BILLIARDS

Men’s, Women’s & Mixed will play on the same night for each division. If you have a male or female playing on both the Mixed and Men’s/Women’s team you run the risk of a forfeit.

Practice begins at 5:30 p.m. | Matches begin at 6:30 p.m. sharp.
All teams should arrive at the same time, table assignments will be made on site.

Check in Procedure

Athletes should check in each day at the registration table at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled competition.

Appropriate identification must be presented at the time of registration. 

Participation Points 

– A complete team will earn 30 participation points 

– Complete teams consist of six different people; men’s, women’s and mixed pairs. 

– Incomplete teams will earn one point for each participant 

– Teams will be awarded 2 medals per pair 

Substitution Information

– Substitutions (male for male and female for female) will be allowed prior to the START of the event

– No substitutions are allowed after a team’s first match has begun. Failure to continue play, whether due to injury, prior commitment, poor performance or other reason, will result in a forfeit of the match 

Uniforms 

– There is no uniform requirement, but we encourage that each company wear their Corporate Challenge shirt 

Governing Body 

The Billiard Congress of America (BCA) will govern play except as noted: 

EIGHT BALL RULES 

OBJECT OF GAME
The game is call shot (for men only) and is played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15. One team must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 (solid colors), while the other team has 9 through 15 (stripes). THE TEAM POCKETING THEIR GROUP FIRST AND THEN LEGALLY POCKETING THE 8 BALL WINS THE GAME. Women are not required to call shots. Only when shooting the 8-ball are women required to call the pocket.

DOUBLES
The billiards format will be ALTERNATE TURN (each player will shoot until they miss)

CALL SHOT (MEN ONLY)
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. Bank shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, and care should be taken in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket. When calling the shot it is never necessary to indicate details such as the number of cushions, banks, etc. Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to the shooter or opponent. The opening break is not a called shot.

OPENING BREAK
The break of the first game of each match is determined by the flip of a coin and the winner of the flip gets to break. During team competition, the break on each subsequent game is alternated between teams

OPEN TABLE (defined)
The table is “open” when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vise versa. Note: The table is always open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open it is legal to hit any solid or stripe or the 8-ball first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or solid.

8-BALL POCKETED ON BREAK
If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the shooter may ask for a re-rack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. If the shooter scratches while pocketing the 8-ball on the break, the incoming player has the option or a re-rack or having the 8-ball spotted and begin shooting with ball in hand behind the headstring.

LEGAL BREAK SHOT (defined)
To execute a legal break, the shooter (with the cue ball behind the headstring) must either (1) pocket a ball or (2) drive four numbered balls to the rail. If player fails to make a legal break, it is not a foul; however the opponent has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting or (2) having the balls re-racked and shooting the opening break or allowing the offending player to re-break. It is not necessary to hit the head ball (the ball that is on the foot spot) to initiate a legal break in 8-ball. 

SCRATCH ON A LEGAL BREAK
If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed except 8-ball which is spotted (2) it is a foul (3) the table is open.
Please NOTE: Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind headstring and may not shoot an object ball that is behind the headstring unless player shoots the cue ball to some point outside the headstring and then hits the object ball behind the headstring.

NO HEADSTRING FOUL
If the player places a cue ball in front of the headstring, the referee or opponent must ask the player to move the cue ball behind the headstring. No foul will be committed if the player complies with the request or no request was made. The base of the ball (the point of the ball touching the table) determines whether it is within or out of the headstring.
The base of the ball in relation to the headstring determines whether or not it is playable. Specifically, the base of the ball must be outside the headstring (toward the foot of the table) to be playable. Ask the referee for a decision if there is any doubt whether a ball is playable. 

LEGAL SHOT
On all shots (except on the break and when table is open) the shooter must hit one of his group of balls first and (1) pocket an object ball or (2) cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail.
Please NOTE: It is okay for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball, however, after contact with his object ball, an object ball must be pocketed OR the cue ball or any numbered ball must contact a rail. 

CHOICE OF GROUP
The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups. THE TABLE IS ALWAYS OPEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK SHOT. The choice of group is only determined when a player legally pockets an object ball after the break shot.

SAFETY SHOT
For tactical reasons a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue his turn at the table by declaring “safety” in advance. A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, he must declare a “safety” to his opponent. If this is not done, and one of the shooter’s object balls is pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot again. Any ball pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.

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 of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8-ball.

FOULS
The following infractions result in fouls

– Failure to execute a legal shot as defined above.

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

– A scratch shot on a legal break.

– Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor.

– In organized competition (league or tournament play), moving or touching any ball by means other than legal play is a foul.

– Shooting a jump shot over another ball by scooping the cue stick under the cue ball is illegal. A jump shot executed by striking the cue ball above center is legal. PLEASE NOTE: A player does not commit a foul when he accidentally miscues and causes the cue ball to jump above the surface of the table.

– In organized competition (league or tournament play) if a team member advises or coaches another team member who is the shooter at the time, it is a foul on the team member shooting.

FOUL PENALTY
Opposing player gets cue ball in hand. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (does not have to be behind the headstring except on opening break). This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls, which would put his opponent at a disadvantage. With “cue ball in hand,” the player may use his hand or any part of his cue (including the tip) to position the cue ball. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul if not a legal shot

COMBINATION SHOTS
Combination shots are allowed; however, the 8-ball cannot be used as a first ball in the combination except when the table is open.

ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS
An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when (1) that object ball is pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed or, (2) the called ball did not go in the designated pocket or (3) a safety is called prior to the shot. Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed. A ball pocketed on a safety shot results in loss of turn only

OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF TABLE
If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn unless it is the 8-ball, which is loss of game. Any jumped object balls are spotted.

SPOTTING BALLS
Whenever an object ball is to be spotted, the object ball is spotted on the long string as close to the foot spot as possible and shall be frozen to any interfering ball except the cue ball

BALL FROZEN TO CUSHION
When playing a shot where the object ball is frozen on a cushion, the cue ball must contact the frozen ball and then (1) pocket the frozen ball or any other object ball, or (2) drive the frozen object ball to another cushion, or (3) drive the cue ball or another object ball to any cushion. Failure to do so is a foul. When there is any doubt whether the object ball is frozen to a cushion the player should ask the referee for a ruling before shooting.

PLAYING THE 8-BALL
When playing the 8-ball, the shooting player should CLEARLY DESIGNATE by verbally calling or physically pointing to the intended pocket, even if it appears to be obvious. If the opposing player or the referee is still not aware of where the shooter intends to pocket the 8-ball, then he or she must ask the shooter which is the intended pocket, BEFORE THE PLAYER SHOOTS THE 8-BALL. IF the shooting player fails to call the 8-ball pocket, it is the responsibility of the OPPOSING PLAYER OR REFEREE to ask which is the intended pocket BEFORE THE PLAYER SHOOTS THE 8-BALL.

Please Note: IF THE SHOOTING PLAYER POCKETS THE 8-BALL WITHOUT DESIGNATING THE POCKET AND THE OPPOSING PLAYER OR REFEREE DID NOT QUESTION WHICH WAS THE INTENDED POCKET, THE SHOOTER WINS THE GAME.

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

– Fouls when pocketing the 8-ball.

– Pockets the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls.

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

– Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one designated.

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

– When shooting at the 8-ball, a scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table. Incoming player has ball in hand.

DISQUALIFICATION
The League of Tournament Director has the right to disqualify any player from competition and the player forfeits the right to any awards for un-sportsmanlike conduct or tactics detrimental to the tournament.

COACHING
No outside advice/coaching is permitted. If any outside advice/coaching is being offered, the game captain should be asked to require the spectator to step away from the table or leave the tournament area. Players may talk to one another. However, once an opponent has completed his turn, the opposing players may not talk among themselves until after they have completed their turn.

Scoring

Men’s | Mixed 

– Matches will be best 2 out of 3 games of eight ball 

Women’s 

– Each match will be best 2 out of 3 games in the winners bracket 

– The losers bracket will be 1 game of eight ball, with the exception of the bronze medal game 

– All medal matches will be best 2 out of 3 games of eight ball 

Winners should report results of match immediately upon completion of play 

Timing

– All matches will be limited to 50 minutes each.

– Participants will be expected to keep their own time. In the event of a tie (same number of balls on the table when time runs out), next made ball will result in victory.

Forfeit 

– In the winners bracket play if a team is late the coordinator will move to the next game with no penalty. If it is the last game of a round the missing team will be placed in the losers bracket. 

– If a team concedes a match or has started and ceases to play during an event, all prior wins or losses will still stand and any points earned will still be awarded 

– Ceasing to play in an event in this manner must be announced to the event coordinator 

NOTE: Men’s, Women’s & Mixed will play on the same night for each division. If you have a male or female playing on both the Mixed and Men’s/Women’s team, you run the risk of a forfeit.