Make like a tree - and get outta here!

Those who play kickball in the DC area usually know why we play and it ain't to be kickball superstars - it's to be FLIP CUP superstars. Sometimes though, I wonder if people know this.

For those that don't know flip cup is a beer drinking game where teams of usually 4-6 line up across a table with cups with beer in them. One player from each team starts and the teams chug, flip the cup upside down, and the next player goes. First team done wins the round and usually the games are best of five or seven. There are several variations to this, but these are the basic rules. The losing team leaves vanquished, heads down, and the victors stay at the table until they lose. At least that's how it's SUPPOSED to go...

The past few nights of playing kickball though I have noticed that one of my leagues in particular is clueless as to flip cup. NAKID and WAKA understand flip cup, it's importance, and how to play. However DC Kickball teams seem to not get flip cup at all. They play 10 v 10 games which take forever and are boring, the losing teams don't actually leave the table (I saw one score that was 20-4 and the losers would NOT relinquish), then another team was whining about playing a team of mixed players. A few notes on flip cup etiquette for the unlearned:

• You lose you MOVE, that's it. Unless you are going to continue to buy beer for both teams you have to scram.
• Max players on a team should be seven, 10 takes forever!
• Games should be quick. No lollygagging between rounds, it makes people get sober.
• Split tables up so more games can be played at one time.

These are simple and should be enacted immediately. I don't think anyone (except people willing to pay lots o cash to go to Miami) really plays kickball for the sports glory, so understand that flip cup is the point of playing and help make bar time more fun for everyone. Think of this as a Public Service Announcement from Kickball Homer.