Ellwood City Inter-Club Pool League Rules 2025-26

 

Captains or team representatives must fully understand all rules. Violations will not be excused due to ignorance. Review new and or changed rules added annually.

 

Definitions:

 

Game:

·       A single match played between two opposing teams, each consisting of two players. The game is eight-ball, with modifications as specified in these rules.

 

Roster:

·       A list of the club’s team members for a season.

 

Match:

·       Consists of a best-of-thirteen (13) games format. Team standings are determined based on each team's win-loss record throughout the matches.

 

Line-Up:

·       The roster of team members designated to represent a club for an individual match. A full line-up requires a minimum of seven (7) male participants.

 

Player:

·       Any one of four individuals participating in a game currently underway.

 

Foul:

·       Illegally moving the cue ball during play. If other balls are moved, your opponent can restore their positions or leave them.

 

Legal Ball:

·       For the shooting player, any ball from their assigned group is legal; the eight ball is neutral and always considered legal. When players have an open table, all balls are legal, but shots must be called.

 

Entry Fees:

·       Each team must pay a $75.00 annual entry fee.

·       Fees have to be paid by the start of the 3rd week.

·       Clubs that do not pay on time will forfeit games until dues are paid.

 

Start Time:

·       The first game starts at 7:00 pm.

·       Visiting team uses the table from 6:45-7:00pm

·       Matches may begin up to 15 minutes late, but teams with fewer than 7 players at 7:15 pm forfeit the match.

 

Board Of Directors:

Consists of all team Captains and Co-Captains, with treasurer being VP and the league President as Chairman of the Board.  If any Captain or Co-Captain cannot attend, a designated substitute from that club should replace him.

 

Rosters:

 

·  All team members must be listed on the roster to participate in matches. Rosters are to be submitted to the League Treasurer no later than 7:00 pm on the evening of the third week’s match. Matches played without a valid roster after the deadline will be forfeited. Rosters will open again after the first half and stay open until the beginning of the second match in the second half.

 

·     For the 2025-2026 season, rosters will open for 2nd half additions on Friday, Dec 18th and close at 7:00 PM on Jan 8th.

 

·     Players must be current members of their club in good standing to be on that club’s roster.

o   Suspended club members cannot participate on that club’s team.

 

·     Should a team field an ineligible player, it will forfeit the match to its opponent if a protest is filed with the league President.

 

·     You can only shoot on 1 Thursday night team / league.

 

·       Special Roster Additions: If a person is a new resident of the area or was a member of the armed forces when the rosters were due, they can be added to the roster after, if permission is granted from a league officer.

 

 

Rules:

·       All games will adhere to official league regulations rather than house rules.

o   Masse shots are strictly prohibited.

 

·       Matches are scheduled for Thursdays –

o   Unless a different date is specified in the schedule and receives approval from the majority of team captains.

 

·       Matches will be cancelled due to weather conditions if:

o   Both Captains agree before 6:30pm on the day of the match

o   League officers cancel all games.

o   If neither team has seven players, the match may be rescheduled.

o   In all cases, the match must be played before next Thursday.

 

·        The losers of each game will pay the winners two dollars ($2.00.)

 

·       Announce both the ball and pocket before each shot.

 

Eight Ball:

·          The eight ball is neutral and can be used in combination to make any of your balls.

 

·       Clearly call the eight ball and its pocket before shooting; not doing so means you lose.

 

·       Pocket all your balls before attempting the eight ball. Scratching on the eight ball results in a loss.

 

·       If you foul on the eight ball and it goes in, you lose the game. If you foul on the eight ball and it does not go in, you lose your shot.

 

·       When shooting for the eight ball, if the eight ball leaves the table, the game is lost. If any other ball is not the target and goes off the table, it is spotted and the player's turn ends.

 

·       Each home team will provide one complimentary drink (or voucher, chip, etc.) for each player on the opposing team’s roster.

 

 

 

Player line-up:

·       Are determined and shared by the captains of both teams prior to the start of the first game in each match.

 

·       Players not present can be listed, but if they aren’t there when it’s their turn, they're removed and the others shift up one spot. Late arrivals may join during the first round but not after all players finish their initial game.

 

·       Players rotate through the line-up in order. With an odd number of players, the last player must shoot before the first player goes again. If the odd player does not shoot first, it is considered a foul, and their turn is forfeited.

 

·       If a listed player leaves the club and is unavailable, move all remaining players up one spot in the line-up.

o    Players who miss their scheduled turn cannot rejoin the match after returning to the club.

 

·       You must start with a minimum of seven (7) players.

o   If your team starts with 7 players, you will start the match 0-3.

o   But if an 8th player arrives before their turn, they can still play, and you do not lose three games.

 

·       Leaving before the end of the match

o   If a team plays with only eight players, a player may leave before the end of the match only if his name will not reappear in the rotation of play. If a player does leave and his name would reappear in the rotation again, then you would revert to regarding playing with only 7 players and the spot that the player would have reappeared in and every time thereafter would be a forfeit. If you only started with 7 players and this occurs, the entire match results in a forfeit because you cannot play with less than 7 players.

 

·       Exceptions to leaving early:

o   Medical and family emergencies, or work obligations, will not result in forfeiting 3 matches. Early mornings do not qualify. The league President may review and rule on cases if the rule is being abused or misapplied.

 

·       When a club has two tables available:

o    League players are not permitted to use extra tables to practice or play during an ongoing match. Doing so will remove said player from that night’s roster lineup.

 

Sharking:

 

·   Sharking Prohibited:

o   Taking chalk from the table during another player's shot is strictly forbidden and will result in a loss of the game for the offending team.

·        Verbal Assistance:

o   Only a player's partner may provide verbal assistance during a shot. All discussions about the game must be conducted quietly to avoid disturbing others. Loud conversations that can be heard throughout the club are not permitted.

·        Coaching:

o   Coaching from anyone other than the shooting player's partner, including from the background, is considered a foul and may be called by the team captain.

·        Approaching the Table:

o   Members of the opposing team must not approach the table while a player is in the shooting position.

o     Violation Procedure: On the first offense, the violating team member will receive a warning.

o On the second offense, the shooting team is awarded the game.

 

o   If the violation occurs while the shooter is attempting the eight ball, the violating team immediately loses the game without a warning.

Note:

·        All team members are expected to always maintain good sportsmanship and respect for opponents.

 

Racking the balls:

·       Each team is responsible for racking their own racks throughout the match. Breaks will alternate, with the guest team initiating the first break.

 

Breaking the balls:

·       During a break, if a miscue occurs, the player may not take another shot. Attempting to deflect the cue ball is not allowed. After a miscue, play passes to the opposing player. Re-racking is not permitted.

 

·       After the break, if you make a ball, the table remains open. This includes if you scratch. Once you declare your next called shot and make, that will be your selection of balls except if you scratch the table remains open.

 

Ball in Hand:

·       Ball in hand will be in effect if a player scratches. The exception is on a break. If the scratch is on the break, the player loses his turn and the next player must shoot from behind the line. The cue ball leaving the table will be considered a scratch. Fouls are not ball in hand.

Fouls:

·       Players handle their own games and foul calls, resolving conflicts independently. If agreement can't be reached, play stops and Captains decide at the table within five minutes; if undecided, the President or Treasurer rules, and that decision is final. No protests are allowed after a match. Pool should be played in good spirit—avoid minor foul calls. A captain may overrule a teammate's minor foul call and continue to play.

 

·       You lose your shot if the cue ball is moved before a shot is made. Moving the cue ball with the cue stick, hand, body or in any way accidentally, will cause you to lose your shot. The ball is then returned as near as possible to the spot from where it was moved.

 

·      Shooting out of turn results in a loss, except during the break when balls are re-racked—the only time re-racking is allowed.

Scores:

 

·       Teams should notify John Dengel of final scores. It is the responsibility of the winning team to send in scores.  This May Change During the Year.

 

·       Each Captain will keep a log on all games and have the log signed by the opposing Captain. All logs must be kept throughout the entire season.

 

Playoffs:

·     Playoffs – For the 2025-2026 season, the top 8 teams will make the playoffs based on overall record. In the event of a tie, the first tie breaker will be the head-to-head record. If still tied, the second tie breaker will be most overall game wins. If still tied after that, it will be a coin flip between the two teams. 1st and 2nd round of playoffs will be best of three and the championship will be best of 5. All games must be played in a week’s time (Monday - Friday) except for the championship round where they can be split over two weeks.

·     Highest seed always has home field advantage throughout playoffs. Due to several clubs having two teams and women’s league, playoff scheduling can become difficult, and teams MUST work with one another when determining what nights, the games will be played and where the games will be played. There may be a need for the highest seed to start away first and play games two & three at home. If teams cannot come to an agreement, the league president will make the final decision of when and where games are played.

 

·     Payout for the playoffs will be first and second place teams. 1st receive $500 & 2nd receive $200.

 

·     Trophy –Mr. Trophy. Beaver Falls, the winning team is responsible for taking the trophy to Mr. Trophy to have the engraved plate put on the trophy.

 

·     The team that holds the trophy is responsible for the care of the trophy. The holding team will be responsible for repairing any damage or replacement if needed. The team holding the trophy is responsible for making sure that the trophy is present at the last match of the playoff season.

 

·     Players must shoot a minimum of (6) Games in the season to be eligible for playoffs. Players that join the team in the second half of the season must play (4) of the games of the second half to be eligible for playoffs.

 

Note:   

·       The 2026-2027 season starts Oct 1st, 2026

The first meeting before the start of the 2026-27 year is Thursday Sept 3rd, 2026, at the Saxon at 7:00 pm. A representative for each team MUST attend the meeting to be eligible to be in the league for the year.