Pool League Rules : 8-Ball

A. Good sportsmanship will prevail at all times.

No coaching will be allowed. Any coaching will be considered poor sportsmanship. Continued poor sportsmanship can result in disqualification.

B. Object of the game:

1) The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle.

2) The object of the game is to make one group of numbered object balls - either stripes or solids - and then sink the 8-ball which wins the game.

C. Scoring

1. The winner of the game will receive 8 points. The loser will receive 1 point for each of his object balls which have been pocketed.

2. In the case of an absent player the dummy score will be 3 points per round. If a player is present when the match begins and misses any succeeding games he will receive 0 points for the games missed.

3. If the game ends and the group of balls has not been determined (8-ball is pocketed early) the loser will receive points for the group which has the least balls pocketed.

4. If a dummy score is used the points will be given to whatever name appears on the score sheet. If you wish your dummy score (3 or 8) to be figured in the personal average of the player who does not play, then enter the player's name. If you do not wish to have the 3 or 8 figured in the player's personal average enter dummy and the points will be figured in the dummy's average.

5. The total of the scores of each player in a match constitutes a match score. The team with the highest match score is the winner of a match point. In the event of a tie in the match total, the team with the most 8's will be awarded the match point. In the event of a tie in score and 8's a half game will be awarded the match point. One match point will be given for each match plus 1 match point for the total team points of the night.

D. Breakshot and Cue Ball Positioning

1. The breaker must drive 3 object balls to a cushion or pocket one or more balls. Failure to do so is a foul and requires a rerack. Their opponent then has the option of breaking.

2. When spotting the cue ball for a breakshot or positioning the cue ball after fouling on the break the player shall position the cue ball fully behind the head string. The opposing player must inform the breaking player of improper positioning of the cue ball before the shot is made or the shot is considered legal.

3. If any part of any object ball is in the kitchen, the ball is considered in the kitchen.

4. The table will be considered open regardless of the outcome of the break. If a player legally pockets a ball after the break the player then continues shooting at that group of balls as long as the player legally pockets a ball on each shot.

5. Any object ball (except the 8-ball) knocked off the table while breaking will be spotted. Making the 8-ball or knocking it off the table on the break is a rerack.

Scratching while making the 8-ball on the break will be a rerack and the same player will break. When necessary for a rerack take the quarters out of the envelope to get the balls back. Make a note on the score sheet and Dakota Music will put the quarters back in the fee envelope.

6. If the player breaking the racked balls does not make any balls, the opponent then shoots having an open table.

E. Call Pocket

On all shots after the break shot, before each shot, the player must call the ball number and indicate into which pocket it is being played. If the opponent does not hear, or is not clear on the shooter's call, he must ask for clarification before the shot is made. If he does not ask for clarification the call is considered made and legal. Failure to call the ball to the pocket, after being asked for clarification, will result in loss of turn but will not constitute a foul. The shooter must indicate into which pocket he is playing the 8-ball however an 8-ball patch is not necessary.

F. Open Table

1. The table will be considered open regardless of the outcome of the break.

2. On an open table the player can shoot at either group of balls. The first ball can be pocketed by a direct hit from the cue ball or by any combination of balls including a stripe to make a solid or a solid to make a stripe. The 8-ball can also be used in a combination on an open table.

G. Play

1. Any contact of the cue stick and cue ball will be considered a shot. (Exept for positioning the cue ball for the breakshot).

2. All balls pocketed, legally or not, remain pocketed with the exception of the note under fouling. Any object ball knocked off the table will be handled accordingly. (A) If the ball is the shooter's ball it will be spotted on the foot spot. (B) If it is the opponent's ball it will be dropped in a pocket.

3. Each player continues to shoot, so long as the player pockets a ball legally.

4. In the event the cue ball or an object ball stops on the edge of the pocket, it remains the shooter's table until the opponent has struck the cue ball.

5. Frozen ball to rail: If a ball is frozen to a rail, the shooter must be notified before the player shoots. When playing such a shot, the player must contact the frozen ball and (1) pocket the frozen ball, or (2) cause the frozen ball to contact another rail, or (3) cause another ball to contact a cushion or (4) cause the cue ball to contact the frozen ball and then contact another cushion. Failure to do so is a foul.

6. The game is over when the balls stop moving on the winning shot and is scored with all balls then down.

7. Raising the cue above the armpit and attempting masse shots is illegal, scoop or jump shots are illegal. Doing so is a foul.

8. There must be one foot on the floor while attempting a shot. Failure to do so is loss of turn.

9. Parts of rules 7 and 8 will be modified as necessary if player is handicapped or when using an artificial bridge.

10. Push Shots and Double Hits are illegal. See Fouling for details

H. Special Rules for the 8-Ball

1. Knocking the cue ball off the table or scratching the cue ball while shooting at the 8-ball is an automatic loss of game. (Must be called before next game begins.)

2. Except on the break, the eight ball knocked off the table or pocketed before its time or made in any pocket other than the one called is an automatic loss of game.

3. Committing a foul while pocketing the 8-ball is loss of game except failure to hit the 8-ball when shooting at it is a foul but not loss of game.

4. Fouling after the 8-ball is pocketed but before the other balls have stopped moving is loss of game.

I. Legal Shots

A player must use the cue stick to strike the cue ball. The bridge is not a cue stick. On all shots the player must cause the cue ball to strike one of the player's group of balls first and then either (1) pocket the object ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or any other ball to contact a rail. Failure to do so constitutes a foul.

J. Fouling

All fouls must be called by the opposing player before the next shot is taken. There is no such thing as an automatic foul. The following result in fouls: (1) Failure to make a legal shot as noted above. (2) Shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off table. (3) Scratching the cue ball on a legal break. (4) Touching a ball before it stops moving. (5) Shooting out of turn. (6) Accidentally moving the cue ball. (7) Other infractions noted in these rules.

Push Shot Fouls: It is a foul if the cue ball is pushed by the cue tip, with contact being maintained for more than the momentary time commensurate with a stroked shot. (Such shots are usually referred to as push shots.) With a cue and object ball frozen, shooting the shot from any angle other than at least 45 degrees above, or at least 45 degrees to the right or at least 45 degrees to the left of center from the straight line of the frozen balls is a foul and must be so called.

Double Hit Fouls: It is a foul if the cue ball is struck more than once on a shot by the cue tip (such shots are usually referred to as double hits.) If the cue ball has left initial contact with the cue tip and then is struck a second time in the course of the same shot, it is a foul and must be so called.

Note: If a player concedes to a foul by picking up the cue ball, it will be handled as follows: The opponent may put the cue ball back to its original spot and make the shooter shoot it.

Note: Accidentally moving an object ball is not a foul. The opponent may replace the ball to the original spot or leave it where it rests. If the ball is knocked into a pocket, quarters can be put into the table to retrieve the ball. A player may not use a ball as part of their bridge.

K. Penalty for Fouling

1. After a foul, the player has cue ball in hand (anywhere on the table). Except for fouling on the break shot, the cue ball will be placed behind the head string. If the shooter does not place the cue ball behind the head string or shoots at a ball in the kitchen the opposing player must inform the shooter of improper positioning of the cue ball or that he or she needs to shoot at a ball outside the kitchen before the shot is made or the shot is considered legal.

2. A player must stop shooting when a foul is called and resume shooting after the opponent's turn.

3. If a player refuses to yield to a foul call, the opponent must stop the game and notify the team captains or a tournament official.

L. Bar Room Infractions

In the event of a player being caused to foul due to natural bar behavior

(I.E. - being bumped while in the act of shooting by a patron) the following may be done:

A. The balls may be placed as nearly as possible to the original position or...........

B. If the 2 players involved do not agree on position of the balls the game will be reracked and replayed.