Play Off Rules and Scenarios
The Aactive Pool League play off rules and scenarios. With playoffs just around the corner, it’s time to freshen up on some rules and reminders for playoffs.
Here are a few things you NEED to know.
- NO EAR BUDS WHILE PLAYING A GAME!
- Time violations will be in effect. You have 5 minutes to arrive to your posted match (Singles and teams) – this is from the time posted in Compusport.
- When you get to your table – Take a picture of your table number. This will mark that you are there with a date/time stamp of the time the picture was taken.
- After 5 minutes, call a ref and penalties will be applied as follows.
- If you haven’t done so already – PLEASE familiarize yourself with the rulebook
- All games will be scored using the Compusport app. If you don’t have it already, please download the app now
SINGLES
i. 5 Minutes after match is called – loss 1st game
ii. 10 minutes after match is called – loss 2ndgame
iii. 15 minutes after match is called – forfeit match
TEAMS
i. 5 minutes after match is called – loss 2 games
ii. 10 minutes after match is called – loss 2 more games (4 in total now)
iii. 15 minutes after match is called – the match is forfeited.
TEAMS – you required 2 people to start a match. Fill out your line up and start the match. If you get to a player that is not there, jump over them and move to the next player. At the end of the round – if the player you jumped over is not there – it is a 10-0 LOSS. DO NOT STALL MATCHES FOR MISSING PLAYERS.
- Start your matches on time. If your match starts at 6 – start at 6. DO NOT get a quick practice game or two in. START YOUR MATCH.
THESE MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE SCHEDULE RUNNING ON TIME.
Commonly asked questions
As refs we get asked the same questions every single year without fail. Here are a few highlights.
Note: We sometimes have new referees in training. (Thank you to those who have joined the cause) – it is possible when you call a ref – 2 refs may appear. A Sr. Ref (trainer) and a ref in training. The new ref will make the call, and the Sr. Ref will confirm the call. Please be patient as we may need to have a short discussion prior to the shot. We thank you in advance for your patience.
- How to call a referee. Raise your cue high in the air and a ref will be there shortly. If you see us looking the other way and not noticing you – loudly shout “REF!” to grab our attention.
- Can I use the 8 ball on an OPEN table to call a combination. Example – 1 ball in the corner. Hit the 8 first, then the 1 – then the 1 goes in. On an OPEN table, yes you can use the 8-ball to combo your shot. NOTE: YOU MUST call your ball as combos are not obvious. Simple 1 in the corner is sufficient. If the table is NOT open – hitting the 8 first is a foul.
- YOU MUST confirm ball in hand prior to touching or picking up the cueball. Failure to do so is a foul. Example: Shooter shoots their shot, but doesn’t hit anything. You just pick up the cueball as you believe it’s a foul. You didn’t ask. That is a foul and your opponent will be allowed to shoot again WITH ball in hand. Always confirm.
- Call every shot. Combo’s, Banks, Caroms etc. are NEVER obvious. Again, simple 1 in the corner (indicating which corner) is sufficient.
- If you are playing a safety – the term is safety. Just a shot is NOT valid declaration of a safety. If you say, “just a shot” AND YOU MAKE AN OBVIOUS BALL – the opponent has the right to make you shoot again. Again – the key here is you need to make a ball. If you say, “just a shot” and nothing goes does – it doesn’t really matter what you said – nothing went down. However, if your 1 ball is right over the hole, and you say “Just a shot” and pop the one in the side (Obvious) – the opponent can then make you shoot again. There was apparently a tremendous amount of confusion on this last year. Remember, an OBVIOUS ball MUST be sunk. If the player does not sink a ball their turn is over regardless of what was declared. Let’s be as clear as possible – if your opponent FAILS TO SINK A BALL – their turn is over and you cannot make them shoot again.
- Calling a safety AND declaring your balls on an open table. You can call “6 in the side, and a safety”. What this means is you are declaring your ball selection as solids (6), and that you wish to end your turn. When you sink the 6, the table is declared, and the shooter is solids. SAFETY means you are ending your turn. This is perfectly legal.
- Call a ref – for the love of all things holy, if you think there might even be a remote chance of a foul – call a ref. That is why we are here. We CANNOT and WILL NOT make a call that (1) we did not see (2) we were called to after the shot. We were not there – we have no clue what happened – the shooter is going to win the battle 100% of the time. Seriously – CALL A REF! (In case you are unaware how to do this – it’s as simple as advising your opponent that you want a ref to watch the shot (“Hang on please, I would like a ref to watch this shot”). Second – raise your cue high in the air. If you need to grab a ref’s attention please shout “REF” loud enough for us to hear. Please do not whistle at us. NOTE: If a strip and a solid are within one inch of each other, that is a perfect time to call a ref. Also, if a ball is frozen to a rail, or you think its frozen, or you are not sure if it’s frozen. Call a ref and we will make the declaration if it’s frozen or not. NOTE: if there is a stripe and a solid within an inch (one chalk width) of each other and the shooter is shooting at those balls – CALL A REF. We get called over countless times AFTER this scenario – and 100% of the time the call goes to the shooter. WE CANNOT MAKE A CALL ON SOMETHING WE DIDN’T SEE.
- DO NOT use a ref as a sharking technique. This will end up in a sportsman call on you. What do I mean. Say your stripe and your opponent’s solid are 8-10 inches apart – and it is blatantly obvious that there is no way he will hit your ball first (unless miscue etc.) – and you call a ref, simply to try and throw your opponent off their shot. That is sharking and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ANY sharking by use of a referee in this manner will immediately result in a sportsman warning. Second offense will be documented, and third offense will NOT end well for you. Play the game fairly.
- If you believe a foul has occurred, and your opponent insists they are right (Common rule discrepancy), call a ref. It is amazing how many people don’t know the rules and are insistent that their version of the rules is correct. Almost always this is wrong. Call a referee and we will explain the rule.
- If you are not playing a match, DO NOT be inside the playing area. Sit on the outside of the playing area. There will be one seat for every table inside the playing area. If you are in a match, and NOT the shooter, have a seat and watch the game. Extend your opponent the same courtesy you would like when you are shooting. If you are concerned about a shot and feel the need to watch closely – CALL A REF – we will watch very closely for you. DO NOT hover over the table while your opponent is shooting. If you are the shooter and your opponent refuses to have a seat – call a ref and we will address the issue.
- A legal break consists of 4 (or more) unique numbered balls hitting a rail (Cueball does not count) OR any numbered ball going into a pocket. If that does not happen, it’s an illegal break and your opponent has the option to rerack and break, rerack and let you break again, or accept the table as it lies.
- The 8 ball is not obvious under any circumstance. If you are using a patch, you MUST patch the 8 ball. Failure to do so and sinking the 8 in an un-patched pocket is a loss of game. If you are NOT patching, you MUST click the NO PATCH checkbox in Compusport. When shooting the 8 ball – you MUST indicate clearly to your opponent which pocket you are shooting the 8 ball into. No matter if the 8 ball is literally hanging over a pocket – you must clearly indicate the target pocket.
Feel free to ask questions BEFORE playoffs start. Of course, we will answer at playoffs – but NOT if you are actively in a game.
NOTE: This post is open for comments. Meaningful comments and questions will be allowed. Rude comments, and comments that do not add to the value of this post will be removed.
Some very useful videos
Scratch after a legal break
Equipment / Cue on table
Double Hit and Push Shot fouls
Good luck to all!
Dave Leather
2 COMMENTS
Dave
Do spares need eight games with the same team or just with any team?
April 15, 2025 at 5 days ago
Dave
Spares up until Vegas division require a MINIMUM of 8 weeks. Super Vegas and higher all players require 14 weeks.
You can ONLY play ONE spare in a round at a time.
Example – if you have 2 spares with 8 weeks you can play spare 1 in round 1, spare 2 in round 2.
You CANNOT play spare 1 and 2 in round 1
Players with 12 or more weeks (14 or more in SV and higher) are considered full time players and can play in any and all rounds.
April 15, 2025 at 5 days ago