Acceptable Times to Take a Restroom Break During a Tournament Match

justadub said:
Smokes or phone calls are definitely not cool (tho as a parent and as a business manager, I'm sensitive to having to at least look at your phone upon occasion...it should only be urgent and something that can't wait, and kept to a bare minimum)
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If you're sat in the chair, a glance at a phone is no trouble... what you do in your chair is your business imo... providing it's no distraction. You are also right, emergencies can happen. I wouldn't begrudge someone for tending to an emergency.
 
ChrisinNC said:
Yes, that is unquestionably the best time for a break, but if you are not playing alternate breaks and you are unable to win a game to get the break and you really need to go, I can certainly see whenever your opponent gives up the table after their break as being an acceptable time to take your break.
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Truly the answer is simply whenever it’s your turn. And only in true emergencies, just go when you have to.

Frankly nowadays I have to go about every 30 minutes so I’m maybe a little on the “rude” side but it’s never a move for me, I just have to go.
 
The Old Jaybird said:
i go to the bathroom 15 to 20 times a day, more than once an hour. yeah I know tmi.
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I go all night long. Wanna have a race to 25 for a $100 I'll spot you 2 streams.
Name the place. Standard toilets, urinals, trees, bushes, car tires, fire hydrants, outhouses, Johnny on the Spot. I own this one.
 
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ChrisinNC said:
This is an issue I have with some players that just don’t seem to understand when the appropriate time to take a restroom break is during the middle of a match. This should be common sense, but clearly isn’t to some players and certainly can (in my opinion) be considered a form of sharking. Here are examples of when it is and is not appropriate to take a restroom break during a match. Just curious as to any opinions from others?

Acceptable:
1) Between games, when you are breaking.
2) In the middle of a game when you have control of the table.
3) Between games, when your opponent is breaking, with the understanding that as long as there is a witness, your opponent may elect to go ahead and rack and break and potentially continue shooting in your absence.

Not acceptable:
1) In the middle of a game, after you have missed or played safe and have given up the table to your opponent.
2) In the middle of a game while your opponent is shooting.
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Take your break anytime on your turn.

Going on the hill ect just shows weakness...just like any move.

Had a guy take a break with 4 balls on the table in barbox 8 ball when on the hill. He came back and 1st ball he didn't even cut ..shot straight into the rail. I won that and ran out the next 2 racks. Guy sharked himself.
 
Medical issues that happen at other live sports events requiring a delay of play:
Medical issues
Ref discussion
Equipment Problems
Rule disputes

Breaks that need to be policed in low budget tournament pool. Anything that takes more than 5 minutes, should have a consequence.

I dont go to a pool tournament so you can have an alibi for your illicit activity. It happens pool has addicts and people in recovery.

But that is not an excuse to violate tournament play rules during a match.

Matchplay courtesy and scheduling need work in pool.
 
SBC said:
Take your break anytime on your turn.

Going on the hill ect just shows weakness...just like any move.

Had a guy take a break with 4 balls on the table in barbox 8 ball when on the hill. He came back and 1st ball he didn't even cut ..shot straight into the rail. I won that and ran out the next 2 racks. Guy sharked himself.
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Movie King Richard. Bathroom break during a match at the end of the movie. It worked.
 
The Old Jaybird said:
oh you youngsters....when you get to be my age, 76, with an enlarged prostate, there is NO timing, you just have to go RIGHT NOW. Just wait, you will have "bathroom issues" too, its just another "fun" part of growing old. When I look for a new place to shoot pool, I check out the facilities first, before I ever screw my cue together.
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I know the feeling about the enlarged prostate and in the same boat. I had a catheter in for a year and and had a TURP procedure done and the catheter is now gone. The urge to go is slowly coming back and will take some time and in the meantime wearing depends is better than a catheter. Getting old sucks
 
As for bathroom breaks … should a timer be used? Do you have to call #1 or #2. If you leak on your shoe or the floor is it a foul? If it’s a false alarm is that a scratch?
Handicap bathroom? Does mean you get a ball or two?
Getting a spot … on your pants?
 
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Ha. Good thing I don’t depend on pool for a living, and can just avoid any conflict.
If you need to take frequent smoke breaks, your opponent had better also be a smoker.
Ordinarily, I run to the BR only while my opponent is racking, but, reasonable/cooperative players seldom have issues regardless:
My most game, fiercely competitive regular opponent would schlepp himself in a wheelchair to the BR all the way to the other side of the building, haul himself up onto the commode, deal with a long-standing bowel disjunction issue, and then reverse the process while I waited patiently in the chair. I never complained, nor (I hope) gave him cause to.
Re: subtle sharking: If I even suspected it, then no rematch (life is too short). IMHO: Cellphones (like jukeboxes & jump cues) should be banned from poolrooms. You cannot fulfill your duty as referee and surf the net simultaneously.
 
DynoDan said:
Ha. Good thing I don’t depend on pool for a living, and can just avoid any conflict.
If you need to take frequent smoke breaks, your opponent had better also be a smoker.
Ordinarily, I run to the BR only while my opponent is racking, but, reasonable/cooperative players seldom have issues regardless:
My most game, fiercely competitive regular opponent would schlepp himself in a wheelchair to the BR all the way to the other side of the building, haul himself up onto the commode, deal with a long-standing bowel disjunction issue, and then reverse the process while I waited patiently in the chair. I never complained, nor (I hope) gave him cause to.
Re: subtle sharking: If I even suspected it, then no rematch (life is too short). IMHO: Cellphones (like jukeboxes & jump cues) should be banned from poolrooms. You cannot fulfill your duty as referee and surf the net simultaneously.
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Any reason for the REALLY BLACK FKNG LETTERS?????????? ;) I agree with you btw. Cellphones are a plague on pool.
 
In the world of 3C at the top level, 98% of games are played to 40 points.
When one of the players reaches 20 points (mid-way) or exceeds that, a 5-minute break is allowed for both players at that time Only.
A player does Not initiate/dictate a break at any time in the game, the score does.
NO matter what kind of fix a player may need.
 
Not really an answer, but years ago SJM posted a great comment ( in a thread about 'best tournament advice' IIRC ) :

Always answer the call of nature on the first ring.

Thanks Stu, I'll never forget that !

Dave <-- knows the secret of the BLACK LETTERS
 
The Old Jaybird said:
oh you youngsters....when you get to be my age, 76, with an enlarged prostate, there is NO timing, you just have to go RIGHT NOW. Just wait, you will have "bathroom issues" too, its just another "fun" part of growing old. When I look for a new place to shoot pool, I check out the facilities first, before I ever screw my cue together.
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Precisely why I think the rules should allow more breaks for males over 50...
 
If women are allowed to publicly breastfeed in America I want a urinary incontinence bottle as something I can use if the restroom is over a 1/4 mile walk from the tournament area.

You know how long it takes an old man with mild problems to walk a 1/4 mile and that is without any steps or gradient changes.
 
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