U.S. National Kubb Championship Rules Updates for 2016

USA Kubb has made some updates to the U.S. National Kubb Championship Rules. The updates will be enforced at the 2016 U.S. National Kubb Championship, held on July 9th in Eau Claire, WI.

Version 3.2 has recently been updated from Version 3.1 to include updates on two key scenarios that have not been documented in the past.

1. The way in which kubbs are “flattened” when they are at rest on an edge
2. What happens when you hit a kubb on your side of the pitch (ex. Advantage line kubb)

Here are the specific updates regarding “flattening”:

II.D.1.a has been expanded upon. Highlighted below is the language that has been added:

Here are the specific updates regarding hitting a kubb on your own side of the pitch:

II.B.11 has been added:

II.C.4.b has been added:

Why the changes?

I asked Eric Anderson what these rule changes mean, and how they came about:

On the “flattening” rule:

 “Over the past year, we have had more questions on what to do with a kubb that comes to rest on the long edge of the kubb and is not flat on the ground. Specifically, what to do if the direction with gravity would make the kubb out and the direction against gravity would allow the kubb to be raised inbounds. The Rule II D.1(a) better described that in this situation, the kubb needs to be flattened against gravity to allow the kubb to be raised inbound.

There are three foundations for this rule. First, Rule II D.5(d) about leaning kubbs along the pitch boundary is similar in background and interpretation. Second, what many consider the Golden Rule of kubb raising (Rule II D.3) requires teams to raise a kubb inbounds if there is a way to raise the kubb inbounds. Third, requiring the team to go against gravity will reduce possible disagreement between teams and is the option that would least likely require a referee.”

On the “hitting your own kubb” rule:

“With this rule, we clarified in the rules what happens if a field kubb in an attacking side of the pitch is hit with a baton. This situation is now described in Rule II.B.11. If an attacking team’s baton hits a field kubb in their half of the pitch, the field kubb and any field kubbs that were hit on the other side of the pitch are immediately placed back to their previous location and the baton is forfeited. To provide consistency and reduce confusion among all levels and experience of players, this is also the case on game-ending king throws. If a field kubb is hit prior to hitting the king, the toppled field kubb and the king are immediately placed back in their previous location and the baton is forfeited.”

Regardless of your opinion on the changes Kubb United’s goal of this blog is to ensure players are informed of the changes that may impact them on the pitch, and to ensure tournament directors are aware of the updates.

Kubb United will be hosting a Podcast in the near future to discuss in depth the new rule changes. Check back for more details in the coming weeks.