BCA Rules
- Thread starter jgpool
- Start date
Thank you. I have a 2011/2012 BCA Rule book and there is no 2-3 item 4. I have 2-3 with only an "A" and "B" items. We have a discussion going in our club about the break scratch. We are all having a problem pin pointing the BCA rules that stes this. Thank you for your input.
The problem is, at least in part, one of definition. What you are quoting are the rules of the BCA pool league, which is owned by CSI and no longer governed by the BCA (as I understand it).
Generally speaking, the BCA proper just uses the WPA rules, which still refer to behind the headstring:
http://wpa-pool.com/web/the_rules_of_play#3.3
So I think "BCA rules" are WPA rules (and thus behind the headstring), whereas BCA Pool League rules say BIH anywhere. This is confusing and IMHO there should only be one set of standard rules.
Hm.. for some reason I thought the modern world rules for 8 ball was for BIH anywhere after the break. I have to keep this in mind when explaining "real" rules to players.
2-4
8-Ball Pocketed on the Break
(AR p. 102)
1. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break and do not foul, you may:
a.
have the 8-ball spotted and accept the table in position;
b.
re-rack the balls and break again.
2. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break a
nd foul, your inning ends. Your opponent may:
a.
have the 8-ball spotted and take ball in ha
nd anywhere on the table;
b.
re-rack the balls and break.
3. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, and it is not noticed until after another shot has
been taken, the game will be replayed with the player who broke the game breaking
again.
8-Ball Pocketed on the Break
(AR p. 102)
1. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break and do not foul, you may:
a.
have the 8-ball spotted and accept the table in position;
b.
re-rack the balls and break again.
2. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break a
nd foul, your inning ends. Your opponent may:
a.
have the 8-ball spotted and take ball in ha
nd anywhere on the table;
b.
re-rack the balls and break.
3. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, and it is not noticed until after another shot has
been taken, the game will be replayed with the player who broke the game breaking
again.
Me too. I'm surprised to see that in the WPA rules.
I know they changed it in BCA league rules maybe 5 years ago or so. It used to be "in the kitchen" and they changed it to anywhere on the table.
Can you show me where the BCA Rules state this? I cannot find it.
It's a rule that came about to speed up play/coin drop. Especially in Major events. It's also one of the those rules that often is different in other leagues and in-house leagues. In our town, in order to have a team play out of a bar/club you MUST have two 7' tables. Farmers in my area, get up before sunup. It don't work getting home at midnight. We usually get done in 2-2.5 hours, double round robin, perfect.
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ShakesSea has quoted and linked the rule for the BCA pool league (BCAPL). You won't find it on the actual BCA site, because the BCA and the BCAPL are not the same.
The naming is confusing. Historically, the BCA ran its own pool league, but CSI bought the league some time ago and called it the BCAPL. I don't like there being two different rule sets with the name BCA in them - it is way too confusing for the casual player. I also think we need ONE set of rules for 8-ball, or at most two sets (maybe APA and everyone else).
By the way, I am not criticizing the BCAPL rules. The BCAPL rules do contain a number of helpful explanations and clarifications on situations that come up in 8-ball play that are not clearly explained in the WPA rules.
In "pro" 8-Ball events I have watched in recent years, both rules have been used.
For events related to CSI, it has been BIH anywhere (US Open 8-Ball, US Bar Table Championship, CSI Invitational 8-Ball, TAR 8-Ball matches).
For some others, it has been BIH behind the head string (Accu-Stats Make-It-Happen 8-Ball Invitationals, Chinese 8-Ball Masters).
A WPA 8-Ball World Championship hasn't been held since 2012, but I imagine they would go with current WPA rules -- BIH behind the head string.
ONCE AGAIN....Generally speaking if you are playing league you are looking for the BCAPL rules, NOT the BCA Rules. However, most leagues adopt a certain set of rules then modify them slightly. For example our league uses BCAPL rules but we relax the rule about accidentally moving two or more balls.
Everything you want to know about he BCAPL and the USAPL can be found on the Cue Sports International website playcsipool.com.
Specifically, the rules for both leagues can be found here.
I have operated a BCAPL league for 15 years and am extremely familiar with the rules sets for every major league (APA/VNEA/TAP/ACS/UPL/etc). I can say unequivocally that the rule book for the BCAPL is hands down the best rule book for pocket billiards. Their "Applied Rulings" section is awesome. It has just about every different scenario possible, and they update it all the time. There are two rulings in there that came from situations that happened in our league.
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The neatest things about the 21st century BCAPL rule book is it's ''sportsmanship'' type thinking that permeates their text. If their ever was a game, sport or activity that NEEDED baby sitting....to Evolve/mature it was pool. Because of it's demographics and night life, it needed RULES of BEHAVIOR in print. I refereed a large 200 player event a few years back and read the current BCAPL rule book. Read it again and highlighted situations that will and did come up. Then I read the book two more times as I had a couple months to prepare. All I can say is WOW, what a pleasant change, fair play was top priority within it's pages. If you acted like a jerk you first were given warnings, then games taken away to an outright ''loss'' due to behavior. What also was neat, they had a rule similar to soccer. Once your Bad Behavior was exposed during match play, the referee could apply a yellow card type situation, that would carry on through the entire event, beginning to end.
The TD was your typical egotistical idiot. They are everywhere in life.
Next time ask em about ''incidentals'' (which is the move he put on you).
Here's an example....you pocket a ball in the called pocket but it hits the rail, then the pocket facing then drops.
Shoot that shot, then ask em, does this count having hit two rails before dropping, his dumfounded response might be quite amusing, or he might grow up and get it.
I think the issue in your case is not the BCA rules but the fact that the guy running the tournament does not actually know what the rules are. They were playing by "house" rules. For people that live outside their local bar pool playing and rules, BCA, APA rules and other national rules are pretty established. Most good players just go by WPA or BCA rules, since BCA league rules are probably the closest to the world rules.
I think the WPA and BCA rules are, in fact, identical (or at least they are supposed to be, except that I think the BCA is slow to update so newer amendments might not be in there). BCAPL is different, as discussed.
OK so what you witnessed with that TD was the difference between having your head stuck IN your ass and having your head stuck UP your ass.
Most of the time you can't fix stupid. You are doing the right thing by asking questions and educating yourself. That does not happen much in the pool league community. Just look how most pool players dress. Still in the 80's.
The Billiard Congress of America "BCA" rules and the World Pool-Billiard Association "WPA" rules are one in the same. And with the exception of the ball-in-hand rule after a scratch on the break, the BCAPL rules are almost identical to these rules as well. BCAPL rules covers a lot more special circumstances, which is why I like them the most.
The person best to answer your question can be found in your here that I just quoted.
The division fire to as you call it is the only one that can answer your question as the correct answer may only apply to your area.
What was touched upon in a few replys bug not outright explained to you is that all bcapl lo's are free to run their area any way they want to.
The posters on here are giving you the answers found in the bcapl handbook but that does not mean your specific area plays by the same set of rules that are being played in California...nevada...or any neighboring state. I recall one poster saying a while back that his bcapl league plays by apa rules so like I say....the correct answer to your question can only be answered by you lo or division rep.