Section 4: Players & Officials
Teams
Standard recreational play uses two teams with the same number of players. Four to six players per team is common, but any equal team size of at least two works. Teams declare their relay order before each round and may change that order between rounds unless the match format says otherwise.
If team sizes are unequal, the preferred solution is to rebalance the teams. As a house rule, the smaller team may designate enough players to take an additional leg, but those players must use a fresh, equally filled cup for every leg and must return to the declared position before beginning again.
Player Responsibilities
- Remain behind the table edge and out of the active player's arm space.
- Begin only after the preceding teammate's cup has legally settled upside down.
- Use only the assigned cup and serving.
- Make all flip attempts personally without physical assistance.
- Call attention to spills, damaged equipment, or unsafe conditions immediately.
Officials and Captains
No official is required for casual play. The teams may appoint one neutral starter to verify equal servings, give the starting signal, judge close finishes, and record results. If there is no starter, the two lead players should confirm readiness and use an agreed countdown.
For organized recreation, each team may name a captain. Captains confirm the lineup and settle routine disagreements. If observers cannot agree on a close or disrupted result, replaying the affected round is the fairest remedy.
Participation and Substitutions
A player may decline a beverage, request a non-alcoholic substitute, or leave the game at any time. Substitutions may be made between rounds. During a round, a substitute should enter only for injury, illness, or another genuine inability to continue; the affected leg should then restart with a fresh equal serving.