RULES OF PLAY

Unsportsmanlike conduct from any individual will not be tolerated.

Any one disturbing the tournament by loud and abusive language

or being argumentive will result in ejection from this tournament.

NOTE: Important addition to rule “21”

1. Teams will win by playing pool, not through the interpretations of the rules. League Operator, Division Reps, and referees will be on site through out the tournaments in cases of controversy, their decisions are final!

2. Team Captains are responsible for checking their team in at the tournament desk prior to the start of the match. All registration fees, if any, have to be paid at the Captains meeting.

3. All matches will be played using the race grid.

4. This is a single elimination tournament.

5. All matches have a 4 hour time limit. At the end of 4 hours the proceeding match will be sudden death, a race to one.

6. The first team to win (3) matches will advance to the next round of play.

7. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Unsportsmanlike conduct calls will be made at the sole discretion of the Division Reps, Referees or League Operator. These calls are very serious and will result in penalties from ball-in-hand to loss of game or match or ejection from the tournament. Every player has earned their right to play here and we expect all players to conduct themselves as winners.

8. There will be a 45 second shot clock that will be randomly monitored by the officials. Slow play will be given a first warning, then Penalties will result from ball-in-hand to loss of game.

9. If a team is not present when their match is called the opposing team must wait 15 minutes before taking the 1st match and 5 minutes thereafter for each additional match until a 3-0 team win has been established. Once a match starts either team has (2)-two minutes to put up their next shooter.

10. Only the player (anyone on the team can keep score away from the table) is allowed in the playing area. Any person suspected of “sideline” coaching will be ejected from the playing area. Outside interference may result in a team being disqualified from competition.

11. The player must mark the pocket, when shooting the 8-ball, with an object that is large enough to see but not annoying to their opponent. Any player on the team may remind a player to mark the pocket.

12. All Players will be allowed (1)-one minute time-out per game.

13. If there are common players on both teams these common players cannot play the match.

14. Teams are responsible for reviewing their team roster for possible errors. The APL is not responsible for typographical errors. If an error is detected it must be reported to the Tournament Director before the start of that team’s first match. If an error is detected after the start of the team’s match any changes made will be for future matches and will be at the Tournament Director’s discretion.

15. A player can call safe and pocket a ball, on a good hit, and be considered a legal safe.

16. On the break, the breaking player must hit one of the first 3 balls of the rack.

17. Any member of the team can call out “mark the pocket”. We ask that encouragement to be controlled.

18. No cell phones in the playing area.

19. A player and coach cannot talk to each other while the opponent is shooting. The coach and player may only confer if a legitimate time-out is called by either team.

20. Handicaps can and will be moved. If a player goes up 2 s/l the team is disqualified. If 3 players from the same team go up 1 s/l the team is disqualified.

21. Teams cannot put up a player not present and give the forfeit. The team member must be present to put down and give the forfeit. The team must also show they are within the 25 point team handicap with 5 players on the scoresheet. At the end of the 3rd or 4th match a team must show they can make the 25 point team handicap. If they cannot they loose the entire match. (Example: if a team uses 20 handicap points in the first 3 matches they must have a 3 and a 2 or two 2’s left on their roster and present or they will loose the entire match. If a team uses 23 handicap points in the first 4 matches they must have a 2 left on their roster and present or they will loose the entire match.) Please remember all players on your roster must be present if called to play and or to put up and forfeit their match. In order to play within the 21 point rule the captain must declare this before the match starts and must show who the 4 players are to the opposing team captain and the tournament director. To play within the 18 point rule the captain must declare this before the match starts and must show who the 3 players are to the opposing team captain and the tournament director. If this is not done before the match starts you must go with the roster in the program directory.

22. The Amateur Pool League rule book and bylaws will prevail.

Rules for Coaches

1) A referee can declare anything a coach says that can affect the strategy of a game a time- out.

2) A coach cannot turn down a time-out from a player. A player cannot turn down a time-out from a coach. Coaches cannot ask things like: “Are you okay”? or “do you want a time-out”? These will be considered a time-out. Asking a player if they want a time out, when there are no time outs left, will result in a ball-in-hand to the opponent. If a coach is not sure if his player has

any time outs left should ask the opposing coach quietly if in fact his player has any time outs left. A player may ask the coach if they have a time out left without it being a foul.

3) Coaches should not leave their chairs except for a time-out during a game. If they do a referee can declare that a time out.

4) Coaches can call out “mark your pocket”, or “time out”. The Coach can also cheer their players on. We ask that encouragement to be controlled. Referees will determine if the encouragement is strategy or not. Time-outs or fouls could result.

5) The coach and their player in a match can call fouls. Spectators or team mates cannot call fouls. Coach and player please pay attention to your match. If a spectator or team mate calls a foul and the player and or coach did not see it, or does not call it, there is no foul.

6) A coach or player may ask a referee to watch a shot or make a call.

7) If a player or coach has a question regarding rules they should ask the referee.

8) After each match, both teams must sign and turn in the score sheets for review.

9) A coach can be disqualified giving their player strategy if no time out is called.

10) There is no conferencing between players during a time out.

Referees Function

Referees are there to resolve disputes. They will not interject themselves into a match unless they are called to observe a situation. If a referee or tournament director sees a foul they cannot call the foul unless it is a blatant foul that needs clarification and the player that fouled or their coach denies the foul. Make sure you, the coach, and your player pay attention to your game. Have total control of all matches. If there is a situation that cannot be resolved the referee will get advice from the head referee. If the dispute still cannot be resolved the head referee will confer with the tournament director whose decision is final. Referee will randomly monitor player shots. Shots should not take more then 45 seconds. Referee will monitor the (1) minute time-out.

Game Forfeits

The following will be considered automatic forfeit of the game if: 1) the opponent offers to shake hands before the 8-ball is shot; 2) the opponent picks up the rack before the 8-ball is shot; 3) a player rakes the balls on the table at any time even if they think the game is over; 4) if a player starts to break down their cue stick when their opponent is shooting the 8-ball. If other scenarios arise that are questionable the referee will make a decision if the scenario should be considered loss of game.

Moving Ball Violations and Other Fouls

Player moves ball with butt of stick during warm up stroke:

Opponent has the option of leaving the ball where it stopped or have the ball placed where it was.

Player touches any ball with bridge at any time when shooting a shot:

This is a foul since players are responsible for any accidents occurring when using specialized equipment.

Player moves a ball with stick during shot and causes the ball to move out of the way keeping the cue ball from striking the ball when it should have:

This is a foul since the cue ball moved into an area where the moved ball originally was. The outcome of the shot has been affected and restoration at this point is impossible.

Player has ball in hand and while positioning the cue ball he drops it and moves an object ball or touches another ball with their hand or stick:

This is a foul since the rule is very strict on placement. When placing the cue ball into position the hand becomes live and anything moved or touched with the ball or hand is considered a foul.

Stopping the cue ball after shooting the 8-ball:

This is a foul since a player interfered with the cue ball before it came to a stop.

Double Hit Foul

When the cue ball and the target object ball are touching (frozen) or the distance (width) of a piece of chalk, the shooter must hit the cue ball below center to reduce the chance of double striking or pushing the cue ball which is a foul. The cue stick can be elevated or level as long as the shooter hits below the center of the cue ball.

If the shooter shoots straight into the line of the cue ball and object ball and the cue ball travels past where the object ball was is not a foul as long as cue ball was struck below center.

The player is asked to make a bona fide attempt to execute this shot in the proper manner, but a referee should be asked to watch the shot to determine if the cue ball was struck below center and whether a double hit occurs on the cue stick.