Match Rules

General

All matches are played to Blackball Rules, and break decided on first frame by lag after which teams break alternately for the rest of the match.

League Matches

Away team selects their players first for each section of the match and then the home teams selects their player. Captains are responsible to update the scores after every frame including break dishes or reverse dishes as determined by the division played.

NB: Premier Division: An 8 Ball clearance can only be claimed if a player makes a clearance from the break- Recorded as a Break Dish or  from their first visit after a dry break by their opponent. Recorded as a Reverse Dish.

Other Divisions: An 8 Ball clearance can be claimed when a player has potted all 8 balls consecutively at any point during the frame. If not done direct from the break all such clearances should be recorded as a Reverse Dish.

Referees

Home team allocate a referee for games 1, 3 & 5, away teams referee games 2 & 4.

League Cup, League Plate & Divisional Cups

The order for the home team stays 1,2,3,4,5 for all sections. Order for away team is 1,2,3,4,5 for 1st section, 3,4,5,1,2 for 2nd section and 5,1,2,3,4 for 3rd section. Captains are responsible to update the scores after every frame. 

Singles, Singles Plate, Ladies Singles & Captains Cup

Players to referee their own games.  Players are responsible to update the scores after every frame. Matches are played to a deadline set out in the league fixtures and on the website. All matches are Best of 9 (First to 5) except for the open singles semi-final which is Best of 11 (First to 6) and final which is Best of 13 (First to 7) and the Captains Cup final which is Best of 11 (First to 6). Entry to the singles plate is for losers in the prelim and 1st round of the main open singles. From the 2024/25 season the plate event that players are entered into will depend on the team they are registered to: If a Premier division team (Singles Plate) or if signed to a non premier division team then to the Bi-Divisional Plate.

Doubles and Mixed Doubles

Players to referee their own games.  All matches are scotch doubles with alternating shots by each player. This can be reset at the beginning of each frame. Discussion is only allowed prior to a pairs visit to the table, the player whose shot it is touching the table is the sign of this, except for after the break when discussion is allowed ahead of the next shot. The players who lag become the first players for their doubles team.  Players to stay in order throughout each frame.  Break to alternate as follows:

Team A: Player 1, Team B: Player 1, Team A: Player 2, Team B: Player 2.

Players are responsible to update the scores after every frame. Matches are played to a deadline set out in the league fixtures and on the website. All matches are Best of 9 (First to 5) except for the doubles final which is Best of 11 (First to 6) 

Triples

Players to referee their own games.  The match ends when a team wins 5 frames.

Players are responsible to update the scores after every frame. . Matches are played to a deadline set out in the league fixtures and on the website.

Champion of Champions

On finals day we have a Champions of Champions match between the top Hotshots performers for both the Premier Division and the First Division. To qualify for this match all players must have played in 75% of league games. 

A playoff will take place if either division has more than one entrant at the top of Hotshots with frames won, or if the player with the highest averages is not the player with most frames won. If any division has more than 2 entrants then a blackball shootout takes place to get to a final 2 for that division. Any divisional play off required takes place on Finals day and is a Best of 5 (First to 3) and then the Champion of Champions match is played which is Best of 7 (First to 4).