1.5 hours. This is similar to length of several high school sport competitions. If there are only 5 courts, but 15 team members play, the time commitment triples, which with a 5 PM start time would push some games to beyond sundown. Few court facilities have adequate lighting.
- The most limiting resource currently in Utah for the sport of Horseshoes is adequate pitching facilities. Although there are a few cities with large court complexes, most communities have only a small number of courts in their city parks 2-5. And these are often not really competition quality.
A: YES! The UHSHL goal is to have every team grow to the level where they can subdivide into multiple teams (like basketball for example, with separate boys and girls teams for every year in school). If enough schools have sufficient participants to split teams and have a competitive season we will do it. Because of court facility limitations such teams may need to travel to larger facilities to compete their multiple teams. Larger facilities (8-30 courts) can be found in St George (30), Hurricane (12), Cedar City (24), Parowan (8), Panguitch (12), Richfield (16), Nephi (10), Mt Pleasant (8), American Fork (10), Lehi (15), South Jordan (12), Salt Lake (10), Tooele (10), Washington Terrace (24), Logan (8), Price (8), Moab (12).
Q: My School won't approve the formation of a Club-sport horseshoe team. How can I still participate?
A: YES! Every interested student should be able to be part of a team. If your school is not currently supportive of a school-associated Club-Sport team this year, you should form a "Community Team." A community team can be formed by anyone in your community including you. The name of your team should reflect your community name (St. George, Heber, etc.). Community Teams are not school-associated, however the community team can still base its membership on your school's boundaries.
Q: We have only a couple interested students, not enough for a full team, can we still participate?
A: YES! Because matches are won by winning 3 out of 5 rounds you need to have at minimum 3 team members to compete. Your team will not be able to capture all the match points with only 3 players, but you can win the match. Or, if there is a nearby school with a full team, your students may join their team until your school is able to successfully fill its own. Or, you may also elect to form a community-based team, uniting neighboring schools, who each have insufficient students, to form a full team representing your community.
Q: What is the Registration fee used for?
A: Registration funds are utilized for support of the participating teams and students. Individual NHPA membership and associated insurance is part of the fee. Fees also help cover costs for UHSHL scoreboard supplies, State Tournament, and Season awards, etc.
Q: Can UHSHL participants play in NHPA tournaments?
A: YES! Because the UHSHL is also NHPA sanctioned, all UHSHL participants receive NHPA membership, you may enter any NHPA tournament anywhere in Utah (and the US) during the remainder of the calendar year - including the World Championships.
Q: Are there experienced horseshoe pitchers who can help teach our team?
A: YES! There are experienced NHPA members in many Utah cities who UHSHL can invite to assist your team at your request. You may find that you also have neighbors who are pretty skilled in their own right who can help out.
Q: What are Sanctioned Horseshoes?
A: These are horseshoes that the NHPA has verified meet official weight and dimensions. They are not the shoes you typically see at the big box stores, but are sold direct from manufacturers (like UHSHL sponsor Omega Horseshoe Company - check with your coach about a team discount from Omega). They are also sold by dealers who specialized sanctioned horseshoes carrying dozens of makes and models to choose from.
Q: Can Home School students participate?
A: YES! Just as with other sports that allow Home School students to participate, so too does the UHSHL. If there is a Home School group/cooperative that would like to form its own community-based team they may.
Q: Can Middle School/Jr. High students participate?
A: YES! Like most school-based Club-Sports in Utah these younger students are encouraged to participate. They must be 13 years old or will turn 13 this calendar year; so most 6th graders will be too young. If there are enough of these younger students, UHSHL may elect to form an "Intermediate" division that would allow Intermediate teams to form and compete against one another.
Check back for more FAQ coming soon!
