World Rules 2015
World Rules 2015
World Rules 2015
J Fouls
There are three types of foul. Standard Fouls, Non-Standard Fouls, and Loss of Frame Fouls. A
player can only be penalised for one foul at a time. If two or more fouls are committed during a
shot, the foul that carries the most severe penalty will apply
K Standard Fouls
Standard fouls are to be called by the referee as soon as they occur and the fouled player is in
control, until all balls from that shot come to rest. The referee then awards two visits to the
opponent.
(1) Potting the Cue Ball - "In Off" { except on a Fair Break - see (F) The Break (4)(c)(1) }
The incoming player plays from Baulk { see (E) Playing from Baulk (d)(1) }
(2) Playing from outside Baulk when obliged to play from Baulk. { see (E) Playing from Baulk (2)(a) }
(3) Potting an opponent's ball.
(except, when it is the properly nominated ball following a Foul Snooker or Foul Jaw Snooker)
(4) Playing out of turn. {A player who plays a shot immediately after playing a foul or immediately after
the referee has called a foul on that player, has played out of turn.
(5) Accidentally striking the Cue Ball with any part of the cue other than the tip.
(6) Accidentally striking an Object Ball with any part of the cue or cue tip.
(7) Playing a shot before all balls have come to rest from the previous shot.
(8) Playing a shot before any balls that require spotting, have been spotted.
(9) (a) Touching the table while having a cigarette (lit or unlit) in hand or mouth.
(b) Causing a cigarette (lit or unlit) to touch the table or enter the space directly above the table.
(c) Touching the table while having a beverage container in hand.
(d) Causing a beverage container or beverage to touch the table or enter the space directly
above the table.
(10) Touching the table when not in control of the frame. {See (C) Definitions (9) - Player in Control}
Exception: When a players’ turn is finished, that player has a maximum of ten (10) seconds to
move away from the table. {See 11 below}
(11) Not moving away from the table within ten (10) seconds of the time that all the balls stopped
moving from the final shot of a turn at the table.
(12) Coaching: - During a frame, a player is required to play without receiving any advice from other
persons relating to the playing of the frame. Should a team member or bone-fide supporter of a
player offer advice, the referee will issue a "First and Final Warning" to that person that a repetition
will result in the player being penalised via a Standard Foul.
Because it may not always be possible for the Referee to hear if a statement made to a player is
advice, the referee may issue the First and Final Warning on the grounds that any statement made
to a player, other than general barracking, is deemed to be coaching.
In a tournament setting, a First and Final warning may be given once only, before the
commencement of the day's play as a block warning to all players and spectators.
(13) Leaving the playing area without permission. If a player needs to leave the playing area during a
frame or match, "Time Out" must firstly be granted by the referee. { see (I) Time Allowed (5) }
(14) Playing a shot after neglecting to nominate a choice of Colour when the obligation and right to do so
existed. { see (H) Deciding Colours (1)(d) }
(15) Playing a Push Shot or Double Hit of a type defined in (O) Push Shots and Double Hits.
(16) Failing to perform a “Legal Shot”. { see(G) Legal Shot }
(17) After being awarded a Foul Snooker or Foul Jaw Snooker: - Playing an opponents ball or the Eight
Ball without firstly nominating that ball.
(18) Playing a shot while not having at least one foot touching the floor.
(19) Failing to "Play Away" from a touching ball. { see (R) Touching Balls (1)(a) }
(20) A ball remaining off the table. {see (S) Balls Off the Table}
L Non-Standard Fouls
Non-Standard fouls are to be called by the referee as soon as they occur and the fouled player is in
control, until all balls from that shot come to rest. The referee will then impose the relevant penalty.
Non-Standard Fouls are so called because the penalty and / or options of the incoming player may
vary.
(1) Failure to perform a Fair Break. { see (F) The Break (4)(a)&(b) }
(2) Failure to play a shot within 60 seconds of the time that the balls came to rest from the previous
shot. { see (I) Time Allowed (4) }
(3) Potting the Cue Ball on a Fair Break. { see (F) The Break (4)(c)(1) }
M Loss of Frame Fouls
(1) Committing a foul in the same shot that the Eight Ball is potted. (Except on the Break)
(2) Potting the Eight Ball when a ball or balls of the player's own Colour are still on the table. (Except on
the Break)
(3) Potting the Eight Ball and the last ball or balls of the player's own Colour in the same shot.
(4) Deliberately striking a ball other than the Cue Ball with the tip of the cue
(5) Deliberately causing any ball or balls to be moved in a manner other than that which may result
from playing a normal shot.
(6) Deliberately striking the Cue Ball with other than the tip of the cue.
(7) Deliberately interfering, by word or action, so as to disrupt an opponent’s play.
(8) If a player breaches the "Spirit of the Game" to such an extent that the frame (or match) should be
awarded to the opponent.
N Push Shots and Double Hits
(1) Definitions: Most shots commonly known as "Push Shots" in the game of "Snooker" are allowed in
the game of Eight - Ball Pool. Generally, any shot played with speed will not be deemed to be a
Push Shot regardless of the fact that the cue tip may have come into contact with the Cue Ball more
than once.
(2) Exceptions that are Standard Fouls:-
(a) When, during the playing of a shot, the tip of the cue strikes the Cue Ball twice and the
referee is able to actually see each contact.
(b) When, during the playing of a shot, a player plays the cue so slowly through the Cue Ball that
the cue tip remains in contact with the Cue Ball so as to be visibly pushing it along.
(c) When the Cue Ball is played into a touching Object Ball. {See (R) Touching Balls}
O Snookers
(1) Definition: A player is Snookered when it is impossible to play the finest cut possible on both sides
of any of that player's own Colour by way of a "straight - line" shot. Snookering an opponent is not a
foul.
(2) A player cannot be Snookered by a ball of the player's own Colour. That is, if one of the player's
own coloured group is an obstructing ball, it will be ignored for the purposes of determining a
Snooker.
(3) A player cannot be Snookered on an Object Ball if the Cue Ball is touching that Object Ball.
(4) A player cannot be Snookered by the straight sections of the cushions. If a straight section of a
cushion is preventing the finest possible cut on the side of an Object Ball, that section of cushion will
be deemed not to exist for the purposes of determining a Snooker on that Object Ball.
(5) If an Object Ball is partly obscured by a curved section of a cushion (Jaw), this in itself does not
constitute a Snooker.
P Foul Snookers
(1) Definition: When an opponent plays a foul shot and this results in the incoming player being
snookered, the incoming player is deemed to be Foul Snookered.
(2) If a player believes that a Foul Snooker exists, the player may ask the referee for a ruling.