League Rules

The game shall be known as 8 Ball Pool and referred to in these rules as “the game”. It is intended that players and teams should play 8 Ball Pool in the true Spirit of the Game and in a friendly, but competitive and sportsmanlike manner. It is inclusive of any player (except where venue-specific age rules apply or when an individual has proven themselves a disruption to the league). It should be clearly understood that the referee is the sole judge of what is fair and unfair play. The referee will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that these rules are observed. Both Captains will support the Referee and both teams adhere to the decision.

The game is played on a rectangular 6-pocket table with 15 balls, plus a cue ball. Balls comprise two groups, represented by two different coloured balls (or alternatively, Spots and Stripes) plus the 8-ball. Balls in the two groups are known as the coloured balls.

The player or team pocketing their group of balls first in any order and then legally pocketing the 8-ball, wins the game.

(a) The balls are racked with the darkest set of coloured balls (or stripes) at the front and the 8-ball on the 8-ball spot, which is at the intersection of the centre and corner pockets.

(b) Order of play is determined by the referee flipping a coin. The winner of the flip has the option of breaking or requesting their opponent to do so.

(a) The opening player plays the racked balls by striking the cue ball from any position behind the baulk line. The player must pot one or more object balls or cause at least two object balls to hit a cushion. Failure to do so is a foul break (including failing to hit the rack) and will result in the balls being re-racked. The same player must break again. If a player makes 3 consecutive foul breaks, the game is awarded to the opponent.

(b) If the player pockets the 8-ball from the break, the game is re-racked with no penalty, the same player to break again, assuming no other foul has been committed during the break (see Rules 9 list where applicable),.

(c) If no Colours are potted from the break, the break is over and the table is “Open” for the opposing player.

(d) If one or more Colours are legally pocketed from the break without any fouls committed, this entitles the player to one additional shot with an “Open table” see 11(j).

(e) Colours are not decided on the break regardless of how many balls of any colour are pocketed.

Colour is decided by the first ball legally potted directly or indirectly (“Open table” rules 11(j) apply) by the following shots immediately after the break.

If a player pots one or more balls of the same Colour, the player is then on that Colour.

If a player pots balls of two different Colours, the table remains “Open”

If a foul is committed before colours have been decided, then the table remains “Open” for the opposition.

Colours can never be decided from a foul shot.

Colours can never be decided immediately following a foul shot by the opposition, as the first shot is considered “Free table’ 11(k) rules apply, Colour set must be decided in the following shots.

When the table is “Open” a player may play for either group of Colours, the cue ball may first hit either colour to legally pot an object ball to decide which set of balls the player is on.

Once Colours are decided, the player remains on that colour for the duration of the frame.

At no time can a player verbally nominate to decide their chosen colour.

(a) If a ball or balls are legally pocketed, this entitles the player to one additional shot and continue their visit until either: fails to pocket one of their set of allocated balls, or commits a foul at any time.

(b) The 8-ball pocket must be nominated before the shot and potted in that same pocket. If the 8-ball is potted without nominating the correct pocket, the player loses the game.

(c) If the player on the 8-ball, and has been awarded a “free table”, they may simultaneously pot their opponent’s balls along with the 8-ball without penalty, they may use their opponent’s ball to plant onto the 8-ball to win the game.

(d) The game is completed when the 8 ball is potted and all the remaining balls including the cue ball have come to rest.

(a) If a player pockets the 8 ball before they pocket all the balls in their own group, except as allowed under rule 4(b), they lose the game.

(b) The 8-ball must be potted without foul, see 9(a-q), or the player loses the game, except where 6(c) applies.

(d) Failing to nominate or wrongly to nominating when potting the 8-ball. Note: it is the player’s responsibility to nominate, but can be reminded by other players and/or referee as long as it is done so with no assistance to which pocket to be nominated.

Should any situation arise whereby it is deemed by the referee that it is impossible a legal shot can be played, then the game shall be restarted by the same player whether this situation is arrived at by accident or design. If in the opinion of the referee neither player is allowing the game to progress or a stalemate situation has arisen, then the game shall be restarted by the same player.

(a) In-off (cue ball pocketed).

(b) Hitting opponent’s colour or 8-ball before their own colour except when “Free” table rules apply.

(c) Failing to hit any ball with, the cue ball except on break where rule 4(a) applies.

(d) Jump shot – defined as when the cue ball jumps over any part of any ball immediately after being struck by the cue before making contact with any object ball before hitting a cushion.

(e) Potting any opponent’s balls except when rules 6(c) and 10(b) applies.

(f) Striking the cue ball with any part of the cue other than the tip.

(g) If a ball is not potted, then a ball must hit the cushion anytime during the shot. The cue ball may hit the cushion before the object ball (without the requirement to hit the cushion again). A cue ball deemed resting on the cushion before the shot is played requires no other ball to hit the cushion thereafter. Any ball can bounce out the pocket (where technically there is no cushion) without foul.

(h) Ball off the table: any object ball shall be put into a pocket and play no part in the rest of that frame, the 8 ball (black) shall be returned to the 8 ball spot or as near as possible to that spot without touching any other ball, in a direct line between that spot and the centre of the baulk line; a white ball off thr table is returned to anywhere inside the baulk line by the on coming player (ii) A ball shall be deemed off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table.

(i) If a players body, hair or clothing should touch any ball.

(j) Player not having at least one foot on the floor.

(k) Playing or touching with the cue any other ball other than the cue ball.

(l) Playing out of turn.

(m) Playing before balls have come to rest.

(n) Playing before the ball or balls have been re-spotted.

(o) Opponent object-balls dropping that haven’t been struck (see 11(g) for conditions)

(p) Push-Shots & Double-Hits see below:

Push-Shot and Double-Hit Definitions:

Generally, any shot played with speed will not be deemed to be a Push-Shot or Double-Hit regardless of the fact that the cue tip may have come into contact with the Cue Ball more than once.

Exceptions that are Standard Fouls:

• 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.

• 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.

• When the Cue Ball is played into a touching Object Ball, see rule 11(c).

(a) Following any foul the offending player loses their next visit to the table, and their opponent is entitled to two visits to the table. The cue ball can be played from the spot or picked up by the player to play or by the Referee and handed over to the player to play as Cueball-in-hand, see rule 11(a). It is the player's responsibility to request ball-in-hand by the referee if they are likely to cause a foul by picking it up themself. Once the cueball moved, it cannot be requested to be returned to the same spot. Should a referee disturb any other ball collecting the cueball, no additional penalty shall apply and the disturbed ball(s) returned to the nearest position before the disturbance, in agreement with both players otherwise referee's decision is final. Should a player disturb any other ball collecting the cueball, it is a foul with cueball and play reverting to the opposition, disturbed balls will not be replaced in this instance.

(b) Two visits no carry: on the first shot of the first visit, it is a “Free” table, see 11(k). However, they may not legally pot the 8-ball except when 6(c) applies. Regardless whether the player pot a ball or not on the first visit, they immediately continue onto their second visit, where normal play resumes.

(a) CUE BALL IN HAND – when a player has the cue ball in hand they play from any position behind the baulk line and in any direction.

(b) PLAYER IN CONTROL – A player is said to be in control of the table from the time that their body, cue or clothing touches the table prior to their shot, through their visit and up until their opponent does likewise.

(c) TOUCHING OWN BALL – a player must play away from a touching ball, and be deemed to have played that ball without the need to make contact with another of their own group.

(d) TOUCHING OPPONENT’S BALL – should the cue ball be touching an opponent’s ball or 8 ball (black) a player shall play away without penalty providing that the cue ball next strikes one of their own group.

(e) COACHING – is deemed to be unsportsmanlike behaviour (see rule 1), except in pairs where players may confer and discuss shots and tactics between themselves.

(f) ADVICE – a referee may, if requested, offer advice on the only the rules of the game, never tactics.

(g) DROPPING BALLS – any ball that falls into a pocket at any time, without being struck, will remain down. If colours haven’t been decided, there is no penalty to the player. If the player is on the colour that drops, there is no penalty. If the player is not on the colour, it is a foul. If the black drops, the “player in play” at that time, loses the game. Any player deliberately knocking the table or creating disturbance that results in any ball to drop forfeits the game.

(h) PLAYING FROM BAULK – the Cue Ball may be played in any direction, but the centre point of the Cue Ball must on or behind Baulk Line. The Cue Ball can be positioned by any means except the cue tip.

(i) INTERFERENCE – If any balls are moved during a frame by a person other than the players taking part in the frame OR, as a direct result of deemed outside the players’ control such as tip falling off a cue or end falling off a spider etc., the referee will replace the balls as near as possible to the positions they were in before the incident occurred, no penalty shall be imposed on either of the players and the frame shall continue.

(j) Open table – colours have not been decided and a player can chose to hit or pocket either colour but not hit the 8-ball

(k) Free table – follows a foul where a player can hit or pot any colour without nomination to continue their “Visit” or hit the 8-ball without potting it (except when 6(c) applies)

(l) Player in Play – is from when they touch the table with any part of their body, clothing or cue, until their opponent touches the table. The end of their turn is when all balls on the table have stopped moving: any balls dropping 5 seconds after this point are disregarded. Referee’s decision is final.

(a) The match will consist of 9 frames 6 of singles and 3 scotch doubles.

(b) Matches to start at 8.00pm. Games may be claimed at intervals of 15 minutes, up to 9.00pm when the whole game may be claimed.

(c) All teams should enter player’s names before the start of the 1st game in each round. The game order may be changed to accommodate late arrivals.

(d) All games that can be played must be played before games may be claimed.

(e) Referees should be provided by the home team. Referees for the singles games are compulsary. Referees are not required for the doubles, unless either captain insists or is requested by players.

(a) Captains are responsible to ensure all necessary communications reach their players during the League and Knockout stages, and responsible for inter-team communications.

(b) Captains are to ensure fair-play and are responsible for all their team’s conduct during the match. They are also responsible to ensure all individual team members are permitted to enter and play at the match venue.

(c) Players cannot change teams after playing for a team in the league during that season (except where rule 13(f) is applied).

(d) Captains are free to select their team and free to excluding players, but not free to allow players who have played for other teams.

(e) It is considered against the Spirit of the Game to enrol players in a team with the primary intention of stopping them playing for another team, and purposely limiting their future League participation.

(f) In the event an individual player feeling they have been unfairly treated or continuously frozen-out from playing in the league, the player can appeal directly to the panel for permission to relocate to another team and this will be decided on a case-by-case basis. In the event of a team withdrawing or been removed from the league, the players may freely register for another team.

(g) Any team causing deliberate League disruption, flaunting rules or failure to play to the ‘Spirit of the Game’ will result in the captain receiving one warning before being asked to step down, failure to do so will result in the whole team being removed from the League with all points deducted from the matches they’ve played.

(h) Any individual proven to be aggressive, offensive or a disruption to the league will not take part in any future games or matches; with any further games to be voided and points awarded to the opposition should they do so.

(i) For the 2025/6 season, teams will consist of 6 or more players. A team that is short of players can still be pitched, any unfulfilled games will be simply be forfeited to the full team. If both teams are short of players by the same amount, results of all games played will count towards the match result with no penalty to either side. Only games that are played will be entered towards an individual's match record stats.

(a) If a team cancels a match on the day it is due to be played, 8 points will be awarded to the opposition and no points to the team that cancels. If a team cancels with sufficient notice to the opposition and panel (1 day or more), the teams may agree to play the match at the earliest possible opportunity (within 2 weeks) or else seek a postponement with the panel, to be played at the end of the league season.

(b) If a team is short of players it is preferred that they play with less players than to cancel.

(c) Rearrangements are subject to the opposing team agreeing and must be played within 2 weeks of the original fixture unless agreed otherwise with the panel.

(d) If a team cancels 3 times in a season that team will be removed from the league and all points deducted from the matches that have already been played.

All results are to be photographed and reported by the winning team to the league WhatsApp RCPL Captains Lounge group chat before 11:00pm on the Sunday following the match, failing to provide a score within time will see the offending team lose their points for that match, but the losing team keep theirs.