RULES OF PLAY 1. GENERAL RULES 1.1 Cue Ball in Hand When the cue ball is in band, the shooter may place the cue ball anywhere on the playing surface and may continue to move the cue ball until he executes a shot. Players may use any part of the cue stick to move the cue ball, except the tip. For break shots, placement of the cue ball will be restricted to the area behind the head string. 1.2 Call Shot The intended ball and pocket must be verbally indicated for each shot. If the shooter fails to verbally call their intended ball and pocket, it will result in a foul (see section 4.2). It is the shooter’s responsibility to ensure their opponent has heard the intended called shot prior to execution. Details of the shot, such as cushions struck or other balls contacted or pocketed are irrelevant. Only one ball may be called on each shot. For a called shot to count, the referee (opponent, captain or designated referee) must be satisfied that the intended shot was made, so if there is any chance of confusion, e.g. with bank, combination and similar shots, the shooter should indicate the ball and pocket. If the referee or opponent is unsure of the shot being called, he/she may ask shooter for clarification. 1.3 Concession If a player concedes, he loses the match. For example, if a player unscrews his jointed playing cue stick while the opponent is at the table and during the opponent’s decisive rack of a match, it will be considered a concession of the match. 2. PRIOR TO PLAY 2.1 Table of Play All fifteen games will be played on one table. If more than one table is available, the host captain will pick the table to be used. If two teams are host, the team with the highest average of the host bar will determine which table is to be used. 2.2 Practice Time The host team shall ensure that the table(s) to be used in that night’s play are available to the visiting team(s) one-half hour prior to the start of normal play, to allow them practice time on the game table. 2.3 Referees Players will referee their own games. In addition, each of the team captains (or their designate) will also referee each game in an effort to reduce unnecessary conflict. 2.4 Determining Break A flip of the coin will decide which player has the option to break. A member of the host team who will not be playing in the current game will flip the coin. The current player from the visiting team shall call the toss. The winner of the coin toss has the option to break or rack. The team which will rack must provide a referee or player to rack the balls; a player of that game shall not rack. 3. THE BREAK 3.1 Cue Ball Placement On any break, the cue ball must be behind the head string. 3.2 Legal Breaks To constitute a legal break. EITHER a ball must drop into a pocket, OR any three balls must each hit a rail (may include the cue ball). If neither happens, the opponent has the choice of: a. accepting the table in position, or b. breaking themselves, the table must be re-racked by the opposing team, or c. allowing the first shooter to re-break, the table must be re-racked by the opposing team. 3.3 Eight Ball Break Making the Eight Ball on the break wins the game. (Unless you scratch the cue ball, which loses.) 3.4 Jumped Balls On Break If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it is a foul; such balls remain out of play (except the eight ball which is re-spotted); and the incoming player has the option of: a. accepting the table in position, or b. taking cue ball in hand behind the head string. A cue ball jumped off the table on the break is a foul, the incoming player takes ball in hand behind the head string and the table is considered open. 3.5 Scratching On The Break If a player scratches on the break, it is a foul. The incoming player receives ball in hand behind the head string and the table is considered open. A mis-cue resulting in an illegal break is not considered a foul; the incoming player has the option of: a. breaking themselves, the table must be re-racked by the opposing team, or b. allowing the first shooter to re-break, the table must be re-racked by the opposing team. 3.6 Open Table After The Break After a legal break has been performed, the table is considered to be open. Regardless of what balls may have been pocketed during the break-shot. 4. DURING PLAY 4.1 Choosing Groups Before groups are determined, the table is said to be “open,” and before each shot, the shooter must call his intended ball. If the shooter legally pockets his/her called ball, the corresponding group becomes his, and his opponent is assigned the other group. If he/she fails to legally pocket his/her called ball, the table remains open and play passes to the other player. When the table is “open, any object ball may be struck first except the eight ball. 4.2 Standard Fouls If the shooter commits a foul, play passes to his opponent. The cue ball is in hand, and the incoming player may place it anywhere on the playing surface. (Sec 1.1 Cue Ball in Hand.) (See Section 6 for a listing of standard fouls.) 4.3 Fouls Not Called Any foul not called before the next stroke is taken is considered to have not occurred. The failure to call a foul on any previous shot does not restrict the ability to call a similar foul on any future shot. 4.4 Eight Ball In Combinations The Eight Ball may be used in combinations so long as the first ball hit by the cue ball is one of the shooting player’s group. 4.5 Bridge / Extender Use Use of a bridge and / or an extension is allowed. 4.6 Shooting The Eight Ball When shooting the Eight Ball, the shooter must verbally call the pocket to the referees. There are no obvious Eight Ball shots. Pocketing the Eight Ball in an unintended pocket, scratching the cue ball on an Eight Ball shot, or jumping the cue ball and/or Eight Ball off the table will constitute a loss for the shooter. 4.7 Massé Shots Massé shots are legal shots as long as the cue ball does NOT leave the playing surface. A Massé shot is defined as when a cue ball is struck off-center with a cue stick held almost vertically. The cue ball curves greatly on its path, often with a sudden, dramatic change of speed in the middle of the shot. 5. PLAYER CONDUCT 5.1 Gambling Gambling on league games is not allowed. 5.2 Ejection From Bar If you are “86’d” from a bar, it is the bar owner’s option whether or not you will be permitted to play in the remaining games for that night. 5.3 Coaching Coaching is generally prohibited, and will result in a foul being called on the offending team’s current player. Once per game, and once per player, the person shooting may call a time-out to the referee. They may then ask one of their team members for shot advice. The player asking for advice must clearly call a lime-out to the opposing team’s referee and step away from the table. 5.4 Disturbances By Non-Players During any game, all players not shooting his/her turn shall remain away from the table, as not to disturb the player shooting. Any disturbance by a player on either team during the game will receive one warning from the opposing team referee. If the disturbance persists, a foul will be called on the offending team’s current player. 5.4.1 The deliberate tossing or placing of any foreign object on the surface of the pool table while a game is in session will result in a forfeit of the current game. 6. FOULS Any shot producing an occurrence below will result in a foul (See Sec 4.2). 6.1 Cue Ball Scratch/Jumped Cue Ball A scratch is a foul. The incoming player receives ball in hand. A cue ball jumped off the table is a foul. The incoming player receives ball in hand. (Unless it was on the Break Shot. See sec. 3.5 Scratching On Break) 6.2 Wrong Ball First It is a foul to hit any object ball with the cue ball that is not part of the shooting player’s group, except when the table is open (see Sec 4.1 Choosing Groups). If groups have not been assigned any object ball except the eight ball can be hit first. 6.3 No Rail after Contact After hitting an object ball, if a ball is not pocketed, any ball must contact a rail. 6.4 No Foot on Floor When a player takes a shot, they must have at least one foot in contact with the floor. 6.5 Ball Driven off the Table Any ball driven off the table as the result of a shot taken will be placed on the foot spot. (Where the head ball of a rack is set.) If there is no room for a ball to be placed on the foot spot, then the ball is to be placed directly behind it, and so forth. 6.6 Touched Ball Any ball that is moved accidentally or otherwise by a player’s body, clothing or equipment that is not part of a legal shot is considered a Touched Ball. 6.7 Double Hit/Frozen Balls/Push Shot Hitting the cue ball twice in one shot is considered a double hit. Balls that are frozen together must be hit at a 45 degree angle to either side or from a top down angle in order to avoid the double hit. 6.8 Balls Still Moving It is a foul to take a shot while any balls from the previous shot are still in motion. 6.9 Bad Cue Ball Placement It is a foul to shoot the cue ball from anywhere except the flat surface of the game table. When taking a shot “in the kitchen” the cue ball must be behind the head string. 6.10 Bad Play from Behind the Head String When a shot is to be taken “in the kitchen” or from behind the head string, the cue ball must be shot entirely from behind the head string. Any rail or object ball touched first must also be entirely past the head string. 6.11 Playing out of Turn Players taking a shot when it is not their turn will result in a foul. 6.12 Jumped Shots Jumped shots are not allowed. A jumped shot occurs when the shooter intentionally causes the cue ball to leave the playing surface in order to jump over an obstacle which is obstructing the path to the object or target ball.