International Rules / Reglamento

The game shall be known as ‘International eightball pool’ with rules that must be played in a sporting manner at all times. The referee will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the spirit and rules of the game are observed.

All equipment that is generally accepted throughout the industry is permitted. No other equipment is allowed unless ratified by the Tournament Director. However, using any equipment in a non-customary manner is never allowed and constitutes a foul. International eight-ball pool is played on a six-pocket rectangular table with six cushions.

International eight-ball pool is played with a spotted cue ball and fifteen object balls: seven red, seven yellow and a striped eight-ball. One player must pocket all balls of one group, while the other player must pocket the alternate coloured balls. The player who pockets their entire group and THEN legally pockets the eight-ball wins the game. The eight-ball must be potted in a separate shot.

A “Lag for Break” shall determine who breaks first with an alternating break format taking place thereafter. The winner of the lag is the player whose ball is closest to the baulk cushion. The winner of the lag is given the choice to break or not.

Guidance on what should happen during the lag:

It is an automatic loss of lag if a ball:

Players will lag again if:

To commence a frame, the player who is breaking shall position the cue ball anywhere in baulk but MUST NOT position the cue ball over the break line by more than 50% of its diameter.

The Break will be deemed a ‘Legal Break’ if the player breaking obtains a minimum of THREE cumulative points: • 1 point for each object ball potted (eight-ball included, so thus does count). • 1 point for each object ball that has passed an imaginary line between the two centre pockets, that is not potted. A ball is deemed as having ‘passed’ the centre line if the whole ball is over the imaginary line.

Failure to perform a legal break MUST result in a re-rack. The opponent has the option to break or to choose to give the break back to the original breaker.

Groups are not decided on the break. The table remains open after the break. If the player in control of the table does not make a legal pot, the table is still deemed open for the incoming player.

If the eight-ball is potted off the break, it is ALWAYS re-spotted after all balls have come to rest on the table. To re-spot the eight-ball: 1. The centre point of the eight-ball is placed on the eight-ball spot. 2. If this is not available, place it as near as possible to the spot in a direct line between the spot and the centre of the top cushion. 3. If there is no space available on this line, place the eight-ball as near as possible to its spot in a direct line between the spot and the bottom cushion. Outcome of the visit: • If the eight-ball is the ‘only ball potted on a legal break’, control of the table goes to the incoming player. • If it is potted with other groups and the criteria of a legal break has been fulfilled, the breaker continues.

If the cue ball, on a legal break: (1) Goes “in-off”: A loss of turn occurs and the incoming player is awarded ONE visit with CUE BALL IN HAND, to be played FROM BAULK, in any direction. (2) Leaves the playing surface: A standard foul will be called against the breaker, with the incoming player receiving ONE visit, played from ANYWHERE on the playing surface (See Rule 6l (1)).

Arrange as shown with the eight-ball on the eight-ball spot. Top apex ball on the head marker of the rack line. The pattern of balls must follow official configuration with reds and yellows balanced and the eight-ball in the center of the third row.

How groups (red or yellow) are determined during the frame:

In the course of play, if a legal shot is played and ball(s) from the player’s own group are potted, play continues and the player is entitled to an additional shot. The player will lose their turn and return control of the table to the opponent if they: (a) Fail to pot one or more of their own group AND / OR (b) Commit a standard foul.

Object balls from both groups can be potted without penalty in a single 'combination' shot. Combination shots do not have to be called. The potted balls may drop into the pockets in any order, but an 'on' ball must be struck legally first. Attempting to complete a combination shot that results in only potting a ball not 'on' is LOSS OF TURN.

As long as the player strikes an 'on' ball first, should an opponent’s ball be potted without also potting an ‘on’ ball, it will be loss of turn. Control of the table returns to the opponent; the cue ball is played from where it lies. The only exception to this is during an open table where the choice of groups has yet to be decided (Rule 6a(5)). Examples of Loss of Turn: (1) Potting an opponent's ball accidentally (after striking ball on first). (2) Failing to complete a legal combination shot. (3) A tactical shot e.g. playing a designated group legally to pot an opponent’s ball (tactical pot). (4) Failure to call a group after potting a ball whilst the table is ‘open’, if the group was not obvious.

If any situation arises whereby a ‘legal shot’ cannot be played, it is a player's responsibility to ask for a stalemate. In other words, if there is not a path ‘out’ for the cue ball or not a path ‘into’ the ball 'on', in the first instance the player must ask for a stalemate. A decision on whether a stalemate exists will be at the referee’s discretion (disregarding player ability). If confirmed, the frame shall be restarted with a RE-RACK. The player who originally broke will restart the re-racked frame. If no stalemate is confirmed, play must continue.

(1) An object ball is deemed frozen whilst touching a cushion. It is a standard foul if the cue ball initially contacts a frozen ball first and the shot does not result in: (a) A ball being potted OR (b) The cue ball contacting a cushion OR (c) The frozen ball contacting a cushion attached to a different rail OR (d) Any other object ball contacting a cushion with which it was not already in contact before the shot was played. (2) A ball is only deemed frozen if confirmed by the referee or opponent prior to the shot being taken.

(1) There is no penalty if balls are moved by persons other than players taking part, or as a result of players being bumped, or events deemed not within a player's control. (2) The referee will return the balls as close as possible to their original positions. Re-racks will only be granted in extreme circumstances. (3) The referee can reset the shot clock if the situation warrants.

Each player is allotted 45 SECONDS for each shot. The tip of the cue must have made contact with the cue ball within this time or a standard foul shall be granted to the opponent. • The 45-second shot clock commences once all balls come to rest. • The timekeeper verbally counts down from 5 seconds (5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Time Foul). • ONE EXTENSION of 15 seconds per frame is permitted per player, requested before time expires.

A shot is ‘complete’ when all balls have come to rest. (1) After a shot is complete: Any ball that drops into a pocket without being struck is replaced to its original position. (2) During a shot in progress: Any ball that drops without being struck and would NOT have been played as part of the shot is replaced after balls stop. (3) During a shot in progress: Any ball that drops without being struck and WOULD have been played as part of the shot — in this instance ALL BALLS are replaced to original positions and the player continues with no penalty.

It is a STANDARD FOUL if a ball leaves the playing surface at any point during the frame AND does not return by its own means and remains off the playing surface (other than being potted). (1) If it is the cue ball: Ball in hand to be played ANYWHERE on the table. (2) If an object ball: It is re-spotted (See Rule 6m).

An object ball is re-spotted with its centre point on the eight-ball spot or as near as possible in a direct line between the spot and the centre of the top cushion. Order of re-spotting: (a) Eight-ball (b) Red (c) Yellow Return balls as close as possible without touching.

It is the responsibility of each player to be aware of all rules. However, a referee on request may advise on the rules of the game but must not provide any subjective opinion that would affect the result of the frame. Players may always call for rule clarification during play; however, this is not considered a "Timeout".

(1) A player must play away from ALL touching balls at an angle of perpendicular (90 degrees) or greater and fulfil the requirements of a ‘legal shot’. A player shall not be penalised if playing away causes a touching ball to rock or move slightly because it was resting on the cue ball. (2) If the table is OPEN: Player must first nominate a group for clarity of the shot, then perform all requirements of a legal shot. (3) If groups are decided: Player must perform all requirements of a legal shot. (4) INITIAL CONTACT DEEMED: If the cue ball is touching an 'on' ball, the player is deemed to have ALREADY made initial contact! They simply need to play away at 90°+ and either pot a ball or cause any ball to contact a cushion.

DEFINITION — To play a ‘legal shot’, the player must cause the cue ball’s initial contact to be with a ball 'on' and THEN must either: (a) Pot any ball or balls (except the eight-ball if not ball on) OR (b) Cause the cue ball or any object ball to contact a cushion. The ‘cushion’ is defined as the six rails and the six pockets of a pool table.

Simultaneous contact of object balls is allowed as long as one of the contacted object balls is ‘on’. If simultaneous contact occurs between a ball on and a ball not on, the shot is legal.

A frame is over when the eight-ball is potted on a legal shot and all balls have come to rest, or in a ‘loss of frame’ situation.

Doubles frames are played under the official league Scotch Doubles format: • Two players form a doubles team and alternate shots throughout the frame. If Player A pots legally, Player B takes the next shot. If Player B pots legally, Player A takes the next shot, and so on. • The order does not reset simply because a visit ends. The alternation is by SHOT, not by visit. • When a team regains control of the table after an opponent's visit, the partner who did NOT play the team's last shot must take the incoming shot. • The doubles partners may confer freely about the shot during their team's time at the table. Discussion does not stop or reset the shot clock. • The team has 45 seconds per shot. • Each doubles team has ONE 15-second extension per frame, shared by the team, rather than one extension per player. Once used, neither partner has another extension during that frame. • The normal International Rules apply in every other respect unless specifically overridden.