DAKOTA POOL LEAGUE
9 BALL RULES AND REGULATIONS
2006 EDITION
Rules in this edition
supersede all former rule books used by the Dakota Pool League. This book should be read in its entirety as
rules which are mentioned in one section may be limited or clarified in another
section. Any sanctioned player of a
Dakota Pool League shall be eligible to participate in and receive stated
rights of the league and shall be governed by rules herein. Interpretation of all rules will be the sole
job of the coordinator. The
coordinator’s decision will be final.
I. MEMBERSHIP
To be a member of any
division team, except for youth divisions, a person must be of legal drinking
age and be a member of the Dakota Pool League.
To become a member of the Dakota Pool League the person must fill out a
sanction sheet and pay a sanction fee to the league. Dakota Music Inc. reserves the right to deny
or expel any player from the league.
This includes anyone whose participation is not in the best interest of
the Dakota Pool League, competitors and their employees and anyone who is
disruptive to organized league play. The
sanction fee may be used for operational expenses. Any funds not used for operational expenses
will be returned to league members in the form of tournament prize money. No person shall be considered a league member
nor shall any scores count until the player has filled out a sanction sheet and
paid the sanction fee. If a score sheet
is handed in with the name of a new player and no sanction information for that
new player, the new player's score shall not be counted but that position will
instead be given a dummy score and the opponent will be given the wins.
II. RULES COMMITTEE
Each division shall
have a rules committee which will be made up of all the team captains. This committee will decide on all optional
rules. This committee will judge on all
disputes which cannot be mutually settled by opposing team captains or mediated
by the coordinator. Their decision shall
be final.
III. TEAMS
Each team may have
nine (9) players on their roster. In the
event a team must add a 10th member the captain must notify the secretary which
present member is to be dropped. If the
secretary is not notified of which player to drop the new player cannot be
added and shall receive dummy scores. A
dropped player may not be re-signed during that season except by unanimous
approval of all other division captains.
No 5 player team shall be allowed to play with more than two dummy
scores. No 4 player team shall play with
more than one dummy score. No one shall
be considered a team member until a sanction fee is paid, played one night of
play and has an average posted on the weekly standing sheet.
Each team within the division shall elect
a captain. The team captain's
responsibilities shall be to keep the team organized and informed of all league
activities, including meetings, tournaments, rule updates, etc. The captain or person appointed to act in his
absence shall have the exclusive right of voting on behalf of the team at all
division or league meetings. When the
captain is the home team captain (playing in his sponsor's bar) he shall be
responsible for putting the division funds and score sheet in the envelope,
sealing it, and getting it to the proper place in the bar. In the event the money in the envelope is
incorrect, the division secretary shall consider all missing funds as not
having been paid by the home team. If a
team is short a player and does not pay for that player, the home team captain
must indicate such shortage or the shortage will be deducted from the home team
funds.
IV. NEW PLAYER
RESTRICTION
No team may add new
players in the last three weeks of either half season (or season end) unless
prior approval of all division captains is secured. If a new name appears on a team roster in the
last three weeks of either half and notification of approval by all division
captains is not given within 1 week and 24 hours after the player has played,
he or she will be considered legal. If a
written protest is received by the coodinator, that
name may not be added and dummy scores will be given in that position.
V. MATCH TIME AND RESCHEDULING
Any team not showing
and ready for play by 30 minutes after the scheduled beginning time shall
forfeit the match. In the event a team cannot
show for a match and wishes a chance to make the match up, they must notify the
opposing captain 24 hours before the scheduled match. Any rescheduled matches must be made up
before the next regularly scheduled match.
VI. LINE-UP PROCEDURE
The home team breaks
first and writes their line-up down first.
Teams may line up in any order they like.
When adding a new
player who does not have a handicap they will receive 0 for a handicap score.
Any variations in the
line-up procedure must be agreed upon by both team captains before play
begins. The line-up order must be
checked before any games are played and shall be considered legal as stands
once play begins.
VII. FEES
The nightly fees to
be paid by the division members shall be decided by a meeting of the
division. These fees will be used for
(1) secretary fee, (2) coins to operate the pool tables, (3) trophies, (4)
banquet tickets, (5) pay-back at the end of the year to division teams as per
the number of match points won.
VIII. SEASON
The length of the
season shall be decided by a meeting of the division. The division decision must meet with the
approval of the coordinator. The season
will be divided into two halves and season winners will be determined as
follows:
If the same team wins both halves - that
team will be first.
If different teams win first in the halves
they will play off to determine first.
If the same team wins second both halves
and there is a play off for first, the team who won second both halves will play
off with the team who loses the play off for first to determine second and
third places. If different teams win
second each half and there is a play off for first the loser of the play off
has second and the two second place winners will play off for third.
If different teams win second each half
and there is not a play off for first then the two second place winners will
play off for second and third places for the year. There will be a 1 week break after the first
half and any ties in the first half standing will be broken on the regular
night of play during that week. The
competition will take place in the bar whose team has accumulated the most
points.
To qualify for 1st,
2nd or 3rd place for the year, a team must compete in at least 85% of the
scheduled matches.
IX. PROTEST PROCEDURE.
Only the team captain
or acting captain can file a protest. A
protest must be filed with the league coordinator in writing within 24 hours of
the match. A $15.00 fee must accompany
any protest. A meeting of the rules
committee will settle the protest. If
the protest stands, the $15.00 will be returned.
All games will be
played on pool tables owned and operated by Dakota Music and Amusement Inc.
X. GOOD
SPORTSMANSHIP WILL PREVAIL AT ALL TIMES.
No coaching will be
allowed. Any coaching will be considered
poor sportsmanship. Continued poor
sportsmanship can result in disqualification.
A. OBJECT OF THE GAME
Nine 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
The home team breaks
first and writes their line-up down first.
The grace period to start a match is 1/2 hour. 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 1-ball first and drive 3 object balls to a
cushion or pocket one or more balls.
Failure to do so is a foul and requires a rerack. Their opponent then has the option of
breaking.
2.
When spotting the cue ball for a break shot the player shall position
the cue ball fully behind the head string.
The opposing player must inform the breaking player of improper
positioning of the cue ball before the shot is made or the shot is considered
legal.
3.
If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, it is a foul, and
the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
4.
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. (The
incoming player will get any points for that ball.)
5.
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 rail, 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 (the incoming player will get any points for that ball pocketed)
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
1.
All fouls must be called and acknowledged before the next shot is
taken. There is no such thing as an
automatic foul.
2.
Touching or moving the cue ball is a foul.
3.
Touching a ball before it stops moving is a
foul.
4.
Shooting out of turn is a foul.
5.
Shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off the table is a foul.
6.
If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest
numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul.
7. 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.
8.
Pocketing the nine ball and the cue ball on the
same shot is a foul.
9.
A ball driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of
the table is a foul. The jumped object
ball is not spotted and play continues.
(The incoming player will get any points for that ball.)
10.
Shooting without at least one foot on the floor is a foul.
11. Raising the cue above the
armpit and attempting masse shots is illegal, scoop or jump shots are
illegal. Doing so is a foul.
NOTE: Parts of rules 10 & 11 will be modified
as necessary. If
player is handicapped or when using an artificial bridge.
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.
Double Hit Fouls: 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 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 is a foul and must be so called.
Accidentally moving
an object ball is not a foul. The
opponent may replace the ball to the original spot or leave it where it
rests. If the ball is knocked into a
pocket, quarters can be put into the table to retrieve the ball. A player may not use a ball as part of their
bridge.
H. PLAY
1.
Any contact of the cue stick and cue ball will be considered a shot.
2.
In the event the cue ball or an object ball stops on the edge of the
pocket, it remains the shooter’s table until the opponent has struck the cue
ball.
3.
Frozen ball to rail: If a ball is
frozen to a rail, the shooter must be notified before the player shoots. When playing such a shot, the player must
contact the frozen ball and (1) pocket the frozen ball, or (2) cause the frozen
ball to contact another rail , or (3) cause another ball to contact a cushion
or (4) cause the cue ball to contact the frozen ball and then contact another
cushion. Failure to do so is a foul.
4.
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 foot spot. (Using another ball from the tray.)
5.
The game is over when the balls stop moving on the winning shot.
I. BAR ROOM INFRACTIONS
In the event of a
player being caused to foul due to natural bar behavior (I.E. - being bumped
while in the act of shooting by a patron) the following may be done:
1.
The balls may be placed as nearly as possible to the original position
or...........
2.
If the 2 players involved do not agree on position of the balls the game
will be reracked and replayed.
J. END OF GAME
The game ends at the
end of a legal shot which pockets the 9 ball.
K. HOW TO KEEP SCORE
Point Balls are as
follows:
one ball = 1 pt.
three ball = 1 pt.
five ball =
1 pt.
seven ball = 1 pt.
nine ball =
6 pts.
1.
In play, each player that legally pockets a point ball receives the
amount of points allowed to the ball.
2.
If a point is illegally pocketed the opponent receives the point, except
for the nine ball which is spotted.
3.
The nine ball legally pocketed on the break is worth 6 points plus a
bonus of 4 points bringing the total to 10
points.
L. FORFEITS
1.
At least (3) players must be present by forfeit time or the entire match
is forfeited
2.
If a team doesn’t show up or do not have enough players, they forfeit
all 32 games.
3.
A player may not be substituted for another player after the first round
has been completed.
4.
A team shooting with one player short, forfeits
that game each round the player is not present.
But if the player shows up late they may play their remaining rounds
that they are present for.
5. Teams must finish out the
season schedule. If a team drops out
anytime during the season they will forfeit any entitlement to any league
moneys or playoff eligibility.
6.
The home team captain is responsible for sending their score sheet and
money each week.
M. FORFEIT SCORING
1.
Players receiving a forfeit will get 4 points per game or individuals
scratch game average, whichever is higher.
For instance, if your scratch average is 35.99 or less, you receive 4
points per game forfeit. If your scratch
average is 36 to 43.99, you receive 5 points per game forfeit, etc. Dummy will receive 0 points.
2.
When a team wins by forfeit, they will receive their weekly team
average. When a team forfeits, they will
receive one half of their team’s weekly average.
00 - 35.99 = 4
36 - 43.99 = 5
44 - 51.99 = 6
52 - 59.99 = 7
60 - 67.99 = 8
68 - 67.99 = 9
76 + = 10