RUGELEY & DISTRICT POOL
LEAGUE.
THE GAME;
8 Ball Pool - It is intended that
individuals and teams should play the game of 8 ball
pool in the true spirit of the game and in a sporting
manner
It should be understood that the referee and
only the referee is the sole judge of what is fair and
unfair play on the match night.
The referee will take
whatever action is neccessary to ensure that these rules
are obeyed at all times.
REFEREE; The away team
must nominate a referee for the first frame and the home
team for frame two. Each team takes its turn in
refereeing a match until the match is
finished.
START OF GAME;
The referee should
flick a coin, with the player from their team calling
heads or tails while the coin is in the air. This is to
determine who gets the choice of break only.
The
player electing/being asked to break starts the game by
placing the cue ball anywhere behind the baulk line and
fires at the pack of 7 yellows, 7 reds and the black 8
ball.
FOULS ON BREAKING;
On the break the
following rules must be obtained.
1= Two balls
from the pack reaching a cushion. Failure to do so is a
foul and two visits to the opposing player. The balls
are put back in the triangle for a re-rack with the new
player to break with two visits.
2= If two balls
fail to hit a cushion, but a ball is potted, then the
player continues as normal. Even if no balls hit a
cushion, it is deemed legal if a ball other than the
white is potted.
CUE BALL;
1 = If the cue ball
is pocketed on the break and no other foul is committed,
then the oncoming player has just ONE visit.
2 =
If a ball leaves the table (inc cue ball), a ball is
touched by cue/player or any other foul than the white
being potted, the highest penalty counts.
BLACK
BALL; If on the break, the black ball is potted, then
they same player will restart the game with no penalty.
This applies even if the cue ball is potted or a ball
leaves the table.
NOTE; If at any time after the
break off,(apart from the above) a coloured ball leaves
the table, the ball is placed back on the table on the
black spot. If this is not available, then the ball
should be placed as near to the black spot as possible
in a direct line with the centre spot on the baulk
line.
CONTINUE PLAY;
If a coloured ball other
than the white or black, is potted on the break, the
same player continues his visit. He must then nominate a
coloured group. Failure to do so is a foul and the
oncoming player comes to the table with an open
table.
NEW; If a player pots a ball from one group
from the break, he may nominate the other group. HOWEVER
! This rule has now been updated to;
Should the
player nominate a group that he hasnt potted from the
break, he MUST pot one ball of that group to be on
them.
Failure to pot a ball from that group will
revert the game back to an open
table.
FOULS;
1= Smoking while at the table
will result in a foul and a warning from the referee. If
this continues the referee has the right to award the
game away.
2= Hitting an opponents ball with the
cue ball on the first impact of the cue ball. This does
not apply on the first visit after a foul is
committed.
3= Failing to hit any object ball with
the cue ball.
4= JUMP SHOTS; This is when the cue
ball is judged to have jumped over any part of any ball
before making contact with any ball.
5= Hitting
the 8 ball before all their own group of balls are
potted except on the first visit following a
foul.
6= Potting an opponents ball. except on the
first visit following a foul.
7= If a player
touches any ball with any part of their body, clothing
or extras such as chalk etc. except on the first visit
following a foul when the player may have the cue ball
in hand.
8= Not having at least one foot touching
the floor.
9= Playing or touching any ball with
the cue except the cue ball.
10= Playing a shot
before all balls have come to rest.
11= Playing a
shot before any ball/s that require respootting are
respotted by the referee.
12= Striking the cue
ball with the cue more than once.
13= PUSH SHOTS;
This is defined as when the cue tip remains in contact
with the cue ball when it makes contact with another
ball. Also if the cue tip stays in contact with the cue
ball once it has started its forward motion.
14=
After the cue ball has made contact with an object ball,
any ball must reach a cushion.
Should a ball be
touching a cushion prior to the shot being played, the
referee should call DEAD BALL and this ball will NOT be
deemed to have touched this cushion.
PENALTY
FOLLOWING A FOUL;
1= The offending player loses their
visit to the table giving his opponent two consecutive
visits to the table except on the first visit following
a foul where the cue ball is potted on the break
only.
2= The oncoming player may play from where
the cue ball has come to rest on the playing surface or
from anywhere behind the baulk line. Players are advised
to ask the referee to pick up the cue ball if they wish
to reposition the cue ball.
3= When a player
fails to pot a ball on their first visit, then the
player continues with their second visit. The second
visit is deemed to start once the cue ball has made
contact with the cue ball.
LOSS OF GAME;
1= If
a player pots the 8 ball before potting all their own
group of balls except on the initial break
off.
2= A player commiting any foul whilst
potting the 8 ball except on the break.
3= A
player potting the 8 ball and any other ball on the same
shot will lose the game except when following a foul,
when only the 8 ball and an opponents ball/s can be
potted on the first visit to the table in any
combination and any order.
GENERAL
RULES;
TOUCHING BALL;
1= When the cue ball is
touching an object ball, the player must play away
without moving the object ball. If the object ball moves
then a foul has been committed.
By playing away from
a touching ball of your own group, you are deemed to
have played that ball and may not by choice have to make
contact with antoher ball of your group.
2= If
you are playing away from a touching ball of your own
group and make contact with an opponents ball or the
black, then no foul has been committed as you are deemed
to have played your own object ball first.
CUE
BALL IN HAND;
Following any foul. a player may ask
the referee for the cue ball. This can then be placed
anywhere behind the baulk line and played in any
direction.
PLAYER IN CONTROL;
A player is
deemed to be in control of the table when they first
make contact with the table prior to their shot and
throughout their visit until the opponent does the same
prior to their visit.
Any balls which falls into a
pocket during a players time in control are counted as
potted and the player is liable to any penalties or
benefits normally awarded for the pocketing of
balls.
However, once the cue ball has been struck, a
legal shot must be completed where the cue ball makes
contact with an object ball.
The game is
completed when the 8 ball is potted in any pocket after
potting balls of their own group on prior visits and all
remaining balls have come to a complete
rest.
STALEMATE;
Should at any time a
situation arise where a legal shot CAN NOT be played,
then the game is to be restarted with the same player to
break.
If in the opinion of the referee neither
player is allowing the game to progress, or a stalemate
situation has arisen, then the referee can restart the
game with the same player to break off again.
The
referee can do this with or without warning if they feel
fit to do so.
The referee can restart a game also
if after numerous visits a legal ball has yet to be
potted, unless they feel progress is being
made.
The same player that broke off the original
frame re breaks the new frame even if this was by virtue
of a foul break on the original
frame.
GUIDANCE;
Coaching is deemed unsporting
behaviour and the referee should see fit to award any
penalties needed if they feel fit to do so.
Coaching
is deemed any guidance by any other person in the venue
to a player during a frame or visit.
A referee
may only if requested advise on the rules of the game
and should not advise on shots to be
taken.
