League Rules and Bylaws - mcadoohazletonpoolleague

League Rules

8 ball must be placed in the center of the rack. A coin flip or lag may be used to begin play.
Breaking: 4 numbered balls must hit a rail for a legal break. If this does not occur, then the opponent may ask for a re-rack and has the option of breaking or having his opponent break again.
8 ball pocketed on the break, without scratching or fouling, results in a win.
A cue scratch on the break results in the opponent’s first shot from behind the head string.
If a ball of one or both groups is pocketed on the break the shooter has the option of either group of balls; solids or stripes
A combination shot using a solid into a stripe or vice-versa to pocket a ball on the first shot after the break is a legal shot; only used until a ball is legally pocketed.
Jump shots are not legal shots. This is a foul.
Legal shot- Shooter must hit an object ball of their group first on all shots, either pocketing a ball or causing the cue or any other numbered ball, solid or stripe, to hit a rail. Shooter may bank the cue off of a cushion first to hit an object ball but the same applies as stated above. Pocketing a ball legally is equivalent to a ball hitting a rail or cushion.
Call shots ball in pocket only. Calling kisses (carom or billiard) is not necessary. EXCEPTION: 8 ball must be pocketed cleanly, and SPECIFICALLY as called (Bank, double bank, etc.).
Fouls: Only a shooter may call a foul. Team captains may acknowledge with each other whether or not a foul occurred. If shooters and captains cannot agree on a called foul, a re-rack may be in order for play to resume.
There is no coaching allowed. This is a foul. No talking to the shooter regarding a shot or strategy while the shooter is at the table, or between shots.
Shooter may ask the opposing team captain for a clarification of a rule.
If a shooter shoots an opponent’s ball by mistake, it is a foul. This foul must be indicated by the opponent before another shot is taken or it is considered that no foul has occurred.
Do not “crowd” the shooter. Stand back from them and away from the table.
Incidental contact as a ball moves along and adjacent to a rail does not qualify as a bank.
Double pokes or moving the ball with a hand, cue, clothing, etc. is a foul. Loss of shot and ball in hand for the opponent
Split hits are a foul. These should be observed by both captains to help determine if a foul occurred.
No object ball hitting a rail after contact is a foul.
Failure to hit an object ball first is a foul.
Any cue scratch is a foul.
When a foul occurs the shooter must make the call and confirm it with their opponent.
The penalty for a foul or cue scratch is “ball in hand” for the opponent. Shooter with ball in hand may place the cue anywhere on the table prior to their next shot. Shooter may also change the placement of the cue with their hand or cue stick prior to their next shot.
8 ball does not have to be contacted when it is the object ball; result is a foul, not loss of game.
Safety shot: Shooter may pocket an object ball and forfeit his next shot ONLY by declaring this action to his opponent PRIOR to the shot by calling, “safe” or “safety”.
During play if the cue or any other ball leaves the playing area the ball(s) stay down and it is a foul and ball in hand for the opponent. If the 8 ball is the object ball and the cue or the 8 ball leave the table it is a loss of game.
Loss of Game:
- Cue scratch on break if 8 ball is also pocketed
- Cue scratch on 8 ball when 8 ball is the object ball
- 8 ball pocketed out of turn
- 8 ball jumped off the table
8 BALL IS NOT NEUTRAL
Unsportsmanlike conduct and/or action: Any deliberate or intentional action by use of hands, cue stick, rack, etc. to alter the position of balls on the table will be considered a penalty, resulting in the loss of that particular game. Intimidation by actions or words is also unacceptable.

Remember: This is a “gentleman’s game”.

Please treat your opponents with respect.

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League Bylaws

Every year the league will have a meeting to organize in August. This will also be the payout night for the previous season. There will be fines for missing meetings starting with the first meeting of the year in August. $25 for the first meeting missed, $35 for the second meeting missed and if you miss three meetings your team is out of the league. These meetings do not have to follow one another; this is any three meetings during the year including the last meeting.
If a team misses the last meeting it is the teams’ responsibility to get in contact with the league treasurer and at his/her convenience pick up the teams’ money within seven days of the payout meeting or the money is forfeited back to the league and returned to the league bank account.
Three officers will be elected each year, at the reorganization meeting.
Schedules and divisions will be discussed each year.
All shooters must be 21 years of age, as of the first night of league play. It is always the right of any bar to card any pool shooter or their guest.
Preliminary rosters must be turned in at the reorganization meeting. Team captain, co-captain, and bar/club phone # must be listed on the roster. First and last names of shooters, no nicknames, shall be on the roster. Rosters will be reviewed at the initial meeting and any duplications or discrepancies of shooters will be addressed at that time or ASAP. The “shooters responsibility sheet” distributed at the initial meeting must be signed and dated by each league shooter and turned in at the league’s 5^th week meeting. This document is each team’s official roster. Any player who has not read the league rules and bylaws and signed their name on this document is not eligible to play. If needed, extra roster sheets are available upon request from league officers.
If a person/persons are banned from a bar/club that is in the league then the league will honor that ban. That person will not be allowed in the establishment on pool league night regardless of circumstances.
Once a shooter has shot one game during league play, he/she cannot switch teams; he/she must remain on the team he/she shot that game for.
In the event a team has to cancel a match, it is the responsibility of the captain of the team that wishes to cancel to contact the opposing captain at least 2 (two) hours before the 7:30 PM starting time. Both teams must be in agreement. The league must be notified of the DATE, TIME, and PLACE when said match will be made up. The match must be played within 2 (two) weeks from date of cancellation. In the event it is not made up within 2 (two) weeks, both teams will receive 0 wins and 0 losses for failure to adhere to bylaw #9.
- In case of a “Government State of Emergency”, and/or the league president’s discretion, the league will be canceled and that week’s matches will be made up the week/weeks before playoffs start at the end of the regular season. If the league is canceled the league secretary will text captains and it will be posted on the league website. Information will always be available on the league website.
It is the responsibility of the home team to text the weekly scores to the secretary’s cell phone no later than Friday following the match by 5:00 PM. Failure to do so will result in a $15 fine, half of which goes to the league secretary.
In order for a shooter to be eligible for the league playoffs he /she must have shot at least 50% (HALF) of the league matches during the year.
Home team will have the table free for the match, and will provide good chalk, clean and level tables, sticks, usable racks and quarters.
Visiting team will have the table from 7:00-7:30 PM for practice. They supply their own quarters.
Visiting team will fill out roster first; one name or more is acceptable.
Games will start at 7:30 PM sharp. If there is only one player present they have the choice of waiting until 7:45 PM or shooting their three games and then using their fifteen minute grace period. When shooters have shot their three games, and if they haven’t used their fifteen minute grace period they may do so unless it is after 10:00 PM, then the match is over. Even if only one shooter shows they shoot and take credit for the win/losses.
Dues are the responsibility of the captain to collect and are $20 per player per half which is a total of $40 per player per year.
There is a $40 fee to put a team in the league due each year by the second meeting. The league retains this fee. For a new team to enter the league it is an extra $30; this is a one-time charge. A new team pays $70 to put a new team in the league.
$15 per shooter up front money for the outing, which will be returned when claimed by the shooter at the outing.
If for any reason a team changes bars/clubs, there will be a $30 one-time fee due from the bar which they pick to shoot out of. If the change happens during the season the $30 will be due for the next shooting season.
Any team that forfeits 6 (six) or more games per match must report this to the league via text. After the second forfeit of 6 (six) or more games the team is will be assessed a fine of $75.00. If a team is down to 6 (six) shooters they can petition the league for permission to pick up a new player. This player would be responsible for the full dues for the year.
First half dues are due by the Wednesday after the fifth week of play. Second half dues are due at the December meeting. IF DUES AND/OR TICKET MONIES ARE NOT HANDED IN AT THE SET MEETINGS, THEN IT IS DUE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE MEETING DATE. FAILURE TO HAND IN MONEY WILL LEAD TO THE TEAM BEING EXPELLED FROM THE LEAGUE.
A fee of $100 shall be paid to the person who does the schedules for the league.
Any member/shooter that enters into an altercation at any league function (match, meeting, playoff, or outing) will initiate a review at a special meeting as soon as possible after the altercation. Person/persons involved will be required to attend this meeting to present their side of the story. They must respond (in writing their account of the altercation by the day before the meeting, to at least two league officers) if they cannot attend, if there is no response the person must abide by the ruling made at the meeting. Depending on the circumstances discussed at the special meeting, disciplinary action may or may not be imposed. This can be suspension for X amount of games, expulsion for one year, or as a repeat offender, expulsion from the league forever. Each decision will be determined by the severity of the altercation or act. Each decision is final.
Any bar or club wishing to put a team into the league after being removed from the league for financial reasons must have all monies, including first and second half dues for all shooters on their roster, basket of cheer money, and sponsor money paid by the fifth week meeting for as long as the team remains in the league. If that team resigns after the fifth week, for any reason, no monies will be refunded.
There will be one vote allowed per team on all league matters.
FOOD MUST BE SERVED ON LEAGUE NIGHT FOR THE TEAM SHOOTERS BY 9:00 PM