Maryland Rules from MDbeerpong.com ...
1. Drinking: The drinking of beer is completely optional. Please drink responsibly.
2. Shooting: A team must shoot both balls before the other team shoots and one ball per person.
3. Leaning: Leaning is permitted so long as both feet remain in contact with the floor until the ball is released. There is no "elbow rule". A player may not use the table as leverage with their non-shooting hand.
4. Bring-backs: When a team hits both of its shots a “bring-back” is awarded. If a cup is knocked over by a shot, this counts toward a bring-back. If a cup is removed for a reason other than a shot, this does not count toward a bring-back.
5. First Shot: The team who shoots first is decided by coin flip. The team who wins the flip may choose to either a.) shoot one ball and choose which side of the table his/her team will play from or b.) allow the other team the first shot, let them choose the side, and shoot the next two shots.
6. Cups The cups will be of one uniform type for both sides. Cups must be filled with beer (or other liquid) with approximately 4 oz. The game begins with a 10-cup triangle formation (in some tournaments the consolation bracket may use 6 cups). The base of the triangle starts 1 inch from the table edge.
7. Re-racks: Re-rack at 6 cups and 3 cups remaining and are placed in a standard "triangle formation". Re-racks occur whenever the cups reach 6 or 3 regardless of turn.
8. Out-of-formation Cups: Cups that are leaning or out of line from the triangle formation will be fixed upon request of either team. Neither team may shoot until the cups are reformed.
9. Fallen Cups: Cups that fall over so that a.) the rim touches the table, b.) the cup falls off the table to the floor, or c.) the cup tips over such that a majority of its beer spills, either by a legitimate shot or by fault of the player(s), are counted as hit cups. Cups which fall over from other means are returned into play. The final cup is not an exception to this rule. A cup can be caught before it falls and returned into play.
10. Rebuttals: When a team's final cup has been hit, each player on that team will have the opportunity to shoot until he/she misses. If the team succeeds in hitting all of his/her opponents remaining cups, the game will go into overtime. A team will have this opportunity regardless of how their cups were hit.
11. Overtime: Overtime will be three cup triangles on each side. The team who hit the last cup first will go first and will receive both balls. There is no limit to the number of overtimes in a single game.
12. Hitting Cups: A ball which is shot into a cup is counted regardless of how it gets there. An uncontrolled ball off a shot which goes into a cup is counted. Two consecutive shots in the same cup count as a single shot followed by a wasted shot (does not count as a double-up or game winner). A bounced shot which makes it into a cup only scores that particular cup. Balls that ricochet off of a wall or other permanent manmade structure to not count.
13. Blowing: There is no blowing or 'fingering' allowed.
14. Game Order: Games will be played in the order specified by the bracket game numbers.
15. Interference: Balls shot by one player that are touched by the opposing player(s) before the ball passes the edge of the table or makes contact with either a cup or the table, are returned to the shooting player as a re-shot. Intentional interference after the first offense results in the forfeit of one cup per interfered shot. The team whose shot was interfered with may choose which cup is removed.
16. Distraction: A team may do whatever they feel necessary to prevent the opposing team from making shots except: a.) crossing to the other teams side of the table b.) physically interfering with the opposing teams shot or c.) crossing the vertical plane of the table.
17. Officiating: The people in charge of the tournament have the final say in disputes. Unsportsmanlike behavior will be dealt with in a case by case basis. Any team with sufficient disregard for the game or the people around them will forfeit their spot in the tournament. If either player is asked to leave the hosting establishment by the staff, the team will forfeit their spot in the tournament.
18. Equipment: 8 feet long tables are the official size. The official ping pong ball is a standard 40 mm size. Cups should be clear plastic, 16 oz. cups (although 12 oz cups or opaque cups are acceptable).
19. Gambling: Gambling is strictly prohibited at our events. This is including but not limited to betting money on the outcome of matches or wagering on individual shots. Teams caught gambling will be removed from the tournament and will receive a 3 tournament suspension.