The game shall be known as “Tenerife 8 Ball”, “8 Ball Pool”, “Pool” or “Pub Pool” and referred to in these rules as "The Game". It is intended that the game be played in good spirit and in a sportsmanlike manner. The game is played on a pub pool table with 16 balls.

The game of Blackball Pool is played on a six pocket rectangular Pool table with six cushions and a set of balls consisting of:

(a) A white ball that is called the ‘cue ball’.
(b) Two groups of balls consisting of: seven red (or blue) balls and seven yellow balls (or solid balls numbered from 1 to 7 and striped balls numbered from 9 to 15), which are called the ‘object balls’.
(c) A blackball. (8 ball.)
(d) Spider rest, goose-neck rest and cross rest.
(e) Prescribed cues.
(f) No other equipment will be permitted unless Previously accept and ratified by the WPA.

The bed of the table should be marked with a black spot at the intersection of two imaginary lines joining the centre and corner pockets. The cloth will be marked with a baulk line, being a straight line drawn from cushion to cushion at 1/5 of the length of the table from the face of the cushion that lies the greatest distance from the black spot.

The player or team pocketing their group of object balls in any order and legally pocketing the blackball wins the game.

OPENING BREAK SHOT
The opening break shot is determined by lag. The player winning the lag has the choice of performing the opening break shot or assigning it to the opponent. In any match the lag is performed once only, breaks alternate thereafter. (Exception see rule 8g.)

CUE BALL ON OPENING BREAK
The opening break shot is taken with cue ball in hand behind the baulk line. On the opening break, the game is considered to have commenced once the cue ball has been struck by the cue tip. The same applies to a re-rack (after a foul break if the opponent decides to re-rack the balls) or a stalemate. (Refer to 4r.)

The balls are racked as illustrated with the blackball on the black spot, which is at the intersection of the centre and corner pockets.

The first shot of a frame is called the ‘break’. To ‘break’, the cue ball is played at the triangle of object balls from any position within baulk. The frame is deemed to have commenced the instant the players cue tip contacts the cue ball.

(a) The break will be deemed a legal break if at least one ball is potted, OR at least two different object balls fully pass an imaginary line between the middle of the two centre pockets.
(b) If the break is not a legal break. The opponent is awarded one free shot plus one visit (the player may play the cue ball from where it lies or he/she has the option to play the cue ball from baulk) OR a re-rack if he/she chooses. (To include one visit after the break shot.)

Baulk is the rectangular area of the table that is bordered by the baulk line and the three cushions at that end of the table.

(a) The centre point of the cue ball must be in baulk when a shot is played.
(b) The cue ball can be moved into position only by hand and not with the shaft of the cue, it is a foul to touch the cue ball with anything other than the tip of the cue. The player may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball by hand until he/she takes a shot.
(c) The cue ball may be played in any direction. After a foul, if the player decides to play from baulk the player must position the cue ball in baulk without touching any other ball(s).

If the blackball is potted on any break including a re-rack break, all the balls are re-racked and the same player breaks again. No penalty will be incurred, this applies even if other balls including the cue ball, are pocketed, or leave the playing surface - off the bed of the table.

(a) Groups are never decided on the break.
(b) Groups can never be decided on a foul.

After the break off shot the table is open and the player in control may play a ball(s) from either group. The blackball cannot be used as a ‘ball on’ to pot any object ball, except after a foul has been committed and the table is open. If the player in control pockets a ball(s) of both groups with the next shot, the table remains open. If the player in control pockets a ball(s) of a single group, the player is on that group of balls. Once groups are decided the player remains on that group for the duration of the frame. The opponent remains on the opposite group for the duration of the frame.

If a foul is committed on an open table and one or more object ball(s) are pocketed, then those balls are ignored in determining the groups to be played and the oncoming player has a free visit playable from were the cue ball stopped or he/she can play from baulk. The incoming player faces an open table.

If a ball(s) are legally pocketed, this entitles the player to one additional shot and this continues until the player either:

(a) Fails to pocket one of his/her set of allocated balls or
(b) Commits a foul.

When a player has the cue ball in hand he/she plays from any position within baulk and in any direction.

Playing away from a touching object ball ‘on’

The instant a player plays away from a touching object ball on, the player is deemed to have played that ball. Therefore, the player needs to then only pot a ball of his/her own group, or cause any ball, including the cue ball, to strike a cushion to fulfil the requirements of a legal shot.

Playing away from a touching object ball ‘not on’

The player must play away from the touching ball and then meet all the requirements of a legal shot.  

Playing away from two or more touching object balls

The player in control must play away from all touching balls and then meet all the requirements of a legal shot, if unable to do so the game is a stalemate and must be re-racked.

(a) Combination shots are allowed provided that the player contacts one of his/her own group of balls first and pots both his/her ball and the opponents ball in any order.

(b) A combination shot can include your last object ball(s) and the blackball to win the frame as long as you play your last object ball(s) first and pot both balls.

(c) A combination shot can include playing the blackball (when the blackball is ball ‘on’) onto an opponent’s object ball(s) and potting both balls.

Skill shots or Combination shots are allowed to make the game faster and more exciting to watch.

For instance, you could play a skill shot on your last object ball by playing it onto the blackball provided you potted both balls, or by playing the blackball (when on the blackball) onto an opponents object ball and potting both balls to win the frame.

Following a foul a player may use his/her free shot to play his/her opponents ball onto the blackball to pocket the blackball and win the frame provided the player is on the blackball; with or without pocketing the opponents ball.

It is a foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, does not return by its own means and remains off the playing surface. (Other than being potted.) If a ball leaves the playing surface and remains off the playing surface, it shall be returned to the table:

(a) If it is the cue ball it is to be played from baulk;
(b) If it is an object ball(s) it is to be spotted. (Refer to rule 4m)

‘Playing Surface’

The playing surface of the table is the flat part of the table between the cushions.  
‘By its own means’

(a) It is not a foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, runs along the top of a cushion drops back onto the playing surface and comes to rest there or falls into a pocket.
(b) It is a foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, comes into contact with a person or object that is not part of the table and then returns to the playing surface.

A ball remaining off the table. All ball(s) remaining off the bed of the table, i.e. the
playing surface, will be returned to the table and re-spotted. (Except where rule 4m applies).

If it is the cue ball it is to be played from baulk. A ball is spotted when its centre point is placed on the black spot or if this is not possible as near as possible to the spot in a direct line between the spot and the centre point of the cushion which lies the greatest distance from the baulk line. If any of the following balls require spotting they are spotted in the following order.

(a) Blackball,
(b) Red (or blue or solid 1-7) balls
(c) Yellow (or striped 9-15) balls.

Spotted ball should be placed as close as possible to each other and any intervening balls, without touching each other.

If any balls are moved during a frame :

(a) By a person other than the players taking part in the frame, or
(b) As a direct result of one of the players being bumped, or
(c) Due to any other event deemed outside the player’s control.

No penalty will be incurred for the above situations; the referee will try to return the balls to their original positions. (The referee’s decision on placement of the
ball(s) is final.)

The referee will prevent any unauthorised marking of the table. A player may not use a block of chalk or other foreign matter as a marker for a shot. It is not a foul to place your chalk on the table while in control, but it should be removed before the opponent addresses the table.

Bylaw 1: Tenerife 8Ball Bylaw; Chalk on the table is not deemed inappropriate by the league as a pub league.

Ball on Edge of Pocket

(a) If a ball falls into a pocket without being hit by another ball - after being motionless for five seconds or longer - and being no part of any stroke in progress, it shall be replaced and play shall continue.

(b) If a ball falls into a pocket ‘by itself’ during a shot, so that it would have been hit by another ball had that ball still been there, all balls are to be replaced to their positions prior to the stroke. The player may then replay his/her shot, or choose a different shot if he/she wishes.

(c) If a ball balances momentarily on the edge of a pocket and then falls in; it shall count as in the pocket and not be replaced.

This rule applies to any shot where the cue ball's first contact with a ball is with one that is frozen to a cushion. After the cue ball makes contact with the frozen object ball, the shot must result in either:

(a) A ball being pocketed or;
(b) The cue ball contacting a cushion or;
(c) The frozen ball being caused to contact a cushion attached to a separate rail or;
(d) Another object ball being caused to contact a cushion with which it was not already in contact.

Failure to satisfy one of those four requirements is a foul.

A ball which is touching a cushion at the start of a shot and then is forced into a cushion attached to the same rail is not considered to have been driven to that cushion unless it leaves the cushion, contacts another ball, and then contacts the cushion again.

An object ball is not considered frozen to a cushion unless it is examined and announced as such by either the referee or one of the players prior to that object ball being involved in a shot.

Should any situation arise whereby a legal shot cannot be played, whether this situation is arrived at by accident or design, the frame shall be restarted.

The game is completed when the blackball is potted during a legal shot and all the remaining balls including the cue ball have come to rest or in a loss of frame
situation.

FOULS

Fouls are to be called by the referee as soon as they occur and the fouled player immediately loses control of the table. The referee then awards a free shot to the opponent.

Any foul is punishable by losing control of the table and the award to your opponent of one free shot plus one visit.

Potting the cue ball - ‘in-off’ (also from the break).

Following an ‘in-off’, the player or referee may recover the cue ball from the basket.

Playing from outside baulk when obliged to play from baulk.

The Referee may only recover the ball from the table . The centre point of the cue ball must be in baulk.

Potting an opponent’s ball without potting a ball from your own group except when the table is open following a foul.

Failing to perform a legal shot.

Legal Shot
On all shots, the player must:

(a) Cause the cue ball’s initial contact with a ball to be a ball ‘on’, and then pot a ball ‘on’, except where 6b applies OR
(b) Cause the cue ball or any object ball to contact a cushion. Failure to play a legal shot is a foul except when rule 5g applies.

A jump shot is a foul - causing the cue ball to jump over any ball. (If the cue ball leaves the bed of the table and misses an object ball that would have been struck had the cue ball not left the table on an otherwise identical shot, the cue ball is deemed to have jumped over that object ball).

A push stroke is a foul – defined as when the tip of the cue remains in contact with the cue ball once it has commenced its forward motion.

A player is in a snooker when it is impossible to hit any part of any ball ‘on’ by way of a straight line shot. In this situation the player need only cause the cue ball to contact a ball ‘on’, to execute a legal shot.

A player does not have to pot a ball or cause the cue ball or another ball to contact a cushion once he has escaped from the snooker.

The player should seek confirmation from the referee or other tournament/league official if needed.

Playing a shot before all balls have come to rest from the previous shot.

All balls off the bed of the table must be re-spotted before play can legally begin again.

Playing out of turn.

Causing the cue tip to contact the cue ball more than once in the same shot.

When, during a shot, the tip of the cue strikes the cue ball twice and the referee is able to clearly see or hear each contact.

Playing a shot while not having at least one foot touching the floor.

A player must have at least one foot on the floor except were special needs apply (i.e. physical disability or other special needs.)

Players body or part thereof, clothing, jewellery or any accessory or part of a cue touching any ball.   This will be at the discretion of the referee.

A player is responsible for any equipment that they bring to the table other than those supplied. Should the end fall off a rest or spider that has been supplied, and contact a ball on the table, this will not be a foul as the player should not suffer any penalty because of faulty equipment.

PENALTY AFTER A FOUL

Following any foul the offending player loses his/her next visit to the table, and his/her opponent is entitled to a free shot plus one visit.

In blackball you cannot be foul snookered or foul jaw snookered. After a foul the table is deemed an ‘open’ table on the free shot only.

On the first shot only, of his/her free shot, the oncoming player may, without nomination, play the cue ball onto any ball(s) without penalty.

The free shot: (After a foul)

(a) The player can play or pot any of the opponent’s ball(s). (The table is deemed open for the free shot only.)
(b) The player can play a combination shot by playing their opponent’s ball(s) and pot his/her own group of balls or play his/her ball ‘on’ and pot his/her opponent’s ball(s).
(c) The player can play the blackball and pot his/her opponent’s ball(s) or pot a ball(s) of his/her own group of balls.
(d) The blackball may be played but not potted unless it is ball ‘on’ (rule 4j applies).

 

Following any foul, the cue ball may be returned to baulk or played from where it lies on the bed of the table and proceed as rule 6(a) and 6(b).

The player has the option of playing the cue ball from baulk. Moving the cue ball in this manner does not count as a shot or visit.   The referee should be requested to move the white ball from the table to baulk as this does not count as a shot or visit  (refer to rule 7d).

LOSS OF FRAME FOULS

Committing a foul in the same shot that the blackball is potted.

Potting the blackball when a ball(s) of the player’s own group are still on the table.

A player who clearly and intentionally plays a ball not ‘on’ will have committed a deliberate foul resulting in loss of frame.

A player who clearly and intentionally fails to make an attempt to play a ball(s) of his/her own group will lose the frame.

This is under the discretion of the referee .

The referee is the only person who can deliberately touch any ball on the bed of the table, including the cue ball after a foul. (If a referee is not available then the player must ask his/her opponent to pick up the cue ball from any position on the bed of the table.)

If the cue ball is in the progress of going ‘in-off’ and the player catches the cue ball, preventing it from going into the pocket and through the table mechanism, then it is LOSS OF FRAME.

Deliberately interfering, by word or action, so as to disrupt an opponent’s play.

GENERAL TOURNAMENT AND LEAGUE GUIDELINES

Players have 60 seconds to play a shot, including the break shot or a shot with ‘ball in hand’. The referee starts timing when all balls come to rest from the previous shot ( but see below, recovering an ‘in-off’ cue ball ).

If a player has not played within 60 seconds it is a foul. If 30 seconds elapse before a player has played a shot, the referee announces “thirty seconds”. The call must be made the instant that time has elapsed and not postponed because a player is about to play a shot. The referee may recover the cue ball from the basket if a player is slow in doing so. The referee will hand the ball to the player in control. As soon as the cue ball is handed over, or the player recovers the ball, the referee starts timing. The player has 60 seconds to play a shot.

A ‘Time Out’ is called for the following reasons ….

(a) Player requests a rest or bridge.
(b) Something or someone is obstructing the player.
(c) There is a ‘touching ball’ decision.

Byelaw 2: Tenerife 8Ball byelaw; This rule is not used instead refer to rule 8f which is the adopted rule for time in the Tenerife 8Ball League.

If the player breaches the ‘Spirit of the Game’ to such an extent that the frame (or match) should be awarded to the opponent.

GUIDELINES ON UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

(a) Foul language;
(b) Player throwing his/her cue around or unscrewing it as if to concede.
(c) Arguing with an opponent, spectator or referee.
(d) Continuously disagreeing with the referee’s decision and/or ruling.
(e) Interfering while your opponent is playing his/her shot.
(f) At the end of your visit not moving away from the table and out of your opponents way, will be considered unsportsmanlike behaviour.

During a frame, a player is required to play without receiving any advice from other persons relating to the playing of the frame. If, in the opinion of the referee, the outcome of the frame has been compromised, the referee may decide to award the frame to the opponent.

If a player needs to leave the playing area during a match, the player must have the referees’ permission. A player must never leave the playing area during a frame unless exceptional circumstances apply.

A referee may, if requested, advise on the rules of the game.

When asked for a clarification of a rule, the referee will explain the applicable rule to the best of his ability. The referee must not offer or provide any subjective
opinion that would affect play, such as whether a legal shot can be played on a prospective shot. The referee will not be held responsible for incorrect information as   it is the players’ duty to know the rules of the game.

The referee ensures excessive time is not taken on a shot. This will be in accordance with local competition rules and guidance and is necessary when an event doesn’t apply the ‘time rule’ described in rule 8a.

The balls are RE-RACKED with nine balls following slow or negative play. Rack fifteen balls as normal. Remove the ball at the apex and the back five. Players must lag to determine who breaks.

In doubles matches once a player has approached the table, conversation with others including the partner, is unsporting and shall be dealt with under competition rules (refer to rule 8b).