These are some of the rules used in our women's league....these are actual rules, not what we would like have happen:
Call ball, call pocket. Obvious shots need not be called, however, cuts and banks are not considered obvious shots. Combination shots need not be called, just the intended ball, and the intended pocket...however, the CB MUST contact a ball of your suit first, and the 8 Ball can only be used when in the middle of a combination shot.
2 minute shot limit. Believe it or not, 2 minutes is a really long time when you are actually timing it!
Only the player at the table, their opponent, the Captain or Co-Captain of each team are allowed to call fouls. If an agreement cannot be made as whether a foul has actually occurred or not, then the Captain/Co-Captains of each team can agree to re-rack the balls and play the game over again. If no agreement can be made, the game shall be played to it's conclusion, and a Grievance can be filed for the game in question. No one is required to call their own fouls.
Unsportsman-like conduct shall not be tolerated during a sanctioned league match...period.
Only the player who's inning it is at the table, shall be in the area of the table. (I strictly enforce this, as we have a few players on the league who insist on breaking this rule regularly.)
Since our women's league is a partner play, the player who's inning it is at the table may call her partner, her Captain or Co-Captain to the table for assistance with the shot....however, they may not line up or take the shot for them, and absolutely no coaching is allowed from the sidelines. Once the assistance is giving, only the player in inning shall be at the table when setting for the shot.
The host (home) room/tavern is responsible to provide a friendly and unobstructed environment during all league matches. This can actually be a biggie! I have taken on my sponsor for not following this rule...which is in the Sponsor' Rights and Responsibilities Form that all sponsors must sign. (I was almost 86'd from my sponsor room several years ago, because there was a rather large group of very drunk individuals sitting at a table near our match, and was being deliberately disruptive while the players were at the table shooting. They were beyond the point of being served legally. The owner would do nothing to solve the issue, and finally, I went over and dealt with it. The owner tells me that I just cost him money and that he would 86 me from the tavern. I told him to go ahead, but that the Rights and Responsibilities form that he signed would hold him to providing a pleasant playing environment for the match, and that he was not doing that, and he could be banned from being a sponsor for any further league play....additionally, I told him that if he chose to 86 me, I would contact the Liquor Control Board and report him for constantly over-serving his customers, and that I had witnesses who would back the claim up.....he backed off, and we never had a problem with this again. Besides, we were his first 1st Place team.
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This is a sampling of some of our more important rules. While I tend to be fairly relaxed (depending on the opponent team) with being a strict enforcer, as it is supposed to be foremost, fun for the ladies.....there are some rules which I am very strict with, particularly those which interfere with the player at the table....no matter if it is my player or the other team's. Everyone should have an equal opportunity while at the table, and should be free from distractions of any kind. Some fouls I tend to ignore, especially for newer players to the league...things like
very minor cue tip fouls, and shirts touching balls...but for those who have been in the league a while, they know better, and they know better, as a rule, to try it with me.
I can only think of one team that I have to be a real b*tch with as to the rules...actually two teams. All the rest of the teams we usually play, the matches are pretty relaxed, no one actually tries to cheat, and everyone is there just to have a good time.....and I want my girls to have a good time too.
Oh, and, although not required, and not in the rules, we usually say 'good luck' before each game, and shake hands after each game.
Lisa
LOL.
