Ibstock & District Pool League

IBSTOCK & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE

PLAYING RULES NOVEMBER 2023

GENERAL RULES:

These rules were voted for by the players at AGM and are not indicative of any official Ruling Body.

1. The Game
The game shall be known as ‘8-Ball Pool’ and shall be referred to in these rules as “the game”. It is intended that players and teams should play 8-Ball Pool in the true spirit of the game and in a sportsmanlike manner. It should be clearly understood that the referee is the sole judge of what is fair and unfair play. The referee will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that these rules are observed.

2. Requirements of the game
The game is played on a rectangular 6-pocket table with 15 balls plus a cue ball. Balls comprise of two groups of coloured balls (7 red & 7 yellow) and the black ball. Balls in the two groups are known as object balls.

3. Object of the game
The player or team that pots all their group of object balls in any order, and then legally pots black ball, wins the game.

PLAYING RULES:

4. The break (or restart) and general play
a) The balls are racked with the black ball on the black ball spot, which is at the intersection of the centre and corner pockets. Working down from the top point of the triangle and looking from left to right: -
Row 1 = Yellow,
Row 2 = Red/Yellow,
Row 3 = Yellow/Black/Red,
Row 4 = Red/Yellow/Red/Yellow,
Row 5 = Yellow/Red/Yellow/Red/Red.
If you start with a Red ball on row 1, simply switch the two colours round accordingly
b) Order of play is home team breaks first, then the break is alternate.
c) The opening player plays at the triangle of object balls by striking the cue ball from the “D”. Providing a red or yellow ball is potted, or at least two object balls are driven past the imaginary line that intersects the middle pockets, this is a legal break.
d) If a ball or balls are legally potted off the break, the onus is on the player to nominate their chosen colour group. This entitles the player to one additional shot. This continues until the player either fails to pocket one of their sets of allocated balls or commits a foul at any time.
e) If no object ball is potted from a legal break, then the table passes to the opposing player.
Players then continue playing alternately at either group until such time a legal pot is made, which decides the player’s colour group. If one or more of each group are potted in the same shot before groups are determined, then the player(s) MUST make the referee aware of which group they have chosen/nominated.
f) If the player on break fouls (other than Playing Rule 4h), the approaching player has the option to place the cue ball in the ‘D’.
If one or more object balls are potted before playing groups are decided, then those balls are ignored in determining the group to be played.  
The oncoming player may play at any ball on the table including the black ball for the first shot (free shot).
g) If the black ball is potted from the break shot, the balls will be re-racked and the game will be restarted by the same player. No penalty will be incurred. This applies even if other balls, including the cue ball are potted, or leave the playing surface (“off the table”).
h) If the white is potted off the break, the referee should remind the oncoming player that they must nominate a group of balls on the second shot of the first visit. If no ball is potted on the first visit,
NO nomination is required and it remains an open table until the first legal ball is potted, which then determines the group in play.
This rule also applies in all of the following: -
•    White and a ball or balls of each group in off the break.
•    White and a ball or balls of one group in off before a ball is potted.
•    White and a ball or balls of each group in off before a ball is potted.
Referees should make a player clearly aware of where they stand during the 2 shot rule (1st visit, 2nd visit, visit over).
i) If two object balls fail to pass the mid-point of the table (as described above), this is a foul. The oncoming player then has the following options: -
i) Having the balls re-racked as in Playing Rule 4(a) and re-starting the game with two shots from the “D”.
ii) Playing the balls as they lie and continuing the game with two shots without moving the cue ball from where it finished after the original foul break. Any balls potted from the break are disregarded when determining group in play, and the breaking player/s must then nominate their chosen group but no longer needs to pot.  If the player pots on their first visit they must then nominate their chosen group on the second shot of their first visit. If they fail to pot on either visit following a foul, it remains an open table until the first legal pot.
iii) Playing the balls as they lie and continuing the game with two shots from the “D”. As with I ii).
j) Combination shots are allowed, providing that the player hits one of their own group of balls first,
or any ball with the first shot following a foul. (See Playing Rule 6c).
k) Following a foul before a legal ball is potted, if the player pots a ball with the first shot of his first visit, then they must nominate the group of balls they wish to play. However, if the player fails to pot
on their first visit then it remains an open table and they may play any group without nomination.
The table remains open until the first legal ball is potted.
The colour group is only assigned if, on the second shot, a red or yellow ball is potted. If no ball is potted on the second shot, the table remains open.

5. Fouls
a) In off – potting the cue ball
b) Hitting opponent’s ball(s) with the cue ball on first impact of cue ball, except with first shot
following any foul.
c) Failing to hit any ball with the cue ball.
d) Jump-shot – defined as when the cue ball jumps over any part of any ball before making
contact with any ball.
e) Hitting the black ball with the cue ball on first impact of the cue ball before all of their own
group are potted, except with the first shot following any foul.
f) Potting any opponent’s ball, except with the first shot following any foul.
g) Ball off the table. A ball shall be deemed “off the table” if it comes to rest other than on the
bed of the table. A ball bouncing onto a cushion and falling back onto the bed of the table does
NOT constitute a foul.
If it is the object ball or black ball, this shall be returned to the black ball spot (See Playing Rule 4a)
or as near as possible to that spot without touching any other ball, in a direct line from the black ball spot to the centre of the “D”.
If it is the cue ball, it shall be played from in hand.
h) If any part of a player’s body or clothing touches any ball, except after the referee calls a foul when the player is entitled to the ball in hand.
i) Player not having at least one foot on the floor.
j) Playing or touching with the cue, any ball other than the cue ball.
k) Striking the cue ball with any part of the cue other than the tip.
l) Playing out of turn.
m) Playing before balls have come to rest.
n) Playing before any ball(s) have been re-spotted.
o) Striking the cue ball with the cue more than once.
p) Failing to nominate when balls of both groups are potted with the first legal pot.
q) Foul break: Failure to drive at least two object balls past the imaginary line that intersects the middle pockets. (See Playing Rule 4j).
r) Playing a push shot except in a touching ball situation (See Playing Rule 9a)
s) Changing the position of any ball(s) in play other than with a legitimate shot.
In this instance, any ‘moved’ ball(s) shall be replaced by the referee to their original position(s) –
or as near as is practically possible – to keep open the option in Playing Rule 6b.
If the referee deems the action to be deliberate, they will call a blatant foul. The oncoming player
then has two shots, free table, and ball in hand but may place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
t) Failure to hit a cushion with either an object ball or the cue ball after initial contact – unless an object ball is legally potted. This rule does NOT apply when placed in a ‘total snooker’ (See Playing Rule 7i).
u) If a player omits to announce ‘total snooker’ to his opponent AND the referee, plays at – and hits – their object ball, but fails to hit a cushion after striking that object ball.
v) Failure to hit a ‘frozen ball’ onto another cushion, or any other ball onto a cushion, or pot a legal ball when an object ball is deemed to be on the cushion (see playing Rule 7iii)

6. Penalty following any foul
a) Following any foul the offending player loses their next visit to the table, giving their opponent two consecutive visits to the table.
b) If the cue ball has come to rest on the playing surface, then the player having two visits may proceed to play from where the cue ball lies, or the cue ball may be played from the “D”.  Moving the cue ball in this manner does not count as a shot or a visit. (Players are reminded to ask the referee to hand them the cue ball.)
c) On the first shot only of the first visit, the oncoming player may, without nomination, play the cue ball onto any ball without penalty, (including any opponent’s balls or the black ball).  If any object ball(s) is potted directly or by any combination, then the player is deemed to have potted a legal ball(s) and continues with the first visit. However, the player must not pot the black ball, which would mean loss of game, except if the player was on the black ball, then the game would be won providing the player nominates a pocket.
d) When the player fails to pot a ball on the first or subsequent shot of the first visit, play then continues with the second visit. The second visit is deemed to have started when the cue ball is struck on the first shot of the second visit.
 
7. Cushion Rule
i) A ball must hit the cushion AFTER the initial contact on the object ball. This can be any object ball OR the cue ball.
The only exception to this rule is that either a ball is potted or you find yourself in what is called a ‘total’ snooker. This rule removes the option of the ‘roll up’ snooker.
ii) ‘TOTAL SNOOKER’ is where you cannot see either side of your colour group balls. If both players agree, you can call ‘total’ to your opponent. The referee MUST confirm the ‘total snooker’. You are now no longer required to hit a cushion with either the object ball or cue ball after contact. If the player fails to call a ‘total snooker’ and doesn’t hit a cushion after striking their ball, it is deemed a foul shot.
iii) ‘FROZEN BALL’ is when an object ball is deemed to already be in contact with a cushion. Either the player, opponent or referee MUST point out if the ball is frozen.
The player that strikes the cueball onto the ‘frozen’ ball must achieve one of the following outcomes: -
a)    Ensure the frozen ball hits another cushion.
b)    Ensure another ball hits a cushion.
c)    Ensure a legal ball is potted.
Failure to do any of the above will result in a foul shot being called by the referee.

8. Loss of game
a) If a player pots the black ball before all the balls in their own group, except on the break the player loses the game (See Rule 4d).
b) A player going in off the black ball when the black ball is potted loses the game.
c) A player potting the black ball and any other ball in the same shot will lose the game. The exception is following a foul when only the black ball and ball(s) of the opponent’s group are on the table, then with the first shot of the first visit, the player may legally pot the black ball as well as ball(s) of the opponent’s group by any combination and in any order, providing the player nominates a pocket.
d) If a player pots the black ball in any other pocket than the one nominated or pots the black ball without nominating.
e) The referee does NOT have the right to award frame away for what he considers to be a blatant foul in the Ibstock & District Pool League.

9. General
a) Touching Ball
i) If the cue ball is touching opponent’s ball or black ball, the player must play a ball of their own group except on the first shot following a foul, this entitles the player to play any ball.
ii) If the cue ball is touching any ball the player is legally entitled to play, the player may choose to play away from the touching ball and be deemed to have played the ball. Should the cue ball fail to make contact with any ball or strike the opponent’s ball or the black ball, then the shot is fair - no foul.
A player may also choose to play to move the touching ball, but extra care should be taken not to contact the cue ball twice (See Rule 5o).
b) Cue ball in hand.
i) When a player has ‘cue ball in hand’ the ball is played from the “D” and in any direction.
c) Player in Control
i) A player is said to be in control of the table from the time that their body, cue or clothing touches the table prior to their shot, throughout their visit and up until the opponent does likewise prior to their visit. Any ball(s) - including the black ball - which fall into a pocket
during this period are said to have been potted and the player in control is liable to any penalties or benefits normally awarded for the potting of the ball(s).  However, once the
cue ball has been struck, a legal shot must be completed and a ball falling into a pocket
does not cancel out any foul.
d) The game is completed when the black ball is legally potted in the nominated pocket and all
the remaining balls have come to rest, except on the break (See Rule 4d).
e) The player MUST nominate a pocket for the black ball by making the referee aware. If the black ball is potted in any other pocket than that nominated, it is game away.

10. Stalemate
Should any situation arise whereby a legal shot is impossible to play, then the game shall be restarted by the player who started that frame, whether this situation is arrived at by accident or by design.
If at any time the referee feels that no progress is being made to move the game forward, they may ask both players/pairs if they want a re-rack. Providing all parties agree, then the balls will be set up again to re-start with the original player breaking off.

11. Blatant Foul
If a player clearly fails to make any attempt to play a ball of their own group either in open play or a snooker situation, the referee will call a blatant foul. The oncoming player has two shots, free table, and ball in hand but may place the cue ball ANYWHERE on the table. The Team Captains should record any occurrences of this type of foul on the back of the scorecard so that it can be monitored during the season.

12.Guidance/Terminology
•    ‘shot’ means striking the cue ball once.
•    ‘visit’ refers to one turn at the table comprising of one or a series of shots.
•    ‘break’ refers to the first shot of any game being started or re-started.
•    ‘addressing the cue ball’ refers to forming a bridge and lining up the cue ball with the cue in
the normal manner.
•    Coaching is deemed un-sportsmanlike behaviour see Rule 1 (except between doubles partners before addressing the cue ball).
•    A referee may advise on the rules of the game only if requested.
•    Captains should ensure that all players registered for their team are aware of these rules.
•    A player is classed as being ‘on a shot’ when they have placed their hand on the table and started to address the cue ball.

GAME RULES:

1. Black ball:
i) Before a player gets down to attempt a pot on the black, the referee should ask the player to nominate a pocket. The player is equally responsible for nominating their chosen pocket.
ii) If the black is potted in any other pocket other than the one nominated, or is pocketed without nomination, then it will be game away. Exceptions to this are in Singles and Doubles Knockout games up to the Semi Finals where no Referee is appointed.
iii) When a player has 2 shots on the black, they may play a free ball onto the black in order
to pot it. Provided they have nominated the pocket, the player may also - in the same shot - pot their opponent’s ball. This rule also applies if they choose to play the black onto the opponents’ ball to clear a pocket.
iv) The onus remains on the player to state his intentions and nominate the pocket for the black in all instances. If no nomination is made, it will be assumed that NO POCKET has been nominated.
2. Doubles:
After the initial break in doubles games, players may confer for 30 SECONDS. Once a player is on the shot NO CONFERRING is allowed. Between visits, players may confer again for ONE MINUTE, but the oncoming player MUST then be ready to address the cue ball in the usual way. After this time the referee should inform the player in control that the shot should now be played.
3. Coaching:
Under no circumstances must any form of coaching or advice be given during a frame (except between doubles partners before addressing the cue ball). This also includes
non-playing members discussing shots loudly enough for players at the table to hear.
The penalty for this will be two shots to the opposing player(s).
4. Etiquette:
i)    Only the players contesting the frame plus the referee may approach the table during play.
ii)    Once a frame has started the players contesting the frame may only leave the area with the permission of the referee.
iii)    The referee must remain standing throughout the frame, so that they can always be best positioned to clearly view any eventuality.
iv)    Whilst a frame is in progress, the referee must ensure that the player is not impeded during play.