The PREMIER DIVISIONS adhere to the World Rules as issued
by the English Pool
Association and therefore are not subject to the following playing
rules. |
OBJECT
OF THE GAME
The object of the game is to win by being the first player to pot
their group of colours in any order and in any pocket and then pot
the 8 ball (black) in their nominated pocket in accordance with these
rules. |
| 1. |
The red/yellow balls are racked alternatively
in the triangle, with the 8 ball (black) being the centre. The black
ball is to be located on the head spot. |
| 2. |
The opening player plays at the triangle
of object balls, using the cue ball from any position behind the line.
(Definition of the cue ball behind the line. The point at the bottom
of the cue ball must be on the line, or behind the line, otherwise
a foul) |
| 3. |
When breaking off four object balls must
hit any cushion, or a legal pot must be made, otherwise the opponent
will re break with two shots. Any other foul on the break, two shots
to the opponent. |
4.a
|
On breaking, providing one or
more object balls have been potted, the player has an open table and
should verbally nominate their choice of colour. If the player nominates
a colour that was potted on the break, the player is on that colour,
regardless of the outcome of the next shot.
If the player nominates a colour that was not potted on the break,
the player must then pot a ball of that colour on the next shot or
the table will be open for the oncoming player. |
4.b
|
On the first occasion a player legally pockets an object
ball, including following a foul, then that ball denotes the players
colour (except where rule 4.a applies).
If object balls of both groups are legally pocketed then the player
should verbally nominate their choice of group and continue to play.
(see 4.a) |
| 5. |
Object balls pocketed on a foul shot are
ignored in determining groups. |
| 6.
|
Push shots are allowed, but
a player may play away from a touching ball of their own group and
be deemed to have played that ball.
If the cue ball is touching an opponents ball or 8 ball (black),
a player may play away without penalty, providing legal contact
is made with the players own group.
Where rule 9a applies, a player may play away from any touching
ball, and be deemed to have played that ball.
a) If when playing away from a touching ball,
the touching ball rocks or moves without being contacted further,
but simply because the Cue Ball is no longer there, no penalty will
apply
b) When respotting the Cue Ball / Black Ball away
from a touching ball, if the touching ball rocks or moves without
being contacted further, but simply because the Cue Ball / Black
Ball is no longer there, no penalty will apply. |
| 7.
|
FOULS - All fouls
two shots to opponents except where stated. (see Foul Explanations)
|
a) Jump Shots.(i.e.
Directly or Intentionally jumping any ball)
b) Cue ball into a pocket
c) Hitting or pocketing an opponents ball or 8 ball (black). (except
where allowed)
d) Player touching any ball.(except where allowed)
NOTE:
A player deliberately handling any ball on the table without the authority
of the Referee's. GAME AWAY
e) Cue ball off the table.
f) Object ball off the table
and staying off. (except black) - (see rule 9c & Referee's Guidance)
g) Black ball off the table. GAME AWAY (except where rule
12a applies)
h) A player deliberately shooting out of turn. GAME AWAY
i) A player must have at all times at least one foot on the floor.
(Any part of foot or footwear, not laces, shall be classed as one
foot)
j) Indirectly pocketing an opponents ball.
k) Playing into space. (except where rule 6 applies)
l) Foul Break. (see rule 3.)
m) Failure to nominate
pocket for Black Ball. GAME AWAY
n) Not playing a shot within 60 seconds (Super 10& Superleague
Divisions only - see Rule 8)
o) A player placing any
object on any part of the table (chalk, coins etc.) will in the first
instance be warned by the Referee(s). After the first warning any
successive placements will incur a foul. |
| 8. |
TIME PENALTY (Super
10 & Superleague Divisions only) |
a) A player has a maximum of 60
seconds to play each shot.
b) The timekeeper will start timing when all balls have come to
rest from the previous shot.
c) If the first thirty seconds elapses before a shot is played,
the timekeeper will call "Thirty Seconds Remaining" as a warning to
the player. The call must be made the instant the thirty seconds has
expired.
The call must not be postponed because it appears that the player
may be about to take a shot
d) If a shot is not played within 60 seconds, then it is a foul,
the timekeeper will call 'Time Foul'. (See foul explanations)
See Stopwatch Guidance &
Referee's Guidance for further interpretation
|
| 9.
|
FOUL EXPLANATIONS
|
a) When two shots are
given following a foul, it is a 'Free Table' for the first shot only.
The oncoming player may play any ball on the table without nomination,
or pot any ball except black, with their first shot only. A player
will then carry on with their second shot. If the player fails to
pot a ball of their own group on their second shot, then their break
is over. Combination shots are allowed.
b) If the cue ball goes off the table it is to be re spotted behind
the line. Shots may be played in any direction from behind the line.
c) If a coloured ball goes off the table, except black, it is
to be put back on the table as close as possible to the head spot,
in a direct line with the centre of the line, without contacting another
ball.
d) If a player pockets the cue ball, and their opponent makes
them play again, then the player only has one shot from behind the
line.
e) When a player commits a foul at any time during the game, their
opponent may either take the award on the foul, or make their opponent
play again from where the balls lie.An opponent can be made
to play again up to two times during a single visit to the table,
thereafter game away. (Except where Rule 3. applies).
f)
A player is deemed to have addressed the table when they touch it.
A player gains any awards or penalties, until such time as their opponent
touches the table.
NOTE: Once a shot has been played, that is after the cue ball
has been contacted by the cue tip, then the cue ball must contact
an object ball (or black), except where Rule 6 applies. Otherwise
a foul (Rule 7k) will apply.
g) If a player touches any ball it is two shots to their opponent.
A player may only touch , during a visit to the table, the cue ball
with the cue tip. If a player touches any ball with their body, clothing,
cue shaft, etc., (except while positioning the cue ball while the
cue ball is in hand), it is a foul.
h) Following a foul the oncoming player has the option of playing
from where the balls lie, with two shots, or repositioning the cue
ball behind the line, with two shots. |
| 10.
|
BLACK BALL
|
| a) The Referee's
should clearly request the player to nominate their choice of pocket
for black, and the Referee's should touch the pocket to indicate
the nomination to players and spectators. After nominating the pocket
the player may not change pocket. Failure of the player to nominate
a pocket under any circumstances is Game Away.
b) Two players cannot nominate the same pocket.
c) If a player pots their last ball, and in doing so commits
a foul stroke, they must then nominate their pocket for black, prior
to their opponent taking their shot.
The opponent may re spot the black ball prior to or after the offending
player has nominated their choice of pocket. (The black need not
be over a pocket).
When a player pockets their last ball and also their opponents last
ball, the oncoming player has the first choice of pocket, and not
the player committing the foul. Pocket must be nominated before
taking free table shot.
d) Black ball going into any pocket other than nominated
pocket - GAME AWAY
e) If the black ball is placed into the jaws of a pocket
on an illegal stroke, (or pushed further into the jaws illegally),
then the ball may be re spotted. To determine whether the black
ball is in the jaws of a pocket, use the official S & D.P.L.
'82 template supplied.
f) If a foul stroke occurs whilst the black ball is in the
jaws of a neutral pocket, at any time during the frame, the
oncoming player may re spot the black ball prior to taking their
options of two shots etc.
g) If a player commits a foul on the black ball in the jaws
of their nominated pocket, the opponent may either take the award
on the foul, or make their opponent 'play again' from where the
balls lie. Should the opponent commit a second foul, the black ball
may then be respotted. |
| 11.
|
DELIBERATE FOUL SHOTS
|
| a) A player failing to make
a legitimate attempt to strike a ball of their own group (including
black if on black)
b) Playing the cue ball towards a gap in which it will not
pass through. NOTE:- In this instance the referee is to handle the
SPARE white ball.
c) Directly and intentionally playing a ball of the opponents
group, or black ball when not on black.
The penalty will be two shots, or a re-rack to the opponent. If
a player is warned prior to playing a deliberate foul shot, then
it will be GAME AWAY |
| 12.
|
RE RACKS - (see
also rule 11) |
| a) Black going off
the table, or being pocketed. (from the break only)
b) If a player is put in to a position that they have to
commit a foul stroke to hit their next ball. (Where allowed)
c) If the game is not progressing satisfactorily, and the
players and Referee's agree.
d) Foul Break (see Rule 3) |
13. |
COACHING |
a) During a frame a player
is required to play without receiving advice from other persons
relating to the playing of the frame.
Therefore at the start of a match the home referee will issue a
final warning to all players and supporters.
Should a team member or supporter of a player (playing the frame)
direct a comment towards the game or offer advice, the Referee(s)
will penalise the offending player (team) with a foul.
Please Note - Because it may not always be possible
for a Referee to hear if a statement made to a player is advice,
please refrain from entering in a conversation with your player
whilst the frame is in progress ( other than general supportive
comments / barracking) as a Referee could deem any statement as
coaching.
b) No mobile phones will be allowed around the
table / used around the table, whilst the frame is in progress by
players / referee's involved in that frame. Any player doing so
will be penalised with a foul.
(Any referee doing so will invoke a penalty against their player
involved in the frame)
c) If during a game a third party calls out, for
example 'thats a foul' this can be deemed as coaching the referee
and player involved and will invoke a penalty against their team
player involved in the frame.
d) A referee cannot interfere with play / coach
the player into nominating a pocket for black (after asking in the
first instance as per the referee's guidance). If a referee does
so then it will be deemed a foul against that referee's team. |
IT IS INTENDED
THAT THE GAME SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THESE RULES IN THE TRUE SPIRIT
AND IN A SPORTSMANLIKE MANNER
Last Update - September 2006 |
