The American Cornhole Organization (ACO) was founded in 2005 by Frank Geers and is an organization created for the purpose of transforming the game of
cornhole
Cornhole (also known regionally as sack toss, or bags) is a lawn game popular in North America in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at an Grade_(slope), inclined board with a hole in its far end. The goal of the game i ...
, often played recreationally for fun, into a
competitive
Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indi ...
National Sport
A national sport is a physical activity or sport that is culturally significant or deeply embedded in a nation, serving as a national symbol and an intrinsic element to a nation's identity and culture.
Several sovereign states and constituent ...
.
Headquartered in Camp Dennison, Ohio, the ACO built a network of ACO Certified Officials across the United States to facilitate ACO Major and Pro Series cornhole tournaments and cornhole leagues.
The ACO introduced standardized and sanctioned equipment to the game including ACO Star Logo Cornhole Boards,
ACO Soft Touch Resin Fill Cornhole Bags,
and ACO Governing Body Sport of Cornhole Rules.
Structure and consistency gave legitimacy to cornhole as a sport,
which helps ACO spread professional cornhole on a national scale.
In 2009 the ACO introduced the PlayersChoice Cornhole Bag - a bag with a two-sided playing surface, which added complexity to the sport.
Events
The American Cornhole Organization held its first ACO Nationals Championship in December 2006
in Northern Kentucky and crowned the ACO National King of Cornhole.
Prior to the first ACO Nationals, the American Cornhole Organization held various organized ACO cornhole tournaments and events, including the Carson Palmer Cornhole Classic in Cincinnati in June 2006.
American Cornhole Historic Markers
* ACO PRO First Nationals Championships to crown ACO King of Cornhole
* ACO Introduces Resin Filled Cornhole Bags 2006
* ACO Introduces Airmail Box and Challenge 2007
* ACO Unveils ACO PRO Skill Challenge Test to Rank Pros Nationally 2007
* ACO PRO Jersey introduced at Easter Seals Tailgate Bash World Championships 2007
* ACO Adds World Ranking Points System featuring CornyForty - Top 40 Cornhole Players 2008
* ACO Introduces PlayersChoice Tournament Series Bags - two sided playing surface 2008
* AC "Star Logo" Tournament Series Cornhole Boards star in Cornhole the Movie 2010
* ACO Introduces - ACO Certified Officials & Sanctioned Cornhole Events 2010
* Topps Company Official Cornhole Collector's Card featuring Matt Guy, reigning 5-time ACO King of Cornhole Champion 2011
* ACO World Championships of Cornhole featured on
ESPN
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
's Kenny Mayne Wider World of Sports Summer 2013
* ACO World Championships of Cornhole featured on
ESPN
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
's SportsCenter on the Road w/ Matt Barrie & Sara Walsh Summer 2015
* World Cornhole Day - last Saturday of July - Official Proclamation in Columbia, SC in 2020
References
{{Reflist
External links
American Cornhole Organization Website
Sports leagues in the United States
Sports governing bodies in the United States
Privately held companies based in Ohio