Stockport & District Pool League

GENERAL
While some rules within this guidance apply to Premier Divisions, the prime guidance for the Premier Divisions is from the English Pool Referee's Association as detailed on the English Pool Association website.
1.	Two Referees' per frame, one from each team, in standard league matches.
2.	In Premier Division matches the timekeeper is to be appointed from the home team.
3.	The choice of Referee's is for the Captains to decide, and the same Referee may be used more than once. A Captain and Vice Captain should not be both refereeing and playing together, thus enabling the Vice Captain to take over the Captain's duties, if the Captain is refereeing or playing, and vice versa.
4.	In an effort to ensure fair play and sportsmanship, Captains are asked to give serious consideration to using Referee's who are conversant with the playing rules.
5.	Captains are expected to keep non-players away from the table at all times.
6.	Both Referees' must agree on any decisions. If the Referee's cannot agree, then the Captains must be consulted. If a Captain does not agree with a referee's decision, then the game must be stopped. If both Referee's and Captain's can reach no agreement, then a League Official must be contacted.
7.	Any discussions or Referee's disputes must only involve the players on the frame in dispute, Referee's and Captain's. (or Vice Captain's if the Captain is a player or Referee) All other persons must stay well away from the match table.
8.	If any player wilfully interferes with play, then the player's team will concede the frame. (NOTE - This includes stopping any ball going into a pocket.) The player should ask the Referee's before handling any ball on the table.
9.	If a player is unsure of a rule, the player must audibly ask both Referees' for an interpretation. To approach a Captain or team member during a frame may be misconstrued as coaching. It is the player's responsibility to conform to the rules. NOTE: Coaching is not allowed - The Committee will vigorously deal with complaints about coaching.
REFEREE'S DUTIES
1.	The Referee's should ensure the game is played according to the playing rules, and to announce shots as needed for the benefit of players and spectators alike. Special attention should be made by the referee's to the correct calling procedures.
2.	In order to carry out these duties, the Referee's will be in such a position that a clear view of the player and table is available, without obstruction or distraction to the player, also bearing the viewing of spectators in mind.
3.	Referee's should not handle any ball on the table. Handling of an object ball or cue ball should only be done by the player addressing the table, with Referee's consent. If a Referee does handle any ball during a frame, then the frame will be awarded against the Referee's team, except when handling the spare white ball (see rule 11b playing rules)
4.	The Referee should inform the oncoming player of the legality of any situation, before the player addresses the table, by clearly stating all the options.
VERBAL CALLING PROCEDURES - for the benefit of players and spectators alike.
FOUL BREAK - "Foul break, opponent to restart frame with two shots" BLACK OF TABLE OR POTTED, ON BREAK - "Re rack, player who broke to restart the frame without penalty" FOUL WHEN GROUP NOT ESTABLISHED - "Foul, 2 shots, free table with 1^st shot, open table." ANY FOUL DURING FRAME - "Foul, 2 shots, free table with 1^st shot, Cue ball may be re spotted" TIME FOUL (Super 10 & Superleague only) - "Time Foul" (called by timekeeper only) (Referee's then use normal foul call) FOUL ON BLACK (RULE 10c & 10e & 10f ONLY) - "Foul, 2 shots, free table with 1^st shot, black may be re spotted" FOUL ON BLACK (RULE 10g ONLY - 1st Foul ) - "Foul, 2 shots, free table with 1^st shot, 1st foul" FOUL ON BLACK (RULE 10g ONLY - 2nd Foul ) - "Foul, 2 shots, free table with 1^st shot, 2nd foul, black may be respotted" BALLS POTTED ON BREAK (RULE 4a) - "Red/Yellow balls potted, please nominate colour" (After nomination without further prompting from the Referee), "Red/Yellow ball nominated" If the colour nominated has already been potted on the break then "Red/Yellow ball in play". If the nominated colour wasn't potted on the break, then no further call until - if the nominated colour (not potted on break) is potted "Red/Yellow ball in play" and after shots are over repeat to the oncoming player. If the nominated colour (not potted on break) is not potted, "Open Table". WHEN FIRST LEGAL BALL POTTED (RULE 4b only) - "Red/Yellow ball in play" - after the shots are over, repeat to the oncoming player. After this point no further mention of groups should be made, unless a player in control requests clarification. BOTH RED/YELLOW BALLS POTTED ON OPEN TABLE (Rule 4b only) - "Red/Yellow balls potted, please nominate group" (After nomination without further prompting from the Referee), "Red/Yellow ball nominated" CUE BALL TOUCHING AN OBJECT BALL - "Touching ball" then point to the ball that the cue ball is touching. GAME AWAY - "Game away" explaining reason








RULE INTERPRETATIONS
Rule 4a		Referee's must be careful to call a ball "in play" only when it has been nominated and potted. If a ball is potted on the break and then that colour is nominated then it is "in play". If the colour that wasn't potted on the break is nominated, then it can only be "in play" if a player pots a ball of that colour on the shot following nomination. If the colour that wasn't potted on the break isn't potted after nomination then the referee must announce to the oncoming player "open table".
Rule 4b		When necessary the Referee's should clearly ask the player to nominate a choice of group. The Referee's should then announce "Red/Yellow nominated".
Rule 8.		Premier Divisions Only (see stopwatch guidance) Timing starts as soon as all balls on the table come to rest from the previous shot. If a ball goes off the table, timing starts as soon as the ball is handed to the oncoming player. If the cue ball goes into a pocket, timing starts as soon as the cue ball reaches the exit box. During a visit to the table, "Time Out" may be called. This is a period when timing will be suspended at the discretion of the Referee's, for example while viewing a touching ball, or because of obstruction to play. If 'Time Foul' is called, the referee's on the match continue with the foul calling procedure. The timekeeper must also immediately pause timing, to allow the referee's or players on the frame to view the elapsed time.
Rule 9a		If a player has a Free Table with cue ball in hand, and a ball falls into a pocket as the table is addressed, that is the Free Table shot, and there will be only one shot remaining.
Rule 9e		Referee's should keep players informed of the consecutive number of fouls.
Rule 9f		Addressing the table, means touching any part of the table, from feet upwards, with body, clothing or cue.
Rule 9g		If while a player is positioning the Cue ball with the Cue shaft, the Cue tip should touch the cue ball, it is a foul. Players should be discouraged from doing this.
Rule 9h		If during repositioning of the Cue ball, a player were to disturb any other ball, this would be a foul.
Rule 10a		The Referee's should clearly request the player to nominate a choice of pocket for the Black ball, and the Referee's should touch the nominated pocket, to indicate the nomination to players and spectators. If a player does not nominate a pocket, then it is game away.
Rule 10e		If the Black ball is illegally placed in the jaws of a pocket, following a foul, the Referee's should use the Official Template to determine whether a player may re spot the ball. The long edge of the template is to be used for corner pockets, and the short edge for the centre pockets.
Rule 11		If a Referee feels that a deliberate foul shot is bout to be committed, and the player is warned prior to taking the shot, and the player continues with the shot, then this would be deemed to be Game Away. The Referee's should state if a player has committed a deliberate foul shot, and ask the oncoming player whether they accept two shots from where the balls lie, or whether the player wishes to re rack. If a player plays their own ball first, and commits a foul, this is not a deliberate foul. (Except where Rule 10d applies)
Rule 12		On any re racks, the player who originally broke is to break again, except where Rule 3 applies.
THE LEAGUE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMMEND THIS REFEREE'S GUIDANCE WITHOUT NOTICE, DEPENDANT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS THEY ARISE.
THE LEAGUE COMMITTEE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO NOTIFY MEMBERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING ANY AMMENDMENT. Last Update - September 2006