1. HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED 8-Ball is a call shot game (ball and pocket must be declared), played with 15 colored balls and 1 cue ball, of which 7 solid colored balls numbered 1-7 and 7 striped balls numbered 9-15 shall be used. One player must pocket the balls numbered 1-7 and their opponent must pocket the balls numbered 9-15. The game ends when one player pockets all of their balls and then legally pockets the 8-Ball. Successfully pocketed designated balls allow the shooter to continue their turn until they miss their shot, commits a foul or wins the game. If the shooter makes the object ball in an unintended pocket, the ball remains pocketed and it is a loss of their turn. It is NOT a ball-in-hand for their opponent. Player continues to shoot until there is a foul is committed, a missed shot, a scratched cue ball or a pocketed ball that was not a call-shot. If then becomes their opponent s turn. A player s turn begins once he begins to approach the table. 2. LAGGING FOR BREAK A Lag for Break shall take place. The winner of the lag is the player whose ball is closer to the head-rail without scratching or hitting the side rail prior to its final resting spot. Alternately a flip of a coin shall also be an accepted way to determine the winner, however it must be agreed upon by both players prior to the start of play. 3. BEGIN GAME WITH THE RACKING OF BALLS The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-Ball in the center row of the rack. The 1-Ball shall be the front ball of the rack and be positioned on the spot (marked on each table) with a striped ball on the one corner of the back row and a solid ball on the other. Touching or re-positioning of balls after the rack has been removed shall not be permitted. The non-shooting player must re-rack if this occurs. 4. THE LEGAL BREAK TO START GAME The origin of the break must be taken behind the head-string at the head of the table to start the game. At least 4 balls must hit a rail and play shall continue for the shooter if a ball or multiple balls are pocketed without a foul or scratch of the cue ball. If 4 balls do not hit a rail and no balls are pocketed, then the balls shall be re-racked and the shooter shall break again. If the shooter fails to make a ball then the opponent takes control of the table. If the shooter breaks and scratches or commits a foul, the opponent shall be awarded ball-in-hand but must shoot forward from behind the head-string. Any balls pocketed shall remain in the pocket and play continues. If the cue ball scratches without hitting any of the balls or having 4 balls hit a rail, or is cued off of the table, the balls are re-racked and the opponent shall be awarded the break. 5. MAKING THE 8-BALL ON THE BREAK Pocketing the 8-Ball on the break results in a win for the breaker. 1 MO BILLIARDS LEAGUES LLC RULES ADOPTED
A loss of the game occurs when the cue ball scratches or leaves the table and the 8-Ball is pocketed. 6. BALL-IN-HAND The cue ball is ALIVE at all times. In the event of a foul, opponent is granted ball-in-hand anywhere on the table with the exception immediately following the game s opening break. A player must make sure he/she has ball in hand before touching the cue ball. A foul must be called by the player, the player s designated coach or by the team captain, although anyone may suggest to the captain that a foul has been committed. Hitting the opponent s ball or the 8-Ball out of turn is the failure to execute a legal shot. Shooting the cue ball off of the table. Opponent is granted ball-in-hand anywhere on the table with the exception of the break shot. At least one foot must be touching the floor at all times while attempting a shot. 2 Scratching the cue ball. Touching or causing the slightest movement of the cue ball (aka: double hitting), even if accidental. A player may use the ferrule or part of their shaft to align the ball up for their shot. Touching another ball with the cue ball when shooter has ball-in-hand without actually shooting the ball with cue. Making contact or dropping any foreign object onto the cue ball once a foul has been determined even if the player has moved the ball into position for a shot. Shooting while any ball is moving or spinning is a foul. 7. AN OPEN TABLE The table becomes an open table after a legal break occurs. A player s designated group of balls (stripes or solids) shall not be determined until one player makes a call shot and pockets an object ball. When the table is open, it is legal to hit any of the balls, with the exception of the 8- Ball in order to pocket another ball from the opposite group, but it must still be a call shot. The 8-Ball may be utilized in a combination as long as it is NOT the first ball struck. If the 8-Ball is used first in a combination, a foul has been committed and the opponent shall be granted ball-in-hand anywhere on the table. 8. LEGAL SHOT On all shots after the break, each player must hit one of his group of balls first AND either make a call shot or cause the cue ball or any other ball to hit a rail after the shot has been attempted. It is legal for a player to hit a cushion first before hitting a ball from his group of balls, however the cue ball or another ball must still hit a rail after the shot or it shall be declared a foul and ball-in-hand for the opponent. 9. SAFETY AND DEFENSE SHOTS Safety shots are perfectly legal and because this league does not count innings, do not affect a player s shill level. Calling or playing a defense shot and then pocketing a ball shall result in loss of turn and shall become opponent s shot. It shall NOT be a ball-in-hand as long as one or more balls hit a rail after the shot has been made. MO BILLIARDS LEAGUES LLC RULES ADOPTED
10. ACCIDENTAL TOUCHING OR MOVING BALLS ON TABLE No foul will be called. Any ball that is moved by the shooter, whether by accidental or otherwise, shall be the opponent s prerogative as to allowing the offending player to move ball back to its original position or leave wherever the ball has been moved to. If the 8-Ball is pocketed in such fashion, it is a loss of the game. 11. COMBINATION SHOTS Combination shots are legal as long as shooter makes contact with his group of balls first and then at least one or more balls make contact with a rail after their ball has been initially struck first. 12. ILLEGALLY POCKETTED BALLS Any ball(s) pocketed without having been a called shot are not spotted and shall go towards the player with that group of balls score. A foul has been committed and opponent is granted the control of the table. It is NOT a ball-in-hand situation and play shall continue. 13. BALL KNOCKED TO FLOOR Any ball that is knocked off of the table shall be spotted on the center dot, with the exception of the 8-Ball which would constitute a loss of game. 14. FROZEN BALLS ON THE RAIL Once the cue ball has made contact with a frozen ball, the cue ball, the object ball or another ball must make contact with a rail. Failure to do so and a foul has been committed and their opponent is granted ball-in-hand anywhere on the table. It is up to the out-going player to call and verify that a ball is frozen prior to his opponent taking their shot. 15. JUDGEMENT/QUESTIONABLE SHOTS On any close shot where there is a potential bad hit, it is up to the opposing player to call for a time out and have another player from a different team watch the hit and make a judgment call. All judgment calls are final. 16. JUMP SHOTS A jump shot is considered any shot that is scooped up by the shaft or ferrule in an attempt to make the cue ball rise over another ball or balls. Jump shots are NOT allowed in any of the MO BILLIARDS LEAGUES play. Fouls will be called and the opponent shall be granted ball-in-hand anywhere on the table. If a player continues to attempt or the use of jump shots, they will forfeit their portion of the match and shall be referred to the Board of Ethics Committee for review. 17. PUSH SHOTS Push shots are not a legal shot and shall result in a foul and the opponent shall be granted ball-in-hand anywhere on the table. 18. INTERFERENCE 3 MO BILLIARDS LEAGUES LLC RULES ADOPTED
While the shooting player is at the table, the non-shooting player, as well as their teammates, cannot disturb, make noises, move around, nor cause distraction (sharking) in any way. All players must conduct themselves in a respectful manner or a manner consistent with that of a professional, or it may result in an Official Warning by a MO BILLIARDS LEAUES Representative or by the Board of Ethics Committee followed by the calling of a foul (ball in hand) for interference. During league play it is understood that the match is between the two players and teammates are not permitted to instruct unless called upon by the shooting player for a Rules Clarification or Time Out. 19. PLAYING OUT OF TURN If/when a player shoots out of turn and it is brought to the attention by the opponent, the opponent returns with control of the table and continues play with ball-in-hand anywhere on the table. It is the responsibility of both players to assume control of the table on their proper turn. 20. LOSS OF GAME The opponent pockets the 8-ball out of turn. Scratch on the 8-Ball or pocketed in an uncalled pocket. Shooter attempting to make 8-Ball and it is knocked off of the table. Conceding the game by opponent. Breaking down a cue prior to the end of the game, DOES NOT constitute concession of the game or match. 21. COACHING Regardless of skill level, each player shall be granted one coach per game. Please keep coaching time to within about one minute each. A coach may place the ball in position for the player but cue ball is ALIVE at all times and a foul shall result if any of the above mentioned in Rule 6 are constituted. The coach may not stand in the immediate area of the shot and must leave the area before the player takes their shot. NO MARKING of the table is allowed. 22. HANGING BALLS If an object ball hangs in a pocket and or comes to complete rest by the pocket it becomes the opponents shot. Once the opposing player approaches the table and if the ball falls in, the ball is considered to be pocketed unless that player has called that pocket prior to approaching the table (example: the bumping of the table, floor vibration, earth tremor, act of God, etc.) 23. SCORING A team member, captain or team scorekeeper make keep score, however after each game both team s scorekeeping must verify the same number of balls pocketed and same number credited to each player. All pocketed balls must drop down into table to be a scored shot. Any ball that rebounds from the pocket and back onto playing surface is not considered a pocketed ball and is still in play. This includes the cue ball as well as all other balls including the 8-Ball. 4 MO BILLIARDS LEAGUES LLC RULES ADOPTED
24. REPLAY OF GAME The replaying of a game shall only occur under the following incidences: Table malfunction; Ball or balls stuck in a pocket; Stalemate (each player intentionally fouls or scratches in 3 consecutive attempts and both players agree that further play attempts to perform with a good hit would result in immediate loss of game by either player). The player that was purposely playing the first foul in this stalemate situation would retain the break of the replayed game. 25. EQUIPMENT Only legal pool equipment is allowed, no laser sights. All equipment questions are to be taken to the league operator or league representative. Headphones or other audio devices are not allowed during a player s match by either player. 26. BYLAWS League Bylaws shall be used in conjunction with these rules and fill-in any other rulings not found within these rules. League Bylaws do not supersede the Official Rules. 27. AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDUMS Changes in the Official Rules, Amendments and Addendums may be made at any time by the League Operator or by the suggestion of the Board of Ethics Committee. Notification and effective dates shall be distributed to each team captain as well as the league representative prior to institution of such. 5 MO BILLIARDS LEAGUES LLC RULES ADOPTED