BRADFORD COUNTY POOL LEAGUE GENERAL RULES STARTING TIMES: All league matches are to begin by 7:00 p.m. A fifteen (15) minute grace period will be allowed for late arriving teams. If a team cannot field the required minimum of two (2) shooters by 7:15 p.m., that team must forfeit all points (15) for the night. Exceptions to this rule may be made upon agreement of the captain of the team able to field enough shooters. The match may be started prior to 7:00 p.m., if both teams are in agreement. LEAGUE TREASURY: The league treasury will be funded a total of $30.00 collected from each team for every night of league competition. *Please note: If a team is required to play with less than five (5) shooters, they must still pay the total of $30.00 for the entire match. NEW TEAM ENTRIES: Any new team that wants to enter a roster at the beginning of any new season must pay $100 to the league treasurer as a registration fee. The money will be refunded if the team is still in active competition at the end of the season. Any team dropping from competition before the end of the season will forfeit their $100 registration fee. A NEW TEAM is described as any team or team sponsor that was not in the league during the previous season. # OF TEAMS PER ESTABLISHMENT: Up to a maximum of two (2) teams per table per establishment are allowed if there is adequate shooting distance (10 feet between tables). This will be under the discretion of the Grievance Committee if there is a complaint. The tables at the bar must be bar box sized tables. TEAM ROSTERS: All players must be at least 21 years of age. A team roster may consist of no more than ten (10) people, but not less than five (5) people at any time during the season. However, a team may play an entire match with as few as two (2) shooters, but must forfeit one (1) match point for each match they are unable to field a shooter. The shooter receiving the forfeit also must be present at the time the game is forfeit. Teams playing with less than ten (10) members on the roster are allowed to add new shooters to a maximum of ten (10). When a team adds an eleventh shooter, they must remove one current member from their roster. That member removed may not shoot again in the current season for that team. Teams may add new member until the half way point of the season. All shooters must use their legal name on the roster sheet, NO NICKNAMES. SCHEDULING MATCHES: Before the start of any round of matches, the captain or co-captain of the HOME TEAM must PRINT the names of five (5) shooters, but not less than two (2), in the spaces provided under HOME TEAM. He then gives the score sheet to the VISITING TEAM captain or co-captain for matches. The visiting team captain must be careful in rounds 2 and 3 as to not make any duplicate matches. No two opposing shooters can shoot each other more than once in three (3) rounds. If it happens and escapes notice until after the match is completed, then it must remain on the records as is.
BAD WEATHER MATCHES: If a match is postponed by bad weather, both teams must agree to a time to play the make-up match within two (2) weeks of the postponed match or both teams will forfeit (no points). The captain calling off a match must call the opposing team captain by 5:00 pm night of the match. MOVING TO ANOTHER TEAM: Players may move to another team only if the team they are moving to is ranked lower or tied with the team they are leaving in the weekly standings during the week of movement. The player s personal average will not change with the move. Players are allowed one (1) move per season and it must be during the first half of the season. TEAM CAPTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: Each team must designate one member as TEAM CAPTAIN. The captain will be responsible for the following: 1. Captains will collect $30 from their team for the night of shooting. 2. Captains are responsible for delivery of the score sheet and game money to the designated collection point (Finlan s Tavern) by the following Monday at 5 p.m. Any team that does not have their sheet / money turned in on time will be penalized a $10 fine from their winnings at the end of the season. 3. Captains will be held accountable for the condition of the score sheet. PLEASE PRINT. NO PROFANITY, NO PHOTOCOPIES, MUST BE SIGNED BY CAPTAINS AND DESIGNATED DELIVERER. 4. Captains should watch all shots during league competition and act as referees in any discussions over controversial situations. 5. All captains are required to attend all league meetings, usually held at the American Legion in Towanda. If the captain cannot attend, they must send a substitute. LEAGUE MEETINGS: All teams will be required to attend league meetings. Teams must be represented by at least one team member. All league members are encouraged to attend, but teams will only carry the weight of one vote regardless of how many members they have in attendance. If a team fails to provide representation, that team will be fined $20. Monies to be deducted from their end of the year winnings. CONTROVERSIES: Any controversies should be given every effort to resolve. Both team captains should agree on a final solution and if not then the game should be restarted. FORFEITING A GAME: All spaces on the score sheet do not have to be filled with a shooter s name. If a team is lacking a shooter/shooters, leave the space blank on the score sheet or write forfeit in the space. The player on the opposing team will receive a win but he or she must also be present at the time of the forfeit. The player receiving a win can only receive one win by forfeit per night, but the team will be credited with all wins received by forfeit no matter the amount. Any team that forfeits and entire match (all fifteen games) for any reason will have to pay for their and the opposing team s weekly fee ($60 total) and be penalized $20 from their team winnings at the end of the year. If a team forfeits all 15 games, the opposing team will receive 15 wins for the team and 1 individual win for every shooter that are present. Double forfeited games will result in a win for neither team.
DROPPING OUT OF THE LEAGUE: For teams that drop out of the league after the start date, all players will drop to an average of zero and any individual or team win/loss record will be reversed. If the team drops from the league but an individual player stays in the league, that player will be allowed to remain in the league but he will start out with a clean slate, zero average, on their new team. The new team this person plays for must have a lower average than the team that was dissolved. HARASSMENT: Harassment of any kind or form will not be tolerated. Harassment may be defined as: 1. Shouting obscenities or any jesters of obscene nature while a match is in progress. 2. Obvious loud talking by opposing team members with the intention of disruption the shooter at the table. Any issues of this type that the captains cannot resolve, please make a note on the score sheet for this to be brought to the attention of the Grievance Committee. DISPURSMENT OF PRIZE MONEY: All money to be paid out will be made by check to the individual or team. For team prize money, the team name as well as the captain s name will be noted on the check. The top ten shooters will receive a jacket or $50. In addition, the top three shooters will receive $100 (1 st ), $75 (2 nd ), and $50 (3 rd ). Shooters must shoot 2/3 of the total games to be eligible for top twenty honors. TIE-BREAK RULES: Team tie breaks will be determined by the head to head match results from the regular season. There are no tie breaks for individuals. If there is a tie for a position that receives an award or payout, both players will receive the designated award and or payout. LEAGUE BANQUET: At the half way meeting the league will vote on a banquet committee and set a date for a league meeting to vote on a banquet date and venue. The league has established the position of a tournament supervisor, responsible for setting up and running the league tournaments. The tournament supervisor can not participate in the league tournaments and will be paid $100 and a meal ticket for them and one guest. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE: Each year the league shall vote on the members of the committee to be responsible for resolving conflicts and disputes throughout the season. Legal Balls: A home team may change out the standard table balls or cue ball for a new set of balls or cue ball as long as the new balls or cue ball are APA legal and the opposing team has at least ½ hour of practice time with the new balls or cue ball. An opposing team may ask to swap out the standard table balls or cue ball with new balls or cue ball. If home team agrees to swap then it is OK, if not the match must proceed with the standard balls. All teams must have at least ½ hour of practice with new balls or cue ball. League Punishments: League punishments are handed down by the grievance committee in season. If punishment is being handed out before the season, it will be voted on at the opening league meeting. If punishment is decided to be a ban, the ban will be for a minimum of 3 years for first offense. If a member is every put up for a ban a second time, it is for life.
8-BALL GAME RULES (B.C.A. VERSION) 1) OBJECT OF THE GAME: The game is Call Shot and is played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15. One player must pocket the balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 (solid colors) while the other player has to pocket balls numbers 9 through 15 (striped). The player pocketing his group first, then legally pocketing the 8-ball, wins the game. 2) CALL SHOT: In Call Shot, to legally pocket an object ball, the player is required to physically indicate by pointing or verbally calling, in advance of each shot, the object ball to be made and the pocket into which it will be made. When calling the shot, it is NEVER necessary to indicate details such as cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. Failure to call the pocket or failure to sink the object ball into the designated pocket is a loss of a turn, NOT A FOUL. If the object ball is pocketed as called, then any other object ball(s) that is pocketed is legal and remains pocketed. If the called object ball is not legally pocketed and other object ball(s) are pocketed, then the shooter s object balls that were pocketed will remain pocketed. 3) 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 is on the foot-spot a strip-ball in one corner of the rack and a solid-ball in the opposite corner. 4) LEGAL BREAK SHOT: To execute a legal break, the shooter (with the cue ball behind the head-string) must either: a. Pocket a ball, or b. Drive four numbered balls to the rail. If the shooter fails to make a legal break, it is not a foul. However, the opponent has the option of: a. Accepting the table position and shooting, or b. Having the balls re-racked and shooting the opening break themselves. It is not necessary to hit the head ball (the ball on the foot-spot) to initiate a legal break. 5) CHOICE OF GROUP: The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from one or both groups. THE TABLE IS ALWAYS OPEN IMMEDIATELY AFER THE BREAK SHOT. The choice of group is only determined when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot. 6) OPEN TABLE: The table is OPEN when the choice of groups (solids or stripes) 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 use the 8-ball first to make a combination shot.
7) 8-BALL POCKETED ON THE BREAK: Making the 8-ball on a break will be neither a win nor loss, but the shooter will be allowed to determine whether it will be a re-rack or the 8-ball is to be spotted, with the same shooter staying at the table. If you scratch on the break and make the 8-ball, the incoming shooter will be allowed to determine whether it will be a rerack or the 8-ball is to be spotted. It will be the incoming shooter s shot behind the head string. 8) SCRATCHING ON A LEGAL BREAK: If a player scratches on a legal break shot: a. All balls pocketed remain pocketed, except the 8-ball which is spotted. b. It is a FOUL. c. The table is open. NOTE: The incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string. In order to hit a ball behind the head string, he must shoot the cue ball to some point outside the head string and then hit an object ball behind the head string. 9) HEAD STRING RULE: Whenever the incoming player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string, and all of his object balls (or the 8-ball if he is shooting at that) are within the head string, his object ball closest to the head string can be spotted on the foot spot, or he can elect to shoot the cue ball outside of the head string and back to the head string to strike his object ball. This is the player s choice. If two balls appear to be of equal distance from the head string, the incoming player may choose which one is to be spotted. 10) NO HEAD STRING FOUL: If the player places the cue ball in front of the head string, the referee or opponent must ask the player to move the cue ball behind the head string. No foul will be committed if the player complies with the request or no request was made. The base of the object ball (the point where the ball touches the table) determines whether or not it is playable. Specifically, the base of the object ball must be outside the head string (toward the foot of the table) to be playable. As the referee for a decision if there is any doubt. 11) LEGAL SHOT: On all shots (except on the break and when the table is open) the shooter must hit one of his group of ball first and then: a. Pocket a called object ball, or b. Cause the cue ball or any object ball (his or one of his opponent s) to contact a rail. NOTE: It is okay for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a cushion before contacting his object ball. However, after the cue ball contacts the object ball either the object ball must be pocketed or any object ball must contact a rail. 12) ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS: An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when that object ball is pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed or the called ball did not go in the designated pocket. All illegally pocketed balls remain off the table.
13) SCORING: After a player has legally pocketed his group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8-ball. The player who legally pockets the 8-ball first is awarded one (1) point for their team. 14) PLAYING A SAFETY: A player may call a SAFE rather than shoot an object ball for defensive purposes. A SAFE is legal provided it meets the definition of a legal shot described above. 15) FOULS: The following infractions are considered fouls: a. Failure to execute a legal shot as described above. b. A scratch shot (shooting the cue ball into a pocket or jumping off the table). c. A scratch shot on a legal break. d. Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor. e. Moving or touching any ball by means other than legal play. If it is determined that a ball was moved intentionally, it will be moved back to its original position as close as possible by the opponent of the shooter moving the ball. f. Shooting a jump shot over another ball by scooping the cue stick under the cue ball is a foul. A jump shot executed by striking down on the cue ball from above center is legal. g. In organized competition (league or tournament play) if a team member advises or coaches another team member who is the shooter at the time, it is a foul on the team member shooting. NOTE: A player does not commit a foul when he/she accidentally miscues and causes the cue ball to jump above the surface of the table. 16) 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 on the opening break). This rule prevents opponents from making intentional fouls which would put his opponent at a disadvantage. With cue ball in hand the player may position the cue ball on the table by hand (more than once, if necessary). After placing the cue ball, the shaft or ferrule of the cue stick (not the tip) may also be used for positioning the cue ball for the next shot. 17) COMBINATION SHOTS: Combination shots are allowed provided they meet the criteria of a legal shot described above, that is, the first object ball in the combination must be one of his/her group of balls. The 8-ball cannot be used as a first ball in the combination except when the table is open. 18) OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE: If any ball is jumped off the table, it is a miss and loss of turn, not a foul. The shooter s object ball(s) is spotted and any opponent s jumped balls will be pocketed. 19) OBJECT BALL ON EDGE OF POCKET ( B.C.P.L. RULES ): When an object ball sitting on the edge of a pocket falls by itself, without any other contact from either another ball or a player s stick or part of his/her body, then that ball will remain pocketed. If the ball drops while you are shooting but you failed to execute a legal shot and the ball that fell belongs to your group of balls, it DOES NOT entitle you to continue shooting. If the ball on the edge is
the 8-ball, and it falls by natural causes, then the game must be replayed from the beginning. 20) SPOTTING BALLS: Whenever an object ball is to be spotted, the object ball is placed on the long string as close behind the foot spot as possible and shall be frozen to any ball except the cue ball. Balls to be spotted against the cue ball are placed as close to the cue ball as possible without being frozen. 21) BALL FROZEN TO A CUSHION: A frozen object ball must be declared by the opponent before the shooter attempts the shot. When playing a shot where the object ball has been declared frozen on a cushion, the cue ball must contact the frozen ball and then: a. Pocket the frozen ball or any other object ball, or b. Drive the frozen object ball to another cushion, or c. Drive the cue ball to another cushion, or d. Drive another object ball to any cushion. 22) DOUBLE HIT: If the cue ball is touching your object ball prior to the shot, the player may shoot towards it with a level cue, providing that his cue stick strikes rather than pushes the cue ball. If the cue ball is close, but not frozen to the object ball, the cue must be elevated to a 45 degree angle when shooting in the general direction of the line of the two balls. A level cue may be used if aiming 45 degrees or more off the line of the two balls. 23) PLAYING THE 8-BALL: When shooting the 8-ball, the player should clearly designate by verbally calling or physically pointing to the intended pocket, even if it appears to be obvious. If the opposing player or referee is still not aware of where the shooter intends to pocket the 8-ball, then he/she must ask the shooter which is the intended pocket before the player shoots the 8-ball. If the shooting player fails to call the 8-ball pocket, it is the responsibility of the opposing player or referee to ask which is the intended pocket before the shooter shoots the 8-ball. NOTE: If the shooting player pockets the 8-ball without designating the pocket and the opposing player or referee did not question which is the intended pocket, the shooting player wins the game. 24) LOSS OF GAME: A player loses the game if he/she commits any of the following infractions: a. Fouls when pocketing the 8-ball. b. Pockets the 8-ball when it is not the legal object ball. c. Pockets the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls. d. Jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time. e. Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one designated. NOTE: When shooting the 8-ball, a scratch or foul is not a loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table. 25) STALEMATED GAME: If neither player attempts to legally pocket a ball in three ( 3 ) consecutive turns at the table by each player (six turns total), then the game is considered a stalemate. The balls will be re-racked and the breaker of the stalemated game will break again.
NOTE: Three ( 3 ) consecutive fouls by one player is not a loss of game. 26) DISQUALIFICATION: The league or tournament director has the right to disqualify any player(s) from competition and the player(s) forfeit the right to prize money and/or any other awards for unsportsman-like conduct or tactics detrimental to the league or tournament. Any unsportsman-like conduct that cannot be resolved by the team captains, please make a notation on the score sheet for the situation to be addressed by the Grievance Committee. 27) SPECTATOR COACHING: Spectators on the sidelines will not be allowed to advise or coach a player during organized competition. If after asking a spectator not to coach a player he continues to do so, the referee(s) may ask the spectator to leave the tournament area. 28) SHOOTING TIME RULE: If in the opinion of the referee a player is impeding the progress of the tournament or game with consistently slow play, the referee can warn the player and then at his/her discretion, impose a one minute time limit for that person between shots. If a referee imposes a one minute time limit and that limit is exceeded, a FOUL will be called and the incoming player shall have ball in hand. 29) SHOOTING AT THE WRONG BALLS: If at a point in the game a player starts shooting at the wrong balls, his opponent must call a foul immediately. The opponent cannot intentionally let the shooter to continue shooting at the wrong balls. If the opponent does not call an immediate foul, the game must be stopped and restarted. If the opponent is not paying attention while the shooter is shooting at the wrong balls and the shooter pockets more than two opponent s balls, an observer may step in to call the foul and the game will be restarted or when the foul is finally noticed the game must be restarted. 30) SHOOTER ACCIDENTLY BUMPED DURING SHOT: If a shooter is accidently bumped during his/her shot by a spectator or opponent, the balls will be replaced as closely to their original spots as determined by the two shooters involved in the game. If the balls cannot be replaced or placement cannot be agreed upon, the game will result in a re-rack with the same shooter breaking.