0.10 Ghost or Substitution Rule: If a team cannot field a full roster, it can use a ghost player up to 4 times during a league session to complete the roster. The ghost player must always play in the last position. Only one ghost position allowed per match. If a team is two players short, then the last position is a loss. (see scoring of forfeits below). Ghost players are chosen by the opposing team at the time of the game, different ghost players can be chosen in each round. NOTE: A teams Overall Handicap may change after each round depending on the chosen ghost players handicap. The persons handicap playing the ghost position is not impacted in anyway. NOTE: A team that is short a player may insert a player into the ghost position after the match has started as long as that player is a team member, or if a new player, within the first 6 weeks of the session. Make a note indicating which matches were played by the ghost and which matches were not. When two (2) ghost players play each other, home team has choice to put up first or last.
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0.11 Divisions Governed by Tournament Rules: 8 on the Break = spot the 8 & continue shooting or ask for a re-rack * 8-ball on the Break & Scratch = incoming player has option of spotting 8-ball with ball in hand behind head string or asking for a re-rack * 8-ball out of turn = loss of game * Pocket 8-ball and scratch = Loss of game * Pocket 8-ball in wrong pocket = loss of game * Scratch while shooting at the 8-ball (8-ball stays on table) = ball in hand to incoming player.
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0.12 Designated Choice of Balls: If high & low balls have been designated between players, and a player inadvertently plays the opposing players balls, this is a foul as long as the foul is called by the opposing player before another shot is taken. Once a player makes contact with the 2nd ball, then from that time forward that suit of balls remains that players balls as if no foul occurred. NOTE: All infractions must be called before another shot is taken, or else it will be deemed that no infraction occurred.
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0.13 9-Ball - "3 & Under" & "3 Foul Rule": A “3 and under” handicap gets spotted the 8-ball only when they play a “6.0 or above”. They may pocket the 8-ball as a set-up ball to get to the 9-ball, or by-pass the 8-ball all together. The “3 Foul Rule” is also NOT in effect for a 3 or under when playing a 6.0 or above.
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1.11 Slow Play: 45 seconds is the maximum time allowed between shots. Try to keep play moving. If a player continually abuses the 45 second rule, please make a note on the score sheet so the league office can take appropriate steps to remedy future abuses of this rule.
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1.13 Time-Outs/Coaching "1 minute": In a 5 player format, there are 4 time-outs allowed per round, 3 allowed in a 4 player format, and 2 allowed in a 3 player format. 9-ball: In a 4 player format, there are 4 time-outs per round, and 3 time-outs in 3 player format. Time-outs can be used throughout the round at the discretion of the team. One player can receive all the time-outs, or they can be spread amongst several players. Mark a “T” in the box of the current match. BOTH TEAMS SHOULD KEEP TRACK OF ALL TIMEOUTS. Any person can give a timeout, there are no restrictions except that once a timeout is called, the coach must proceed to the table without delay and cannot confer with any other team player or member during the timeout. A timeout is considered over when the coach leaves the playing area and confers with any team player. A captain or player can request a timeout. It is not a timeout, if the player chooses NOT to accept the timeout as long as that player is NOT in a shooting position. TIME-OUT FOUL. If a team has used all its timeouts in a round and a non-shooting player or captain asks the shooting player if they want a timeout when none are available. It is considered an intentional foul and will be ball in hand to the opposing player. If the player asks for a timeout when none are available it is not a foul. Just inform the player that all timeouts have been used. No person other than the shooter can touch the cue-ball or it is ball-in-hand to the opposing player.
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1.15 Scoring of Forfeits: Matches forfeited for any reason shall not result in any player scores but rather a “{WF}” and “{LF}”. In the event a match is forfeited, both teams are required to pay their weekly fees or both teams receive a forfeit loss. The team receiving the forfeit win will receive their average number of wins and loses based on that teams best 6 week average OR the team receiving the forfeit win will receive the average that all other teams in the league attained versus the forfeiting team, the calculation will be added to the teams standings the 2nd to last week of league play. The forfeiting team receives no win points and all loss points. Individual games forfeited during a match will result in a win (10 points in 8-ball, & 2 points in 9-ball) for the winning team and a “forfeit”, (0 points) for the forfeiting team. The points gained from a forfeited game do not affect a players handicap.
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1.16.1 Cue Ball Fouls Only: are ball in hand fouls. Object Ball Fouls; It is not a foul to accidentally touch stationary balls while in the act of shooting. Prior to completing the shot, the opposing player has the choice of either restoring the ball to its original position or leaving it where it lies. If the infraction occurs while in the process of shooting and a ball in motion makes its way around the table and makes contact with the ball that the infraction occurred on, it is ball in hand. If a space or alley was created by the unintentional infraction of moving an object ball and the cue ball moves through that space where the ball should have been, it is a foul and results in ball in hand. This occurrence and the outcome of such occurrence is determined by the two opposing players only—NOT by any other team mate or captain. If a satisfactory outcome cannot be agreed upon by the two players then the call goes in favor of the shooter.
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1.16.3 Third Opinion: When a shot is being made that may lead to controversy, it is the opposing players responsibility to enlist the opinion of a neutral third party BEFORE the shot is executed. All questionable hits go in favor of the shooter unless ruled otherwise by an agreed upon neutral third party.
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1.16.4 Split Hits: 8-ball: If a cue ball strikes a legal object ball and a non-legal object ball at the same time it is considered a good hit unless determined by a neutral third party asked to judge the shot. 9-ball: The lowest ball on the table must be hit first. Failure to hit the lowest ball first is a cue ball foul and results in ball in hand. Disputed hits NOT judged by a third party always go in favor of the shooter.
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3.9 Deflecting the Cue-ball on the Games Opening Break: 8-ball: On the break shot, stopping or deflecting the cue-ball after the tip of the stick makes contact with the cue-ball and prior to hitting the racked balls, is considered a foul and loss of turn. The opponent has the option of 1). receiving cue-ball in hand behind the head string or 2). passing the cue-ball in-hand behind the head string back to the offending player. NOTE: A warning must be given that a second consecutive violation during the match will result in the loss of the game by forfeiture. 9-ball: Any deflection on the break is a ball-in-hand foul.
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4.1 Object of the Game: 8-ball: Eight Ball is CALL YOUR POCKET. The details of a shot DO NOT HAVE TO BE CALLED - ONLY THE POCKET. Obvious balls do not have to be called, but banks and other non-obvious shots should be called. It is the responsibility of the opponent to politely ask for a clarification on a shot if they are uncertain about the shooters intention. 9-ball: The nine ball must be called in a pocket to win except on the break. Dropping the 9-ball inadvertently does not win the game and must be re-spotted, except on the break. 9-ball on the break wins the game. If you pocket the lowest numbered ball on the table and inadvertently pocket the 9-ball, you spot the nine and keep on shooting.
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4.3 Racking the Balls: 8-ball: Balls are racked tightly at the foot of the table at the foot spot. The 8-ball must be placed in the center of the rack, a stripe ball must be in one rear corner and a solid ball in the other rear corner. 9-ball: Balls racked in a triangle with the 1-ball placed at the top of the rack and the 9-ball in the center of the rack.
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4.5 Legal Break Shot: 8-ball: With cue ball behind the head string, the breaker must either 1). pocket a ball or 2). drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. Failure to do so is a foul. The incoming player has the option to 1). accept the table in position and begin shooting where the cue ball lies, or 2). have the balls re-racked and then may choose to either break themselves or 3). give the break back to the original breaker. 9-ball: A). The breaker must strike the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. B). If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table or the requirements for a legal break are not met, it is a foul and the incoming player has ball in hand anywhere on the table.
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4.7 Object Balls Jumped Off the Table On the Break: If an object ball jumps off the table it is a foul. The incoming player can 1). accept the balls in position, or 2). place the cue ball behind the head string and begin shooting. Rule 4.17: The jumped ball is not re-spotted.
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4.9 Open Table: The table is “open” when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has yet to be determined. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a strip or vice-versa. NOTE: The table is always open after the break. When the table is open and the 8-ball is the first ball contacted, it is a foul and no choice of balls can be determined. The shooter loses their turn and the incoming player is awarded a ball in hand, any ball pocketed remains so, and the table is still open.
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4.17 Object Balls Jumped Off the Table: 8-ball: If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the 8-ball, which is loss of game. Any object balls jumped off table are not re-spotted. 9-ball: It is a foul to drive any object ball off the table and results in ball in hand. The object ball is not re-spotted. Exception, if the object ball is the 9-ball it is spotted immediately after the infraction and before any other shot is taken.
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4.18 Jump and Masse' Shots: This rule is at the discretion of the Host Site. A legal jump shot however must strike the cue ball above the center portion of the ball - no scooping the ball.
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Divisional Playoffs: 8-BALL: Do not round team averages—the spot between averages will most likely include a decimal spot. 8-BALL/9-BALL: In the event of a tie, a tie-break round will determine the winner of the match. HEADS-UP: Round as usual. Tie-Break Round: Flip a coin to determine who will put up the first player, once chosen, the opposing team matches a player. Teams alternate putting up a player and matching a player until a winner has been determined regardless of the format you play. NOTE: In playoff play, if a match is mathematically over it’s over and no further play is required.
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