SOUTHERN AMUSEMENT POOL LEAGUE 8 BALL RULES BY LAWS:

Southern Amusement Pool League (here-in-after known as S.A.P.L) will consist of men and women players organized into teams for regular scheduled competition. TO BE PLAYED ON SOUTHERN AMUSEMENTS POOL TABLES ONLY.

There are 5 types of leagues:
  1. Women's League: Consisting only of women to be played on Monday nights.
  2. Men's/Mixed League: Consisting of men and women to be played on Tuesday night.
  3. Scotch Double League: Consisting of 1 man and 1 woman to be played on any night.
  4. 3 Person League: Consisting of 3 people men, women or mixed to be played on any night.
  5. In House Leagues: Scotch Doubles, 3 Person and 5 Person Leagues to be played on any night.
POLICYS:

It shall be the policy of S.A.P.L/ACS and its members to, at all times, play the S.A.P.L. game of 8-Ball. This game will be played in the regular scheduled league or tournament competition, in a manner that adheres strictly to the official rules of the game. These are the rules that will be in effect at the time.

REGULATION AND RIGHTS:
  1. Upon acceptance of League fees, franchise, teams, and individuals shall be entitled to the rights of, and subject to, League rules and regulations as established by the league.
  2. To assure good sportsmanship, a team or individual may be expelled for unbecoming conduct, poor sportsmanship or any other good reason considered detrimental to the League.
  3. The location owners shall provide the table at the designated time and he/she shall retain the right to remove players (whether from his team or the opponent's) from his establishment.
  4. No player can be added to a team after the League schedule has begun except by approval of the League Director prior to a scheduled match. YOU CAN NOT SIGN NEW PLAYERS UP THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF PLAY......

ALL PLAYERS MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE TO PLAY FOR S.A.P.L.EXCEPT IN HOUSE LEAGUES AND JR. LEAGUES If there is player's age in question, you must ask for their ID. The player is responsible to produce a picture ID showing legal age, if not that player will not be able to play.

** SANCTION FEE'S:

Players fee $10.00 per year. Team fee $25.00 per session.

**MONEY COLLECTED:

Fees per night - $5.00 per player plus $1.50 for table fees. ($50.00 sent back to S.A.P.L. office with top (white) copy of score sheets). If pool tables are $1.25 the person racking balls pays extra quarter. Vegas divisions pay $10.00 per person. **SOUTHERN AMUSEMENT WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS.

STARTING TIME:

7:30pm the normal grace period to start is 15 minutes, which means you must have at least 3 players to start the match, unless both captains agree to start the match before all players arrive, or delay the match till the players get there. CAPTAINS WORK TOGETHER, WE ARE OUT TO HAVE FUN. *If you do not have 3 players to play it will be considered a forfeit.

SCORE SHEETS:

Tri-copy is for when you are the home team only, (white copy with the money comes back to S.A.P.L. office, yellow copy stays with you, pink copy goes to visiting team). Use single copy when you are the away team.

*The home team captain is responsible to make sure the score sheet and dues are turned in on time. Score sheet and money must be mailed and received in S.A.P.L. office by Friday. If you leave it at the Bar for pick up, it is still the captains responsibility to make sure that it in fact was picked up. If not, penalties will apply.

PENALTIES FOR MISSING SCORE SHEET AND DUES:

Penalties will be against the home team for missing score sheet and money. The home team must follow the guidelines to make sure that the score sheets are in on time. If the score sheets are not in on time penalties are as follows:

  1. 1st Offense: LOSS OF ROUND POINT
  2. 2ND Offense: Same as first but the Co-Captain and bar owner will be notified.
  3. 3rd Offense: The home team will be dropped from the league (NO EXCEPTIONS)

*Home team captain, Please keep in mind that your whole team will be penalized for missing score sheets and money..... So think of your teammates.

CAPTAINS DUTIES:
  1. Home team captain responsible for all score sheets and money.
  2. To add a new player, make sure sanction fee and added player form is filled out completely and turned in the night of play. (IF YOU DO NOT, PLAYER WILL NOT RECEIVE POINTS).
  3. To inform all players of rules and regulations.
  4. To make sure all standings you receive are correct, if not contact league office. (If you do not call before the standings are sent out, it will stay as is).
  5. Contacting other team captain for a reschedule or forfeit. Reschedules must be played before your next scheduled match. (or with directors say so at a later date)
  6. Make sure the league office did in fact receive score sheet and money.

If a captain can not up hold these duties someone else must be appointed

FORFEITS:
  1. Forfeiting team receives zero (0) points.
  2. The winning team receive the following : a. Pay $25.00 and receive 4 round points b. If a team had dropped from the league, same as above
  3. If a team has more then (2) forfeits in a session disciplinary actions from the S.A.P.L. office will apply.
  4. If a team has a single person no show or any # of no shows you still must collect the $5.00 per player.
PROTEST PROCEDURE:
  1. Only the team captains has the authority to protest. (When protesting do not sign sheet).
  2. The League Director and Board members will review the protest and make a decision.
  3. A protest must be given to the League Directors 48 hours after the match.
  4. A game may be played and finished under protest, which may alleviate the protest.
  5. If the two teams can not come to a agreeable understanding the league Director will make the final decision. (to play the one game in protest or all 15 games again)
TEAM:

A team consists of 5 regular players and up to as many alternates as needs. Must pay $10.00 players fee night of play and fill out added player form, and both captain's sign it. If not points will not count

LINE UPS:
  1. Home and Visiting teams lines-up at same time (blind line up)
  2. The captain of the team that has less than five players or a late player must notify the opposing team captain before play.
  3. Late players - if a player is not there before the end of the last game of each round, they receive a 0 for each round missed, unless captains agree otherwise.

OFFICIAL RULES OF PLAY

RACKING:

The balls are racked 8-ball in the center of rack and a stripped ball in one corner and a solid in the opposite corner. The ball at the head of the rack can either be a strip or a solid.

BREAK SHOT:

  1. The game is not considered started until the cue ball goes over the head string. If before the break, the player uses the cue stick to move the cue ball, it is not considered a foul unless the cue ball is rolled over the head string.
  2. A legal break is when at least 4 numbered balls are driven to a rail or pocketed. It is not necessary to the head ball to initiate a legal break. If a player fails to make a legal break, the opposing player has the option to either play the table the way it sits or to have the balls re-racked and break.
  3. Miscues on the break (over the head string), stopping or deflecting the cue ball prior to hitting the rack is considered a foul and loss of turn. The opponent will than have the option to re-rack.
  4. When placing the cue ball on the break spot, the cue ball must be 100% behind in head string. The opposing player must inform the breaking player of improper placement of the cue ball and the player must then preposition the cue ball.
  5. When shooting from behind the head string at an object ball, the base (center) of the object ball must be over the head string. If not the ball is not playable.
  6. Make the 8-ball on the break is an automatic win as long as the breaker does not scratch. If the 8-ball is pocketed and the cue ball scratches it is a win for the opposing player. The score is an automatic 10-0 no matter how many balls are pocketed at the same time as the 8-ball.
  7. If no balls are pocketed on a legal break the opponent will then shoot with an open table.
  8. If the shooter scratches on the break, the opponent takes ball in hand BEHIND the head string. If player does not do so, it is a loss of shot, ball goes back to the breaker (shoot from where Q-ball lies, No ball in hand).
LEGAL SHOT:

On all shots, player must strike his/her group ball first (does not have to be the call called) and then (1) pocket the ball called or (2) cause the cue ball, or any other ball (yours or opponents) to contact a rail. Failure to do so is a foul, ball in hand. **When and if the cue ball is the ball being driven to a rail to make a shot you must, pocket your ball or drive something to a rail AFTER contacting the object ball.

SAFETY SHOT:

A safety acknowledges that your turn will be over after the shot and all requirements of the legal shot rule will apply.

OPEN TABLE:

The table is always open after the break no matter what balls are pocketed. You must shoot again and legally pocket a ball to determine a group. On an open table, the player can shoot at either group of balls. The first ball can be made by any of the various shots involving the cue ball and the object ball. It can also be made in a combination shot, using a stripe to make a solid, or vice versa.

CALL SHOT:
  1. Call ball pocket.
  2. It is the opposing player's responsibility to ask the shooter, BEFORE THE SHOT, if he/she is not sure of the ball or pocket that is being called, or is Unable to hear the call. IT IS NOT THE SHOOTERS RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE OPPONENT, TO CALL A SHOT, THE OPPONENT IS RESPONSIBLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE GAME.
PLAY:
  1. All balls pocketed remain so, legal or not.
  2. When a player is shooting at the 8-ball and pockets it, game is over once the cue ball stops rolling. If the cue ball is still in motion and knocks in any opponent's balls, after the 8-ball has been made, those balls count.
  3. If a player fails to make the 8-ball while shooting at in the game continues. However, if a player scratches on the 8-ball, game is over, even if the 8-ball remains on the table. If the opponent gets up and shoots it does not count, because the game is over.
  4. Kiss-off and bank shots do not have to be called.
  5. Object ball knocked off the table will be handled accordingly (1) shooters ball will be spotted on the foot spot. (2) opponents ball will be considered pocketed. It is not a foul, just a loss of turn.
SLOW PLAY RULE:

There is a 45 SECOND time limit between shots. Certain moments in a game may require extra time. However, continuously take more than a minute is unacceptable. When you feel a player is abusing this rule, notify your captain in turn will notify opponents captain. This will be the first warning. A referee may be assigned at this time, second warning is a foul ball in hand, third warning loss of game.

CONCESSION:
  1. If you unscrew your stick, or say good game and walk away from the table, while the game is still in play that is considered concession of game resulting in loss of game.
  2. If a player must change shafts or break down his/her stick to make a shot in the middle of the game. Please notify your opponent before so, (this is not considered concession).
SPLIT SHOTS:

You must obviously hit your ball first. It is recommended that a referee be called to watch a close hit. If no referee is called and the players cannot agree on the call then the call automatically goes to the shooter. PUSH SHOTS: NO SUCH RULE STALEMATED GAME: If after 3 consecutive turns at the table by each player (6 turns total) and both players agree that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in loss of game, the balls will be re-racked with original breaker breaking. This rule may only be used when there are only two or less object balls and the 8-ball left on the table.

COACHING:

Absolutely no coaching allowed.... Coaching from anyone will result in a foul.

POSSESSION OF TABLE:

Once the cue ball has come to a complete stop you then have possession of the table.

FROZEN BALL:

If a ball is frozen to a rail the opposing player must notify the shooter before the shot, the shooter must then, do one of the following:

  1. Cause the cue ball to contact another rail or the same rail after you made contact with the frozen ball.
  2. Drive the frozen ball to another rail.
  3. Cause another object ball to contact a rail, after hitting frozen ball. Failure to do so will result in a foul, ball in hand for opposing player.
BALL MOVEMENT:

ACCIDENTIALY moving or touching any ball is not a foul "unless the cue ball is in motion". That's only when you have hit the cue-ball and it's traveling. Any other time the opponent may replace the ball moved or leave it where it rest. ACCIDENTIALY knocking the 8-ball in by your hand is not a foul but the 8-ball must be re-spotted where it laid before it was removed.

DOUBLE HIT:

It is a foul when the cue tip double hits the cue ball while making contact with the object ball. In case of a close shot, the opposing player can request a referee.

JUMP SHOTS:

Shooting a jump shot by scooping the cue stick under the cue ball is illegal. A jump shot executed by striking the cue ball above the center spot is legal. MISCUES ARE NOT A FOUL

CALLING FOULS:

ONLY THE PLAYERS INVOLVED CAN CALL A FOUL. Shooter must acknowledge a foul before the cue ball is picked up. If not it is considered a foul, ball in hand back to the shooter. SHOOTER MUST STOP PLAY WHEN A FOUL IS CALLED.

FOOT FOUL:

Player must have at least one foot on the floor at all times while shooting.

5 FOOT RULE:

Player must stay at least 5 feet from the table if you are not shooting, also not be in THE LINE OF VIEW of the player that is shooting.

FOULS:

Ball in hand...

  1. Any time you scratch. (except on the break)
  2. Cue ball fouls:
    • touching the cue ball with your cue stick (except on the break)
    • moving the cue ball with your hand or any object
    • touching a ball while placing cue ball in hand
  3. Coaching
  4. Double hitting the cue ball with your stick (not double kiss shots)
  5. Failure to make a legal shot.
  6. When a player shoots at the wrong group balls. (If in fact a player shoots at the wrong group balls, opponent must call a foul if not and the second ball is shot the group balls will revert to that player.
  7. Moving a ball in any way while the cue ball is in motion.

LOSS OF GAME FOULS:

  1. Scratch and making 8-ball on the break.
  2. Scratch when shooting at the 8-ball.
  3. Pocketing 8-ball prematurely
  4. Pocketing 8-ball in pocket not called
  5. Knocking 8-ball off table.
  6. Making 8-ball in the same stroke as the last group ball.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT:

*******WILL NOT BE TOLERATED********** THE LEAGUE IS FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE FUN AND PLAY POOL.

Offenses:
  1. Warning
  2. Disqualified from the League.