CITY BAR BILLIARD LEAGUE
(MEDWAY AREA)CONCISE RULE BOOK
PART 2:
ALL ENGLAND PLAYING RULES ADOPTED BY THIS LEAGUE
All England Bar Billiards Association
Playing Conditions And Rules As Adopted By This League
Playing Conditions
1. The playing area of the table shall not be less than fifty four and one half inches, or more than fifty six and one half inches in length, and not less than thirty two inches in width, measuring from the inside edge of the cushions.
2. The table shall be not less than thirty four inches and not more than thirty six and one half inches in height from the floor to the top of the cushions.
3. The table must be level, and in good condition.
4. There shall be one black and two white skittles of equal size, and weight, to a height of at least two inches above it's base. Each skittle should be cylindrical, with a diameter between six, and seven tenths inches. The black skittle shall be placed on a spot, the back edge of which will be one quarter inch from the front edge of the two hundred hole. The white skittles shall be placed on spots, level with, and seven inches from the centre of the one hundred hole.
5. A “D” shall be firmly fixed to the table in the centre of the base of the playing area. This should be approximately one and nine sixteenths inches in radius, and the centre of the “D” shall be clearly marked with a spot, to be known as the break spot.
6. Another spot shall be fixed to the centre of the table, with it's centre not less than six and three quarters inches, and not more than seven and one sixteenth inches, from the centre of the break spot on the “D”. This shall be known as the red spot.
7. Baulk lines shall be clearly drawn on the table radiating from the centre of the base of the playing area to the side cushions so as to form an arc, of not less than one hundred and fifty degrees, and not more than one hundred and sixty degrees.
8. The table shall be adequately illuminated.
9. One red ball, and seven white balls, of equal size and weight shall be provided.
Rules Of Play
10. All shots must be played with the cue ball within the area of the “D”.
11. The red ball shall be placed by hand on the red spot, and a white ball shall be placed on the break spot, also by hand. the white ball is then played with a cue onto the red ball, with the object of potting one, or both balls. This is known as playing from the break position.
12. If, from the break position, both balls are potted into any holes three times consecutively, the player, on his next shot, shall be barred from potting more than one ball.
13. If no balls remain on the table at any time during the course of the game, play will be continued from the break position.
14. From the break position, the red ball should always be used on the red spot. At any other time, the use of the red ball is optional.
15. Other than from the break position, and the last ball shot (see rule 26) the cue ball may be placed anywhere on the “D”.
16. A white ball potted into a hole shall score the value of that hole. The red ball when potted will score double the value of that hole.
17. A break will continue until such time as the player fails to pot a ball, or plays a foul shot.
18. At the end of a break, the score shall be recorded progressively on the scoreboard.
19. If during a break, a ball on the lip of a hole falls in without being struck by another ball, shall be counted as if potted, and the score will count.
20. If a player plays at a ball on the lip of a hole, and the ball falls before the cue ball reaches it, no penalty will be incurred, and the player will continue his break, except for any penalty incurred before the cue ball reaches the position previously occupied by the object ball.
21. If a ball on the lip of a hole falls in at the end of a break, this ball shall not count.
22. Should a ball knock a skittle off it's spot, but the skittle does not fall over, the score shall count, and the skittle should be replaced in it's correct position, before the next shot is played, unless prevented by a ball encroaching on the skittle's correct position.
23. Should any ball be touching a skittle causing it to lean, or preventing it from being re-spotted, this ball should be returned to the rack at the end of the break.
24. When no balls are left in the rack, play continues by taking the ball furthest from the top (back) cushion. If two balls are equidistant from the top cushion, the ball nearest the centre line of the table should be taken.
25. After the bar has dropped, play should continue until all the balls in the rack have been used.
26. If two alls are "bridged" over a hole and one must be returned to the player, the scorer must hold the balls, "tilt" the back ball onto the table at it's nearest point, and bring the other ball back to the player.
27. If only one ball remains, either in the rack, or on the table, the break score shall be recorded, before the last ball shot is played. The last ball must then be played from the centre of the “D” into either the one hundred, or two hundred holes, off one cushion only. This is known as the last ball shot. Before playing the last ball shot, the white skittles should be placed in the fifty holes, and the top holes guarded. If a ball strikes a skittle in the fifty hole, and falls into the one hundred or two hundred holes, the score will not count. Both players should continue to play the last ball shot alternately until the ball is potted, or the black peg is knocked down.
28. Foul shots incurring loss of break score penalty.
A) Potting both balls from the break position four consecutive times (except as in rule 34v).
B) Failing to hit another ball with the cue ball. (except as in rule 20).
C) Any ball returning over, or obstructing the baulk line. A ball shall be deemed to be obstructing the baulk line, if, when viewed from directly above, it obscured any part of the line. The ball should be returned to the rack.
D) Any ball hitting, or obstructing the “D”. A ball shall be deemed to be obstructing the ”D” if, when viewed from directly above, it obscures any part of the “D”. The ball should be returned to the rack.
E) Any ball mounting the cushion, or leaving the table. The ball should be returned to the rack.
F) Knocking down a white skittle with a ball.
G) Deliberately knocking down a white skittle with the cue, or by hand while the balls are in motion, or before a ball has completely fallen down a hole.
H) Playing a shot while balls are still in motion or before a ball has completely fallen down a hole.
I) Assisting the balls into the holes by any means.
J) Knocking the cue ball off the “D” with the cue. The cue ball will not be considered to be in play until it is completely clear of the “D” and the baulk lines, as in rule 27c and 27d.
K) Double hitting the cue ball after it has left the “D”.
L) Not using the red ball, when available, at the red spot, at the break shot.29. Foul shots incurring loss of entire score penalty
A) Knocking down the black skittle with a ball.
B) Deliberately knocking down the black skittle, with the cue, or by hand, while balls are in motion, or before a ball has fallen completely down a hole.30. Should both a white and black skittle be knocked down, if the white skittle falls first, the penalty will be loss of break. Should the black skittle fall first, the penalty will be loss of entire score.
31. If a player is nudged or jolted while in the act of playing a shot, causing him to play a foul shot, no penalty will be incurred. The scorer should replace the balls in what he considers to be their original positions and the player should then replay their shot.
32. If the balls are disturbed in any way other than in the normal course of play, then the scorer should replace the balls in what he considers to be their original positions, and play shall continue.
33. Deliberate foul shot.
If, after the bar has dropped, a player, in the opinion of the scorer deliberately plays a ball directly into a hole without touching another ball, then the ball shall be retrieved and the other player allowed to play it. The player deemed to have played the foul should provide any additional coins required to do so.
34. Score and marker.
A) A competent scorer shall be appointed.
B) The scorer will act as referee, and will be the sole arbiter on matters facts an interpretation of the rules during the course of the game.
C) The scorer will call out progressively the score after each shot.
D) Progressive thousands must be recorded either by placing, in clear view, coins or other suitable markers, or alternatively be recording them on the scoreboard.
E) After the player has potted both ball three times consecutively from the break position, the scorer must clearly warn the player to leave one ball up. Should he fail to do so, the player will not be penalized in accordance with rule 21.
F) If during the course of play, a ball remains on the lip of a hole, the scorer shall decide when to call end of break in accordance with rule 21.
G) The scorer shall be responsible for ensuring that the scores recorded on the scoreboard are correct.
H) A marker should be appointed to record progressive scores on the scoreboard at the end of each break.
I) The marker should check the score as it is called out by the scorer and should draw his attention to any discrepancy at the earliest convenient time.
J) No person, other than the marker should touch the scoreboard during the course of the game.
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