Crawley Classic 5's

THE RULES (Basic)

There are some new teams & new players in the League this season. Guidance on the rules has been requested so we have produced a short–list of the important facts that should be known by every player, especially if asked to referee & we should all take our turn to do that.

On the break at least Four object balls must touch a cushion (the cue ball is not included) or a ball must be pocketed, otherwise it is an illegal break. If an illegal occurs the balls are re-racked, the opposing player breaks with TWO visits given with an Open Table. If the cue ball is pocketed on the break it is a foul & the penalty is only ONE visit to the opponent with an Open Table. If the cue ball leaves the table on the break it is a foul, TWO visits are awarded with an Open Table. Potting the black on the break neither loses the game nor wins it. All other aspects of the break are ignored, the balls are simply re-racked & the same player breaks again, no penalties are awarded.

On the break, if an object ball or balls are pocketed a player must nominate his/her choice of colour to the referee before taking the next shot & the referee must acknowledge that choice by announcing it audibly. If the choice of a colour that has been pocketed then that is the colour of the player. If, however a player wishes to nominate a colour that has not been pocketed he/she must pot a ball of that colour otherwise it remains an Open Table for the incoming player. Failure to audibly nominate after the break is a foul & TWO visits will be awarded to the incoming player with an Open Table. Following the break where no colours have been potted the first colour to be potted by either player is automatically that player’s colour. Playing one colour onto another when an Open Table is declared legal. However, if balls of both colours are potted then a player must nominate his/her choice of colour to the referee before the next shot, once again failure to audibly nominate is a foul.

After all shots a ball must strike a cushion, which is the simplest way of putting it. It doesn’t matter which ball it is, object ball, cue ball or any other ball. At least one ball must strike a cushion or one must be pocketed. Failure to do so is a foul & TWO visits are awarded to the incoming player.

The only time that a ball need not strike a cushion after a shot is if a player is in a Total Snooker That means that the cue ball cannot hit any ball of the player’s colour with a ‘straight line’ shot (no swerving) The referee must be asked if it is a Total Snooker & upon the referee’s audible agreement the player must hit a ball of his/her colour but need not touch a cushion following the shot. A Total Snooker is possible at any time; it does not have to be only after an opponent’s shot. There is a now a new amendment to ‘Rule P’ of the WEPF Rules that refers to the straight section of the cushion coming into consideration when the referee is asked about a Total Snooker.

Another rule to be taken into consideration with a Total Snooker is that you cannot be snookered by a ball that is the SAME colour of the object ball you are playing.

If a player has to strike a cushion prior to impact with a ball on, then a Total Snooker does exist. However, this ruling indifferent for Foul Snookers.

The other rule that many of us are not using, or seeing, is the Foul Snooker. This is totally different to a Total Snooker & can only occur after any player has fouled & TWO visits have been given. If, after a foul shot, the incoming player cannot hit both sides of a ball of his/her colour with a straight-line shot he/she should ask the referee if it is a Foul Snooker. The straight sections of the cushions do NOT come into consideration when the referee is asked about a Foul Snooker. If the referee audibly agrees that it is a Foul Snooker the player now has choices, & they can be important to the outcome of the game.

The player can play balls as they are with TWO visits.

The player can nominate a ball of another colour (including the black if necessary) as a free ball. The player need not strike this ball with the cue ball. It has to be a specific ball & that ball becomes one of that player’s colours for that ONE shot only. Providing a legal shot is played & a legal ball (not the black obviously) is potted TWO visits still remain.

The player can nominate to play the cue ball from Baulk still with TWO visits. The player must ask the referee to lift the cue ball & not do so themselves, it is not possible to play the cue ball from Baulk & nominate a free ball. This is only possible if, after taking the cue ball to Baulk, the player is still in a Foul Snooker from anywhere behind the Baulk Line.

A deliberate foul is permitted but will obviously involve giving the opponent two shots. On some occasions a deliberate foul is of a better advantage than attempting to take a difficult shot. As a player, be very careful not to make the deliberate foul & then leave the opponent in a Foul Snooker. As a referee you must not consider a Total Snooker or a Foul Snooker unless you are asked to give a ruling by the player.

There are many other rules that you should know about but basically if you can play &/or referee to the above you won’t go far wrong. Be ready as a referee to give a ruling but remember, you may only give a ruling; you may NOT give advice on the tactics. This is all best explained in the Referee’s Guidance which can be found in your booklet.

Finally, as a player, if you don’t know or you are not sure, then ask referee! Hopefully he/she will be generous & kind enough to tell you, although officially he/she is not obliged to do so!

This short-list of basic rules is not aimed at the experienced pool player it has been written to help those unfamiliar with the New Rules, although they are not exactly new, as they came into force in 1998!