Foothill Pool League Player Handbook (08-01-17) The Foothill Pool League is a 35+-year-old independent club for organized pool competition between member teams at sponsor bars. It is run by officers who are elected at a pre-season meeting. New teams may apply to join the League at that meeting. League play is separated into a men s league that plays on Tuesday nights and a women s league that plays on Thursday nights. Each team consists of six players who form three pairs of partners. The game is doubles 8-ball with a ball-in-hand penalty for scratches and bad hits. Players pay dues of $6 each for each match. Most of the money is spent on a postseason party with free dinner and drinks, numerous door prizes, and league trophies. The sponsor bar for each match gives each player a free half-time drink and opens the pool table or provides the coins needed for League play. A full-season schedule is distributed before each season begins. It usually consists of two or more full rounds of play over 20 to 30 weeks. At the midpoint there is a midseason meeting and an All Star competition. 18 games are played in a men s league match and 12 games in a women s league match, following the order laid out on a league score sheet that is used to record the outcomes. Team standings are based on total games won. The top teams qualify for postseason playoffs that determine the overall league winners. Team standings and player statistics are published weekly. The league rules are spelled out in three parts that follow, plus the separate Playoff Rules that cover the organization of the playoffs and the special rules that apply to them. League Rules Match Rules Game Rules cover league administration and operations cover the organization of a match between two teams cover the play of each individual game 1
League Rules These rules cover league administration and operations. Rules governing the play of matches and individual games are found in Match Rules and Game Rules. Eligible Players 1. Anyone who is 21 or older may play, except for professional players and former pros. 2. Only men may play in the men s league and only women in the women s league. 3. A player who is 86ed from a sponsor bar needs permission from the owner to play there. 4. If an ineligible player is used all of his/her games will be declared forfeit. Team Captains 1. Captains are selected by their teams. 2. Captain must have a good understanding of the league rules and attend the meetings. 3. Captains run and referee regular season matches, collect and turn in league dues, complete score sheets, and handle disputes, as spelled out in the Match Rules. League Officers 1. Officers are elected at the preseason meeting. 2. Officers must have played in the league for at least three seasons. 3. Officers will hold office for four consecutive seasons before being challenged for re-election, unless they resign or are dismissed by majority vote. 4. The current officers are President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. 5. The officers run the league, dividing responsibilities as they see fit. Their responsibilities include but are not limited to: a. Establishing and maintaining the league bank account requiring two signatures for any withdrawal, monitoring deposits and financial status, and approving and reimbursing all expenditures made on behalf of the league; b. Scheduling and running the meetings and notifying team captains; c. Preparing, maintaining, and distributing league documents and records, including rules, meeting agendas and minutes, schedules, captains lists, score sheets and related instructions, and financial statements; d. Organizing and refereeing the All Star game and postseason playoffs, or designating referees as needed (see Playoff Rules re referees); e. Organizing and running the postseason party; f. Overseeing the statistician and runners; and g. Settling disputes by majority vote. Officers will recuse themselves from disputes that involve them or their teams, and the remaining officers will appoint a substitute. Statistician and Runners 1. A statistician and one or more runners are elected at the preseason meeting. There may be separate runners for the men s and women s leagues or one runner for both. 2. The runners pick up the league dues and score sheets from each host bar at the end of each night of play and deliver them to the statistician. 3. The statistician updates team standings and player statistics each week and e-mails them to a 2
league distribution list before the next week s play. 4. The statistician turns the league dues over to the Treasurer for deposit. League Dues and Payments 1. Dues are $36 per team (normally $6 per player) for each match. The full amount must be paid each league night, even if a substitute or dummy player is used or a forfeit occurs. 2. Dues, team deposits, and co-payments for t-shirts, if any, are expected to be paid in cash. 3. A check can be accepted only with the consent of an officer. 4. Any charges against the league for accepting a bad check will be reimbursed by its author. Captains/Players Meetings 1. The league officers schedule and run the captains/players meetings. 2. All players may attend and voice their opinions, but only captains and officers are eligible to vote at the meetings. 3. Men and women are entitled to vote separately on issues regarding rules of play only. 4. For a vote to pass, a quorum must be present. A quorum is the total number of the declared teams, divided by 2, plus 1, as represented by the captain (or their designated representative) of each team. 5. A preseason meeting is held 2 to 4 weeks before play begins. It addresses election of the officers, runners, and statistician; league finances; new teams and sponsors; status of suspended bars, teams, or players; proposed rule changes; scheduling of the upcoming season; All Star game plans; and any ongoing issues or concerns. 6. A midseason meeting addresses finances, All Star preparations, league t-shirts, postseason party plans, and any ongoing issues or concerns. No rules may be changed at this meeting. 7. Captains who attend both meetings, or send a team member as their alternate, are eligible for a captain s drawing, one for men and one for women, each with a $100 cash prize, at the postseason party. New Teams and Sponsor Bars 1. New sponsor bars must be admitted by majority vote at the preseason meeting. 2. New sponsors must agree to the terms of the separate Sponsor Responsibilities. 3. A team that was suspended or dropped out the previous season or does not have at least four players who played more than half of the previous season is a new team. 4. New teams must pay a deposit of $90, which is refunded if they play the entire season. 5. A bar can sponsor at most two men s and two women s teams for each table available there. Changing Bars 1. A team may change bars during the season only with permission of the officers, and only if it has irreconcilable differences with the owner or the bar closes, changes hands, loses a table, can no longer host matches, or 86es a team member. Suspensions and Dropouts 1. Teams that drop out or just stop showing up during the season will be suspended. 2. The officers may suspend a team for repeated forfeits. 3. The officers will suspend any player or team that they determine to be guilty of cheating, gambling, fighting (physical or verbal), intentional interference, repeated defensive shots (women only), or receiving monetary compensation for playing in the league. 3
4. The officers will suspend any bar that they determine to have provided monetary compensation for playing in the league. A suspended bar cannot host any league matches. 5. All suspensions last for the duration of the current season at minimum. 6. Suspended players and teams forfeit trophies, t-shirts, and postseason party attendance. 7. Suspended players, teams, or bars may be reinstated only by appearing at the preseason meeting and receiving approval by majority vote. 8. If a team drops or is suspended during the first quarter of the season, all of its matches for the entire season will be scored as byes. 9. If a team drops or is suspended after the first quarter of the season, its past match scores will stand and its future opponents will receive a forfeit score; see Forfeit under Match Rules. All Star Game 1. An All Star game is usually a mixed doubles event held on one night and scheduled for midseason, but may instead be separate men s and women s events or an alternative playing schedule as decided at the preseason meeting. 2. The location rotates through a list of eligible sponsor bars that have sufficient capacity, which is currently: Up Th Hill, American Legion, Crow's Nest, Gilligan s. If the event requires two tables, the rotation may vary. Changes are made by majority vote at the preseason meeting. 3. The officers organize and referee the event and determine the number of players and the score sheet to be used. 4. Each team sends one player of its choosing. The top few teams send two players each if necessary to fill out the desired number of players. 5. Potential substitutes for absent players may sign up at the event. Substitutes are selected as needed based on team representation and order of signup. 6. Players are divided into two teams in an objective fashion and names are drawn at random to determine partners and playing order. Team Awards The following team trophies are awarded each season in the men s and women s leagues. One trophy is awarded to each of the team s six regular players. Each trophy winner may choose not to receive their trophy by completing a Trophy Decline form distributed before the end of the regular season. Any monies saved by declining a trophy will remain in the league budget. 1. First, second, and third place team trophies as determined by the postseason playoffs. An additional trophy is provided for the sponsor bar. 2. Sportsmanship trophy for the team voted most fun to play with. 3. Turkey trophy for the team that finishes the regular season in last place. 4. Whitewash trophy for teams that win every game in a particular match. Individual Awards The following trophies are awarded to individual players each season in the men s and women s leagues. Substitutes who do not play five matches for one team are ineligible. Each trophy winner may choose not to receive their trophy by completing a Trophy Decline form distributed before the end of the regular season. Any monies saved by declining a trophy will remain in the league budget. 1. Most games won on the team, for each team. 4
2. Most 8-balls made on the team, for each team. 3. First, second, and third place in the League in games won. 4. First, second, and third place in the League in 8-balls made. 5. 8-ball break. 6. 8-ball run. 7. A Grand Slam Plaque is awarded to any player who receives one of each of the above individual trophies plus a first, second, or third place team trophy in the same season. Post-Season Party Attendance 1. Players who played at least five matches for the same team may attend and bring a guest. 2. Suspended players are not eligible to attend except as guests of other players. 3. Only players who played at least half of the season are eligible for door prizes. 5
Match Rules These rules govern the play of a match. Rules of play for individual games are in Game Rules. Captains Responsibilities 1. Team captains organize, run, and referee regular season matches. 2. A team may appoint an alternate when their captain is absent. 3. Captains collect team dues and home captains turn them in to the bar before play begins; the full team dues must be collected, even if substitutes or dummies (see below) are used. 4. Each captain completes a score sheet as follows: before play begins fill in players first and last names after each game record winner, who made 8-ball, and 8-ball break or 8-ball run if any; after the match fill in totals, confirm with opposing captain, and sign both score sheets. The home captain turns in both score sheets to the bar after they are signed. 5. Disputes should be resolved amicably when they occur. If the captains cannot agree, an officer should be called for a ruling or the disputed game should be replayed. Starting Time 1. Starting time is 7:30 pm. If players are late their captain may choose to wait until 7:45 or begin with their existing players. 2. Play must begin at 7:45 unless both captains agree to wait longer or reschedule the match. Choice of Tables 1. If a choice of tables is available, the home team captain chooses the table to be used. 2. When one bar has two matches, the home captains normally toss a coin for the choice of tables, but if only one match is ready to begin at 7:30, that home captain gets the choice. 3. The visiting captain may close other tables or equipment that (s)he regards as interference. Players and Order of Play 1. A match is played by 6 players from each team, who form 3 pairs of partners. 2. Partners alternate turns in each game, in whichever order they choose. 3. Each pair of partners plays 6 games in a men s match and 4 games in a women s match, following the order laid out on the score sheet; however if both captains agree, any particular game(s) may be played either earlier or later than shown on the score sheet. 4. If team members are absent the team can use substitutes or dummy players (see below). 5. A player who has started a match may not be replaced during the match, but a player whose first game has not yet begun may be replaced by another player, substitute, or dummy. 6. A player may play alone if no partner or dummy is available or if his/her partner cannot continue, but the lone player must forfeit any game when the missing partner s turn comes. 7. If a game is accidentally started out of order it should be stopped and the team responsible for sending up the wrong players must provide any coins needed to re-rack the balls. 8. If the game is completed before the mistake is discovered, and the same players are scheduled to play a later game with the same team breaking, the game played is counted as that later game. If there is no such later game the game played in error is simply ignored. 6
Substitutes 1. Anyone who is eligible to play in the league and not a member of any team may substitute. 2. There is no limit on the number of substitutes a team may use in any match or season. 3. A substitute may play for more than one team during a season, but only one team per week. 4. A substitute is restricted to one team after (s)he plays five matches for them. Dummy Players 1. A dummy may be used when no acceptable substitute is available. 2. A dummy s games are played by the other team members in the match, one at a time, in the order that the players are listed on the score sheet. 3. A team may use at most two dummies in a match and at most 10 dummies in a season, based on a 30+ week season. 4. Once a dummy has played in a match the team must continue using the dummy for the entire match, even if a regular player arrives later. 5. 8-ball breaks and 8-ball runs made while playing as a dummy are counted in the player s individual statistics, but games won and 8-balls made are not. 6. If two dummies are used as partners, the other four players play the dummy games in the order: 1&2, 3&4, 1&3, 2&4, and in men s matches, 1&4, 2&3, with the dummies being positioned in the 5&6 player spots. Rescheduling 1. A team that does not have enough players present may reschedule the match at the other team s bar for any mutually agreeable date and time before the next League night. 2. If the other team has six players present for the scheduled match but must use dummies on the rescheduled date, those dummies do not count against their limit for the season. 3. A rescheduled match must begin on time unless both captains agree to wait longer. 4. If agreement on rescheduling cannot be reached, the match must be played as scheduled using dummies if available and forfeiting games when no player or dummy is available. Forfeits 1. If a team cannot play or reschedule (or does not show up) they forfeit the match. 2. Both teams are expected to pay their full dues for that night. 3. The forfeiting team receives a score of 0 wins and 18 losses for men or 12 losses for women. 4. The other team receives their current seasonal average number of wins plus two, but no less than 9 wins for men s teams and 6 wins for women s teams. 5. If a team forfeits more than once the officers may suspend them for the season. Half-Time Drinks 1. At each match, including the All Star game and postseason playoffs, the host bar provides one free drink to each player after half of the games are played. 2. The free drink will be what the player was drinking prior to half-time, excluding pitchers. 7
Game Rules These rules are adopted so that the Foothill Pool League players can use the rules familiar to them. They are the final word in any dispute and will be strictly enforced by the referee during playoffs. All fouls and their penalties are listed under Fouls. Referees/Protests 1. Team captains or their alternates serve as referees for regular season matches. 2. Players are expected to follow the honor system and call their own fouls. 3. Protests must be made before the next shot is taken. Time Limit 1. There is no time limit between shots when the scheduled shooter is at the table. 2. If the scheduled shooter is absent from the table for 5 minutes the opponents may declare the game a forfeit. Advice 1. The shooter may receive advice only from teammates who are playing that night. 2. Advisors may not touch the table. Should advisor inadvertently touch the table, there is no penalty. The opposing team may advise no touching as a courtesy. 3. There is no penalty for items #1 and #2 above, however, abuse of these rules is considered unsportsmanlike conduct. (See Fouls A.8) 4. Advisors may not touch any ball. The penalty is loss of shot and ball-in-hand to the opponent. (See Fouls B.9 and B.10.) Also see Fouls A.6. if relating to shooting the 8-ball. 5. No advice or assistance may be given during the execution of a shot. The penalty is loss of turn and ball-in-hand to the opponent. (See Fouls B.7.) The Rack 1. The 8-ball must be placed in the center of the rack. 2. The head ball of the rack must rest on the foot spot. 3. The balls must be arranged so that there is an equal chance of pocketing a solid or a stripe. 4. Violation of these rules must be pointed out and corrected before the break; otherwise the rack will be assumed to be acceptable. The Break 1. The cue ball must be placed entirely behind the head string before the break. Violation of this rule must be pointed out and corrected before the break shot; otherwise the cue ball placement will be assumed to be acceptable. 2. The break is legal if it pockets an object ball or drives three balls to a rail. Otherwise it must be re-racked. 3. Scratching when no balls are hit is an illegal break and the shooter re-breaks. 4. After two consecutive illegal breaks the other team has the option to break. 5. Pocketing the 8-ball on the break without scratching or fouling wins the game. 6. Scratching or fouling while pocketing the 8-ball on the break loses the game. 7. Scratching or fouling on a legal break results in loss of turn and ball-in-hand behind the head 8
string for the opponent. The cue ball must be placed entirely behind the head string and it is a foul if it hits an object ball that is not entirely in front of the head string before it hits another ball or a rail in front of the head string. Open Table 1. The table is open on the break and remains open until a player pockets one kind of ball (solid or stripe) without scratching, fouling, or pocketing the other kind of ball on the same shot. 2. When the table is open a solid may be used as the first ball of a combination shot to pocket a stripe, or vice versa, but the 8-ball may not be used as the first ball of a combination. Legal Hit 1. When the table is open any object ball except the 8-ball can legally be hit first; otherwise only the shooter s balls (solids or stripes) are legal for this purpose. When all of the shooter s balls have been pocketed, only the 8-ball can legally be hit first. 2. For a legal hit the cue ball must hit a legal ball before any other ball and after that initial contact a ball must be pocketed or driven to a rail. 3. A ball that is frozen on a rail before the shot is not considered to be driven to that rail unless it leaves the rail and later re-contacts it. 4. If the cue ball hits two object balls nearly simultaneously so that it cannot be determined which ball was hit first, the shooter receives the benefit of the doubt. Call Pocket Men only Before the player shoots, he must designate the called ball and called pocket. He need not indicate any detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal). Hanging Ball 1. After a missed shot that leaves the cue ball, 8-ball, or shooter s ball hanging in a pocket, the opponent must wait 10 seconds after all the balls have stopped moving before shooting. 2. If a hanging ball falls within 10 seconds the credit or penalty goes to the last shooter; after 10 seconds the credit or penalty (if any) goes to the next shooter. 3. If a hanging 8-ball falls before it is called and hit by the cue ball, the shooter loses the game. 8-Ball Shot 1. After all of the shooter s balls are pocketed (s)he may attempt to pocket the 8-ball. 2. The shooter must call the intended pocket clearly, and the opponent must acknowledge it, before the 8-ball shot is attempted. 3. The shooter wins if the 8-ball is pocketed where called with no scratch or foul. 4. The shooter loses if the cue ball scratches or if the 8-ball is pocketed: a) without being called and acknowledged; b) in another pocket than the one called; or c) while committing any foul. 5. If the 8-ball is not pocketed and the cue ball does not scratch the game proceeds and any foul is handled as described below. 9
Defensive Shots Men only Defensive shots are allowed. Women: 1. Players must make an honest effort to pocket their balls and run the table on every turn. 2. Defensive shots where a player purposely misses in order to hook the opponent are illegal. 3. It is legal to attempt only to make a legal hit and avoid scratching in situations where it is very difficult to do so. 4. The deciding factor is whether the shooter s primary intent was to pocket a ball and continue running the table, to make a difficult legal hit without scratching, or to hook the opponent. 5. Some considerations that may help to judge the shooter s intent are: a. Was the object ball hit hard enough to reach a pocket? b. How difficult was the shot that was missed? c. Did the shooter attempt to get position for another shot? d. Was the cue ball position predictable, like after a stop shot or a soft tap, or unpredictable, after colliding with multiple balls and/or rails? e. Did the shooter bypass a more logical shot in favor of a much more difficult one that was sure to hook the opponent? 6. Because it is sometimes difficult to judge the intent, no immediate penalty is assessed for an alleged defensive shot. Complaints should be made to the league officers for assessment. 7. If a complaint is upheld the player and the team captain will be warned. 8. If complaints are upheld against the same player from three matches, (s)he will be suspended. Ball-in-Hand 1. Most fouls result in loss of turn and ball-in-hand to the opponent (see below). 2. On ball-in-hand the cue ball may be placed anywhere on the table and shot in any direction. 3. The cue ball may be repositioned with the side of the cue but not with the tip. Fouls A. The following fouls result in loss of game. 1. Shooting out of turn. 2. Absence of the scheduled shooter after five minutes at the opponents option. 3. Intentional interference; accidental interference is the shooter s responsibility. 4. Pocketing the 8-ball after the break: a) before pocketing all of the shooter s balls (solids or stripes); b) without calling the pocket; or c) in a pocket other than the one called. 5. Scratching or committing any foul listed below while pocketing the 8-ball. 6. Women only - Picking up the cue ball when it is not ball-in-hand and the shooter is on the 8- ball. 7. Knocking the 8-ball off the table. 8. Unsportsmanlike conduct, as judged by both team captains or by the referee during playoffs. The referee may also eject a player from a playoff match for unsportsmanlike conduct. 10
B. The following fouls result in loss of turn and ball-in-hand to the opponent. 1. Scratching the cue ball. 2. Failing to make a legal hit. 3. Committing a head-string violation after a scratch on the break. 3. Shooting while any ball is still moving or spinning. 4. Failing to allow 10 seconds for a hanging ball to fall. 5. Visibly hitting the cue ball twice on one shot. 6. Intentionally jumping the cue ball. 7. Receiving instructions while aiming a shot. 8. Marking the table in any way (including placement of chalk) to assist in aiming a shot. 9. Picking up any object ball from the table. 10. Picking up the cue ball when it is not ball-in-hand. Women only - if shooting the 8-ball, see "Fouls A.6." 11. Failing to keep at least one foot on the floor while shooting. 12. Traveling, where the cue remains visibly in contact with the cue ball after initial contact. 13. Knocking any ball other than the 8-ball off the table. If it is the shooter s ball it is placed on the foot spot, or directly below the foot spot if other balls are in the way. If it is the opponents ball it is pocketed. 14. Touching a moving ball with the cue, hand, chalk, etc. 15. Touching any ball with the cue, hand, chalk, etc., if the ball moves over two inches or hits a rail or another ball. In this case, the balls remain where they are. If the ball moves under two inches or does not hit a rail or another ball, the ball is returned to its original position and no foul occurs. 2 is determined by point of contact of the ball on the table (the center of the ball) from start to finish. On ball-in-hand, the cue ball may be repositioned with the side of the cue but not with the tip. Note that push shots and masse shots are not fouls. 11