PLAYER INFORMATION
Player Responsibility
It is the player’s responsibility to be aware of all rules, regulations and schedules applying to competition. While tournament officials will make every reasonable effort to have such information readily available to all players as appropriate, the ultimate responsibility rests with the player.
Administrative Discretion
The NWPA reserves the right to set forth rules and procedures appropriate and reasonable for a particular tournament such as may regard player dress requirements, method of receiving entry fees, refund policies, scheduling flexibility, practice procedures, match races, etc.
Mandatory Players Meeting
All players must attend the mandatory players meeting at 9:30am the Saturday of each event they enter. Role call will be taken at the beginning of the meeting. Any player not in attendance during role call may be docked NWPA tour standing points.
Match Start Times
A player must be ready to begin a match within 15 minutes from the time that match is announced by the Tournament Director (or appointed assistants) or the opponent wins by forfeit. The NWPA/Tournament Director will not be held responsible for estimating or posting timelines for upcoming matches during tournament play. It is the sole responsibility of the player to plan accordingly and be present when their match is called. If a player decides to leave the tournament room for any reason, they do so at their own risk and are still held responsible for reporting for their match within the required 15-minute timeline.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
The referee has the right and obligation to ensure that no player engages in any activity which, in his/her judgement, is unsportsmanlike in nature, embarrassing, disruptive or detrimental to other players, tournament officials or hosts, or to the sport in general. The referee or other officials have the right to penalize or disqualify, with or without warning, any player who conducts herself in an unsportsmanlike manner. Board members who witness unsportsmanlike conduct may report these incidents to the officials and the rest of the board. At that time, witness interviews on both sides of the incident will be conducted. The board will then vote on whether disciplinary action should be taken against the offending player(s). Some examples of unsportsmanlike behavior include the use of foul language, singing/whistling, excessive moving around/getting up and down, arguing, coaching and breaking down one’s cue or conceding a game prior to the opponent pocketing the final game winning ball.
1. For the first offense, the player will be given a warning and it will be documented. The player must sign the documentation of the offense before they can play in another event. A year-long probationary period will be instituted at that point.
2. For the second offense within a 12-month period, the player will be docked 50 points from their overall point total. If the player does not have 50 points, their point total will be reduced to zero. The offending player will also be levied a fine of $50.00. The offense will be documented. The offending player must pay the fine and sign the documentation before they can play in another event.
3. For the third offense within a 12-month period, the player will be escorted from the playing arena. The player will be suspended from the NWPA tour for a period of one year and will be fined $100.00. This fine must be paid in full before the player is able to play on the NWPA tour again. The suspension will be docketed and signed by the player. Once the offending player returns to the tour, she will be on probation for one year from the date of return (i.e., a single offense during the probationary period will be treated as a third offense).
4. Further offenses may result in more fines and suspensions.
Protests
Match play disputes – A player may request a rule interpretation or protest a failure to call a foul to the referee or appropriate tournament authority; however, the request or protest must be made immediately, prior to any subsequent shot being taken or it shall not be reviewed. Play must be suspended until the protest is resolved. Continuing play after one’s opponent has requested a protest, may result in disqualification or forfeiture of match under the provisions of “unsportsmanlike conduct.” The referee may at anytime, at their discretion, consult an outside party as an impartial observer of the conflict in order to resolve the dispute.
Major disputes – A player may formally protest unsportsmanlike actions by, or disputes with, another player. In order to do so, the filing player must adhere to the following procedure:
1. Contact NWPA through email - playnwpa@gmail.com
2. The NWPA will schedule a special meeting to review the situation. All players involved in the dispute will be asked to attend and will have the opportunity to speak. If one of the involved parties does not attend, they forfeit their right to speak on their behalf and must accept the NWPA’s decision.
General Rules of Etiquette
Whenever possible, players must be seated while their opponent is shooting. Any movement by the seated player perceived by the shooter while addressing or shooting the final game ball will result in a game added to the non-offending player’s score. No sharking is tolerated. At any time during a match, intentional sharking behavior occurs by a player, the shooting player may call a referee or tournament official to the table to complain. The referee or tournament official has the right to warn and/or penalize the offending player with loss of game or disqualification from the tournament under the provisions of unsportsmanlike behavior.
Concession of Games
At no time should a player concede a game, even in the event of ball in hand. If a player concedes, her opponent gains a game. If a player concedes a second time, she loses the match. Additional fines and/or penalties may be levied on the offending player for subsequent concessions. If a player attempts to unscrew a cue stick while the opponent is at the table, it will be considered a concession of the match. No warning from the referee is required in the case of this concession. If a player needs to break down a cue to change shafts, etc., she must first notify her opponent and do so between games.
Obscene Language
Obscene language is strongly prohibited. Continued use of obscenities during or immediately following a match could result in a foul, loss of game or match, or disqualification from the tournament under the provisions of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Outside Assistance Prohibited
No coaching is allowed during NWPA events. Unless specifically permitted by the rules of a specific event, players may not knowingly accept any form of playing advice during a match. A player may not engage in communication – verbal or non-verbal – with anyone other than the tournament officials or her opponent during a match. Conversation with spectators is not allowed during play except in the context of showmanship. Spectators may not be called upon to witness a hit, make a call or lend advice at any time during a match. Note: Failure to comply with these rules may constitute a foul or unsportsmanlike behavior.
Outside Interference
Should a spectator distract a player during a match, the player should not approach the spectator but should ask the referee or tournament director to advise the spectator of their distracting behavior. If the behavior continues, only the Tournament Director and/or host have the authority to remove the spectator from the arena.
Phone Usage
Phones can be used for scoring with digital pool however absolutely no excessive phone usage is allowed by players actively participating in a match. Cell phones must be turned off or muted during matches. In the event that a player is in an “emergency situation” where it is imperative that they be reached, they must make arrangements to have someone not on the tournament floor answer the call for them.
Smoking and Drinking of Alcoholic Beverages
Smoking during a match is not allowed. Players may do so only in between matches and on their breaks. Alcoholic beverages are allowed at the table. Visible signs of intoxication will be considered unsportsmanlike.
Equipment
Cue sticks must be within standard height (40″ minimum; no maximum), weight (no minimum; 25oz. maximum) and caliber (9mm minimum; 14mm maximum). The cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball. The cue tip on any stick must be composed of a piece of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable material that extends the natural line of the shaft end of the cue and contacts the cue ball when the shot is executed. The ferrule, if metal, may not be more than 1″ in length.
It is the responsibility of the player to bring non-traditional equipment to the attention of the tournament director and/or NWPA Board before using such equipment in competition. If there are no set guidelines already in place regarding the use of a specific piece of equipment, the NWPA Board may disallow its use until a ruling can be made. The NWPA Board is allowed no more than 45 days for such a ruling to take place, during which time, the equipment in question may not be used. If, after 45 days, no decision has been reached by the NWPA Board, the equipment in question may be used until a final ruling is made.
Listening Devices
Wearing of listening devices while playing a match is prohibited during NWPA events unless required for medical reasons. Please reach out to NWPA by email before the event to discuss.
Scoring
Players are given a flip chart, score sheet and can use digital pool for scoring games during their match. Each player is responsible for marking their own wins on their designated side of the flip chart as well as marking their wins on the score sheet. Upon completion of the match, both players must review and sign the score sheet. The winner takes the score sheet and name plates from the table to the Tournament Director’s “score sheet inbox”. Note: In the event of a scoring discrepancy, the score sheet takes precedence over the flip chart. It is imperative that both players continuously update the sheet on their own behalf appropriately.
Calling in a Referee
It is the responsibility of the non-shooting player to call a referee before any controversial shot is attempted. The non-shooting player must notify the shooting player that they are calling the referee. The shooting player must wait for the referee to arrive before attempting the shot. The referee’s decision is final.
Five-Minute Timeout
Players are allowed one five-minute timeout during each match. A timeout may only be taken between racks. If the player not calling the timeout chooses to continue play, a referee must first be called to rack and watch the game. If the player not calling the timeout chooses to discontinue play but also leaves the arena, she must return immediately upon her opponent’s return or will also be charged a five-minute timeout. The player not calling the timeout may hit balls for practice on the game table but not on a different table.
Shot Clock Procedures
1. During regular play, there is normally no time limit for you to take a shot. However, a tournament official may implement a shot clock if they judge that you are delaying a match unnecessarily or in an unsportsmanlike manner, or if event officials require that any match proceed at a faster pace. Even if the players had no culpability at all. Consistently exceeding 45 seconds per shot would be considered slow play.
The Tournament Director has the authority to place any match on a shot clock at any time during the match.
The finals will have a shot clock implemented.
2. You may call a referee if you believe your opponent is deliberately or consistently playing at an abnormally slow pace. If, after a reasonable period of observation, the referee judges that slow play is occurring, they will warn the offending player. After the warning, if the referee judges that the pace of play remains abnormally slow, they will place the match on a 30-second shot clock. See below for Applied Ruling.
3. If a shot clock is used, it always applies to all players at that table. Shot clock procedures follow:
a. During a player’s inning, the shot clock starts when the previous shot ends and runs for 30 seconds. The clock begins when all moving or spinning balls have come to rest. If a player has ball in hand, the shot clock starts when the player has possession of the table and any spotting of balls or racking is finished.
b. If the shooter is not already down on the shot when ten seconds remain on the shot clock, the player will receive a ten second warning from the referee (announced as “ten” or “time”). If the player does not then strike the cue ball within ten seconds, it is a shot clock violation.
c. If the shooter is already down on the shot with ten seconds remaining, no announcement is made. The shot clock will pause at ten seconds and the player may exceed the 30- second limit provided they do not stand up off the shot. However, if the player stands up off the shot, the referee will immediately announce “ten/time”, and the shot clock will resume. If the player does not strike the cue ball within ten seconds, it is a shot clock violation.
d. For timing purposes, “down on the shot” means the player is in a customary shooting position as it relates to their bridge hand and grip of the cue, or, if using a mechanical bridge, the bridge has been placed for the shot and the cue placed in the bridge’s groove with the player’s grip hand on the cue.
e. Each player is permitted one 30-second extension per rack. If both players are on the hill, each player is permitted two 30-second extensions. To use an extension, the player must verbally announce “extension” to the referee. The referee will then respond with “extension” or “yes”, or if the player has no extension remaining, “extension not allowed”. For extensions, procedures with ten seconds remaining are the same as for other shots. An extension can be asked for at any time during the shot.
f. When time is paused due to being down on the shot passed the 20 second mark and the player then stands up off the shot, and if an extension is called for, the time spent passed the warning mark is forfeited and removed from the extension. No shot can exceed 60 seconds regardless of the use of an extension.
g. A shot clock violation is a foul and results in a ball in hand for the opponent. It also counts towards a three foul violation in the event that the game rules allow for that consequence.
h. The shot clock does not apply to the break.
i. The clock will be paused for any interference or equipment change, and resume only when the shooter has regained their original position. This is a judgement made by the clock operator and cannot be challenged. Pauses include but are not limited to the following:
Outside interference by players on other tables
Rules question/interpretation
Referee to watch shot (once referee is in position, clock resumes)
Jump cue
Bridge
Flash bulb/Spectator interference
Spotting balls
Outgoing shooter still in playing area
The incoming player will be given the benefit of the doubt as to when they are able to address the table without interference or after any equipment change. All attempts will be made to accommodate the shooter as far as this list goes, but the referee will restart the clock when they decide the shooter no longer is impeded in any way.
Applied Ruling:
The shot clock procedures for all play are designed to ensure accelerated play if the Tournament Director deems it necessary. Tournament officials will observe matches and provide advice to the Tournament Director, but they will not normally place a match on a shot clock on their own unless they have judged that a player is delaying a match in an obvious unsportsmanlike manner, or that a match is running so long as to cause the tournament to be delayed.
Experience clearly shows that complaints from players are most always the result of a clash of styles between a speedy player and a deliberate player, which does not justify placing a match on a shot clock. Historically, when referees observe a player that is accused of playing slowly, it is rare for the average shot time of the “slow” player to exceed the acceptable amount. The tournament officials will be observing the speed of play on all tables to the best of their ability and will use all information available to judge whether to place a match on a clock.
You are not encouraged to pursue relief from a tournament official unless circumstances are severe.