League Rules

1. A match will consist of nine (9) games.
2. There will be 3 sets of pool in each match. The 1^st round will be 3 single games, the 2^nd round will be 3 single games and the 3^rd round will be 3 single games.
3. No player can play more the one game per set. The playing order of the games and rounds is not fixed and shall be adjusted by the teams to accommodate team line-ups. (Note: This refers only to the order in which the 9 games are played. It does not refer to the match up of players in a one game.)
4. A team must have a minimum of 3 players present at the match to start play. A team without 3 players physically present at the match venue is considered as not having ‘shown up’. Once the line-up sheets are completed and exchanged between the captains, the match-ups for any game will not be changed, unless both captains agree otherwise.
5. The Match will start at 7:30pm (unless otherwise agreed to by both Captains). At that point, if one of the teams has not ‘shown up’, the missing team will forfeit a game every 5 minutes.  (If there is any argument on the time, The League President maintains the official time). If a team ‘shows up’ between 7:30pm and 8pm or 30 minutes after the agreed start time, the match play will start with the game following the last forfeit. (e.g. If a team ‘shows up’ (has 3 players present) at 7:48pm then the first 3 games would be forfeited by the late team and play would normally start with Game 4 of the first set.) Once games have been played, the match score shall consist of all 15 games. At 8pm or 30 minutes after the agreed start time the missing team will forfeit the match. This will be scored as a match forfeit as indicated in 1.9 below.
   (Note: If a team has 3 players to start a match at the start time, then play would consist of 3 single games of the first set, 3 single games of the second set and 1, 2 or 3 double games, depending on the preference of the team short players. If these 7, 8 or 9 games have been played and the team still does not have additional players, the remaining 6, 7 or 8 games will be marked as a forfeit and the match will be over. If additional players arrive as play is progressing, then the additional games will be played in an order agreed to by the captains.)
6. If a team has to play with less then 3 players, then they forfeit the games they can not play. This will be entered on the score sheet as a forfeit, not an arbitrary player.
7. Once a player has played 1 game with a team, that player may not change teams during the current season.
8. Teams may add any number of players during the season. A player must have played in 2 separate matches (on 2 separate dates) for the team in order to be eligible for play in the mid season tournaments – team playoffs, men’s singles, women’s singles, doubles.
9. Teams that require rescheduling MUST contact the other team’s captain 48 hours prior to the scheduled time. The League President must be notified also. If the request to reschedule is less then 48 hours prior to the match, the other team is not obligated to comply, but is strongly encourage to do so, if possible. A match forfeit by a team will be an 10-0 win for the other team. (The team will also receive the 1 point bonus for a match win.)
10. Each game is worth 1 point. At the end of the night, the team that scores 6 or more points will receive a bonus point.
11. If a team is short a player, or a player is not available for doubles, the team is permitted to play with only one player for the doubles team. The team that is short a player would have to skip a turn in place of the missing player. (For Example: Team B is missing a player in the doubles, play would go something along these lines: Team A’s 1^st player, Team B’s 1^st player, Team A’s 2^nd player, Team A’s 1^st player since Team B’s 2^nd player is Skipped) (*N.B. If Team A’s 2^nd Player fouls it is ball-in-hand to Team A’s 1^st player, NOT the opposing team.)
12. If a player is not readily available (i.e. not in the immediate area) after the completion of all other games for which players are available, his/her game will be considered a forfeit. Please Note:  The immediate area does include the areas in the club, for example the bathroom.
13. A coin toss will be used at the beginning of each game to determine who will break. The visiting team player will call the coin toss for the first game. In subsequent games the caller will alternate between teams. The player winning the coin toss has the choice of breaking or giving the break to the opposing player. The opposing player must break, if it is the choice of the coin toss winner.
14. Should a team drop out of the league during the season, then all teams that are scheduled to play that team will receive no score (0 points) for the match. All other teams (those that played the dropped team and those that were not scheduled to play the dropped team) will have the lowest points scored in a match over the season dropped from the final total points at the end of the regular season.

• • 1. They will provide two (2) pitchers of beer or an equivalent to the Visiting Team. (This applies throughout the playoffs as well as during the regular season.)
    2. The Home Team and Visiting Team will alternate referees, every other game, through out the night, with the Home Team providing a referee for the first game.
    3. They will also make sure the pool table is available for the visiting team to start practice 30 minutes prior to start time.
    4. The Home Team will have the Pool Table to practice on from 30 minutes to 60 minutes prior to start time.

In called pocket, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the referee’s right to ask which ball and pocket if he/she is unsure (The Opponent may ask the referee for clarification on the call, but in a way not to disturb the player). When attempting Bank Shots or Combinations, care should be taken in calling which ball and what pocket it is going in to. When calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicate details such as number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to the shooter or the opponent.

To execute a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the head string) must either:

• • • pocket a ball or
    • drive at least 4 numbered balls to the rail.

If he/she fails to make a legal break, it is a foul, and the incoming player has the option of:

• • • accepting the table in position and shooting or
    • having the balls reracked and having the option of shooting the opening break him/herself or
    • allowing the offending player to rebreak.

If a player scratches on a legal break shot,

• • • all balls pocketed remain pocketed (The exception is the 8-ball, where this is a loss)
    • it is a foul
    • the table is open

PLEASE NOTE: Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string and may not shoot an object ball that is behind the head string, unless he/she first shoots the cue ball past the head string and causes the cue ball to come back behind the head string and hit the object ball.

If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of

• • • accepting the table in position and shooting, or
    • taking the ball in hand behind the head string and shooting

PLEASE NOTE: The jumped object ball will be placed on the Spot. If unable to, the ball will be placed as close to the spot as possible going straight back. If the Jumped ball is the 8-ball, the game is a loss for the breaker.

If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, it is a win, unless the cue ball scratches or is driven off the table, this will be considered a loss.

The table is “open” when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined, by a legal pocketing of a ball. Any balls illegally pocketed during an open table will remain pocketed. If a player scratches when they pocket a ball, on an open table, the table is still open. One question that has been raised is allowable combination shots when the table is open. It has been the practice in IPL that a combination shot must be initiated with the cue ball first making contact with a ball in the same group as the ball to be pocketed.

The choice of Stripes or Solids is determined once a ball has been legally pocketed. *NB If a stripe and a solid (or any combinations thereof) are both pocketed on the break the table is open and the choice of groups is not determined until a called ball falls into a called pocket. If a single ball falls on the break that is the breakers group of balls. The breaker does NOT have the option of shooting the other group.

On all shots (Except on the break) the shooter must hit one of the balls in his/her group of balls first and (1) pocket a numbered ball or (2) cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail.  PLEASE NOTE:  it is permissible for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball; however, after contact with his/her ball (or his/her group of balls) a numbered ball must be pocketed , OR the cue ball or any numbered ball must contact a rail.  Failure to meet these requirements is a foul, ball in hand.

A legal shot, in part, as one which pockets a numbered ball or causes the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail. This concept of a ball hitting a rail has raised some questions regarding balls that are in contact with a rail at the start of the shot. There are potentially several different scenarios that need to be considered.  In any event, where a ball is very close to the rail, the shooter should get agreement from the referee that a ball is or is not “frozen” to (in contact with) a rail. If an object ball is touching a rail, the cue ball may:

• • • Hit the rail and then contact the object ball as it comes off the rail
    • Hit the object ball then hit the rail after contacting the object ball
    • Hit the rail and the object ball at the same time

When it is obvious that the case is number 1) above, the cue ball or the object ball or another numbered ball must hit another rail. When it is obvious that the case is number 2) above, the cue ball made contact with the object ball and then hit a rail, so it is a legal shot. Case 3) above has raised much discussion within the league. This situation occurs probably most often when the shooter is attempting to run the ball along a rail to the pocket. That shot requires the cue ball to contact the object ball and the rail at the same time. If the ball goes along the rail and into the pocket, no question about it being a legal shot. If the ball goes along the rail but does not fall into the pocket, the question of a legal shot is then based on the cue ball contacting the object ball and some ball hitting a rail.

Along the same principle as Rule 2.8 involving hitting a legal ball and non-legal ball at approximately the same time, it is reasonable to give the shooter the benefit of the doubt and call it a legal hit.

If the cue ball strikes a legal ball and a non-legal ball at approximately the same instant, and it cannot be determined which ball was hit first, the judgment will go in favor of the shooter.

Opposing player gets cue ball in hand. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (does not have to be behind the head string except off of the opening break). This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would put his opponent at a disadvantage.

If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a loss of turn (not ball in hand foul), unless it is the 8-ball, which is loss of game. Any jumped object balls are spotted.

When making a shot, the 8-ball is not to be used to assist in the shot. Examples would be using the 8-ball in a combinations, caroms, kisses, etc. If the 8-ball is used in the shot, it is loss of turn, NOT a ball in hand foul. When shooting the 8-ball it will be a called shot and the 8-ball is not to touch any other numbered ball. If this happens this is also a loss of turn, not a ball in hand foul, unless the 8-ball is pocketed then this is a loss of game. When calling the shot for the 8-ball, you do not need to call the front-rail or the short-rail.

A player loses the game if he commits any of the following infractions:

• • • Fouls when pocketing the 8-ball.
    • Pockets the 8-ball out of turn or when not the legal object ball
    • Jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time
    • Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket or in a fashion not indicated.
    • Scratching when the 8-ball is the legal object ball

The following is a list of fouls (not exclusive) that will result in a ball in hand anywhere on the table (unless otherwise mentioned)

• • • Scratches (Except off the break where it is ball is placed behind the head string)
    • Hitting the 8-ball first with the cue when it is not the legal object ball.
    • Hitting one of your opponents groups of balls first.
    • Illegal Shot (Paragraph 2.8)
    • Any ball that is moved by any foreign object (Hand, Stick, Clothing, etc). Any balls that were moved as a result of the foul will not be returned to their original locations.
    • A player failing to shoot with at least one foot on the ground.

• • • No one is allowed to talk to the player, during their turn, unless the player has asked specifically for help (except if it is their partner in a Doubles game). If the player requires assistance in a shot, the player may call a time-out.
    • A player is limited to 2 time-outs per game in the singles rounds. Each time-out will not exceed 2 minutes. There are no time-outs allowed in the doubles round. (There is no roll over on unused time or time-outs)
    • The player may have as many coaches; this is to include the referee, as he/she wants during these time-outs.
    • A player receiving assistance after the 2 timeouts will result in a foul, ball in hand. (If a player calls a time-out after 2 time-outs have already been taken, it is the referee’s responsibility to remind the player that there are no more time outs and the player is to continue the shot without assistance.)
    • Only the player who is shooting may touch the cue ball (if it is a ball in hand situation). Not the coach nor, in the case of a doubles game, the players partner.
    • No one may mark the table to help assist the shooter. This is to include any visible mark(s) on the table, placing chalk on the rail for an aiming spot, etc.  The coach can touch the table though, if it does not leave a mark.  This will be up to the discretion of the referee.
    • The 2 minutes will start when the player calls for a time-out; the player has 2 minutes from that point to finish all assistance. The Coach(es) are permitted to leave the player and return to further assist, IF they are still within the 2 minutes of the initial call for the time-out.
    • When the player gets into shooting position, the coach(es) are to leave the immediate area around the player.

If, at any time during a game no player can make a legal shot without losing the game (such as a colored ball in contact with the 8-ball sitting on the lip of a pocket, and blocking the 8-ball), at the referee’s discretion the game can be declared a stalemate and the game will be replayed from the beginning.

This section is for various rules that do not quite fit into other paragraphs.

• • • MAKING VISIBLE MARKS. The player is not to make any visible mark, or place any object on the table, cushions, or rails as to assist him/her when shooting/aiming the ball.  This is a foul.
    • JUMP & MASSE SHOTS. They are legal in the league.  A legal jump shot is where the shooter shoots in a downward direction striking the cue ball (approximately at the center) to cause the cue ball to jump.  It is a foul to scoop or to dig under the cue ball to accomplish the jump shot.  Accidental miscuing is not a foul unless other rules are violated. (For Example: attempting to draw the cue ball back, and accidentally striking the cue ball too low, causing it to jump)
    • PLACING CUE BALL. With “cue ball in hand,” the player may use a hand or any part of a cue (including the tip) to position the cue ball. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot.