WORLD POOL ASSOCIATION 8-BALL RULES

      1. OBJECT OF THE GAME

      8-Ball is a Call Shot game (the ball and pocket must be nominated) and is

      played with a cue ball and fifteen colored balls, numbered 1 through 15.

      One player must pocket balls of the group 1 through 7 (solid colors),

      while the other player has the group 9 through 15 (stripes). The player

      pocketing his or her group and then legally pocketing the 8-ball wins the

      game.  

      2. CALL SHOT

      In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is

      the opponent's right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the

      shot. Doubles and combinations are not considered obvious and both the

      object ball and pocket must be called. When calling the shot, it is never

      necessary to indicate details such as the number of rails (cushions),

      doubles, cannons (caroms), kisses etc. Any additional pocketed balls on a

      legal stroke are counted in the shooter's favor, except the 8 ball.

      3. THE RACK

      The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot end of the table with the

      8-Ball in the centre of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the

      foot spot, a striped ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in

      the other.

      4. THE LAG

      By mutual consent each player chooses a side of the table. Both players

      must shoot their ball simultaneously down the table from behind the head

      string (baulk line). The player whose ball ends up nearest to the head

      rail (baulk cushion) having rebounded of the foot rail (bottom cushion) is

      the winner of the lag.

      A player looses the lag if:

a.       The ball crosses into the opponent's half of the table.

b.      The ball drops into a pocket.

c.       The ball touches a side rail (cushion).

d.      The ball rests in the jaws of a corner pocket, behind the head rail

        (baulk cushion).

       5. ALTERNATING BREAK

      The Winner of a coin toss or lag has the option to break or hand the break

      over to his opponent. During individual competition, players will break

      alternately in each subsequent game.

      6. LEGAL BREAK SHOT

      To execute a legal break, the player must shoot the cue ball from behind

      the head string (baulk line) and either:

a.       Pocket a numbered ball.

b.      Drive four numbered balls onto the rail (cushion).

      If he fails to make a legal break it is a foul and the incoming player has

      the option of:

a.       Accepting the table in position and shooting, or

b.      Having the balls re-racked and shooting the opening break himself.

      It is not necessary to hit the head ball (the ball that is on the head

      spot) to initiate a legal break.

      The opening break is not a Call Shot. If any object ball is pocketed on a

      legal break, then that player continues his innings at the table and the

      table is open.

      7. SCRATCH ON A LEGAL BREAK

      If a player scratches (cue ball pocketed) or forces the cue ball of the

      table it is a foul and the table is open. All balls pocketed remain

      pocketed (exception: the 8-ball refer to rule 8).  

      Note : The incoming player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string

      (baulk line) and may not shoot an object ball that is behind the head

      string (baulk line), unless he first shoots the cue ball past the head

      string (baulk line).

       If the base of the object ball is on the head string (baulk line) it is

      deemed to be in play and forward of the head string (baulk line).  

      If an object ball jumps of the table during the break (exception: the

      8-ball refer to rule 18) it is a foul, and the incoming player has the

      option of:

a.       Accepting the table in the position it is and shooting.

b.      Taking the cue ball in hand behind the head string (baulk line) and

        shooting.

       8. 8-BALL POCKETED ON THE BREAK

      If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaking player may ask for a

      re-rack or have the 8-ball re-spotted and continue shooting. If the

      breaking player scratches while pocketing the 8-ball on the break, the

      incoming player has the option of a re-rack or having the 8-ball

      re-spotted and begins shooting with the cue ball in hand behind the head

      string (baulk line). If the 8-ball is to be re-spotted, it will be placed

      on the foot spot or as close as possible to the foot spot along the long

      string line.

       Note : For coin operated pool tables it is recommended that if the 8-ball 
       is pocketed on the break, the breaking player wins the game.
      If the breaking player fouls while pocketing the 8-ball on the break,
      the incoming player wins the game.

      9. OPEN TABLE & CHOICE OF GROUP

      Selection of a group is not determined by a ball(s) pocketed on the break

      shot. The first legally pocketed ball after the break shot determines the

      groups.

      While the table is open it is legal to first hit any ball (except the 8

      ball) in the process of pocketing the called object ball.

      10. LEGAL SHOT

      On all shots (except the break or when the table is open) the player must

      hit one of his group of balls first and:

a.       Pocket an object ball, or

b.      Cause the cue ball or any object ball to contact a rail (cushion).

      Failure to do either is a foul.  

      Note : It is legal for the shooter to double the cue ball off a rail

      (cushion) before contacting his object ball. However, after contact with

      his object ball, an object ball must be pocketed or any ball must contact

      a rail (cushion).  

      11. JUMP SHOT

      To execute a legal jump shot the cue ball must be struck above the center

      line of the ball. Shooting a jump shot by striking or scooping the cue

      ball below center is a foul.  

      12. SAFETY (TACTICAL) PLAY

      Safety play is defined as a legal shot. The player may choose to pocket an

      object ball and discontinue his turn at the table. However, prior to the

      shot, he must declare to his opponent and or the referee that he is

      playing a safety shot. If this is not done the player will be required to

      shoot again.  

      13. SCORING

      A player is entitled to continue shooting until he fails to legally pocket

      a ball of his group. After a player has legally pocketed all of his group

      he shoots to pocket the 8-ball.

       14. FOULS

      The following infractions result in fouls:

a.       Failure to execute a legal shot as defined elsewhere in the rules.

b.      A scratch shot (shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off the table).

c.       Failure to contact any of the players designated group of balls.

d.      Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor.

e.       Moving or touching the cue ball in any fashion by any means other than legal

        play.

        Note: If any ball is moved illegally by a player it must be returned as

        closely as possible to it's original position (by a referee if present).  

        Shooting while any ball is in motion.

        Note: A player does not commit a foul when he accidentally miscues and

        causes the cue ball to lift above the surface of the table providing he

        makes a legal shot.  

      15. FOUL PENALTY

      The penalty for a foul gives the opposing player the cue ball in hand

      which he may place anywhere on the table (except scratch on break, see

      rule 7).  

      16. COMBINATION SHOTS

      Combination shots are allowed, however neither the 8-ball nor any of the

      opponents balls may be struck first by the cue ball.

      17. ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS

      Illegally pocketed balls are not re-spotted (except the 8-ball on the

      break, see rule 8).  

      18. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF TABLE

      At all times, if any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul

      shot. The ball(s) is re-spotted and the incoming player has the cue ball in

      hand.

        If the 8-ball is jumped off the table at any time it is a loss of game

        (see rule 24 b).

        If two balls are jumped of the table during the same shot, the lowest

        numbered ball is re-spotted closest to the foot spot.  

      19. OBJECT BALL FROZEN TO RAIL (CUSHION)

      This rule applies when the object ball struck by the shooter is frozen

      (touching) to the rail (cushion). After the cue ball contacts this object

      ball the player must:

a.       pocket the frozen ball or any other object ball.

b.      drive the frozen object ball to another rail (cushion).

c.       drive the cue ball or any other object ball onto any rail (cushion).

      Failure to do any of the above is a foul.

       20. TOUCHING BALL AND DOUBLE HIT (PUSH SHOT)

      If the cue ball is touching (frozen to) the object ball the player may

      follow through the line of the object ball with the cue ball but if the

      two balls are only very close or almost touching, the player may still

      shoot towards it, providing the cue strikes rather than pushes the cue

      ball. However in this case if the cue ball follows through the object ball

      in a straight line (rather than an oblique angle) by more than half a ball

      it is a foul.  

      If the shooter plays away from a frozen ball, the cue ball will be deemed

      not to have made contact with it and he/she must still perform a legal

      shot. 

      When a player strikes the cue ball it is a foul if the cue tip strikes the

      cue ball twice or the cue tip is still in contact with the cue ball when

      it strikes the object ball (push shot).  

      21. HANGING BALL

      A ball that falls into a pocket by itself after being motionless for more

      than 5 seconds shall be replaced as closely as possible to its position

      prior to falling and play shall continue.  

      22. JAWED BALLS

      Should a situation occur where two balls are locked in the jaws of a

      pocket, any ball more than half a ball over the edge of the pocket will be

      deemed pocketed.

       Should two balls be locked in the jaws of a pocket, but neither ball is

      more than half a ball over the edge of the pocket and a subsequent shot

      fails to move either ball, both balls will be re-spotted (see rule 18).

      23. PLAYING THE 8-BALL

      When shooting at the 8-ball, a scratch or a foul is not a loss of game

      unless the 8-ball is pocketed or jumped from the table.  

      24. LOSS OF GAME

      A player loses the game if he commits any of the following infractions:

a.       Any foul while pocketing the 8-ball (exception: refer rule 8).

b.      Jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time.

c.       Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one nominated.

d.      Pockets the 8-ball when it is not the legal object ball.

e.       Scratches and pockets the 8-ball in the same shot.

       25. DEVICES

      Players are not allowed to use a ball or any other width measuring devices

      to see if the cue ball or any object ball will travel through a gap. Only

      the cue may be used as an aid to judge gaps or as an aid to aligning a

      shot as long as the cue remains held in the hand. To do so otherwise is a

      foul. If a player intentionally marks the table in any way or places the

      chalk in a position in order to assist in the execution of a shot it is a

      foul.