PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia is residence to 5 main sports teams: the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers and Union.
Now there is a new group: the Bell-Ringers, who play skilled cornhole. Tryouts have been held Sunday in South Philadelphia.
Stephen Caldwell, 24, has been playing cornhole all his life.
But it became a passion through the pandemic.
“Cornhole, it is fairly socially distanced, so everybody was basically purchasing cornhole boards and bags, and we have been all just playing and I just — the bug got in me and it took off from there,” Caldwell mentioned.
Caldwell was 1 of 50 persons who attempted out for the Philadelphia Bell-Ringers, 1 of six skilled cornhole teams in the United States.
The cornhole group is a portion-time position – you cannot give up your day job.
Zeb Campagna, commissioner of Key League Cornhole, says the group is seeking for seven to ten players.
“Everybody thinks that you can just play in the backyard. But when you get to the skilled level, you know, there is several distinct shots you have to make, so we place them by means of the ringer off all them,” Campagna mentioned.
Cornhole may perhaps appear very simple, but players say it requires practice, ability and commitment to genuinely master the game.
“The largest factor is getting a flat bag,” Caldwell mentioned. “So, when you come by means of, you want to land your palm up, which tends to make that bag flat and it permits you to anticipate exactly where that bag is going to slide.”
The target is to place the bag in the hole and get to 21 points prior to your opponent.
Judges rated players primarily based on shot precision and consistency.
In about a week, they will obtain out if they produced the group.
“It would imply the globe to me,” Caldwell mentioned. “To be capable to contact your self a skilled cornhole player, it is what I’ve practiced and played for two and a half years to do.”
Cornhole season begins subsequent month and lasts by means of August.
Madeleine Wright