The origins of washer toss, a game most commonly seen at backyard get-togethers or tailgate parties, are clouded in mystery. Some believe that roots of this simple, fun game can be found in ancient civilizations, others think that its ancestry can be traced to the travel breaks of early American pioneers who used spare washers from their wagon wheels. The most common theory is that the game began with 20th century Texas oil field workers who assuaged boredom by tossing around washers from the oil derricks.
Before you start tossing, you have to set up the field. Washer boards and boxes are typically positioned on flat surfaces about 20 feet apart. If you would like to give yourself and your friends more of a challenge, you can space them out even farther.
Washer toss can be played in teams of one or two players. If you are playing one-on-one, both players throw in the same direction and rotate sides after each round. For two-on-two games, one player from each team stands on either end of the play area.
To determine playing order, participants will engage in what is known as a “diddle.” During the diddle, each player tosses a washer at the opposite cup. The player with the washer closest to the cup goes first. In the case of a tie, a second diddle is conducted.
Now that setup is complete, it is time to start tossing washers. Players can toss from either side of the board and are allowed to have one foot go past the front of the board or box.
The starting team will throw all four of their washers one at a time — if playing two-on-two each teammate will toss twice — toward the washer box or board. After all eight washers are thrown, scores are determined and players switch sides before moving on to the next round. Whichever team won the previous round throws first in the next.