1. COMMENCEMENT OF THE GAME (OR RESTART)

1. All matches will consist of eight single and two double matches. Min. of four players per team.
2. Order of play is: home team breaks first, then alternate breaks between teams. The team breaking should also provide the referee for that game.
3. The opening player plays at the triangle of object balls by striking the cue ball from any position on or behind the line. He/she must pocket a ball or cause at least two object balls to hit a cushion. Failure to do so is a foul break and will result in the incoming player having the option of playing from that position with two shots; re-rack with two shots; re-rack and ask the opening player to break with one shot. If from a re-rack the eight ball is potted, the game is lost..
4. On the break, if a player legally pockets any ball he/she must continue with the colour potted. In the event that both a Red and Yellow are potted, the player must nominate his chosen colour before playing the next shot. Failure to do so will result in a two shot penalty.
5. If a foul is committed on the break, any balls pocketed are ignored in determining colour.
6. A player visiting a free table with two shots must nominate their choice of colour after their first free shot; failure to nominate is a foul, two shots apply.
7. If the player pockets the eight ball from the break, the game shall be restarted by the same player. No penalty will be incurred and the balls are to be re-racked, this applies even if the other balls, including the cue ball, are pocketed as well.
8. If a ball or balls are legally pocketed this entitles the player to one additional shot and this continues until the player fails to pocket one ball of his/her colour, or commits a foul.

2. FOULS

1. In off. (Cue ball pocketed)
2. Hitting opponents colour before his/her own colour, except when two shot rule applies.
3. Failure to hit any ball with the cue ball.
4. Jump shots – Defined as when the cue ball jumps over any part of any ball before making contact with their chosen colour.
5. If a player hits the eight ball with the cue ball before his/her own colour have been pocketed, except when the two shot rule applies.
6. Pocketing any opponent’s colour, except when two shot rule applies.
7. Ball off the table – shall be defined as when any ball comes to rest anywhere other than the bed of the table. Ball defined as illegally pocketed.
8. The cue ball shall be played from on or behind the baulk line.
9. If a players body or clothing should touch any ball.
10. Player not having at least one foot on the floor.
11. Playing or touching, with the cue, any ball other than the cue ball.
12. Playing out of turn.
13. Playing before the balls come to rest.
14. Playing before the ball or balls has been re-spotted.
15. Striking the cue ball with any part of the cue other than the tip.
16. Striking the cue ball with the cue more than once.
17. Failing to nominate a colour when both colours are pocketed off the break.
18. Foul Break. See 1.3
19. Push Shot. See 5.1
20. Moving an object ball or the eight ball when playing away from touching ball situation.

3. PENALTY FOLLOWING ANY FOUL

1. Following any foul the oncoming player may play the cue ball from where it lies or he/she may move it or request that it be moved by the referee, to anywhere on or behind the baulk line. See 5b)
2. Following any foul the oncoming player is entitled to one free shot with which he/she may, without nomination, play the cue ball onto any ball including the opponent’s colour or the eight ball. However, he/she may not pocket the eight ball, which would mean the loss of the game.
   N.B. If a free ball is used, it automatically becomes whatever colour that player was on, so it cannot be used to "plant" the black. (If the black ball is covered and the player cannot hit it, a re-rack should normally be called).
3. Following the single free shot described above, the player will commence his/her normal visit carrying the second shot until failing to pocket his/her coloured ball.

4. WIN/LOSS OF GAME

1. If the player pockets the eight ball before he/she pockets all balls of his/her own colour, he/she loses the game except from a break shot.
2. A player going in-off any ball when the eight ball is pocketed loses the game.
3. Player who clearly fails to make any attempt to play a ball of his/her colour will lose.
4. If a player seeks to gain an advantage by deliberately touching a moving ball or retrieving a ball dropping into a pocket, he/she will lose the game.
5. Eight Ball rule : An eight ball clearance can be achieved by the person who breaks, or by his/her opponent on their FIRST visit to the table. If the person who breaks commits a foul, and eight ball clearance can only be claimed by his/her opponent if they clear EIGHT balls without the use of two shots. N.B. if the person who breaks pots both a yellow and a red and commits a foul, the proceeding player CANNOT claim an eight ball clearnace, even if they clear their remaining choice of colour and the black.
   
   In short - an eight ball clearance is ONLY claimed if a player clears 7 colours and the black at his/her FIRST visit to the table without the use of two shots.
   
   In doubles, only the person who breaks or the first person to follow him/her can claim an eight ball clearance, by the same method as stated above.
   
   YOU MUST NOMINATE WHICH POCKET YOU WILL POT THE BLACK BALL IN. IF YOU FAIL TO DO SO, EVEN IF YOU POT THE BLACK THE GAME IS LOST. ALSO, IF YOU NOMINATE A POCKET AND THE BLACK IS POTTED IN A DIFFERENT POCKET YOU FORFEIT THE GAME.
   
   IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE TWO SHOTS ON THE BLACK AND YOU NOMINATE AND MISS ON YOUR FIRST SHOT, YOU CAN SELECT A DIFFERENT POCKET FOR YOUR SECOND SHOT IF YOU WISH.

5. GENERAL

1. Push Strokes-Defined as when the tip of the cue remains in contact with the cue ball once it has commenced its forward motion.
2. When a player has the cue in hand, he/she plays from any position from behind the baulk line, in any direction.
3. The player in control – A player is said to be in control of the table from the time his/her body, cue or clothing touches the table prior to his/her visit, through his/her visit and up to when his/her opponent does likewise prior to his/her visit. Any ball which falls into a pocket during this period, he/she is said to have pocketed and he/she is liable to any penalties or benefits normally awarded to him/her for the pocketing of that ball or balls.
4. The game is completed when the eight ball is pocketed and all remaining balls including the cue ball have come to rest.
5. A player must play away from any touching ball, which must not move. (See fouls). If the touching ball is one of the player’s own colour he/she is deemed to have played that ball.
6. Coaching is deemed to be un-sportsman-like behaviour.
7. A referee, if requested, may advise on the rules.
8. Doubles – Discussions between players during the match should stop once the player in control has played his/her first shot of the visit.
9. Score Cards – The HOME team will fill in the card and be responsible for its delivery. These should reach the League compiler no later than the Saturday following the game. ANY LATE CARDS or INCOMPLETE CARDS will result in a fine of £10.00.
   N.B. A score card MUST be completed even when a game is cancelled. If a game is postponed for a later date, the league compiler must be notified by telephone or email by the saturday following the game or a fine will be issued as if it were a late card.
10.  Late players – If a players name has been entered on the card, but he/she is not in attendance by the time of his/her game, then that game is conceded. If a players name is entered twice in the singles and only three other players are present and the fourth one fails to play, a 7-0 result is awarded to the opposite team. NOTE; a player will be given 10 minutes to arrive to play his/her game when late before the doubles, when only three other people are present.
11. Cancelled / Postponed matches – should a team be unable to attend a fixture, that team should give a minimum of 24 hours notice to their opposition. The other team may then provide two dates on which they are able to play the fixture. Should a team not provide adequate notice, that team will forfeit the game as a 7-3 defeat, and will incur a £10.00 fine. Half of this fine will be paid to the opposition via the league to cover expenses incurred in the preparation of food at the venue.
    In the event of a postponed match, the home team must notify the league compiler before the saturday following the original fixture date.
    If the match is cancelled or forfeit, the home team must still submit a score card (See point 5.9 above)
12. At the end of each game, it is considered sportsman-like to offer to buy the winner a drink.
13. Cup – Should any cup game result in a draw, Captains will randomly pick the names of one player from each team to play a decider.

6. STALE-MATE

1. should any situation arise where no legal shot can be played, then the game shall be restarted by the same player, whether this situation is arrived at by accident or design.
2. If, in the opinion of both captains, neither player is allowing the game to progress, or a stale-mate situation has arisen, then the game shall be restarted by the same player.

7. TRANSFERS

1. A player is registered once he/she plays his/her first game of the season for a team. A player can register at anytime in a season, but once registered he/she cannot transfer to another team in that season.
2. Team transfers, whilst discouraged, may be necessary under certain circumstances (i.e. venue closure). In any event both venue landlords/stewards as well as the league must be informed. In the event of a full team transfer, the transferring team will play under their existing name for the remainder of the season. In the event of a team split, the part of the team remaining at the venue will continue to play as per the fixtures. The other team, as long as they haven’t registered (See rule 7a) can join an existing team.

8. REFEREES

1. A referee must be provided for every match, with home and away teams providing alternated referees. The home team will provide the referee for the first game.
2. Any disputes must be settled between the two team captains with the referee’s decision being final, based on the rules provided.
3. In the event of a dispute not being resolved at the table all reasonable attempts must be made to contact a league official for a decision.
4. Referees should observe the game at all times, and properly.
5. A referee may call a 2 minute warning to any player he/she believes may be taking excessive time to play a shot, (on very difficult snookers this rule does not apply).

9. FEES AND FINES

1. Entry to the league is conditional on the entry fee determined at the AGM being paid in full at that meeting. A notification of the amount will be provided in advance (currently £40 per team).
2. Late Cards & incomplete cards will no longer be penalised by fines - the team(s) involved will be docked 1 point from their league total - points to be deducted will be taken off at the end of the season after the team(s) have been consulted and given the chance to appeal.

10. FIXTURE ISSUES

1. In the event that the league fixtures cause a clash between teams, i.e. too many teams are at the venue to play, then one of the team captains should phone one of the league organizers to find out what action to take. Obviously the league will take every precaution possible to prevent this matter occurring.

These rules supersede all others and take effect from 12/03/2009.