BELFAST INTERPOOL LEAGUE RULES 

1) All midweek games league & cup must start at 9.15.Draw to be made at 9pm. 

2) The pool table must be opened 30 minutes before the game starts for free practise games for opposing team. 

3) All Clubs / Pubs playing in the Belfast Interpool League must use the spotted white ball and the Aramith pool balls.  

4) The balls must be broken by the player nominated to break; a minimum of two balls must leave the pack. If not then the player must break again. 

5) When breaking the balls you can place the spotted white ball ANYWERE on the bulk line (50% of the ball must be on the line) or ANYWERE behind the bulk line. This also includes when the spotted white ball goes in off.   

6) If the Black is potted off the break, the balls have to be set up again, and the player breaks again. 

7) When a ball or balls of any colour or both colours are potted off the break, player has a choice and must nominate which colour he is on.  

8) However, if a player fails to nominate & plays away, a foul will be called & his opponent has a free table.  

9) When a ball or balls of any colour or both colours are potted off the break and the white goes in off, the opponent has his choice and must nominate his choice of colour.  

10) When the white is touching their opponent's ball, the  player can play in any direction provided he does not move their opponent’s ball and they must hit their own ball, otherwise two shots will be awarded. 

11) When white is touching their own ball, the player CAN play a push shot on the touching ball, the player can play in any direction without hitting any ball, they can hit opponent's ball without incurring a two shot penalty.  

12) When a player is given a free ball, he can use his opponent’s ball including the black to pot his own ball. BUT YOU CANNOT POT YOUR OPPONENTS BALL. 

13) YOU CAN USE a free ball to pot the black.  

14) The Referee must tell the player to nominate a ball when a free ball is awarded. You also must nominate EVEN IF IT’S YOUR OWN BALL you are hitting.  

15) When given two free shots and the cue ball is in a pocket snookered position i.e. close to the angle of pocket, player can play into space with their first free shot, but must hit his own ball with the second shot. 

16) The Referee must warn both players before he calls a RE – RACK ( After 3 or 4  shots each & with no substantive change in the game the referee must warn the 2 players thatthey have 1 more shot to play and if still no change a Re – Rack will be called. 

17) A player CANNOT jump shot any ball. A Penalty of two shots will be awarded. 

18) A Player can only be given a free ball if he clearly can’t hit both sides of his own ball if opponent’s ball or the black impedes him. 

19) When player is awarded two shots, the referee must tell him he has one shot left after taking first shot. 

20) If any ball including the black accidentally falls into the pocket, that ball must be placed back over the pocket to where it originally sat, weather a player is at the table or not.  

21) Players who tap the top of the white ball with their cue or use the butt of the cue will automatically FORFEIT THE GAME. THIS RULE DOES NOT APPLY TO TOUCHING THE WHITE WITH YOUR CUE WHEN SETTING UP FOR THE BREAK OR SETTING THE WHITE UP AFTER WHITE HAS BEEN POTTED.                 

22) No more than two players can be doubled slipped from each team when making the draw. YOU ALSO CANNOT DOUBLE SLIP 2 PLAYERS THAT OUR PRESENT IN THE VENUE WHEN THE DRAW IS BEING MADE. 

23) Players must play the person they are drawn against. 

24) All Bars/Clubs must provide a rest & spider for every pool match being played in a Belfast Interpool League Competition. 

25) The Secretary must be informed of any cancellation, change of date or venue. 

27) The nominated delegate(s) of that team must represent his/their teams at the delegate meetings. 

28) Teams are responsible for the behaviour of all players and supporters during matches. 

29) Referee's decision is final on the night of the match but committee will sit on any protest. 

30) ONLY 1 GAME PER TEAM CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN CUP MATCHES. While in the league only 2 games per team can be brought forward.  

31) If both teams have only 10 players in a cup match that finishes in a 5-5 draw, both teams must put all 10 player’s names down and draw a player to play a play-off game to win the match.  

32) A player can ask the referee a question on the rules and the referee must answer but in doing so, the referee can’t tell him what shot to take. If they referee is unsure of the answer both the referee & player can approach the team captain / delegate and the same process can happen. But the team captain/delegate also can’t tell him what shot to take. 

33) No team captain / delegate can cancel or postpone any league or cup match without speaking to the league secretary first. You don’t speak to the opponents players or delegates at any stage before getting confirmation that the game can be postponed or cancelled by the league secretary first.