Rules

Etiquette

All games have been graciously donated by local collectors and enthusiasts. They have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into these games. Simply moving them to the tournament was a lot of work. Do not abuse the games. Do not hit or kick the games. Players who abuse games will be issued warnings or ejected from the facility, depending on the severity of the offense. 

During play, do not distract your opponent by talking to them (unless they talk to you or tell you it’s okay). Do not hover over their shoulders. Do not coach them or give them advice while they play. It is perfectly fine to talk/exchange high-fives between balls.

Please avoid “rage-tilting” a ball (i.e., intentionally tilting out of frustration). In addition to making you look silly, it is disrespectful to your opponent as they must wait for the tilt bob to settle before starting their ball. This also increases the total duration of the tournament.

All players are expected to conduct themselves in a polite and sensitive manner. SCPL is first and foremost an inclusive organization. Players should behave in the spirit of community, which makes competitive play more enjoyable for everyone. Outbursts and offensive language are not acceptable. Derogatory speech towards any age/race/gender/person is not acceptable. Any overtly aggressive behavior that any TD determines to be inappropriate is not acceptable. Expressed or implied threats or actions of violence are not acceptable.

Players who exhibit any of the above behavior may receive a yellow card or red card depending on the severity of the offense. Any further infractions may result in a player being ejected from the tournament.

Extra Balls

Extra balls will be disabled. However, if you are awarded an extra ball, you may play it. 

Game Malfunctions

Pinball machines are mechanical in nature, and thus often produce unintended behaviors. Moreover, many of these machines are very old! If a game malfunctions in any way (e.g., flipper breaks, debris on field, game reset, etc.), please ask the tournament director for a ruling. The director will attempt to repair the machine without sacrificing the game. If this cannot be done, a new machine will be drawn and all progress in the original game will be lost.

Stuck Balls

If a ball becomes stuck during single-ball play, notify the tournament director for help. The ball will be placed on the right or left flipper, determined by the side of the game the ball became stuck on.

Rulings

Tournament directors have the final say on all rulings. If a game requires a ruling that a tournament director is directly involved in, the ruling will be deferred to another tournament director. We will defer to the IFPA rules for any scenarios not covered in these rules.