8 Ball Umpire

(1) Definitions: Most shots commonly known as “Push Shots” in the game of “Snooker” are allowed in the game of Eight – Ball Pool. Generally, any shot played with speed will not be deemed to be a Push Shot regardless of the fact that the cue tip may have come into contact with the Cue Ball more than once.

(2) Exceptions that are Standard Fouls:- (a) When, during the playing of a shot, the tip of the cue strikes the Cue Ball twice and the referee is able to actually see each contact. (b) When, during the playing of a shot, a player plays the cue so slowly through the Cue Ball that the cue tip remains in contact with the Cue Ball so as to be visibly pushing it along. (c) When the Cue Ball is played into a touching Object Ball. {See (R) Touching Balls}

[For Total Snooker refer to Rule G ‘Legal Shot’ part 3 (b)]

(1) Definition: A player is Snookered when it is impossible to play the finest cut possible on both sides of any of that player’s own Colour by way of a “straight – line” shot. Snookering an opponent is not a foul.

(2) A player cannot be Snookered by a ball of the player’s own Colour. That is, if one of the player’s own coloured group is an obstructing ball, it will be ignored for the purposes of determining a Snooker.

(3) A player cannot be Snookered on an Object Ball if the Cue Ball is touching that Object Ball.

(4) A player cannot be Snookered by the straight sections of the cushions. If a straight section of a cushion is preventing the finest possible cut on the side of an Object Ball, that section of cushion will be deemed not to exist for the purposes of determining a Snooker on that Object Ball.

(5) If an Object Ball is partly obscured by a curved section of a cushion (Jaw), this in itself does not constitute a Snooker.

(1) Definition: When an opponent plays a foul shot and this results in the incoming player being snookered, the incoming player is deemed to be Foul Snookered.

(2) If a player believes that a Foul Snooker exists, the player may ask the referee for a ruling.

(3) If the referee rules that a foul snooker exists, the player initially has the following options:- (a) Play the Cue Ball from where it lies. {see (4) (a) below} OR (b) Ask the referee to remove the Cue Ball so as to allow the player to play from Baulk. {see (4) (b) below}

(4) (a) (i) If the player chooses to play the Cue Ball from where it lies, the player may, if the player wishes, nominate the Eight Ball (but see (5) below) or any one of the opponent’s Colour. The player can nominate a particular ball by verbal description of it or its position or by pointing at it. The Referee may ask for further information if any doubt exists as to which ball has been nominated. (ii) Once nominated, a ball is deemed to “become one” of the player’s Colour for the first shot of the first visit. The player may then play any of the player’s own Colour or the nominated ball. If any of the player’s Colour and/or the nominated ball is potted, the player continues with the first visit. (b) If the player chooses to play the Cue Ball from Baulk, a Foul Snooker may no longer exist. In this case the procedure under the heading (E) Playing from Baulk (2) (d) & (2) (e) should be followed. If the referee decides that a Foul Snooker does still exist, the player may nominate a ball and follow the procedure in (4) (a) above.

(5) If the Eight Ball is nominated it may be played, but potting it will mean loss of frame.

(6) (a) If a player is “On” the Eight Ball and Foul Snookered: – The player may play a nominated ball or the Eight Ball and pot either or both of these balls, directly or indirectly, in any pocket or pockets. Assuming the player does not commit a foul:- (i) If neither the Eight Ball nor the nominated ball is potted, the player’s first visit is complete. (ii) If the nominated ball is potted and the Eight Ball is not, the player continues with the first visit. (iii) If the nominated ball and the Eight Ball are potted, the player wins the frame. (iv) If the Eight Ball is potted and the nominated ball is not, the player wins the frame.

(7) If a Foul Snooker exists and the Cue Ball is touching an opponent’s ball or balls, the player may, but is not obliged to, nominate one of those touching balls.

(8) If an opponent fouls and the Cue Ball comes to rest on or near a Jaw (curved part of a cushion), and that Jaw is preventing the player from playing the finest cut possible on both sides of any of that player’s own Colour by way of a “straight – line” shot, the player is deemed to be Foul Snookered (Foul Jaw Snookered) and all the rules pertaining to Foul Snookers will apply.

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.

If an opponent fouls and the Cue Ball comes to rest on or near a Jaw (curved part of a cushion), and that Jaw is preventing the player from playing the finest cut possible on both sides of any of that player’s own Colour by way of a “straight – line” shot, the player is deemed to be Foul Snookered and all the rules pertaining to Foul Snookers will apply.

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) If the Cue Ball is touching an Object Ball, the player is obliged to “Play Away” from that Object Ball at an angle of more than 90 degrees. (That is, play the shot without causing the Cue Ball to make any initial further contact with that Object Ball) (b) If, when playing away from a touching ball, the touching ball rocks or moves without being contacted further, but simply because the Cue Ball is no longer there, no penalty will apply.

(2) When Colours have been decided:- (a) Playing away from a touching Object Ball of the player’s own Colour:- The instant a player plays away from a touching Object Ball of the player’s own Colour, the player is deemed to have played that ball. Therefore, the player needs to then only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil all the requirements of a Legal Shot. (b) Playing away from a touching Object Ball of the opponent’s Colour:- The player must play away from the touching ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot. (c) (i) Playing away from the touching Eight Ball when “On” the Eight Ball:- The player must play away from the touching Eight Ball and then need only cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil the requirements of a Legal Shot. (ii) Playing away from the touching Eight Ball when not “On” the Eight Ball.:- The player must play away from the touching Eight Ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot. (d) Playing away from two or more touching Object Balls:- (i) If any of the touching Object Balls are of the player’s Colour, the player will be deemed to have played away if the player plays away from any one of the touching balls of the player’s Colour. That is, the player may play into any of the other touching balls. The player needs then to only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil the requirements of a Legal Shot. (ii) If none of the touching Object Balls are of the player’s coloured group, the player must play away from all the touching balls and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.

(3) When Colours have yet to be decided:- (a) Playing away from a touching Coloured Ball:- The instant a player plays away from a touching Coloured Ball the player is deemed to have played that ball. Therefore, the player needs to then only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil all the requirements of a Legal Shot. (b) Playing away from a touching Eight Ball:- The player must play away from the touching Eight Ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot. (c) Playing away from two or more touching Object Balls:- If the player plays away from any of the touching Coloured Balls the player is deemed to have played that ball. That is, the player may play into any of the other touching Object Balls. The player needs to then only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.

(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.

(1) It is a Standard Foul if a ball leaves the playing surface (other than being potted) and remains off the playing surface or doesn’t return by its own means.

(2) Definitions / Examples (a) “Playing Surface”:- The Playing Surface of the table is the flat part of the table between the cushions (b) “By its own means”:- (i) It is not a foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, runs along the top of a cushion, drops back on to the playing surface and comes to rest there or falls into a pocket. (ii) It is a Standard Foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, comes into contact with a person or object that is not a part of the table and then returns to the playing surface. (c) “Off the Table”:- It is a Standard Foul if a ball leaves the playing surface and comes to rest on other than the playing surface. (e.g. On the floor or on the top of a cushion) (d) “Spotted”:- A ball is spotted when its centre point is placed on the spot or, if this is not possible, as near as possible to the spot in a direct line between the spot and the centre point of the cushion that lies the greatest distance from the Baulk Line. If this is not possible, as near as is possible to the spot, in a direct line between the spot and the centre point of the baulk line. (e) If any of the following balls require spotting, they are spotted in the following order:- (i) Eight Ball then (ii) Red Balls in any order (or balls numbered 1 to 7 in numerical order) then (iii) Yellow Balls in any order (or balls numbered 9 to 15 in numerical order) Spotted balls should be placed as close to each other and any intervening balls as possible, without touching.

(3) If a ball leaves the playing surface and remains off the playing surface, it shall be returned to the table:- (a) If it is the Cue Ball it is to be played from Baulk. (b) If it is an Object Ball (or Balls) it is to be Spotted.

(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.