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.
Any disrespectful conduct
toward a referee or any APL staff member
will not be tolerated.
This will result in loss of game or loss of match
or ejection from the tournament.
NOTE: Important additions/changes to rules “11”, “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
thru out the tournament 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, and 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 9-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. If a player is marking the
wrong pocket and their coach or any player says mark the pocket when the player
is ready to shoot and the player has no time outs left this is a ball in hand
foul to the opponent. The coach and player must pay attention to their
match. If the player is blocking the
view of the coach the coach must get off their chair and look to make sure
their player has marked a pocket before he says to mark the pocket. If there is
a second marker left on the table for any reason after the shooter marks their
pocket and makes the 9-ball does not constitute a loss of game as long as the
shooter shoots the 9-ball in the pocket that they marked.
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 cannot call safe and pocket a ball,
on a good hit, and be considered a legal safe.
A player can pocket the 9-ball with the cue ball or any ball on the
table and will not be loss of game. The
9-ball is spotted and the incoming player has cue ball in hand. If a player purposely knocks in the 9-ball
with their stick or hand it will be loss of game.
16. On the break, the breaking player must hit
the first ball of the rack, being the 1-ball.
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
except when either team calls a legitimate time out. A player may speak to team between racks for
encouragement for a very short period of time.
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 can forfeit a match at any
time. They must furnish the opposing team with the name of the player they are
using for the forfeit. A player cannot shoot again once they are used to
forfeit a match. The player they are using for the forfeit does not need to be
present. The team must also show they
are within the 25 point team handicap with at least 5 players on their
roster. 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 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 or they will
loose the entire match.)
22. The
Amateur Pool League rule book and bylaws will prevail.
23. Re: typo page 24 APL rule book; the paragraph
should have read “all balls” knocked of the table, not just the opponent’s
balls.
24 “Bill Oakes” rule; you may only use the tip to
strike the cue ball. Striking the cue
ball with the butt end of your stick is a foul and ball-in-hand to the
opponent.
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 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 and other team mates cannot call fouls. If a dispute arises, the referee will make
the final call.
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.
10) There is no conferencing between
players during a time out. Only the coach and shooter in the match may converse
with each other. If a captain calls for
a conference with any of his/her players he should be reminded by the opposing
team coach or player that conferencing is not allowed. It is not a ball in hand
foul. However, If
a conference occurs between the coach and any member of the team other then the
shooter, it will be a ball in hand foul to the opponent.
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 consult
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 9-ball is shot; 2) the opponent picks up the rack before the 9-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. 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: 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 marking the pocket and pocketing
the 9-ball:
This is a foul and loss of game since a player
interfered with the cue ball before it came to a stop.
Double Hit Foul
As long as the shooter hits the cue ball with a
stroke, and not a push, is no foul when the cue ball and the target object ball
are touching (frozen) or the distance (width) of a piece of chalk. A push is when the shooter lays the cue tip
onto the cue ball and does not bring his/her arm back before the stroke and
pushes the cue ball rather then stroking it.
There is no foul if a shooter strokes the cue ball no
matter where it is in relation to the object ball.