APA rules scratch-on-break question.

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
A scratch on the break occured twice last night in our APA 9-ball league. On the first one the breaker (on the opposing team) miscued and sent the cue ball straight into a corner pocket without striking the rack. On the second one, the breaker (also on the opposing team) also miscued but lightly hit the 1-ball sending no balls to a rail but once again scratching into a corner pocket. I asserted that a foul had occured on both breaks, and that the break should be ceded to our players. This drew protests from players on the opposing team and they stated that the rules side with them.

Okay, I know that the APA rules are VERY gray in some areas, and that the rules say in one sentence: If the break does NOT qualify as legal and results in a scratch, the balls are reracked and broken by the opposite player.

In the very next sentence it says (and in bold letters): THE RACK MUST BE
STRUCK BEFORE A FOUL CAN OCCUR.

IMO, the two sentences contradict each other. In an e-mail to my LO, he replied back and said this: (quote) "A miss cue on the break is not a foul as long as they don't scratch, if they do scratch on the break the balls are reracked if required and the break goes to the opposite player . Please refer to page 45 in the "Official Team Manual" for more info on breaking. Thanks, Steve and Tammie"

My league operator seems to have sided with me. If there are ANY APA league reps or officials that can comment on this I would certainly like to and appreciate hearing from you.

IMHO, a scratch should ALWAYS constitute a foul and the player commiting the foul should have to relinquish his turn at the table.

Comments???

Maniac
 
I believe in the first scenario the original breaker re-breaks and the second scenario the breaks go to the opponent.
 
You're misuing the term foul.

A "foul" results in ball in hand for the opposing player, which can not happen until there is a legal break. An illegal break is just that, an "illegal break" which is not a "foul", it's, well, an "illegal break".

There are really only two ways I can think of off the top of my head that would result in a "foul" on the break. One is scratching (or sending the cue off the table) on the break which included it being a legal break (hitting head ball first and 4 balls hitting a rail or atleast one ball being pocketed) or if after the rack is legally broken the shooter interferes with the path of the cue ball.

I know it seems silly the difference in terminology, but if you read what APA defines as a foul and the consequences for it it removes any issue with assuming you get ball in hand as a result of an "illegal break". If they called it a "foul" which ruling do you use? The "foul" ruling or the legal break ruling?

But in your case, the rule is clear on an "illegal break" that results in a scratch. The balls are reracked and the break goes to the opposing player.

Brian
 
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We have had this same issue in our area. I finally had our league operator call the apa and ask for the ruling. They said that if the rack was never struck ie. the cue ball jumping over the rack or scratching without hitting the rack then the same player breaks. If the rack was struck in an illegal way and a scratch occured then it is reracked and the opposite player breaks. I hope this helps.
 
9ballrun said:
We have had this same issue in our area. I finally had our league operator call the apa and ask for the ruling. They said that if the rack was never struck ie. the cue ball jumping over the rack or scratching without hitting the rack then the same player breaks. If the rack was struck in an illegal way and a scratch occured then it is reracked and the opposite player breaks. I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

This is the way I understand it as well. It is a bit grey though.
 
In the first break you listed where the rack was not touched, it is not a foul and the balls are re-racked and the breaker makes another attempt at a legal break.

For your 2nd example, because the rack was hit with the cueball and then a scratch occurred it is a foul and the balls should be reracked by the orginal breaker and the opponent will break.
 
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