Players Walking Away From The Table During Their Match
- Thread starter JTfromATL
- Start date
I always tell my opponent to keep shooting while I'm gone. When you get to be my age you need to go more often, just a fact of life. Not trying to upset anybody, just trying to keep from peeing my pants. Maybe the tournament directors should start carrying adult diapers.
What the guy did to you sounds wrong but there are people like me who need to pee more often than you youngsters.
get an ipod and just run out like rain water then you wont care what your opponenent does, in fact when they come back tell em you might not miss for days so they should take another walk
To me it's weird if they just walk away without saying anything. Maybe it's sharking and maybe they were just raised funny. When I have to excuse myself, I wait until someone's done with the current shot, but not down on the next shot, and say "excuse me, I gotta [take this call][use the bathroom][go grab a drink][whatever]".
Even when it's two total strangers playing, and the game isn't a big deal, I expect someone to say something.
If you're saying it bothers you that they'll go away from the table at all, for any reason, even if they say something polite first... I think that's a little overboard. Unless I see a clear attempt to shark me, I'm just gonna assume he's got a legit reason and it's not a big deal.
I do hate being made to wait for any reason though, esp. while the guy is texting some girl or talking about nothing on the cell. I also hate when they ask "ball in hand?" (like I would 'forget' to mention it). It almost makes me WANT to 'forget' telling him (though I always do)... cuz I feel like he's doing me wrong by not paying attention and by making me wait.
Even when it's two total strangers playing, and the game isn't a big deal, I expect someone to say something.
If you're saying it bothers you that they'll go away from the table at all, for any reason, even if they say something polite first... I think that's a little overboard. Unless I see a clear attempt to shark me, I'm just gonna assume he's got a legit reason and it's not a big deal.
I do hate being made to wait for any reason though, esp. while the guy is texting some girl or talking about nothing on the cell. I also hate when they ask "ball in hand?" (like I would 'forget' to mention it). It almost makes me WANT to 'forget' telling him (though I always do)... cuz I feel like he's doing me wrong by not paying attention and by making me wait.
It's the same as unscrewing....
As they walk away, simply ask them, "Are you forfeiting?"
When they say no, remind them that you are shooting and they are welcome to take a break when it's their turn....otherwise, it's a forfeit....I think you'll find that most TD's and LO's will support you in this situation....
Granted, if it's just a friendly game, then I could care less....just not a fan of the intentional shark
As they walk away, simply ask them, "Are you forfeiting?"
When they say no, remind them that you are shooting and they are welcome to take a break when it's their turn....otherwise, it's a forfeit....I think you'll find that most TD's and LO's will support you in this situation....
Granted, if it's just a friendly game, then I could care less....just not a fan of the intentional shark
I find this a very interesting thread because I'm often guilty of walking away and going to the bathroom & getting another soda. I always tell the person first, and ask if I can get them anything, and I advise them to keep shooting. Sometimes waiting for the end of the game is asking too much. When I take the bathroom break, on the way I flag the bartender for my regular drink and pick it up on my way back to the table, to save trips.
I had no idea that this could/would piss off so many people. I'll certainly be more careful managing my breaks in the future. My assumption has been that since I trust the other player not to cheat, I'm the only possible loser by being away from the table. And I'm not slowing the match down any more than if I wait until the end of the game, and less than if I waited fr my turn.
I've never done this in a league match or in a tournament, though, only in friendly games where we both know each other reasonably well. I think walking away with no comment in a league or tournament match is sharking.
The only experience I've had in leagues or tournaments is with one particular team in the league, where they all wander off to talk to girlfriends, drink, smoke, or talk on the phone. It only bothers me when we have to go find them when it's their turn to shoot, but at least they stay and play seriously once at the table. It's annoying as hell, but then again, so would their standing around our table yakking on the phone for a whole match.
I had no idea that this could/would piss off so many people. I'll certainly be more careful managing my breaks in the future. My assumption has been that since I trust the other player not to cheat, I'm the only possible loser by being away from the table. And I'm not slowing the match down any more than if I wait until the end of the game, and less than if I waited fr my turn.
I've never done this in a league match or in a tournament, though, only in friendly games where we both know each other reasonably well. I think walking away with no comment in a league or tournament match is sharking.
The only experience I've had in leagues or tournaments is with one particular team in the league, where they all wander off to talk to girlfriends, drink, smoke, or talk on the phone. It only bothers me when we have to go find them when it's their turn to shoot, but at least they stay and play seriously once at the table. It's annoying as hell, but then again, so would their standing around our table yakking on the phone for a whole match.
if i have to piss i have to piss. run out while im in the bathroom. dont look around for me.
Manners?
In tournament play;
Would anyone be surprised to get a foul called if they left the playing area? Would that be too much to expect players to agree to?
What about the matches going on on either side of your match? All of the sudden there is another player walking in the match area that is unexpected.
Unsportsmanlike conduct warning. Leaving the playing area during a match.
If this was announced at the players meeting, this would be considered the first warning to the entire field.
All the players will know that if they leave the playing area while their opponent is shooting, that the shooter will get ball in hand.
It's in the rules, but players don't like to call fouls like this on other players because it labels them as rule whiners.
"Man, do you really want to win by being such a rules nit?" and should be answered with (IMO) "wouldn't it be silly to lose a match because you don't like the rules or only follow the ones you want to?"
Inconsiderate, unsportsmanlike conduct and just plain disrespectful. Just because you see other people do it you might think it is OK. But, in fact, it just makes you a follower rather than a leader.
In tournament play;
Would anyone be surprised to get a foul called if they left the playing area? Would that be too much to expect players to agree to?
What about the matches going on on either side of your match? All of the sudden there is another player walking in the match area that is unexpected.
Unsportsmanlike conduct warning. Leaving the playing area during a match.
If this was announced at the players meeting, this would be considered the first warning to the entire field.
All the players will know that if they leave the playing area while their opponent is shooting, that the shooter will get ball in hand.
It's in the rules, but players don't like to call fouls like this on other players because it labels them as rule whiners.
"Man, do you really want to win by being such a rules nit?" and should be answered with (IMO) "wouldn't it be silly to lose a match because you don't like the rules or only follow the ones you want to?"
Inconsiderate, unsportsmanlike conduct and just plain disrespectful. Just because you see other people do it you might think it is OK. But, in fact, it just makes you a follower rather than a leader.
Let me tell you about walking away.
Brian Ezell is in the semi's of a big tourney. He walks away to the bathroom. The opponent fouls. When Brian gets back, someone yells out that the opponent fouled. Brian picked up the cueball and the opponent calls foul. He claimed that since Brian didn't call the foul, he's the only one who can. They ended up replaying the game. There were only four balls on the table. Man, if Brian would have lost that match, punches may have been thrown. It can happen.
Brian Ezell is in the semi's of a big tourney. He walks away to the bathroom. The opponent fouls. When Brian gets back, someone yells out that the opponent fouled. Brian picked up the cueball and the opponent calls foul. He claimed that since Brian didn't call the foul, he's the only one who can. They ended up replaying the game. There were only four balls on the table. Man, if Brian would have lost that match, punches may have been thrown. It can happen.
Walking away from the table
This is one of the oldest moves in tournament play. It only happens when you have the momentum in a match. Your opponent is trying to slow you down by distracting you. It happens all the time in tournaments with races to 5 or more. Most tournament directors allow one time out for each player during a match. When I'm drilling a player in a tournament I expect him/her to take their time out to try and slow down my momentum during a match. I always tell them to take their time (implying it won't bother me at all). Its just a move and since I have a timeout coming if the momentum swings his/her way I will take my time out to slow him down. I only do this when my opponent does it to me first. If my opponent is running me over I just take my beating (like last Saturday when Glen Atwell ran me over 11-3 to take the point - and yes I ended up in 2nd place).
This is one of the oldest moves in tournament play. It only happens when you have the momentum in a match. Your opponent is trying to slow you down by distracting you. It happens all the time in tournaments with races to 5 or more. Most tournament directors allow one time out for each player during a match. When I'm drilling a player in a tournament I expect him/her to take their time out to try and slow down my momentum during a match. I always tell them to take their time (implying it won't bother me at all). Its just a move and since I have a timeout coming if the momentum swings his/her way I will take my time out to slow him down. I only do this when my opponent does it to me first. If my opponent is running me over I just take my beating (like last Saturday when Glen Atwell ran me over 11-3 to take the point - and yes I ended up in 2nd place).
I guess it doesn't bother me, but I'm concentrating on the table, not the person sitting in the chair.
If they get up, I most likely don't notice anyway.
If they get up, I most likely don't notice anyway.
I'm pretty sure that is not what the OP is talking about.
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I L-O-V-E this suggestion!
I only wished I had known about this before playing one of the jackasses on APA who did this to shark me. Won't reiterate (I already had a thread about it with some great responses)...but I will definitely use this in local tourney play.
Turn the tables on these wannabe sharkers...yeah!
Good one.
That said, after reading here, I personally had no idea so many people would be offended if I walked away, even if I informed my opponent 1st.
I think the situation depends a lot on where, who, and what you are playing for.
I just don't think my opponent, his team of seven players, and my team of seven players would want to wait for me to take a pee pee break while the game was stopped. But it's good to know that some may take great offense to this, even if I really had no malicious intentions whatsoever.
This is why I love the AZ to learn new things.
But to be fair, I don't think the OP was referring to those players who genuinely have to go to the bathroom, but instead the players who do it with the sole intention of sharking.
[Soapbox Alert]
Sharking in any of its forms is bad, wrong & pathetic.
People who shark, IMO, don't have the courage or integrity to match their ability against someone else, and ONLY their ability...they seek that dreaded "edge", which in pool, basically means sharking, or hustling.
Quite irritating.
I don't care if you leave when I'm at the table.
I don't play very good when I'm about to bite through my lip because I need to take a leak. Who's sharking who here?
I wonder how many piss breaks Mosconi took while he was running 526.
This didn't bother me earlier, but it has grown into something I notice and view as very annoying now that I'm taking the sport more seriously.
Just as people come from all different walks of life and social classes, I try to remember most people who walk away from the table like this don't realize it could be considered a form of sharking or impolite at the least.
If I have to leave the table, I ensure I wait until it it my turn to shoot and I advise my opponent of my intentions.
I believe this is the most "politically correct" way to address my needs.
Just as people come from all different walks of life and social classes, I try to remember most people who walk away from the table like this don't realize it could be considered a form of sharking or impolite at the least.
If I have to leave the table, I ensure I wait until it it my turn to shoot and I advise my opponent of my intentions.
I believe this is the most "politically correct" way to address my needs.
Honestly I do not have a problem if a player asks for a “TIME OUT” to hit the bathroom when nature calls.
The ones that get my feather ruffled are the one who get a “cell phone call”, and want to take a long time on the call.
The ones that drives me KOO KOO are those who wander off while you are shooting for not reason, returning sometime later with no clue of what has happen while they are gone in the game. Than they ask 'ball in hand", my normal reply is I can not remember as you have been gone so long I forgot. Maybe we need to re-rack, and start over.
Just my $.02 on the question above.
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