These rules should be read together with the Bude & District Pool League Constitution and Privacy Notice.
1. Rules of Play
League and Cup matches shall be played under the English Pool Association (EPA) International 8 Ball Pool Rules, except where these League Rules expressly vary them. EPA Rule 6j (shot clock) is not used for normal League matches. Latest rules can be found here: https://www.epa.org.uk/rule
2. Teams and Players
A team consists of five players (min) for a normal League match. Each player plays three singles frames, giving fifteen frames per match.
Up to 2 substitutes may be named before the start of the match via the app. (So 7 players in total).
A team missing a player may play without that player. The missing player's three frames will automatically be awarded to the opposing team and MVP points to the opposing players.
A player may only play for one team in any season, applying to League and Cup matches.
A player must be registered with the League before representing a team. The League may record player registration and playing records in RackEmApp.
There is no minimum player age. However, any player under 16 must be accompanied by a playing adult, parent or guardian during League games. Proof of age may be requested.
The player order is:
Home Player 1 plays A, B and C; Home Player 2 plays B, C and D; and so on. Home players stay where they are each session, the away players move up one each session.
Substitutions.
You can register a maximum of 2 subs on matchdays.
· 5-Player Team
A team with 5 players (no subs) must enter their Session 1 playing order before the match. The app should populate the remaining 2 sessions for you using these same players names. Captains must then:
Lock in all three sessions before the match.
· Teams with 1 or 2 Subs
Teams with 1 or 2 substitutes will have two options, you must make the opponents captain aware of the option you are going to choose before the start of the match:
Option 1 – Pre-Booked Substitutions
The team can decide before the match which substitutes will be used in Sessions 2 and/or 3 and lock in all three sessions before the match starts. Substitutes can replace any player.
Option 2 – Flexible Substitution
The team only locks in their Session 1 playing order before the match.
After Session 1, the team can decide whether to introduce a substitute for Session 2.
If a substitute is introduced in Session 2, they lock in Session 2 after the substitution(s) have been made.
If a player has been substituted out, they can return in Session 3, but only for the same player that they came in for in Session 2. When the decision has been made for Session 3's line-up, you can 'lock it in' on the app.
A substitute does not have to be used. Option 1 could also see players playing the same player twice.
3. Match Night
Normal League and cup matches start at 7:30 pm on Wednesday nights unless the published fixture schedule or the League committee states otherwise.
Teams should arrive in sufficient time to start promptly. A team expecting to be late should contact the League Secretary and the home captain/venue.
If a player is late, their frames may be delayed until they arrive, provided they arrive before 9:00 pm or another time agreed by the opposing captain. After that time, the relevant frames may be awarded to the opposing team.
Where necessary, and where agreed by both captains, a player may play their games early because of an unexpected commitment.
4. Break
The player to break at the start of a frame is decided by both players lagging. The ball nearest the baulk cushion determines who breaks. If, when lagging, a player's ball hits a side cushion or is potted, that player automatically loses the choice of break.
The winning lagger has the choice to break or put their opponent in to break.
5. Referee and Racking
The home team must provide a referee (usually a player) for all League and Cup matches. The referee shall rack the balls at the start of each frame. The breaking player may rack their own balls if they prefer.
6. Venue and Table
The home venue must provide a pool table in good condition, without tears or significant divots. Where possible, the table should allow access for pool shots from all angles and should be kept level.
Where the venue charges for use of the table for a fixture, the home team is responsible for paying the table charge.
7. Fixtures and Cancellations
Notification of a cancelled match must be given to the opposing team captain and League Secretary by at least 6pm on the day before the fixture, (normally 6pm Tuesday for a Wednesday match), unless the League publishes a different fixture day.
Failure to give notice by the deadline may result in the non-cancelling team being awarded ten points and the cancelling team nil points.
Any team with more than one late cancellation may, at the committee's discretion, be expelled from the League. Similarly, a team cancelling within the permitted time on more than two occasions may be expelled at the committee's discretion.
A cancelled match should normally be rearranged within 28 days. Both teams must make every reasonable effort to agree a new date.
If a future date cannot be agreed and the non-cancelling team wishes to claim the points, it may take ten points or, if the reversed fixture has already been played, the score from that fixture, whichever is higher. The cancelling team will have five points deducted from its League total.
No MVP points are awarded for a cancelled fixture unless the match is subsequently rearranged and played. MVP points are awarded for the rearranged match.
8. Results and Scorecards
Scores and results should be entered into RackEmApp as soon as reasonably possible during and following a match. The captains are responsible for ensuring the result is accurate. The home captain will initially confirm the result, the away captain then needs to acknowledge and accept the result via the app.
Where a physical scorecard is still used, the home team/captain is responsible for ensuring it reaches the League Secretary within the required time.
There should no longer be a reason for a late result, other than a result being questioned and referred, at which point the committee will review and handle accordingly.
9. League Points and Positions
League positions are decided firstly by points (up to 15 points per league match), secondly by games won, and thirdly by the overall aggregate score in head-to-head meetings.
If teams remain equal after these criteria in a championship-winning, promotion or relegation position, a play-off shall be held.
No bonus points are awarded for wining a match.
One team will be guaranteed to be promoted (Div 1) and relegated (from Prem) per season. Teams in 2nd positions may also be swapped depending on teams entering the following season. This will be discussed & agreed by committee.
10. MVP
One MVP point is awarded to a player for each frame they win in League matches.
MVP points are not awarded for Cup matches. No MVP points are awarded for a cancelled match unless it is rearranged and played. We recommend where possible to try and rearrange league games.
If a team turns up with a player missing, then 3 MVP points will be awarded to the opposing players, the missing player would have played.
11. 8 Ball Trophy
A trophy is awarded in each division to the player with the most qualifying '8 Ballers' during the season.
An 8 Ball is awarded only to the player who breaks off, pots a ball from the break, then pots all of their remaining balls and wins the frame in one visit without the opponent having a shot.
The app allows a ‘dish’ to be registered after the frame has been won. A maximum of three 8 Ball points is available to a player in one evening.
12. Singles Competition
The Singles KO is open to any player who has played one or more matches for a League team, subject to any entry conditions published by the League.
All Singles matches, including Handicap Singles matches, shall be a race to 5 frames.
Each round shall have a published deadline date to play the games by.
Both players are responsible for making contact with each other. They must make contact and agree a match date within two weeks of the draw being released and played before the published round deadline.
Players should message each other on the day of the match as a reminder and to confirm arrangements.
Matches should normally be played at the home player's venue where possible, unless both players agree otherwise.
If one player makes reasonable attempts to arrange the match and the other player does not respond or does not make a reasonable effort, the matter should be referred to the Singles Secretary/League Secretary before the deadline. The committee may award the tie to the player it considers to have made the reasonable effort.
13. Doubles Competition
The Doubles competition is open to League players. The preferred option is for partners to be from the same team. Where this is not possible because of team numbers, a spare player may partner another League player, pending agreement from the committee.
All Doubles matches shall be a race to 5 frames.
The competition shall be played as Scotch Doubles, with partners taking alternate shots. If a partner played the final shot of the previous frame, the other partner takes the first shot of the next frame when it is their turn.
Partners may discuss shots with each other before their first visit to the table. Once a partner has played their first shot, partners may not discuss shots until that visit is completed. If partners discuss shots during a visit, the opponents may issue one warning. A further breach during that frame may result in the frame being awarded to the opposing pair.
After the break, if a ball is potted, teammates may discuss their next shots.
A 30-second shot time is recommended. If players are continually taking longer than this, opponents may raise the matter with the players.
Doubles rounds shall follow the same arranging procedure as Singles unless the competition organiser publishes a different arrangement: both pairs must make contact, agree a date within two weeks of the draw being released and played before the round deadline, and remind each other on the day.
14. Handicap Competitions
Handicap Team KO: teams will be given a handicap score agreed by the committee. A draw will be made and the competition will be a straight knockout, normally at the home team's venue. Handicaps will be determined early in the season.
Handicap Singles KO: players shall arrange their own matches in accordance with the Singles competition procedure. All Handicap Singles matches are a race to 5 frames.
Again handicaps will be decided by committee, based on playing ability.
15. Cup Competitions
Cup competitions shall be organised according to the draw and any specific competition rules published by the committee.
The top four teams in the Premier Division at the end of the previous season shall be seeded in the first main round of the Heaverman Cup as a reward, so that those teams do not play each other in the first round.
Losing teams in Prelims or 1st rounds will be entered in to the Consolation cup.
If a team drops out of the League, the team that lost to that team in the previous Cup round shall be deemed the winner and progress to the next round.
16. Team Withdrawal
If a team drops out of the League during the season, all points scored for or against that team will be declared null and void, subject to any specific decision required for the integrity of a competition already completed.
17. Cheating and Integrity
Cheating, including deliberately changing scores on scorecards or knowingly submitting false results, shall be considered by the committee.
The normal minimum penalty for proven cheating is a 20-point deduction from the team's League total. The committee may increase the penalty, including barring a team from the League for part or all of a season, depending on the seriousness of the offence.
The committee should give the team/player an opportunity to explain the allegation before imposing a disciplinary penalty.
18. Conduct and Sportsmanship
Players, captains and venues are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and in a manner that does not bring the League into disrepute.
Abusive, threatening, discriminatory or deliberately disruptive behavior may be referred to the committee and may result in disciplinary action.
19. Captains' Responsibilities
· Ensure the team is available for each fixture.
· Ensure players arrive in sufficient time to start at 7:30 pm.
· Communicate promptly with the opposing captain, venue and League Secretary where problems arise.
· Ensure cancellations are notified within the required deadline.
· Ensure scores and results are accurately entered into RackEmApp or, where required, the scorecard is submitted promptly.
· Use the captains' WhatsApp group responsibly for League-related communication.
20. Captains' WhatsApp Group
The League will operate a captains' WhatsApp group for League administration and communication.
The group is intended for captains and authorised League representatives. It should be used for fixtures, results, League notices, competitions and other relevant League business.
Participants should respect the privacy of other members and should not share members' personal information outside the League without a proper reason.
Participants should be aware that joining a WhatsApp group can make their telephone number visible to other group members.
21. RackEmApp
RackEmApp is the League's online system for player registration, fixtures, results, League tables, rankings, statistics and other League administration.
Players' names, teams, results, rankings and relevant playing statistics may be publicly visible through RackEmApp.
Players' telephone numbers are not automatically publicly displayed. Where RackEmApp allows a player to choose whether their contact details are visible to other players for arranging matches, the player may control that setting.
League administrators and authorised committee members may have access to information required to administer the League.
22. Privacy and Personal Information
The League collects only limited personal information for ordinary League administration, principally player name, mobile telephone number and email address, together with relevant playing records.
The League does not collect or store players' bank account or card details for ordinary League entry payments. The League may provide its own BACS details to players who need to make payments.
Personal information shall be handled in accordance with the Bude & District Pool League Privacy Notice.
23. Photographs and Social Media
The League may take occasional photographs of matches, finals, trophy presentations, team photographs and other League events. These may be published on League social media, including the League's Facebook presence.
Players who do not wish to appear in identifiable League photographs should notify a committee member. The League will take reasonable steps to respect that request.
Additional care shall be taken with photographs of under-18 players.
24. Finals Night
Finals night shall start at around 6pm, or earlier if agreed for Singles and Doubles finals unless completed beforehand, together with the House Final and speed-pool competitions.
Entrants should register as soon as possible so that the evening can start promptly.
All finals-night competitions shall use a stop-clock format, with players having 45 seconds to play a shot, according to the competition/event being played.
House Championship: the standard format is a single frame. If a player breaks and dishes, their opponent has the opportunity to do the same. The House Championship final is best of three frames.
Full details, timings and venue confirmation will be announced nearer the finals night date.
25. Disputes and Appeals
Players and captains should first attempt to resolve match-day issues calmly between the teams.
Where a dispute cannot be resolved, it should be referred to the League Secretary or committee. The committee may request evidence, including scorecards, RackEmApp records or relevant messages.
The committee's decision shall apply for the purposes of administering the League unless the matter is referred to an AGM/EGM under the Constitution.
26. Changes During the Season
The committee may make a temporary ruling on an issue not covered by these rules where an immediate decision is necessary. Any significant rule change should be referred to the AGM or, where necessary, an EGM.
27. Priority of Documents
These League Rules govern playing and competition matters. The Constitution governs the League's governance and administration. The Privacy Notice governs the handling of personal information.
Where there is a conflict between the Constitution and these League Rules, the Constitution takes precedence.