This document was last updated at the 2024 AGM.

RULES OF PLAY

1.0 The Object of 8 Ball Pool

1.1          The game is played with two groups of seven balls, a black ball and a cue ball.  The groups may be unmarked red and yellow balls or two numerical groups of 1-7 plain balls and 9-15 striped balls.  Pro Cup balls may also be used if both teams agree. For simplicity the rules will refer to red and yellow balls. The groups are known as object balls. The player successfully pocketing his/her colour group and then legally pocketing the black ball shall win the game.

 

2.0 Start of Play

2.1          The object balls are racked alternate red and yellow balls around the sides with the black ball, in the centre of the third row, on the spot (at the intersection of the centre and corner pockets).

2.2          A nominated referee (see Rule 8.0), alternately provided by the home and away teams, is responsible for controlling the game. He/she is to ensure that the players are acquainted with the rules and all aspects of their application.

2.3          The order of play is decided by coin flip. The nominated referee will use a legitimate coin, flipping the coin after giving the opposition the decision of side.

2.4          No player is to place their chalk on the pool table before or during their opponent's shot.  If a player does so then the referee is to remind the player to remove it before his/her opponent plays their shot.

2.5          The opening player plays at the triangle of object balls using the cue ball from anywhere on or behind the baulk line.

2.6          The opening player must pocket a ball or drive at least two object balls to hit a cushion.  Failure to do so will give the opponent the choice of either:

  1. Asking the opening player to re-break; or
  2. Taking two shots and a free table him/herself from where the cue ball now lies, or asking the referee to remove it and play from anywhere on or behind the baulk line. After the free shot (Rule 5.0) he/she will nominate a colour group (asked by the referee) before proceeding to play on. (Rule 4.19).

2.7          Actions during a break:

  1. If an object ball is pocketed, it is then a choice of the player to nominate the colour they desire by notifying the referee.
  2. If no object balls are pocketed from a legal break, then the players continue alternately until one of the following three Rules applies.

2.8          If a foul is committed in open play with no object balls pocketed, the opponent will proceed as per Rule 4.1, and     after the free shot (Rule 5.0) he/she will nominate a colour group (asked by the referee) before proceeding to play on.

2.9          On the first occasion a player legally pockets an object ball then that ball denotes his/her colour group; unless he/she legally pockets a combination of red and yellow object balls then he/she will nominate a colour group (asked by the referee) before proceeding to play on.

2.10          If a foul is committed on the first occasion a player pockets an object ball or a combination of red and yellow object balls then those balls are ignored, and the opponent will proceed as per Rule 4.1, and after the free shot (Rule 5.0) he/she will nominate a colour group (asked by the referee) before proceeding to play on.

2.11        Should the black ball be pocketed or leave the table from the break, no penalty is incurred and the balls are re-racked and the break shot repeated.

 

3.0 Scoring

3.1          If a ball(s) is legally pocketed then the player is entitled to an additional shot. This continues until he/she fails to pocket one of his/her colour group, pockets the black ball to win the game or commits any foul under Rule 4.0.

 

4.0 Fouls

4.1          Following any foul, the offending player loses his/her next turn at the table and his/her opponent is entitled to a free shot (see Rule 5.0).  The offended player can either elect to play the cue ball from where it lies on the table or he/she can ask the referee to remove it and play from anywhere on or behind the baulk line (Rule 10.2).

Moving the cue ball is the sole responsibility of the referee.  He/she must at least touch it or pick it up before a player can handle it.  If a player touches or picks up the cue ball before the referee (except if the cue ball is off the bed of the table - Rule 4.10), then it will be a foul.

All the following cases are regarded as a foul:

4.2          ‘In Off’.  Pocketing the cue ball.

4.3          Hitting an opponent's ball directly with the cue ball (except with a free shot).

4.4          Hitting the black ball directly before all the player’s own colour group have been pocketed (except with a free shot).

4.5          Failing to hit any ball (except on the break shot), unless the object ball is over a pocket and drops in before the cue ball reaches it, assuming that no other foul has been committed during the shot.

4.6          Pocketing an opponent’s ball (except with a free shot).

4.7          Push shot (see Rule 11.0).

4.8          Moving a touching ball (see Rule 12.0).

4.9          Jump shot.  Where the cue ball jumps over the nearest ball in the line of strike towards an object ball.

4.10        Ball leaving table (anywhere other than coming to rest on the bed of the table):

  1. If it is a coloured ball, it will be re-spotted by the referee as near as possible to the back cushion in line through the black spot; or
  2. If it is the cue ball, it may be played from anywhere on or behind the baulk line (Rule 10.2); or      
  3. If it is the black ball, see Rules 2.11 and 7.4.

4.11        Playing before a ball has been re-spotted.

4.12        Playing before the balls have come to rest.  

4.13        Playing with any other ball than the cue ball.

4.14        Playing out of turn.

4.15        Touching or interfering with the movement of a ball.

4.16        The player in control not having at least one foot on the floor.

4.17        Failing to clearly nominate a colour group when required to in Rules 2.6, 2.8, 2.9 and 2.10.

4.18        Except before the break shot:

  1. Striking the cue ball more than once; or                        
  2. Striking the cue ball with any part of the cue other than the tip, eg, the ferrule.

4.19        Following the break shot in which less than two object balls hit any cushion (Rule 2.6) - the opponent has two choices - ask the opening player to re-break, or decide to treat the break as a foul shot.

 

5.0 Free Shot

5.1          A free shot is one strike only, after which the player continues with the normal game.

5.2          A player may play at any of the balls on the table.  He/she may also pocket any ball or combination of balls, including the black ball if playing to win the game. (See also Rule 6.0)

 

6.0 Pocketing the Black Ball

6.1          When a player has pocketed all of the balls in his/her own colour group he/she is then in a position to pocket the black ball to win the game.

6.2          It is the responsibility of the referee to ask the player to nominate the pocket that he/she intends to put the black ball into and to indicate the pocket to the opponent, for each separate shot at the black ball.

6.3          The player must nominate a pocket with each separate shot at the black ball, though it need not be the same pocket each time.        

6.4          If a player does not nominate a pocket then a 'no pocket' shot is to be assumed by the referee.  If the black ball is pocketed then the game is lost (see Rule 7.3), but if not then no penalty is incurred.

6.5          If the player on the black ball has a free shot (Rule 5.0) then he/she may use this shot to play at or pocket any of his/her opponent's balls as well as pocketing the black ball within the same shot, but he/she loses the game if the black ball is pocketed when Rule 7.2 or Rule 7.3 applies.

 

7.0 Loss of Game

7.1          Pocketing the black ball before all of the player's own colour group, except on the break (see Rule 2.11).

7.2          Pocketing the black ball to win the game and committing a foul.

7.3          Pocketing the black ball in a pocket not nominated to win the game.

7.4          Black ball leaving the table, except on the break (see Rule 2.11).

7.5          'Second warning’ called against a player during a game (including re-racks).  (See also Rule 9.0)

7.6          Putting your cue away before the end of the game results in you losing the game, as it is impatient, disrespectful and can be a planned distraction. Unless it is clear they are replacing the current cue with another, ie breaking/playing cue.

 

8.0 Referee

8.1          The referee must be fully conversant with all the Rules of Play and also with their implications and applications. It is intended that the referee is there to ensure fair play prevails and must be totally impartial to the two players that are playing the game. 

The referee must give any decision or comments clearly to the players.

8.2          It is intended that the referee's decision is final, but if occasionally:

A player (not a captain, another player or a bystander) does not agree with the referee's decision then he/she should ask for both players and the referee to discuss the decision.  The referee's decision after this discussion will remain final whether or not the decision has been reversed. Any further disagreement shall be brought to the attention of the Disputes Committee in the usual way. This allows the referee to be queried rather than an argument occur.

 

9.0 The Deliberate Foul

These rules have been prepared in the basic premise that no player will gain an advantage by playing a deliberate foul shot. It should be clearly understood that the referee is the sole judge of what is fair play and unfair play.  Also see Rule 8.0.

The following cases are regarded as a deliberate foul:

9.1          If a player pockets an opponent’s object ball, which had been in the jaws of a pocket thus blocking his/her own object ball from going past it into the same pocket, by directly playing his/her own object ball, and or cue ball, at the opponent's object ball.

9.2          If a player, in the opinion of the referee, intentionally plays any other shot (eg, when 'snookered', 'doubling' or 'going round the table') in such a way that the cue ball or other object balls result in pocketing the opponent's object ball in the jaws of a pocket.

9.3          If, in the opinion of the referee, a deliberate foul shot has been played, the referee will caution the offending player   "first warning", as to play in such a manner is a breach of the rules.  The offended player has the choice of either proceeding as per Rule 4.1 or restarting the game with a re-rack.  A "first warning" given to a player will be carried throughout any re-racks.  To play in such a way again will result in "second warning" and loss of the game.

 

10.0 General

10.1        ‘Player in control’.

  • A player is said to be in control of the game from the time he/she initially addresses the cue ball prior to their shot, throughout the break and until his/her opponent initially addresses the cue ball.
  • Any ball that falls into a pocket within this period is said to have been pocketed by the player, who becomes liable for any penalties or benefits normally awarded.

10.2        ‘Cue ball in hand’.

  • When a player has the cue ball in their hand, he/she plays from any position on or behind the baulk line and in any direction on the table. 
  • The player may use the shaft of the cue to move the cue ball, but using the ferrule or the tip is a foul.

10.3        'Snooker'.

  • When a player cannot hit any part of the object ball.  To be confirmed by the referee if asked.

10.4        ‘Drawn frame’.

  • If, in the opinion of the referee, the player in control cannot play a legal shot (forced to play a foul), then the referee will declare a stalemate and the game will be re-started with the break shot repeated.
  • If, in the opinion of the referee, neither player is allowing the game to progress, then the referee may unilaterally declare a stalemate and the game will be re-started with the break shot repeated.

 

11.0 Push shot

A push shot has been played:

  1. If the cue tip remains in contact with the cue ball once it has commenced its forward motion; or
  2. If the cue tip is in contact with the cue ball as it hits the object ball; or
  3. If shooting towards a touching ball (see Rule 12.0).

 

12.0 Touching Ball

  • A player must play away from a touching ball and must not move it.
  • If the cue ball is touching a ball of the player's own colour group, the black ball if playing to end the game or any ball if a free shot has been awarded, then the player may play at any other ball on the table or to any position on the table.
  • If the cue ball is touching an opponent's ball or the black ball in normal play, then the player must play away to hit one of his/her own colour group.

 

13.0 Coaching

  • This is not allowed as it is deemed to be unsportsmanlike behaviour and can result in a warning being handed to the player of which team he belongs.

 

14.0 Ball Drop

  • If a coloured/black ball is to suddenly drop into a pocket with no influence from either player it is then to be re-spotted to the nearest possible position as before.

 

15.0 Harassment or Abuse

  • No player/team shall harass or abuse an opponent/team by way of barracking, comments or actions regarding sexism, racism, ageism, etc., whether intended or implied.  Any player/team showing such behaviour will be automatically banned from the League for a minimum of 12 months.