BRIGHTON & HOVE INDEPENDENT POOL LEAGUE
PLAYED TO THE PRE-1999 EPA RULES
Download the rules
1. REQUIREMENTS OF THE GAME:
The game is played on a rectangular 6-pocket table with 15 Object Balls & a Cue (white) Ball.
Object Balls comprise 14 Balls made up of two coloured groups of 7 Red Balls & 7 Yellow Balls & one Black (8) Ball
2. OBJECT OF THE GAME:
The object of the game is for the player to win by legally pocketing all their group of object (Red or Yellow Balls)
in any order & then legally potting the black (8) Ball, before their opponent
3.COMENCEMENT OF THE GAME (BREAKING THE PACK):
A. Once the Balls are racked & placed in position, a flip of a coin determines the order of play,
the winner choosing whether to break the pack or not
B. The player making the break takes the Cue (white) Ball & placing it anywhere behind or on the bulk line makes the break,
by striking the pack of object Balls with the Cue Ball
C. On breaking the pack, if no object Ball is potted,
(i) At least 4 object Balls must hit the cushions of the table
(ii) The next legally potted object Ball then determines the coloured Group for that player for the rest of the game
(iii) Combination shots are permitted until a players group has been determined
D. On breaking the pack, one or more object Balls are potted,
(i). The player making the break must nominate which colour they wish to be for the rest of the game
(ii). If the player nominates a coloured object Ball they potted off the break
they simply only have to touch the Object Ball to remain that colour
(iii). If the player nominates a coloured object Ball they did not pot off the break they must pot that coloured object Ball to remain that colour for the rest of the game. Failure to do so takes it back to a free table & the next legally potted Ball determines the groups
(iv) If when potting the nominated object ball a foul is committed an open table will be called & the next legally potted object ball determines which colour the player is
E. If the black (8) ball is potted when making the break on its own or with other object balls a re-rack is called
4. FOUL BREAKS ARE CALLED:
A. when breaking the pack, the Cue (white) Ball is potted or leaves the table
B. when breaking the pack, no object Ball is potted & 3 or less object Balls hit the tables cushions
5. RESOLVING A FOUL BREAK:
When a foul break is called, the player has the chose to:
A.
(i) Have the pack re - racked, the player would then break the pack if no Balls are potted he would still have 1 visit remaining
(ii) There is no free table called off a foul break. Therefore if the player pots a ball from re-racked break,
that would be their colour for the rest of the game
(iii) If they pot 2 different coloured balls the next legally potted object ball determines their colour for the rest of the game
B.
(i) Keep the object coloured Balls as they came to rest & proceed, the player could pick the white (cue) ball up (cue ball in hand) & place it anywhere behind or on the bulk line. Then take their shot with 2 visits remaining
(ii) There is no free table called from a foul break therefore the first object Ball legally potted
will determine that players colour for the rest of the game
6. FOULS IN OPEN PLAY:
A. Failure to nominate their coloured group after potting one or more object Balls off the break
B. The Cue (white) Ball or object Ball leaves the table
C. If the Ball leaving the table is an object coloured Ball,
it must be placed back on the table on or as close to the Black (8) Ball spot as possible
D. If its the White (cue) Ball the opposing player takes the white (cue) Ball in hand & places it anywhere behind or on the Bulk line,
then takes their shot with 2 visits remaining
E. Hitting the Black (8) Ball with the first impact of the white (cue) Ball before clearing their group of object balls
F. Hitting or potting an opponents group of object Balls with the first impact of the white (cue) Ball. In open play,
with out a free table being called
G. Failure to hit an object Ball
H. Making a jump shot, when the white (cue) ball is played to jump over an opponents Ball to hit another object Ball
I. If part of a players body or clothing touches any ball on the table whilst taking their shot
J. If the player has not got at least part of one foot on the floor
K. If the Cue touches any other Ball than the white (cue) Ball
L. Striking the white (cue) Ball with any part of the cue other than the tip
M. Striking the white (cue) Ball more than once with the Cue
N. Playing out of turn
O. Playing before all Balls have come to rest or any Balls if required are re-spotted
P. Moving an object Ball when a touching Ball has been called.
This happens when the white (cue) Ball has come to rest touching an object Ball
(i) When a touching Ball is called the next player must play away from the object ball with out moving it
(ii) If the object Ball that the white (cue) Ball is touching is one of their own coloured group they only have to play away from it
to deem it a legal shot
(iii) If it is not one of their object balls they must try to hit one of their object balls
but still not move the object Ball the white (cue) Ball is touching
Q. When the player takes a push shot, this is where the players cue remains in contact with the white (cue) Ball when striking an object ball
R. When the player deemed to be the (player in Control) just about to take the shot,
an opponents Ball hovering over a pocket drops in to the pocket
7. RESOLVING ANY FOUL SHOTS FROM OPEN PLAY:
A. When a foul is called the opposing player could choose to:
(i) Take a free table, they can touch or pot any object Ball from the opponents group with their first visit
before playing at their own group of object Balls
(ii) Take the white (cue) Ball in hand & take their shot from anywhere behind or on the Bulk line
(iii) The player has 2 visits to the table, if they pot an object Ball with their first visit they still have 2 visits remaining,
until they miss when only 1 visit remains
(iv) If the player has continuously potted an object Ball from their groupuntil only the Black (8) Ball is left after a foul shot is called
and still has 2 visits remaining. They still have 2 visits to pot the Black (8) Ball
8. STALEMATE:
A. a stalemate is called when:
(i) Should any situation occur where by a legal shot becomes impossible to play, either by accident or by design
(ii) When according to the referee neither player is allowing the game to progress,
each player continuously playing the same shot with out trying to take advantage or win the game
B. When a stalemate is called the object Balls are Re-racked & the game is re-started by the same playing breaking
9. LOSS OF GAME:
A. When a player pockets the Black (8) Ball before they have completely potting their group of object Balls
B. when the player Pots the white (cue) Ball whilst potting the Black (8) Ball
C. When a player pots the Black (8) Ball when attempting to pot one of their coloured object Balls
D. When a player deliberately plays a foul shot, clearly making no attempt to either pot or touch one of their coloured object Balls, or clearly plays to pot an opponents Ball
10. GENERAL TERMS USED IN MATCH PLAY:
A. PACK: Refers to the triangular position set of object Balls ready to be broken off
B. BREAK: Refers to the first shot played to break the pack
C. VISIT: Refers to the turn at the table comprising of 1 or a series of shots by 1 player
D. BALL IN HAND: Refers to when a player picks up the white (cue) Ball & places it anywhere behind or on the Bulk line,
after a foul or when the white (cue) Ball leaves the table
E. PLAYER IN CONTROL: Refers to the player currently at the table.
They are deemed to be in control once any part of their body is touching the table
F. TOUCHING BALL: Refers to when the white (cue) Ball comes to rest touching an object Ball
G. RE - RACK: Refers to when the game is re-started because of either a stalemate is called or when the Black (8) Ball is potted off the break
H. DELIBERATE FOUL: Refers to when a player is deemed to have made no valid attempt to hit one of their own object Balls,
or pot an opponents Ball on purpose to gain an advantage
I. BARRACKING OR COACHING: Refers to when players or supporters not playing at the time shout or call out during a game
or give the player from their side advice on what shot to play when they are playing
J. NOMINATION: Refers to when the player making the break pots an object (red or yellow) ball from the break,
they must then nominate which coloured object Ball they want to hit next. Then & only then do you nominate!!
K. COMPLETION OF MATCH: Refers to when a player or team completes the set amount of frames or games set at the start of the match
11. MATCH NIGHT TERMS & CONDITIONS:
A. All league matches will take place on Monday nights through out the season
B. All league matches start time is 8:00pm
(i) If the away team have not turned up by 8:15pm the home team have the right to claim the first game by the maximum score 2-0
(ii) If the away team have not turned up by 8:30pm the home team have the right to claim the match by the maximum score 5-0 (10-0)
C. All league matches are to be played on a best of 5 games basis, each game to be played on a best of 3 frames basis
D. Players from both teams must registered prior to the match commencing.
Any new players must be registered by 7pm of the current match night.
No player is allowed to transfer from one active BHIPL team to another active BHIPL team after the half way stage of the season and each player is only allowed to transfer once in any given season
E. Any team playing an unregistered player or a player registered to another team within the league
will lose the match by the maximum score of 5 - 0 (10 - 0) & have two points deducted
F. Referees are optional normally supplied by the home team.
If no referees are used, it will be down to the player taking the shot to declare any foul they committed
G. It is traditional for the losing player to buy the winner a drink, normally half a pint.
Although this is voluntary it would be nice to think this tradition is carried on through out the league!!
12. RELAYING RESULTS TO DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
A. It is down to the winning captain to relay the match results to their Division Representative
(i) By texting or phoning in the result by the next day, Tuesday of that week the match took place.
So the league tables can be promptly & accurately formulated
(ii) By sending in the result card in by the Thursday of that week the match took place.
To confirm the result & so the form table can be accurately formulated
B. If neither the text or phoned in result or the Result Card is received by the Friday of the same week,
the result will not be recorded & neither team will receive any League or Form table points