BCAPL 9-Ball Rules

Nine-ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. For each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table but the balls need not be pocketed in numerical order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, she remains at the table for another shot and continues until missing, committing a foul or winning the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player but after any foul, the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to call any shot. A match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games.

9 ball rack

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape with the 1-ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string. The winner of the lag breaks first. Her opponent racks. Alternating breaks thereafter. When a player racks for their opponent, the opponent has the right to inspect the rack and to request a re-rack. At no time should the player inspecting a rack touch a ball or the rack. The player inspecting the rack may request a re-rack twice each game. If a satisfactory rack is not achieved after the second rack, a referee or tournament official must be called in to rack the balls. The breaker must accept that rack.

Order of Play

The order of play is determined by lag. The player’s ball arriving closest to the head rail without scratching, striking the foot cushion more than once or resting inside a pocket wins the option to break or to have the opponent break. Players alternate breaks thereafter.

Break Requirements

The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except:

• The breaker must strike the one-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail.

• If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break (as stated in #1) are not met, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option to shot with cue ball in hand anywhere on the table or to break.

• If, on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option to shot with cue ball in hand anywhere on the table or to break. The object ball is not spotted (unless it is the 9-ball).

Continuing Play

For the shot immediately following the break, the shooter may play a “push out” (see push out rule below). If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, she continues to shoot until she misses, fouls or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins an inning and shoots until missing, committing a foul or winning. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot or the game is forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.

Push Out or Roll Out

For the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a “push out” or “roll out“ in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. During a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball or any rail but all other fouls still apply. The player must announce her intention of playing a push out prior to the shot and receive acknowledgement from her opponent, otherwise the shot will be considered a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed unless it is the 9-ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rule is violated (other than the “bad hit” and “no rail” rules). An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. After a player scratches on the break shot, the incoming player cannot play a push out.

Fouls

When a player commits a foul, she must relinquish her run at the table. No balls pocketed during the foul shot are spotted unless the 9-ball was pocketed. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand. Prior to her first shot, she may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. The player may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until she takes the shot. If the end of the cue tip (not the ferrule) touches the cue ball during adjustment, it is considered a foul. If the cue ball touches any object ball during placement, it is a foul. If a player commits several fouls during one shot, only one foul is counted.

If an incoming player wants to confirm that a foul was committed prior to picking up the cue ball, the player who committed the foul must acknowledge that a foul was committed. If there is a dispute over whether or not a foul was committed, a referee or tournament official should be called in immediately.

Bad Hit

If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul.

No Rail

If no object ball is pocketed during a shot, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball is a foul.

Frozen Object Ball

When the intended object ball is frozen to a rail and the player fails to pocket a ball, drive the cue ball to a rail or drive the object ball to another rail, it is a foul. For this rule to be in effect, the non-shooting player must declare the object ball to be frozen and the shooting player must acknowledge prior to the execution of the shot.

Balls Jumped off the Table

A ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest anywhere other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive a ball off the table. Object balls driven off the table are not spotted. Only the 9-ball is spotted.

Jump/Massé Shot Foul

If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a foul if, during an attempt to jump, curve or massé the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by hand, cue stick or bridge).

Three Consecutive Fouls

If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive shots, she loses the game. The three consecutive fouls must occur in the same game. In order for this rule to be in effect, the opponent must warn the offending player as soon as she has committed her second foul and the offending player must acknowledge the warning. It is considered unsportsmanlike conduct to inform a player that they are “on two” when they are down over the ball preparing to stroke. A player’s inning begins when it is legal to take a shot and ends when she misses, fouls or wins, or if she fouls between shots.

Illegal Marking/Measuring

Players are not allowed to mark the cushions, rails or table cloth with chalk marks, etc. Similarly, players are not allowed to use a ball, rack or any width-measuring device to see if the cue ball or an object ball will travel through a space between two balls, between a ball and cushion, etc. Doing so is a foul. Only the cue stick may be used as an aid to judge gaps, etc., provided the player not lay the cue on the table unattended. Chalk may be used to measure space between balls for the “double hit” rule but must be held and cannot touch either ball.

Catching Balls

During play, players may not catch, touch or in anyway deliberately interfere with a ball as it enters a pocket. To do so gives the opponent ball in hand.

Split Hits

If the cue ball strikes a legal object ball and a non-legal object ball at approximately the same instant and it cannot be determined which ball was hit first, the judgement goes in favor of the shooter unless the opponent called a referee to watch the hit prior to the execution of the shot.

Other Fouls

A foul is committed if:
• a player takes a shot without at least one foot on the floor at the moment the cue tip strikes the cue ball
• a shot is played while any ball is in motion (a spinning ball is in motion)
• a player strikes the cue ball below center (digs under it) and intentionally causes it to rise off the bed of the table in an effort to clear an obstruction ball
• the cue ball is frozen to an illegal object ball and that object ball is moved in the process of shooting
• the tip of the cue stick strikes the cue ball more than once during the execution of a shot or is still in contact with the cue ball when it strikes the object ball. Double hits occur when the cue ball and the object ball are less than a chalk’s width apart. To prevent a double hit, the shooter must jack up and/or shoot away from the center line. The cue ball must travel slower than the object ball after contact or it will be considered a foul. If the two balls are frozen, it is legal to stroke through them with extended contact.
• a player may not lay their cue on the table unattended

Shot Clock Usage

If, in the opinion of the referee, a player is impeding the progress of the tournament or match with consistently slow play, the referee can warn the player and then impose a 30-second shot clock that applies to both players. If the referee does impose a 30-second time limit and a player exceeds that limit, a foul will be called and the incoming player is rewarded ball in hand. The 30-second shot clock begins when all balls have stopped rolling and stops when the cue tip strikes the cue ball. The clocker will give a 10-second warning. No 10-second warning or foul will be called if a player is down on the ball stroking. If a player is down over a ball and then, rather than executing the shot, stands up again, the clocker will call the 10-second warning. The player must then complete the shot within 10 seconds or commit a foul. One 30-second extension is allowed per player, per game. The player must ask for an extension and be acknowledged by the clocker. Extensions will also be granted if a player from another table, announcements from the tournament director or host, or spectator actions cause interference with either the player or the clocker. Time resumes when the player can shoot without interference. The extension rule also applies when either player calls for a referee to watch a hit or make a ruling. Time resumes when the referee has made a decision or is in a position to observe the shot.

End of Game

A game starts as soon as the cue ball crosses over the head string on the opening break. The 1-ball must be legally contacted on the break shot. The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9-ball or when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul.