8 Ball Umpire

(1) The Object Balls are racked as shown with the Eight-Ball on the Spot.

(2) In the absence of any competition / tournament rules to the contrary, a coin will be tossed or players will ‘lag’ to determine which player will break. Rules for the ‘lag’ Each player should use balls of equal size and weight. These should be the only two balls on the table. With the balls in baulk, one player to the left the other to the right of the table, the balls are struck simultaneously to the foot cushion and back to the baulk end of the table. The player whose ball is the closest to the innermost edge of the baulk cushion wins the lag. The lagged ball must contact the foot cushion at least once. Other cushion contacts are immaterial, except as prohibited below. It is an automatic loss of the lag if: (1) The ball crosses into the opponent’s half of the table, (2) The ball fails to contact the foot cushion,

(3) The ball drops into a pocket, (4) The ball jumps off the table, (5) The ball touches the long cushion, (6) The ball rests within the corner pocket and past the nose of the head cushion, or (7) The ball contacts the foot cushion more than once. If both players violate automatic-loss lag rules, or if the referee is unable to determine which ball is closer, the lag is a tie and is replayed. If one player strikes the ball, the other player has to strike his ball before the opponent’s ball reaches the foot cushion in order to have a simultaneous lag. If this is not the case and the referee feels that the player who played second wanted to get an advantage out of that, then the lag has to be replayed. The winner of the toss or lag shall decide who will break first. If a series of frames is to be played (A Match),the break of each subsequent frame will alternate. (3) The first shot of a frame is called the “Break”. To “Break”, the Cue Ball is played at the triangle of Object Balls from Baulk. The frame is deemed to have commenced the instant that the Cue Ball is played.

(4) (a)The Break will be deemed a “Fair Break” if:- Yellow J (i)At least one Colour is potted. OR (ii) Four Object Balls (at least) are driven to a cushion. (b)If the Break is not a Fair Break it is a Non-Standard Foul and:- (i)The opponent is awarded two visits. (ii)The balls are re-racked. (iii) The opponent re-starts the game and is under the same obligation to achieve a Fair Break. (c)(i) If the Cue Ball is potted on a Fair Break it is a Non-Standard Foul that is penalised by the turn passing to the opponent. (ii) If the break is not a Fair Break and the Cue Ball is potted, the penalty for failure to perform a Fair Break applies. (See (b) above).

(5) If the Eight-Ball is potted on any break, the balls are re-racked and the same player will break again. When the Eight-Ball is potted on the break, all other aspects of the shot are ignored. (Except if a breach of the “Spirit of the Game occurs)

(6) Where the wrong player performs the break, if:- (i) the break is fair, the opponent will continue with 2 visits and an open table. (ii) the break is not a Fair Break, see 4(b) above.

(7) Lag for break If competition or tournament rules require a lag for break then the following procedure should be used: Each player should use balls of equal size and weight. These should be the only two balls on the table. With the balls in baulk, one player to the left and one to the right of the table, the balls are struck simultaneously to the foot cushion and back to the baulk end of the table. The player whose ball is the closest to the innermost edge of the baulk cushion wins the lag. The lagged ball must contact the foot cushion at least once. Other cushion contacts are immaterial, except as prohibited below.

It is an automatic loss of the lag if: (a) the ball crosses into the opponent’s half of the table, (b) the ball fails to contact the foot cushion, (c) the ball drops into a pocket, (d) the ball jumps the table, (e) the ball touches the long cushion, (f) the ball rests within the corner pocket and past the nose of the head cushion, or (g) the ball contacts the foot cushion more than once. If both players violate automatic-loss lag rules, or if the referee is unable to determine which ball is closer, the lag is a tie and is replayed. If one player strikes the ball, the other player has to strike his ball before the opponent’s ball reaches the foot cushion in order to have a simultaneous lag. If this is not the case and the referee feels that the player who played second wanted to get an advantage out of that, then the lag has to be replayed.

The Game is known as Eight-Ball Pool. It is expected that players will always play the game in the true spirit and in a sporting manner.

The Referee will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the spirit and rules of the game are observed.

The Game of Eight-Ball Pool is played with:-

(1) A “Cue Ball” – being a white ball.

(2) Fifteen “Object Balls” – consisting of:- (a) “Colours” – being a group of seven red balls, (or balls numbered 1 to 7) and a group of seven yellow balls (or balls numbered 9 to 15). (b) The “Eight-Ball” – being a black ball marked with a number “8”.

(3) A six pocket rectangular Pool Table with general characteristics as follows:- (a) The cloth will be marked with a “Spot” at the position where a straight line drawn diagonally from the centre of a side pocket to the centre of a corner pocket would intersect with a straight line drawn diagonally from the centre of the opposite side pocket to the centre of the other corner pocket. (b) The cloth will be marked with a “Baulk Line”, being a straight line, drawn from cushion to cushion, parallel to, and one fifth of the length of the table from, the face of the cushion that lies the greatest distance from the Spot.

(1) General (a) When Colours have not been decided the table is deemed to be “Open”. When the table is open a player may play at either group of Colours. (b) Colours can never be decided on a foul shot. (c) Once Colours are decided, the player remains “On” that coloured group for the duration of the frame. The opponent remains “On” the opposite coloured group. (d) Playing a shot after neglecting to nominate a choice of Colours is a Standard Foul. Any balls potted on such a shot are left in the pocket and ignored for the purpose of deciding Colours.

(2) On the Break (a)If no Colours are potted on the break the table is “Open”. (b) If one or more Colours are potted on the break the player then has a right and obligation to verbally advise the referee of a choice of Colour before proceeding. Failure to do so is a Standard Foul. If a player is fouled under this rule the opponent faces an “Open” table. (c) (i) If the player nominates a Colour that was potted on the break, the player is on that colour no matter what happens next. (ii) If the player nominates a Colour that was not potted on the break, to be on that Colour, the player must pot a ball of that Colour on the next shot.

(3) After the Break (a) If a player pots one or more balls of the same Colour, the player is then “On” that Colour. (b) If a player pots one or more balls of different Colours, the player then has a right and obligation to verbally advise the referee of a choice of Colour before proceeding. Once a colour is nominated in these circumstances, the player is on that colour no matter what happens next. Failure to nominate is a Standard Foul. If a player is fouled under this rule, the opponent faces an “Open” table.

(1) Baulk is the rectangular area of the table that is bordered by the Baulk Line and the three cushions at that end of the table.

(2) When playing from Baulk:- (a) The centre point of the Cue Ball must be in Baulk when a shot is played. (If the centre point of the Cue Ball is directly on the Baulk Line it is not deemed to be in Baulk.) (b) The Cue Ball can be moved into position by hand or with the shaft of the cue, but when touched by the tip of the cue, a shot is deemed to have been played. (c) The Cue Ball may be played in any direction. (d) If a player wishes to play from Baulk after a “Foul Snooker”, “Foul Jaw Snooker” or “Time Foul”:- The player must verbally advise the referee of this choice and the referee will then recover the Cue Ball and hand it to the player or place it on top of, and in the centre of, the cushion at the Baulk end of the table for the player to retrieve by hand. (e) After an “In Off”, “Foul Snooker”, “Foul Jaw Snooker” or “Time Foul” the player must endeavour to position the Cue Ball so as not to create a Foul Snooker. If the player claims a Foul Snooker from Baulk, the referee may choose to move the Cue Ball around to determine if there is any position in Baulk where the player would not be Foul Snookered. Whether such a position is found or not, the referee will announce the result and hand the Cue Ball back to the player or place it on top of, and in the centre of, the cushion at the Baulk end of the table for the player to retrieve by hand.

(1) A player has a maximum of sixty seconds to play each shot.

(2) The Referee will start timing when all balls have come to rest from the previous shot.

(3) If the first thirty seconds elapses before a shot is played, the referee will call “Thirty Seconds” as a warning to the player. This call must be made the instant the thirty seconds has expired. A Referee should not postpone the call because it appears that the player is about to play a shot.

(4) If a shot is not played within sixty seconds it is a Non-Standard Foul. The incoming player is awarded two visits from: -(a)Where the Cue Ball lies, or, if the player wishes (b) From Baulk.

(5) The referee may decide to grant “Time Out”, being a period when timing ceases:- (a) At the request of a player. (For example, something is obstructing the player or the player needs to leave the playing area.) and / or (b) Because the referee deems that it is warranted. (For example, the referee may call time out when making a close foul snooker decision or when searching for a piece of equipment requested by the player.)

(6) When the referee has racked the balls the referee will call “Time Running”. The oncoming player then must play the break shot within 60 seconds. J Fouls There are three types of foul. Standard Fouls, Non-Standard Fouls, and Loss of Frame Fouls. A player can only be penalised for one foul at a time. If two or more fouls are committed during a shot, the foul that carries the most severe penalty will apply

There are three types of foul. Standard Fouls, Non-Standard Fouls, and Loss of Frame Fouls. A player can only be penalised for one foul at a time.

If two or more fouls are committed during a shot, the foul that carries the most severe penalty will apply

(1) Shot: A “Shot” begins when all balls stop moving from the previous Shot. A player “Plays a Shot” by striking the Cue Ball with the tip of the cue. A “Shot” ends when all balls stop moving from the current Shot.

(2) Play: To “Play” an Object Ball is to play a shot that results in the Cue Ball’s first contact with another ball to be with that Object Ball. To “Play” the Cue Ball is to strike it with the tip of the cue.

(3) Ball On: At any time during a frame, a ball “On” is any Object Ball that the player may play without incurring a penalty.

(4) Pot: A ball is “Potted” when it leaves the bed of the table, enters a pocket and remains in that pocket.

(5) Visit: A “Visit” comprises one shot or a series of shots. Each visit lasts until the player fails to pot a ball “On”. (Or until a foul is committed or the frame ends)

(6) Turn: A players “Turn” at the table comprises one visit or, after most fouls committed by the opponent, two visits.

(7) Frame: (a) A Frame is one game of Eight-Ball Pool between two players or two pairs of players. A Frame is played from the opening break and usually through until the Eight-Ball is potted. (b) A player may concede a frame at any time. (Note: there are other ways that a frame may end – see “Loss of Frame”)

(8) Match: A Match is a predetermined number of frames of Eight-Ball Pool between two players, two pairs of players or two teams of players.

(9) Player in Control: 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. There can be no instance, once a frame has commenced, that someone is not in control.

AEBF Doubles Interpretation (Laurie Sheen – 21-06-2003)
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.

The Referee’s Duties and Guidelines listed below supplement those directions contained in various other sections of these rules.

(1) The Referee’s decision is final except where players have been advised that it is possible to appeal to a Head Referee or other higher authority.

(2) Information to be disclosed / not disclosed by a referee:-

 (a) (i) A player is responsible for knowing the rules of the game. It is not the referee’s duty to explain or quote the rules to a player.

(ii) A referee, if asked by a player, may divulge certain information pertaining to the frame in question under the guidelines of the “Past, Present and Future Rule”. A referee may divulge information relating to any past event or present situation in the frame. For example: – “whose turn is it?” – Present. “Was that a foul?” – Past. “Which Colour am I On?” – Present. However, “If I play this shot will it be a foul?” is a question regarding the Future and the Referee should advise the player that the Referee cannot answer this type of question.

(3) The referee shall either toss a coin, or the players shall lag, to determine the break. The winner of the toss or lag shall decide who will break first and the referee shall announce the decision.

(4) If an Object Ball (or balls) is potted on the break the referee will advise both players of this fact by announcing the Ball (or balls) potted. When Colours are decided for the first time, the referee will announce “Player ‘A’ On Red (or Yellow) Balls”. When that player’s turn is complete the referee will advise the incoming player of the situation by announcing “Player ‘B’ on Yellow (or Red) Balls”.

(5) (a) The Referee will call fouls as soon as they occur and the fouled player loses control of the table.

(i) The call for a Standard Foul is “Foul, Two Visits”.

(ii) The call for a Non-Standard Foul is “Foul, (and announce the relevant penalty).”

(iii) The call for a Loss of Frame Foul is “Loss of Frame”.

 (b) After a player has been awarded two visits the referee will make no call until the player fails to pot a ball “On”. (Except for 30 second time warnings and for any fouls that may occur) The referee will then call “Second Visit” to advise the player that the first visit is complete and the second visit is about to begin.

(6) The referee will call any instance when the Cue Ball is touching a ball “On”.

(7) In the absence of any competition / tournament rules to the contrary, two referees will referee each frame. One referee will make the standard calls such as “Second Visit” and “Player A on Red (or Yellow) Balls” while the other referee will keep the time.

 Both referees’ will be involved in the refereeing of the frame and either can call fouls.

 If one referee calls a foul, the other referee cannot overrule the call. That is, the two referees have equal authority.

(1) The object of the game is to win by being the first player to Pot a group of Colours in any order and in any pockets and then Pot the Eight-Ball in any pocket.

(2) When “On” a group of Colours, potting more than one ball of that Colour in the same shot is allowed. But a separate shot must be played to pot the Eight-Ball and win the game.