Summary

Nine Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and the cue ball.  On each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest-numbered ball on the table, but the balls do not need to be pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, they remain at the table for another shot, and continue until they miss, foul, or win the game by pocketing the nine ball.  After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after a foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere on the table.  Certain serious fouls are penalized by the loss of the game. Players are not required to call any shot.  A match ends when one of the teams has won the required number of games.

Beginning Play

2.1 ORDER OF PLAY
Order of play for each game is determined by whether the player is on the home or visiting team.  The home team breaks first and all odd numbered games while the visiting team will break all the even numbered games.

2.2 RACKING THE BALLS
Only the players involved in the game do racking. The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the one ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the nine ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in arbitrary order.  If the one ball is not touching both of the adjacent balls, the breaker may ask the opponent to re-rack the balls prior to the break.  The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.

Each player should give his or her best effort to provide a tight rack.  If the breaker feels they are not receiving a satisfactory rack, then they may opt to rack themselves with the opposing player allowed to inspect the rack.

2.3 BREAK SHOT
The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except that:

(a) If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, the incoming player has the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table and all the pocketed balls will stay down, except the nine ball-in this case it will be spotted.

(b) The breaker must attempt an open break; that is, they must attempt to pocket a ball or drive any 4 balls to a rail. (Including the cue ball) Failure to do either is a standard foul.

(c) If the shooter attempts an open break and the cue  ball crosses the head string but fails to contact the one ball first, this is considered a foul. The balls are re-racked and the incoming player may break or assign the break to his opponent.

(d) On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a push out. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball or rail, so the rules in section 3.2, 4.1, and 4.2 are suspended; but all other foul rules still apply. The player must announce his or her intention of playing a push out prior to executing the shot (The opposing player should acknowledge the calling of the push); otherwise the shot is considered a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and is spotted. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or 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 (except 3.2, 4.1, and 4.2) is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed.

Continuing Play

3.1 AFTER THE BREAK
If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, they continue to shoot until they miss, foul, or win the game.  If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins their inning and shoots until they miss, foul or win. The game ends when the nine ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.

3.2 BALL TO A RAIL
After contacting the lowest-numbered ball on the table first, any object ball or the cue ball must be driven to a rail or the shot is foul and incoming player has a ball in hand.

3.3 SAFETIES
A player may shoot a safety shot instead of attempting to pocket an object ball. A player does not have to call a safety.  A player loses their turn at the table after they have executed a safety.  If a player inadvertently pockets a ball during a safety, then his or her turn will continue.

3.4 WINNING
A player has won the game when they legally pocket the nine ball.

Standard Fouls

When a player commits a standard foul (see Standard Fouls in the General Rules section), they must relinquish their run at the table.  All balls pocketed on the foul will stay down except the nine ball, which is spotted.  The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot, he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table.  If a player fouls during another player's inning, the shooter is awarded ball in hand, and if the foul had an effect on the position of the balls, the opponent will restore the position if they desire. If a player commits several standard fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.

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

4.2 SPLIT HIT
If the cue ball strikes two object balls at the same instant it is a foul.  The lowest ball on the table must be the only object ball to be contacted first. Players may call in the captains or designated representative for both teams to watch close hits.

Note: The players competing will referee their games.  They are permitted to call in the captains for close  hits or clarification of the rules only.

5 General Rules - Standard Fouls

Scratch:  Pocketing the cue ball or driving it off of the table is a foul.

No Rail:  If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or some object ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball is a foul.

Foot:  Failure to have at least one foot in contact with the floor at the moment the cue tip contacts the cue ball is a foul.

Moving Ball:   Shooting while any ball is moving or spinning is a foul.

Push Shot:   When the cue ball is frozen to an object ball, you may shoot the ball in any direction with a level cue and it is a legal shot. If the two balls are not frozen, you must shoot away from the object ball or elevate your cue stick if shooting in the direction of the object ball.  If shooting in the direction of the object ball the action of the cue ball must slow up with reverse english after striking the object ball. (unless you masse the cue ball). This is a delicate shot and it is advised that others are called in to watch the shot.

Object Ball Touched   It is not a foul to accidentally touch ball prior to giving the non-shooter an option of placement.If such an accident occurs, the player should allow the non-shooting player to restore the object balls to their correct positions.  At the non-shooting players option, the disturbed balls will be left in their new positions. In this case, the balls are considered restored, and subsequent contact on them is not a foul.

If a ball set in motion as a normal part of the shot passes partly into a region originally occupied by the disturbed ball, the shot is a foul. In short, if the accident  has any effect on the outcome of the shot, it is a foul.

It is a foul to play another shot before the opponent has restored accidentally moved balls.

It is a foul to touch a moving ball or to allow that ball to hit any foreign object, such as a cube of chalk (the top of the rail is not considered a foreign object).

Rail Safety:   When an object ball is close to a rail but  not frozen, and players are taking turns softly tapping the object ball with the cue ball to the same rail, this is called a rail safety. The player who performed this shot first must make the cue ball hit any rail or make the object ball go to a different rail on his third attempt-or it is a foul.

Placement:   Touching any object ball with the cue ball while it is in hand is a foul.

Split Hit:   It is considered a bad hit and a foul since only the lowest numbered ball on the table should be touched first.

Object Ball:   Players may touch object balls only when restoration of accidentally moved balls occurred. Otherwise if a player intentionally touches an object ball it is a foul.

Cue Ball:   Except for ball-in-hand placement, if a player touches the cue ball with anything other than the chalked surface of his cue tip, they have fouled whether the cue ball moves or not. The player may place the cue ball (as in ball-in-hand) with anything other than the chalked surface of his cue tip.

Scoop Shot:   If a player plays a shot with extreme draw with the intention of miscuing to make the cue ball jump over some obstruction, they have fouled. (See jump shots)

Interference:   If the non-shooting player distracts his opponent or interferes with their play, they have fouled. If a player shoots out of turn, or moves any ball except during their inning, it is considered to be interference.

Devices:      Using any device in an uncustomary manner in lining up or executing a shot is a foul.

Practice:   Practice on match table while match is in progress is not allowed. Taking a shot that is not part of that game is a foul. Practice on a non-match table for players not involved in a match game is permitted. Practice table during the match are not a requirement of the league but if a room owner wishes to provide one then both teams should be allowed use of this table.

Ball off The Table:   While, during a shot, the cue ball or any object ball lands off the playing surface, it is a foul.

Serious Fouls

The following serious fouls are penalized by the loss of one game, if the opponent has warned the player prior to the foul. If the opponent fails to warn the player, any foul is penalized like a standard foul, except as noted.

3 Consecutive:   If a player fouls three times without making an intervening legal shot, they lose the game. The three fouls must occur in the same game. The warning must be given between the second and third foul. (It is recommended that notification is given immediately after the second foul while gaining acknowledgement from the opponent. If the warning is not given and the shooter commits the third foul, it is not loss of game and that shooter is back on two fouls. At this point the shooter must still be notified that they are on two fouls.

Assistance:   While a match is in progress, players are not allowed to ask spectators or teammates for assistance in planning or executing shots. If the player asks for and receives such information then it is loss of game.

Failure to leave table: If a player does not stop shooting as soon as the opponent has called a foul, they lose the game. The calling of the foul is considered the players warning.

Cue ball removal to avoid table disturbance:   Any attempt to remove any balls prior to them     coming to rest when their path of travel could affect the layout of the table is considered a serious foul and loss of game.

Concession:   If a player concedes, they lose the game. The unscrewing of a jointed cue stick, except to replace a shaft, is considered a concession. The player must notify their opponent prior to replacing a shaft. No warning is required in the case of a concession.

Other Situations and Interpretations

Team Foul:  Any coaching or communication which can lead to altering the play of a given game may result in a warning for the first occurrence, afterwards, this is a foul resulting in ball in hand.

Outside Interference:  When outside interference occurs during an shot that has an effect on the outcome of the shot, both players will restore the balls prior to the position of the shot and the shot is replayed. If the interference had no effect on the shot then both players will restore the balls and play will continue.

Settling Balls:  A ball may settle slightly after it appears to have stopped, possibly due to slight imperfections in the ball or the table. Unless this causes a ball to fall into a pocket, it is considered a normal hazard of play, and the ball will not be restored. If a ball falls into a pocket as the result of such settling, it is replaced as close as possible to its original position. If a ball falls into a pocket during or just prior to a shot, and has an effect on the shot, the players will restore the position and the shot will be replayed. Players are not penalized for shooting while a ball is settling.

Jump Shots:   It is legal to cause the cue ball to rise off the bed of the table by elevating the cue stick on the shot, and forcing the cue ball to rebound from the bed of the table. It is not legal to scoop under the cue ball with the intention of lifting the cue ball over an obstruction; this is a foul.

Waiving Rules:   The league commissioner may waive any rule prior to the start of the season or start of the playoffs.

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