How to Run a Successful Cornhole Tournament

Professional Cornhole Tournament Facilitators

Beyond simply renting awesome high quality cornhole boards and other games, we are also the nation’s leader in facilitating cornhole tournaments and cornhole leagues. We have professional equipment and use software to manage a bracket, bring our own PA system and TV, and can help you run a successful cornhole tournament front to back. Click below to learn more. 

Cornhole has taken the lawn game world by storm, becoming the go-to activity at parties, tailgates, and organized tournaments. Adding a couple of boards in the backyard will make any event more fun, but to create a memorable tournament that people will want to be a part of, how you run the tournament is key. To get the tips on running a successful tournament, we sat down with Josh Stark of Play-Life Nation, makers of the game Revel Round and a partner with Triangle Lawn Games in Indianapolis, IN.

Keys to a Successful Tournament

• Start with quality boards and bags. People want to know they are playing with quality. TLG offers regulation size boards and bags at all of our locations.
• Have enough boards so that there is little downtime between games. We use a rule of thumb of 5-8 teams per each set of boards. You can have TOO MANY sets which just wastes space.  So for 24 teams you would want at least 4 sets of boards, but you wouldn’t need to have 20 sets. Feel free to reach out with any questions there.
• Be organized. If the tournament does not move efficiently, people will lose interest. One way to do so is to use printable cornhole tournament brackets. There are also a number of cornhole tournament bracket software that we breakdown below this section.
• Have a good sound system so people know where and when they are playing.
• Have an energetic announcer on the mic directing the players and getting people pumped up.
• Have great music playing creating a fun environment.
• Make sure everyone is having fun!

What Software should I use for a Cornhole Tournament?

Scoreholio – Scoreholio is a specially designed cornhole tournament software. It is the best looking of the software, has auto seed and many other features of the space including notifications, plus it has a free option. This is probably the strongest one in the category for cornhole tournaments. We used to recommend Challonge as well, but have completely switched our operation fully to Scoreholio. It has a few really awesome features including:

– Time calculator: which will allow you to plug in the number of teams, the number of boards, and the style of play and will tell you how long the tournament will last. This is awesome for planning out the schedule and ensuring it doesnt go over time. 

– Pre registration and bulk upload – You can either get folks to register prior (which is great if you are charging for the entry) and you can do a bulk upload of a CSV on the day of. You can also enter teams one at a time. This makes getting teams in super simple. 

– Multiple Game Formats – We have found the best format for us is to start with a round robin (World Cup Pool Style) and have all teams play 4 games, with a timer set for each game. That means all teams play 4 times minimum – and when the timer is over the game is up, whoever is in the lead wins. Then we take the top teams (typically 8 or 12 depending on how many total teams there are) and put them into a single elimination bracket. We don’t always time this round just depending on how much time we have but you can also set a timer for the single elim bracket. 

– Easy to use app – a huge benefit of Scoreholio is their app – you can run the entire tournament from a phone if you want (we typically put the bracket on a TV using a computer too). But players can have the app and go to the tournament, and even keep score and submit their scores for their games via the app – very cool. 

Elements You Should Have To Make Cornhole Tourneys Fun

Creating a tournament that’s a customized experience will give people what they are looking for. They are giving you their time so give them something extraordinary. Having an organized bracket and enough boards will help teams know where they are going and keep the tournament moving. A good PA system will allow people to hear when they are up, eliminating lag time where boards are sitting empty. If the tournament drags on, people will lose interest, and that great experience will be lost.

Tips for Getting Teams to Sign Up for a Cornhole Tournament

Many of the tournaments we manage are for what we call a “captive audience” meaning a group of people that will be there either way, and we are just there to entertain them. Think corporate events or family reunions.

However, you may also be trying to run a fundraiser, and a charity cornhole tournament can be a great way to raise money. Here are 6 tips for successfully getting sign ups for a cornhole tournament:

1. 🪧 Create a Clear, Compelling Call to Action

• Why it matters: People need to know exactly what they’re signing up for and how it benefits the cause.

• How to do it:

  • Use simple, energetic language like “Grab a partner and toss for a cause!”

  • Include key details: date, location, entry fee, prizes, and how the funds support the charity.

  • Use a bold “Register Now” button on your website or flyer.

2. 📲 Promote on Social Media With Shareable Content

• Why it matters: Social sharing builds momentum and reaches more potential participants.

• How to do it:

  • Post short videos or images of past events or people practicing cornhole.

  • Use engaging hashtags (e.g., #TossForACause #CornholeForGood).

  • Encourage teams to post photos with their team names or uniforms.

  • Consider a giveaway: “Share this post and tag a teammate for a chance to win free entry.”

3. 🤝 Leverage Local Partnerships and Sponsorships

• Why it matters: Local businesses can amplify your reach and lend credibility.

• How to do it:

  • Ask gyms, breweries, or coffee shops to display flyers or include info in their newsletters.

  • Offer to promote their logos on event signage or t-shirts in exchange for helping spread the word or sponsoring teams.

4. 🏆 Offer Fun Incentives for Early or Group Signups

• Why it matters: Urgency and perks drive action.

• How to do it:

  • “Register by [date] and get a free drink ticket or raffle entry.”

  • Discounted pricing for multiple teams from the same company or friend group.

  • Recognize early birds publicly on social media to encourage FOMO.

5. 🧢 Create a Sense of Identity With Team Themes or Names

• Why it matters: People enjoy expressing themselves and building camaraderie.

• How to do it:

  • Encourage funny or creative team names.

  • Offer a prize for “Best Dressed Team” or “Most Creative Name.”

  • Create a photo wall or backdrop for teams to pose and post.

6. 📧 Use Email and Text Reminders to Stay Top of Mind

• Why it matters: People often intend to sign up but forget without a prompt.

• How to do it:

  • Send 2–3 friendly reminders: when registration opens, one week before it closes, and two days before the event.

  • Include a clear sign-up link and highlight what’s at stake: “Only 8 spots left!”

Purchase DIY Tournament Resources

We are your cornhole tournament experts! We provide cornhole rentals and facilitation services nationwide, but if you are looking to do it yourself and just want some resources we can help! We offer a full DIY PDF guide that walks through all the details of how to setup and manage your own tournament, as well as printable brackets and board cards – and if you bundle all items you save! If you book with Triangle Lawn Games and purchase the DIY cornhole tournament bundle you get these resources for FREE.

Click to buy on Etsy below.

Remember that what you are doing is creating an experience people can’t get anywhere else. Give them a sense of community with some competitiveness to go along with it. Yes, people are there to play cornhole, but really, they are there to connect and build relationships. For most people and most tournaments, the cornhole is secondary to the experience itself.

Should you need any equipment or assistance with your next tournament, we have all the resources to help you do so here.