Unsportsmanlike Conduct Rule

[cstrombe]

Was watching this match between Archer and Zielinski, and at 1:34:32 Zielinski commits an "unsportsmanlike foul" according to the commentator. There was some checking by ref, he got on the phone, and determined it was just an intentional foul. But commentator said it should be -18 points (presumably referring to the points lost in the normal 3 fouls + penalty sequence). Curious about the rule here. In the WPA rules, it says "for unsportsmanlike conduct, the referee will choose a penalty depending on the nature of the offense." Under "unsportsmanlike conduct" it says "the penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is the same as for a serious foul, but the referee may impose a penalty depending on his judgement of the conduct."

- Would "serious foul" here mean -15 points?
- Does this also get the same treatment as the normal three-foul penalty, with a required re-rack? Is that up to referee? Is it even an option?
- Sounds like the number of points up to ref, could it be anything?

Curious if there are any sort of standards or normally accepted outcomes for unsportsmanlike conduct? The rule book makes it seem pretty open-ended.

 

[batmmann5]

So, back in 2000, you can see this in this video. It happened. Efren did, what Johnny thought Wiktor did. 56 minutes. Efren -15 and Dallas elected to have Efren break again. I saw another video from 2021 or 2022, where Darren was not allowed to continue shooting when Corey got an unsportsmanlike penalty, so the rules changed. Darren had a wide open table, but was not given the option, Corey had to break again. That video is on you tube.

 

[cstrombe]

Oh nice, that helps, thanks. Would be interested in the other one you mention if you find that link. Thanks!

 

[Bob Jewett]

Oh nice, that helps, thanks. Would be interested in the other one you mention if you find that link. Thanks!

The current WPA/BCA World Standardized Rules are available on the WPA website. They are different from the (old?) rule cited above.

 

[cstrombe]

I copied those rules from the wpa pdf there now, the "2025-09-15" version, which I thought was the current set of rules. Please let me know if I'm looking in the wrong spot. Would definitely be interested in seeing the current rule.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I copied those rules from the wpa pdf there now, the "2025-09-15" version, which I thought was the current set of rules. Please let me know if I'm looking in the wrong spot. Would definitely be interested in seeing the current rule.

Rule 3.16 says, in part: "3.16 UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT The normal penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is the same as for a serious foul, but the referee may impose a penalty depending on his judgment of the conduct." It goes on to list weaker and stronger penalties from just a warning to expulsion from the tournament.

Here is what is currently on the WPA website in the current, official rules for 14.1 specifically:

...​

7.11 SERIOUS FOULS For 3.13 Three Consecutive Fouls, only standard fouls are counted, so a breaking foul does not count as one of the three fouls. A point is subtracted for the third foul as usual, and then the additional fifteen-point penalty is subtracted, and the offending player’s consecutive foul count is reset to zero. All fifteen balls are re-racked, and the offending player is required to shoot under the requirements of the opening break.​

​

For 3.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the referee will choose a penalty depending on the nature of the offense. ​

​

7.12 STALEMATE ...​

​

There have been tournaments in which the management has decided that specific kinds of fouls that would be considered unsportsmanlike, such as touching the cue ball illegally, automatically incur some specific penalty. That takes away the referee's discretion on how to penalize the foul. That is outside the standard rules.

The CSI rules may have some of those specific cases.

 

[cstrombe]

Got it, thanks for the clarification. Are the WPA rules considered "official"? Seems like there are a few competing rules (WPA, CSI).

 

[qolbrand]

Got it, thanks for the clarification. Are the WPA rules considered "official"? Seems like there are a few competing rules (WPA, CSI).

depends on what god you believe in, i suppose.

wpa has always always been my baseline but most of the players i encounter in the wild respond with “you mean bca?”

 

[cstrombe]

I did check the BCA site and they at least point to WPA, "Please refer to the World-Standardized Rules provided by the World Pool Association."

 

[Nogbert]

So, back in 2000, you can see this in this video. It happened. Efren did, what Johnny thought Wiktor did. 56 minutes. Efren -15 and Dallas elected to have Efren break again. I saw another video from 2021 or 2022, where Darren was not allowed to continue shooting when Corey got an unsportsmanlike penalty, so the rules changed. Darren had a wide open table, but was not given the option, Corey had to break again. That video is on you tube.

didnt dallas do the exact same thing immediately before efrens foul at 56min? im a stranger to 14.1, but dallas did basically only touched the cue ball with the tip of his cue... seems like the same thing efren did