Team Hot Dog Eating Competition Rules

Objective: The first team of five (5) participants to collectively consume fifty (50) plain hot dogs wins the competition.

Team Composition:

* Each team must consist of exactly five (5) registered participants.

* Teams must designate a team captain prior to the start of the competition.

Hot Dogs:

* Only plain hot dogs in standard-sized buns will be provided.

* No condiments, toppings, or additional liquids are permitted during the eating portion of the contest.

* Hot dogs may be separated from the buns and eaten separately.

* Buns may be dunked in water or other provided liquids (if any are officially allowed and announced prior to the contest) to aid in swallowing. **If no specific liquids are announced, only water will be permitted for dunking.**

Eating and Scoring:

* Each team member will eat independently within their designated eating area.

* Team members can employ any eating technique, as long as it does not endanger themselves or others.

* Consumed portions of hot dogs and buns must be kept within the participant's mouth until swallowed.

* "Chipmunking" (excessively storing food in the cheeks without swallowing) is discouraged and may lead to disqualification of the individual participant, and potentially the team, at the discretion of the judges.

* Intentional regurgitation ("reversal of fortune") by any team member will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team.

* Official judges will monitor each team and track the number of fully consumed hot dogs and buns by each team member.

* A hot dog and bun are considered fully consumed when no visible portion remains in the participant's mouth.

* Partially eaten hot dogs will not be counted towards the team total.

* The team captain is responsible for communicating their team's progress to the designated scorekeeper (if requested).

Conduct:

* All team members must remain within their designated eating areas throughout the competition.

* Unsportsmanlike conduct by any team member, including but not limited to interfering with other teams or participants, will result in disqualification of the entire team.

* Team members must follow all instructions given by event officials.

Winning Team:

* The first team to have their scorekeeper confirm that their team has collectively consumed fifty (50) whole hot dogs and buns will be declared the winner.

* The official announcement by the event organizers will determine the winning team.

Disqualification:

The entire team may be disqualified for reasons including, but not limited to:

* Regurgitation of food by any team member.

* Unsportsmanlike conduct by any team member.

* Any team member failing to follow the rules.

* Any action by a team member deemed unsafe by event officials.

**By participating in the Fall River Coney Classic Team Hot Dog Eating Competition, all team members acknowledge that they have read and understand these rules and agree to abide by them.**