A. BALLS AND RACKING:
The Pocket Billiard Table

       1.    The game is played with one cue ball and 15 numbered object balls.
       2.    The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the footspot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner, as the above illustration shows.
       3.    The object of the game is to make one group of numbered object balls, either stripes or solids, and then LEGALLY POCKET THE 8-BALL which then wins the game.
   B.    BREAK SHOT
       1.    Teams will flip a coin to determine home team. Start of play, order of play, and breaker is determined by score sheet.
           Singles: First game "break" determined by coin toss. The break alternates thereafter.
       2.    If the breaker hits the racked balls with the cue ball driving four or more numbered balls to a cushion or pocketing one or more object balls, the game is considered started. If the player fails to make a legal break, it is not a foul; however, the opponent has the option (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) have the balls reracked and shooting the break himself or have original breaker rebreak.
       3. Stopping or deflecting the cue ball prior to hitting the racked balls are considered fouls and loss of turn. The opponent will receive cue ball in hand behind the headstring.
       4.    When positioning the cue ball for the break shot, the base of the ball must be behind the headstring (kitchen).
       5.    If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed (exception, the 8-ball), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table is open. Please Note: Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the headstring and may not shoot an object ball whose base is not outside the headstring, unless he first shoots the cue ball past the headstring and causes the cue ball to come back behind the headstring and hit the object ball. If a player positions the cue ball completely and obviously outside the kitchen and shoots the cue ball, it is a foul, if called by the opponent.
       6.    The opposing player must inform the breaking player of improper position of the cue ball before the shot is made. If the opposing player does not so inform the breaking player before the shot is made, the break is considered legal. If the shooting player is informed of improper positioning, he must then reposition the cue ball.
       7.    8-Ball made on the break will not determine the outcome (win or loss) of the game. With an 8-ball pocketed on the break, the breaker may ask for a rerack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. Should the breaker pocket the 8-ball and scratch, the incoming player has the option of spotting the 8 or having the opponent re-rack and assuming the break. Should the incoming player decide to spot the 8, he must shoot from behind the headstring.
       8. If the player legally breaks the racked balls and does not make any balls, his opponent then shoots, having an open table.
       9.    If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the headstring and shooting. Any jumped balls are spotted in numerical order.
   C.    OPEN TABLE
       The table is "open" when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice versa. Note: The table is always open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open, it is legal to hit any solid or stripe or the 8-ball first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or solid. On an open table, all pocketed balls remain pocketed. The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot.
       Note: The score of a game will automatically be
       10-0 if the outcome is decided before the groups of balls have been determined!
   D.    GAME
       In Call Pocket, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the opponent's right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. Banks and combinations are not considered obvious and both the object ball and the pocket must be called or it is a loss of turn. When calling the shot, it is NEVER necessary to indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to the shooter or the opponent.
           The opening break is not a "called pocket". Any player performing a break shot in 8-Ball may continue to shoot his next shot so long as he has legally pocketed any object ball on the break.
           When a player has pocketed all of the balls in his group, he then shoots at the 8-ball, physically designating his pocket with a pocket marker.

Marking the pocket on the 8-Ball:
   * The Official 8-Ball Pocket marker will be the Midwest Disc! Disc placement is the responsibility of the player shooting the 8-Ball.
   If a dispute arises and a ruling from the stage is requested, substitute markers will not be considered!
   The marker is to be placed on the table completely within the first two diamonds on either side of the pocket. The area between the diamonds included. You do not have to touch or move the marker if it is already at your intended pocket.
   * It is not a loss of game if you do not pocket the 8-Ball, even if the pocket was not marked (playing safe or simply missing the shot) assuming that it was not a cue ball scratch.

   E.    PLAY
       1.    If a shooter inadvertently pockets his opponent's ball, it remains down, however, if the shooter does not legally pocket one of his own group, he loses his turn.
       2.    Each player continues to shoot so long as he legally pockets any of his object balls (Exception: calling a safety). Should a player fail to pocket his designated group ball, he shall lose his turn.
       3.    If a player fails to hit the 8-ball while shooting at it, it is a foul and the game continues. However, if a player scratches the cue ball while shooting at the 8-ball, he loses the game, even if the 8-ball remains on the table.
       4.    In the event the cue ball or an object ball stops on the edge of the pocket then falls into the pocket because of vibrations, fan or stamping of feet, it shall be replaced on the edge of the pocket as near as possible to its position before interference.
       5.    If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the 8-ball, which is a loss of game. Any jumped object balls are spotted in numerical order.
       6.    SLOW PLAY RULE: Exaggerated slow play will be penalized. After a warning, any longer than ONE MINUTE between shots will be a foul. The third infraction will result in loss of game. During National competition, referee's judgment will prevail and both players will be timed.
       7.    STALEMATED GAME: If in three consecutive turns at the table by each player (six turns total), they purposely foul or scratch and both players agree that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in immediate loss of game, then the game will be considered a stalemate. The balls will then be reracked and the breaker of the stalemated game will break again. Please Note: Three consecutive fouls by one player is not a loss of game.
   F.    LOSS OF GAME
       1.    Pocketing the 8-ball when it is not the legal object ball except on an opening break.
       2.    Pocketing the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls.
       3.    Scratching when the 8-ball is his legal object ball.
       4.    Jumping or knocking the 8-ball off the table at any time.
       5.    Pocketing the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one designated.
       6.    Fouling while (pocketing) the 8-ball in the designated pocket.
       7.    Third infraction of the slow play rule.
       8.    Not correctly marking the pocket while pocketing the 8-ball.
       Note: All infractions above must be called before the next shot is taken. Only the players involved may call an infraction.
   G.    LEGAL SHOTS
       Once the group of balls have been determined players can not change their group of balls at anytime during a game.  On all shots (except on the break and when the table is open), the shooter must hit one of his group of balls first and (1) pocket any group ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or any other ball to contact a rail.
       *(There are two groups of balls: stripes and solids).

       Please Note: It is permissible for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball; however, after contact with his object ball, any group ball must be pocketed, OR the cue ball or any other ball must contact a rail.

       "SAFETY" SHOT: For tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue his turn at the table by declaring "safety" in advance. A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, he must declare a "safety" to his opponent or verbally declare a pocket other than the one in which he intends to shoot the ball. If this is NOT done, and one of the shooter's object balls is pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot again. Any ball pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.
   H. FOULING
       All fouls must be called and acknowledged before the next shot is taken (exception: scratching).
        
   The following results in fouls:
       1.    Failure to make a legal shot as noted above.
       2.    Shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off table.
       3.    It is a foul when a player scratches on the break, or deflects the cue ball prior to hitting the racked balls. The incoming player receives (cue ball in hand behind the headstring).
       4.    When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot.
       5.    Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor. (Junior League exception)
       6.    Coaching is a foul. Any member of a team called for coaching will result in a foul on the team member shooting.
       7.    Object Ball Frozen to Cushion or Cue Ball.
           This applies to any shot where the cue ball¹s first contact with a ball is with one that is frozen to a cushion or to the cue ball itself. After the cue ball makes contact with the frozen ball, the shot must result in either:
           a) A ball being pocketed, or;
           b) The cue ball contacting a cushion, or;
           c) The frozen ball being caused to contact a cushion attached to a separate rail, or;
           d) Another object ball being caused to contact a cushion with which it was not already in contact.
               Failure to satisfy one of those four requirements is a foul.
                A ball which is touching a cushion at the start of a shot and then is forced into a cushion attached to the same rail is not considered to have been driven to that cushion unless it leaves the cushion, contacts another ball, and then contacts the cushion again. An object ball is not considered frozen to a cushion unless it is examined and announced as such by either the referee or the players involved prior to that object ball being involved in a shot.
       8.    ACCIDENTALLY moving or touching any ball is not a foul unless: 1) the moved ball is the cue ball or 2) a moved ball makes contact with the cue ball or 3) a moved ball that is jumped off the table or pocketed or causes any ball to be jumped off the table or pocketed. (exception to #3: If the 8-ball is jumped off the table or pocketed, it is loss of game if called by the opponent before the  next shot is taken.) Only opponent may replace the ball moved as closely as possible or leave it where it rests. If the shooter replaces the moved ball; it will be considered a foul.
           a.    If you accidentally move an object ball during a shot and it moves into the path of a ball that was shot, it is a foul if those balls collide.
           b.    If you accidentally touch and move a ball and it falls in a pocket, your opponent has the choice of leaving the ball down or replacing it on the table as close as possible to its original position.
           c.    If you intentionally touch a ball, it is a foul. (Example: Intentionally resting your hand on a ball to stabilize your bridge.)
       9.    Picking up or shooting the cue ball while any balls are still in motion is a foul.
       10.Push shots and/or double hits will be considered fouls. See General Definitions of Pocket Billiards.
       11. With cue ball in hand, touching any object ball with the cue ball is a foul, or touching any object ball with your hand while touching the cue ball is a foul.
       12.When the slow play rule is enforced, taking longer than ONE MINUTE between shots is a foul.
       13.Jumping object balls off the table.
       14.After a scratch on a legal break, if a player positions the cue ball completely and obviously outside the kitchen and shoots, it is a foul.
        15.If your opponent commits a foul and you did not receive his/her acknowledgment of such foul prior to touching the cue ball, you have committed a foul (exception: scratching). Note: If neutral referees are making a call, the opponent acknowledgment is not necessary if the referee has called a foul.
       16.Illegal jumping of ball. (See General Definitions #9)
       
   I.    PENALTY FOR FOULING
       1.    Only the players involved may call a foul. In the event of a foul call, the opposing player receives cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (the cue ball does not have to be behind the headstring except on opening break) or immediately after a foul on the break.
       2.    A player must stop shooting when a foul is called. If a player refuses to yield to a foul call, the opposing player may protest.

7. 9-Ball Rules Of Play:

   A.    OBJECT OF THE GAME. 9-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another shot, and continues until he misses, fouls, or wins the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after any foul the incoming player may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to call any shot.
   B.    RACKING THE BALLS. The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the one ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot., the nine ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the headstring.
   C.    START OF PLAY. Singles: First game "break" determined by coin toss. The break alternates thereafter. A game starts as soon as the cue ball crosses over the headstring on the opening break.
   D.    LEGAL BREAK SHOT. The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except:
       1.    The breaker must strike the one-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to a rail, failure to do so is a foul. Incoming player accepts table the way it lies with ball in hand or requests a rerack with cue ball behind the headstring.
       2.    If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
       3.    If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not respotted.
       4.    Making the nine ball on the break is an automatic win for the player breaking. However, if the cue ball is scratched when making the nine ball, the nine ball is respotted (using another stripe from tray).
   E.    CONTINUING PLAY. On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a "push out". If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a  legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins his turn and shoots until he misses, fouls, or wins. The game ends when the nine ball is pocketed on a legal shot.
   F.     PUSH OUT. The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any rails, but all other foul rules still apply. The player must announce his intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed, except for the nine ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rule is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed.
   G. FOULS. When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are spotted, except the nine ball. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.
       1.    All fouls must be called and acknowledged before the next shot is taken.
       2.    Touching or moving the cue ball is a foul.
       3.    Coaching is a foul.
       4.    Shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off the table is a foul.
       5.    If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul.
       6.    If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or some object ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball is a foul.
       7.    Pocketing the nine ball and the cue ball with the same stroke is a foul.
       8.    Shooting without at least one foot on the floor is a foul.
       9.    An unpocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not spotted and play continues.
       When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact with an object ball. He may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until he takes a shot.
   H.    NOTES: A player¹s turn begins when it is legal for him to take a shot and ends at the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or wins, or when he fouls between shots.
            When there are only two object balls on the table and a player scratches while pocketing the ball before the nine, it shall be brought up and placed on the footspot (using another ball from the tray).
   I.    END OF GAME. The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the nine ball; or when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul.
   
* Good sportsmanship will prevail at all times to assure fun and a pleasant time for all.
* UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT.
       1.    Unsportsmanlike conduct is cause for automatic disqualification.
       2.    Two basic types: a) one warning before disqualification; and b) immediate disqualification.
CUE SPECIFICATIONS:
   WIDTH OF TIP: Not to exceed 15 mm.
   length of cue: 40 inches minimum

1.    STRIKING CUE BALL. Legal shots require that the cue ball be struck only with the cue tip. Failure to meet this requirement is a foul.
2.    POCKETED BALLS. A ball is considered as a pocketed ball, if, as a result of an otherwise legal shot, it drops off the bed of the table into the pocket and remains there. A ball that rebounds from a pocket back onto the table is not a pocketed ball.
3.    POSITION OF BALLS. The position of a ball is judged where its base (or center) rests.
4.    FOOT ON THE FLOOR. It is a foul if a player shoots when at least one foot is not in contact with the floor. Foot attire must be normal in regard to size, shape, and the manner in which it is worn. Junior League exception.
5.    KITCHEN DEFINED. The headstring is part of the kitchen. If the base of an object ball is dead center on the headstring, the ball is not playable. This will apply on a scratched cue ball on the break. Likewise, the cue ball, when being put in play from the kitchen (cue ball behind the string), may not be placed directly on the headstring; it must be behind it.
6. FOULS BY DOUBLE HITS. It is a foul if the cue ball is struck more than once on a shot by the cue tip (such shots are usually referred to as double hits). If, in the referee¹s judgment, the cue ball has left initial contact with the cue tip and then is struck a second time in the course of the same shot, it shall be a foul. (Note: this can be a difficult call in officiating, because on shots where the distance between the cue ball and the object is very short, the referee must judge whether the cue ball had time to move out of contact with the cue tip prior to being impeded and then propelled again by the follow through of the stroke.) Nonetheless, if it is judged by virtue of sound, ball position, and action and stroke used that there were two separate contacts of the cue ball by the cue tip on a stroke, the stroke is a foul and must be so called.
7.    PUSH SHOT FOULS. It is a foul if the cue ball is pushed by the cue tip, with contact being maintained for more than the momentary time commensurate with a stroked shot (Such shots are usually referred to as push shots.) With a cue and object ball frozen, shooting the shot from any angle other than at least 45 degrees above, or at least 45 degrees to the right or at least 45 degrees to the left of center from the straight line of the frozen balls is a foul and must be so called.
8.    JUMPED CUE BALL. When a stroke results in the cue ball being a jumped ball, meaning jumped completely off the pool table on the floor, the stroke is a foul. The cue ball may leave the playing surface and return, which is not to be considered a foul.
9.    ILLEGAL JUMPING OF BALL. It is a foul if a player strikes the cue ball below center ("digs under" it) and intentionally causes it to rise off the bed of the table in an effort to clear an obstructing ball. Such jumping action may occasionally occur accidentally, and such "jumps" are not to be considered fouls on their face; they may still be ruled foul strokes, if, for example, the ferrule or cue shaft makes contact with the cue ball in the course of the shot.
10.    PLAYER RESPONSIBILITY FOULS. The player is responsible for chalk, bridge, files, and any other items or equipment he brings to, uses at, or causes to approximate the table. If he drops a piece of chalk, or knocks off a mechanical bridge head, as examples, he is guilty of a foul should such item make contact with a cue ball.