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PALM SPRINGS INTER-BAR POOL LEAGUE
RULES & BY LAWS
Updated 02/27/11
1. OBJECT OF THE GAME
Eight-Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered
1 through 15. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7
(solid colors), while the other player has 9 through 15 (stripes). The player
pocketing either group first and then legally pocketing the 8-ball wins the
game.
2. RACKING THE BALLS
The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball
in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the foot spot, a
stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner.
3. LEGAL BREAK SHOT
(Defined) To execute a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the
head string) must either (1) pocket a ball, or (2) drive at least four
numbered balls to the rail. When the breaker fails to make a legal break, it
is a foul, and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table
in position and shooting, or (2) having the balls re-racked and having the
option of shooting the opening break or allowing the offending player to
re-break. .
4. DEFLECTING THE CUE
BALL ON THE GAME’S OPENING BREAK
On the break shot, stopping or deflecting the cue ball after it has crossed
the head string and prior to hitting the racked balls is considered a foul
and loss of turn. The opponent has the option of receiving cue ball in hand
behind the head string or passing the cue ball in hand behind the head string
back to the offending player.
5. SCRATCH ON A LEGAL
BREAK
If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain
pocketed (exception, the 8-ball: see rule 6), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table
is open. Please Note: The 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 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, after such
contact a ball still must hit a rail or be pocketed.
6. 8-BALL POCKETED ON
THE BREAK
If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, breaker may
ask for a re-rack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. If the
breaker scratches while pocketing the 8-ball on the break, the incoming
player has the option of a re-rack or having the 8-ball spotted and begins
shooting with ball in hand behind the head string.
7. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED
OFF TABLE ON THE BREAK
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 (1) accepting the table in
position and shooting, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string
and shooting. If any object ball or cue
ball is jumped off the table it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the
8-ball which is a loss of game. Any
jumped object balls are not re-spotted.
8. OPEN TABLE
(Defined) The table is "open" when the choice of groups (stripes or
solids) has not yet been determined. When the table is open, it is legal to
hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice-versa. Note: The table is always
open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open, it is legal to
hit any solid or stripe first in the process of pocketing the called stripe
or solid. However, when the table is open and the 8-ball is the first ball
contacted, it is a foul and no stripe or solid may be scored in favor of the
shooter. The shooter loses his turn; the incoming player is awarded cue ball
in hand; any balls pocketed remain pocketed; and the incoming player
addresses the balls with the table still open. On an open table, all
illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.
9. CHOICE OF GROUP
The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls
are made from only one or both groups, because the table is always open
immediately after the break shot. The choice of group is determined only when
a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot.
10. LEGAL SHOT
(Defined) On all shots (except on the break and when the table is open), the
shooter must hit one of his 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 the object ball; however, after contact with the
object ball, an object ball must be pocketed, or the cue ball or any numbered
ball must contact a rail. Failure to meet these requirements is a foul.
11. CALL SHOT
In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is
the opponent’s right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the
shot. Bank shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, and care
should be taken in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket. When
calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicate details such as the
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. The opening break is not a “called shot.” Any player performing a
break shot in 8-Ball may continue to shoot so long as any object ball is
legally pocketed on the break
12. “SAFETY” SHOT
For tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball
and also discontinue a turn at the table by declaring “safety” or “no call”
in advance. A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player
intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the
shot, the shooter must declare a “safety” to the opponent. It is the
shooter’s responsibility to make the opponent aware of the intended safety
shot. If this is not done, and one of the shooter’s object balls is pocketed,
the shooter will be required to shoot again. Any ball pocketed on a safety
shot remains pocketed.
13. COMBINATION SHOTS
Combination shots are allowed; however, the 8-ball can’t be used as a first
ball in the combination unless it is the shooter’s only remaining legal object
ball on the table. Otherwise, should such contact occur on the 8-ball, it is
a foul.
14. SCORING
A player is entitled to continue shooting until
failing to legally pocket a ball of his group. After a player has legally
pocketed his entire group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8-ball.
15. PLAYING THE 8-BALL
When the 8-ball is the legal object ball, a scratch
or foul is not loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed or jumped from the
table. Incoming player has cue ball in hand. Note: A combination shot can
never be used to legally pocket the 8-ball, except when the 8-ball is the
first ball contacted in the shot sequence.
16. FOOT ON FLOOR
Player must have at least one foot in contact with the floor at the moment
the cue tip contacts the cue ball, or the shot is a foul.
17. CUE BALL SCRATCH
It is a foul (scratch) if on a stroke, the cue ball
is pocketed.
18. CURVE OR MASSÉ SHOT
FOUL
While “cue ball fouls only” is the rule of play it will be considered a cue
ball foul if during an attempt to curve or massé
the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball that is not a legal
object ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a
hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).
19. BALLS JUMPED OFF
TABLE
Balls coming to rest other than on the bed of the table after a stroke (on
the cushion top, rail surface, floor, etc.) are considered jumped balls.
Balls may bounce on the cushion tops and rails of the table in play without
being jumped balls if they return to the bed of the table under their own
power and without touching anything not a part of the table. The table shall
consist of the permanent part of the table proper. (Balls that strike or
touch anything not a part of the table, such as the light fixture, chalk on
the rails and cushion tops, etc., shall be considered jumped balls even
though they might return to the bed of the table after contacting items which
are not parts of the table proper). If an object ball or cue ball is jumped
off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the 8-ball, which
is a loss of game. Jumped object balls
are not re-spotted.
20. JUMP SHOTS &
MASSE SHOTS (adopted 9/1/09)
Jump shots are not allowed in the PS Pool League.
21. INTERFERENCE
If the non-shooting player distracts his opponent or interferes with his play
he has fouled. If a player shoots out
of turn, or moves any ball except during his inning, and if after one
warning, interference continues, it is a foul. Note: any team member of current match is
considered a player.
22. NON-PLAYER
INTERFERENCE
If the balls are moved (or a player is bumped such that play is directly
affected) by a non-player during the match, the balls shall be replaced as
near as possible to their original positions immediately prior to the
incident, and play shall resume with no penalty on the player affected. If the match is officiated, the referee
shall replace the balls. This rule
also applies to “act of God” interference’s, such as earthquakes, light
fixtures falling, power failures, etc.
If the balls cannot be restored to their original positions, replay
the game with the original player breaking.
23. DEVICES
Players are not allowed to use a ball, the triangle or any other
width-measuring device to see if the cue ball or an object ball would travel
through a gap, etc. To do so is a
foul.
24. ILLEGAL MARKING
It is illegal for a player to intentionally mark the table in any way
(including the placement of chalk) to assist in executing the shot, and is a
foul if such mark is not removed before shooting.
25. OBJECT BALL FROZEN
TO CUSHION OR CUE BALL
This rule applies to any shot where the cue ball’s
first contact with a ball is with one that is frozen to a cushion or to the
cue ball itself. After the cue ball
makes contact with the frozen object ball, the shot must result in either:
(1) A ball being pocketed, or;
(2) The cue ball contacting a
cushion, or;
(3) The frozen ball being caused
to contact a cushion attached to a separate rail, or;
(4) Another object ball being
caused to contact a cushion with which it was not already in contact.
Failure to satisfy one of these four requirements is a foul. A ball which is touching a cushion at the
start of a shot and then is forced into a cushion attached to the same rail
is not considered to have been driven to the cushion unless it leaves the
cushion, contacts another ball, and then contacts the cushion again. An object ball is not considered frozen to
a cushion unless it is examined and announced as such by either one of the
players or captains, prior to that object ball being involved in a shot.
26. CUE BALL IN HAND
FOUL
During cue ball in hand placement, the player may use his hand or any part of
his cue (including the side of the tip not the end of tip) to position the
cue ball. When placing the cue ball in
position, any forward stroke motion of the cue stick contacting the cue ball
will be considered a foul if not a legal shot. Touching any object ball with the cue ball
while it is hand is a foul.
27. FOUL PENALTY
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 after a foul on opening break).
This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would
put an opponent at a disadvantage.
28. FOULING WHEN
OPPONENT HAS 8-BALL AS OBJECT BALL
When a player’s object ball is the 8-ball and his opponent fouls, player may
(1) take shot where cue ball came to rest; or (2) take cue ball in hand
anywhere on the table, or (3) spot the 8-ball and take cue ball behind head
string.
29. THREE FOUL RULE
(adopted 9/1/09)
The opponent of the player who commits three consecutive fouls, after the
third foul, may spot any ball on the table on the foot spot, in addition to
having ball in hand. In order for the rule to be applied, the opponent of the
player committing consecutive fouls must warn the player committing the fouls
after the second foul has been committed. The player must be warned prior to
his taking his turn shooting during which the third foul might be committed.
After three consecutive fouls, the count starts over, i.e., should the player
commit another foul, it would be the first for the purpose of the consecutive
fouls rule.
30. ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT
Accidental movement of the cue ball in any way other than a legal shot is a
foul, however, moving an object ball other than the cue ball, accidentally
with anything, (the body, clothing, chalk, mechanical bridge, cue shaft,
etc.) does not constitute a foul.
Opposing player may return ball to original position or if he desires
leave it in place and shooter continues shooting. If shooter inadvertently replaces the moved
ball it is not a foul, however the opposing player may reposition the ball to
where it had moved to or where he feels it was before movement or leave it in
place. Shooter continues shooting.
31. BALLS MOVING
SPONTANEOUSLY
If a ball shifts, settles, turns or otherwise moves
“by itself”, the ball shall remain in the position it assumed and play
continues. A hanging ball that falls
into a pocket “by itself” after being motionless for 5 seconds or longer
shall be replaced as closely as possible to its position prior to falling,
and play shall continue. If an object
ball drops into a pocket “by itself” as a player shoots at it, so that the
cue ball passes over the spot the ball had been on, unable to hit it the cue
ball and object ball are to be replaced to their positions prior to the
stroke, and the player may shoot again.
Any other object ball disturbed on the stroke are also to be replaced
to their original positions before the shooter replays.
32. LOSS OF GAME
A player losses the game by committing any of the following infractions;
1. Fouls when pocketing the 8-ball
(exception, see rule 6).
2. Pockets the 8-ball on the same
stroke as the last of his group of balls.
3. Jumps the 8-ball off the table
at any time including during the break.
4. Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket
other than the one designated.
5. Pockets the 8-ball when it is
not the legal object ball.
6. If a player disassembles their cue stick before the game ends, it
is considered a forfeit.
33. CALLING FOULS AND
DISPUTE PROCESS
Any team member may call a foul. Captains must resolve all disputes
involving judgment calls. A judgment
call is anything that occurs during the game that can only be determined by
someone who actually saw the event. It
is always prudent to get agreement on the calling of any foul from your
opponent before picking up the cue ball.
All judgment calls will be resolved by the team captains using one of
the following. (1) A reasonable discussion be the Captains resulting in a
decision on the call and the continuation of the game, or (2) if Captains
cannot come to an agreement a flip of the coin may decide the call and the
continuation of the game, or (3) if neither 1 or 2 is used, the game may be
terminated before another shot is taken by either player and that particular
game replayed immediately.
34. COACHING
(adopted 11/4/09)
Coaching is allowed in the PS Pool League. Each team may have up to four
timeouts during a match, with a maximum of one coach per team, per game. The
coaching should be limited to no longer than one minute. If the length of the
coaching is exceeded, the opposing captain must let the player know that he
is exceeding the one minute.
35. SLOW PLAY
If, in the opinion of a team Captain, a player is impeding the progress of a
game with consistently slow play, the Captains of both teams engaged in the
match shall confer and decide what action is appropriate to speed up the play
of the offending player or players.
UPDATED 2/27/2011
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Dues will be collected by the treasurer. Player dues are $40 per member. $20 is the players responsibility. The bar pays the additional $20. In some cases where the bar does not pay for more than 4 or 5 players, it is the Captain's responsibility to make up the difference.
MATCHES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
All matches begin by 7:00 PM. however, no game is forfeited for players showing up by 7:30 providing at least one player from that team was there by 7:00 PM to start the match. Games missed by players showing up by 7:30 pm will be played. If a player is not present by 7:30 pm all games he misses shall be forfeited. Note; forfeited games are scored as team wins and team losses only and not as individual wins or losses.
A match consists of sixteen individual games. As many as six players may be used during a match, however the starting four players must play their first game and cannot re-enter the match once taken out. A starting player may play his first three games, however, once taken out the substitute must play his remaining game. A substitute players may not play for more than one player in that match and no player may have more than one substitute. Substitutes must be noted as to which games they played on the score sheet.
A starting player may choose to play one, two, three or four games per night. A substitute player can play the remaining games that the starting player does not play.
TIME OUTS
Each team is allowed 4 timeouts per match. The timeout can be used at any time during the match.
Only one timeout is allowed per game
TEAM SCORING AND RANKING
Statistician will rank teams according to the total rounds won and individual players will be ranked by games won by a percentage of games played.
SEASON AND POST SEASON MATCHES
A single season with double elimination play-off matches MAYbe scheduled when there are 9 or more teams. Less than 9 teams a double season with single elimination play-off matches will be scheduled.
Only the top eight teams at the end of the season will advance to the play-off matches. The top ranked team will be matched with the eighth ranked team, the second place team will play the seventh place team third will play the sixth and fourth will play the fifth place team. This arrangement of teams is used only to initially place teams in their respective position on the tournament bracket. Order of placement will then follow natural order of tournament bracket. If there are less than eight teams the first place team will have a bye. To be eligible to play in the play-offs a player must have played in at least half the regular season. (For e.g In a 14 week season, a player must play at least seven weeks with a minimum of one game in each of those weeks)
TOP/BOTTOM TOURNAMENT
A Top/Bottom tournament will be scheduled at mid-season. To be eligible to play in the Top/Bottom a member must have played at least one season game. All eligible players showing up by a predetermined time may play in the tournament up to a total of 32. If more than 32 players show up the board members must decide on a system of elimination so that no more than 32 players are left to play. Also if the total number of players results in an odd number the board must make a decision so as to allow all players to have a partner.
INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT
An Individual Tournament will be scheduled after the play-off matches are completed. This tournament will be played at the bar of the first place team if at all possible. To be eligible for this tournament a player must have played at least half of the season. The tournament is open to all eligible, paid league members. The board may decide to have the Individual tournament at different date if there is a scheduling conflict.
NEW MEMBERS
Players may not move from one team to another after the 4th week of play. Also a team may not take on any more players after 2/3 of the regular season is over except in hardship cases which are to be voted on by the board. The affected team captain may state his case to the board but may not participate in the vote.
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