League Rules

Here's the rules. The rules listed in the this post is messy. If you want a more readable doc, download the pdf. I will be posting the rules on the home page in next couple of weeks.

MCPL RULES (09-02-09)
1. Objectives:
A. To Promote the spirit of sportsmanship in the game of 8-ball.
B. To adopt and enforce uniform laws, rules, conditions and methods of playing and scoring
the game of 8-ball.
C. To sanction individuals for team, league and tournament competition.
D. To educate players in the use of proper pool etiquette. Examples of poor etiquette are:
distracting your opponent, such as standing too close to the table when it is not your turn;
“verbal baiting”; breaking down your cue before the game is concluded; and stalling!
Each and every league player is bound by not only these, but all rules of pool etiquette to
maintain the highest level of sportsmanship at all times!
2. Sanction and Organization:
A. Any establishment operator, individual, team, league or association having access to
approved pocket billiard tables owned by Redline, Inc. and upon payment of all fees shall
be entitled to the stated rights of the league.
B. Any of the above may be expelled for poor sportsmanship, unbecoming conduct or any
other reason considered by the league to be detrimental to the welfare of the league. Any
player could be expelled for throwing the 8-ball into a pocket, obvious sandbagging (such
as directly shooting the 8-ball in before pocketing his object balls) or doing anything to
bring an early end to a game to lower his average. A protest must be filed by the
opponent and will be reviewed by the Directors.
C. Any parties so expelled may request a hearing from the league and the findings of the
team captains shall be recognized as final.
3. Directors:
A. Shall be 2 members of the MC Pool League voted into office by a vote of the league
captains.
B. The 2 elected members above will work to govern league administration, aid in the
organization of the league, and help run any league meetings and tournaments.
C. Misconduct of any said member may result in dismissal by vote of the league captains
and the league captains will vote a new governing member in at the earliest convenience.
4. The Team:
A. A team consists of pertinent number of regular players (5, 4 or 3) and subs. Regular
players may shoot for their team only in that particular league division.
B. MCPL shall possess full authority to add or remove players from the league team.
C. Any player that is dropped from their team shall not play in this particular league for the
remainder of that league season, unless written approval of MCPL.
D. All registered players must be 21 years of age.
5. Captain’s Duties:
Each team shall appoint a team captain and each team captain shall then appoint a team cocaptain.
The team co-captain’s responsibilities are to act as a team captain in the team
captain’s absence.
A. Must be a sanctioned league member.
B. Shall be present or send an acting captain to all matches, be responsible for the
personnel and the attendance of the team in league play.
C. Instruct his/her players as to all league rules and requirements.
D. Try to settle all disputes that may arise
E. Sign the score sheets and have scores verified by the opposing captain.
F. Pay each member of the team within a reasonable time after receiving prize money.
Failure to comply with the above requirements subjects the captain to indefinite
suspension.
G. Each captain should keep their score sheet copy for at least one week.
H. Captain or designated person must turn in the score sheet to designated drop off
when match is finished at Sportsman. MANDATORY
I. Captain or designated person will need to pick up stats / paperwork prior to league
from sportsman. OPTIONAL
6. Substitutes:
Handicapped leagues: Subs can shoot for any team from that location within that
particular league division. Once a player has subbed for a location on a particular league
night, he is eligible to sub for any team from that location on that night unless he has
subbed for a different location in a particular league division on that night. Nonhandicapped
leagues: Subs can shoot for any team. Sub Deadlines: Subs used for
position rounds, a team’s final 2 appearances (15-26 week season) or their final
appearance (6-14 week season), must have previously played at least one league night
that season for that team. Prior approval of MC Pool League is required in a hardship
situation. Following the Average Establishing Period, each team may use a maximum of
two players not listed on the current team roster (standings sheet) to be entered into the
team’s match line-up prior to the start of play.
Format
League will consist of a 4 person team (men and/or women) with a 16 game format. Each
person will play each player on the opposing team one game. The players on the home
team remain in the same order each round, the players on the visiting team rotate (see
copy of sample score sheet inserted in the back of this book).
7. Match Time & Forfeits:
Forfeit Times: Matches begin at 7:00 PM. If the first game in the first round hasn't started
(first break) by 7:15, the first round is lost by forfeit. If the first round was forfeited and the
first game of the second round hasn't started by 7:30, the second round is lost by forfeit.
If the first and second rounds were forfeited and the first game of the third round hasn't
started by 7:45, the entire match is forfeited. The winning team will receive all match
points and each player will receive 10 individual points for each game scheduled. The
forfeiting team will receive no points. Both teams are required to pay the weekly fees. Any
round may be started by any player before the forfeit time but the round is over if, at the
end of that game, there is no other player from that team present and the forfeit time for
that round has passed.
8. Scheduling:
A. All schedules shall be posted by the Directors.
B. All rescheduling of games must be by mutual consent of both team captains.
C. In an emergency, opposing captains may also delay or reschedule their games by mutual
consent. All make-up games must be arranged with the League Directors and played
before the next scheduled Position Round.
D. When games are not played, the money to the league must still be paid, or it will be
deducted from your winnings at the end of the season.
E. Leagues are never canceled because of bad weather, but teams who consider going
to a match to be unsafe, should try to reschedule their match and will receive the support
of MC Pool League in getting their match rescheduled. You must give MC Pool League
reasonable notice.
9. League Champions: Will be determined in the following manner:
A. The team winning the most rounds will be the league champion.
B. In the event that two or more teams have won the same number of rounds, the team with
the highest number of 8-ball games won will be the league champion. In the event the
teams also tie for most 8-ball games won, total “scratch” points will decide the champion.
C. If round points, 8-ball games won and total scratch points are equal, the teams involved
will playoff to determine final position in the standings only if a trophy or prize money
difference is at stake. A tie can be declared if both teams agree to accept duplicate
prizes.
10. Scoring
Each player receives one point for each of his group of balls (stripes or solids) legally
pocketed, plus three points when the 8-ball is legally pocketed. A player is always
credited with ten points when he wins a game. The loser cannot score more than seven
points. Tie breaker for round by round system is the most 8-ball wins in the round or
match if total is a tie. Tie in 8-ball wins results in a split of round, each team receives ½
rounds. 8-ball made on an open table (before the groups of balls have been
determined) is a 10-0 loss for the person shooting.
11. Handicaps
Team Handicap System. The Average Establishing Period at the beginning of each
season is 3 weeks for a season 15 weeks or longer and 2 weeks for a season that is 14
weeks or less. The procedure extends 1 week if your team has a Bye during Average
Establishing Period. Add the pre-established averages (assigned by MC Pool League) of
individual players to determine your team average during the Average Establishing
Period. New players will shoot with a 7 average during the Average Establishing Period.
After the Average Establishing Period your team average will be computed by dividing
team points by team games played and will be listed on your standings sheet. When a
player “not listed on your roster” is brought in (after the Average Establishing Period),
current averages (not pre-established average) of the players present + the unlisted
player’s average (for that night) will be the team average for that night. If the unlisted
player’s average lowers the Team Average, then the Team Average (on the Standings
Sheet) will be used. If the unlisted player’s average raises the Team Average, the raised
Team Average will be used. 100% Handicap for all leagues except that the maximum
spot is 9 points / round in 3 player leagues, 12 points / round in 4 player leagues and 15
points / round in 5 player leagues. Fractional averages are rounded up at .5 and higher
only!
12. Team Matches and Line-ups:
Players are not allowed to play more than one league match at the same time. You
cannot change your lineup once you have exchanged sheets, unless you have
permission of the opposing captain prior to the start of the match.
A. Line-up is determined by “Blind Draw”. The line-up system is detailed on the score sheet
and is easy to follow by placing player’s name by his/her corresponding number
throughout the match.
B. Any player shall have the right to shoot out their games (3-5) at the start of the match, but
only if the opposing captain agrees.
Wrong player(s) playing in a given game: If noticed before the game is completed the
game will be restarted with the correct players playing. If the game has been completed
and those 2 players are scheduled to play each other in a later game in the match, the
result will be moved to the round where they correctly play each other. If the game has
been completed but those 2 players are not scheduled to play each other in the match,
the result of the game that they played will be deleted and that game will be replayed with
the correct players playing. Correcting score sheets: All mathematical errors are
corrected. However, if a team plays with an average that is higher than its correct
average, it will not be changed. The average will be raised up when a team plays with
an average lower than its correct average. It is each team’s responsibility to know their
average. Call MC Pool League before your match if you are not sure!
13. Player Cost:
Game Cost – Players will pay their own quarters with the total amount for the night
shared evenly by all players.
Player Sanction Fee: $14.00 / player (Not applicable for Recreational Leagues)
$8 VNEA and $6 ISPA
Nightly Fee: $6 / player plus cost of games (all leagues except those noted).
14. Money Envelope Liability Policy:
A. Envelope drop system: The white league envelope must be returned to the designated
drop off point. Sporty’s this year (League fiscal year 2009-10).
B. The Home team will be held accountable for the money in any league envelope not
received by MC Pool League.
C. The home team captain is responsible for the money placed into the white money
envelope. Both team captains must sign to verify their team’s amount deposited.
D. If the money in an envelope is not correct, it will be documented on that particular team’s
ledger.
E. There is a $20 charge on any returned check!
F. Any team that forfeits a match either of the final two weeks of a season will lose
half of the prize money they would have won!
15. Protest Procedure:
A. Authority to protest rests with the captain.
B. Protest must be in writing and be presented to MC Pool League within 48 hours after the
match.
16. Definition of Feats:
A. ERO (8-ball Run Out) - You must answer the following question: Were all 15 balls on the
table when you began your turn? 1 VNEA “ERO” pin/year will be awarded to each player
who shoots an ERO.
B. Avg. (Average) = Points scored divided by games played.
C. Power Average = Points scored minus opponents points scored divided by games
played.
D. Sweeps – Winning all of your individual games on league night.
17. Tournament Rules:
A. At no time will a player be allowed to compete on more than one team at any given team
tournament, regardless of divisional separations.
B. Eligibility is listed in your Information Packet.
C. All WPA (World Pool-Player Association) rules apply.
18. Additional League Rules:
A. The breaker at the beginning of a game may choose to rack his/her own rack
19. League Job description:
A. The league captains – Best representation of all the league members possible. The
finally decision on any matter ultimately resides at this level. And the decision made at
this level is final.
B. Director - enter weekly stats on a timely basis, professionally handling week to week
operations, and will be responsible for supplying current league stats at match time.
Scheduling week to week matches, registering all league members to sanction vendors,
registering all league members for state tournaments.
C. Treasury Director – Professionally handling of the leagues accounts payable and
accounts receivable
20. Decisions, Ratification of rules, Modification of rules, Protest decisions:
A. Ratification of this document needs at least 51% agreement from the league captains
B. Modification of this document will require at least 2/3 agreement from league captains
C. Protest decision - the league captains will need at least 51% agreement
D. All decisions must be voted on by the league captains
21. Coaching
Coaching is a foul. Any member of a team called for coaching will result in a foul on the
team member shooting. You are allowed to talk with your teammates while your
opponent is shooting but as soon as the opponent misses or fouls and the last ball stops
rolling, it is your turn at the table and your teammates are no longer allowed to talk to you
or coach you. ALSO, you are NOT allowed at any time to inform your teammate that the
opponent fouled. It is up to the player to be responsible and to watch his/her own game
and call the foul. (EXAMPLE: Telling a teammate to mark the eight ball pocket is a
coach/foul.) However, the foul must be called by the opponent, not his teammates. If a
player has a question on a rule during a match he/she should ask the opposing team
captain for a rule clarification. The player should make sure their captain is also present
to make sure they agree on the ruling.
23. Protect Procedure
The team captains should attempt to settle any disputes. If they cannot, only the captain
has the authority to protest (or acting captain should the captain be absent). If a match is
under protest DO NOT SIGN THE SCORE SHEET. A signed score sheet voids all rights
to protest. A protest must be in writing and presented to the league office with 48 hours
after the match. The directors will review the protest and confer with the other captain
involved. The final decision will rest with a vote from all the team captains.