Doubles Play in matches under Playing Rules of the Australian Eight Ball Federation Inc.
This can either be via a By-Law or as a notation to the Playing Rules.
Propose that the following be adopted by the AEBF.
Doubles Play
- Once the order of play has been determined during the first turn of each pair, that order shall remain for the duration of the frame.
- Talking between partners is allowed from the point balls stop moving at the end of a partner’s turn [throughout the opponent’s turn], and until the Cue ball is struck at the beginning of the other partners turn.
- When a pair of players are in control, either is permitted to touch the table up until such time as the player whose turn it is to play the shot, goes down in preparation of such shot [ie. the non shooting partner cannot touch part of the
table, or hold his finger etc. above the table, as a guide to his partner as to where to make contact with either ball or cushion.]
Doubles Guidance
Rule C – Definitions – 9: Player in Control:
Guidance –
A player [and the player’s partner in doubles] is deemed to be “In Control” of the frame from the time that the balls stop moving from the final shot of an opponent’s turn until the balls stop moving from the final shot of the player’s turn.
Rule K – Standard Fouls – 12 Coaching:
Guidance – 10.4 Coaching (Rule K12)
In doubles, talking between partners is allowed from the point balls stop moving at the end of a partner’s turn (throughout the opponent’s turn), and until the cue ball is struck at the beginning of the other partners turn. However, only the player whose turn it is, is allowed to touch the table (rule K10).
Guidance – 19. Further Duties of the Referee
ii. In a doubles match the break will also alternate between partners. Once the order of play has been determined during the first turn of each pair, that playing order shall remain for the duration of the match.