2.1 TOURNAMENT
OFFICIALS/REFEREES
Where these rules refer to a "referee," it should be noted
that the referees' prerogatives and discretion also pertain to other
tournament officials as appropriate.
2.2 REFEREE'S
AUTHORITY
The referee will maintain order and enforce the rules of the game. The
referee is the final judge in all matters of fact, and is in complete
charge of the match. The referee may consult other tournament officials
for rule interpretations, ball positions, etc. However, all matters of
judgement are his and his alone; they cannot be appealed to higher
tournament authority by players; only if the referee is in error on a
rule or its application may higher tournament authority overrule him.
2.3 REFEREE'S
RESPONSIVENESS
The referee shall be totally responsive to players' inquiries regarding
objective data, such as whether a ball will be in the rack, if a ball is
in the kitchen, what the count is, how many points are needed for a
victory, if a player or his opponent is on a foul, what rule would apply
if a certain shot is made, etc. When asked for a clarification of a
rule, the referee will explain the applicable rule to the best of his
ability, but any misstatement by the referee will not protect a player
from enforcement of the actual rules. The referee must not offer or
provide any subjective opinion that would affect play, such as whether a
good hit can be made on a prospective shot, whether a combination can be
made, or how the table seems to be playing, etc.
2.4 FINAL
TOURNAMENT AUTHORITY
Though these rules attempt to cover the vast majority of situations that
arise in competition, there still may be the occasional need for
interpretation of the rules and their proper application under unusual
circumstances. The Tournament Director or other official who assumes
final responsibility for a tournament will make any such required
decision (other than referee's judgement calls) at his discretion, and
they shall be final.
2.5 WAGERING BY
REFEREES
Referees are strictly prohibited from any wagering of any kind involving
the games, players or tournament in any way. Any such wagering by a
referee (or other tournament official) shall result in his immediate
dismissal and the forfeiture of his entire financial compensation for
the tournament.
2.6 EQUIPMENT
PREPARATION
In general, the referee will clean or have the table and balls cleaned
as necessary. He will ensure that chalk, powder and mechanical bridges
are available. He will mark or have marked, the spots, the head string,
the long string and the outer edge of the triangle, directly on the
playing surface, when required by specific game rules.
Question: Since I cannot remember when a
referee last had to mark a table (you did back in 1991 I would like to
recall), and also since the marking of the tables already has been
covered for in the rules, I would therefore suggest the following: He
will check that the table is sufficiently marked for the discipline to
be played.
2.7 RACKING
After the referee has racked the balls for a game, the player may
examine the balls as racked but the referee shall be the sole authority
regarding the suitability of the rack for play.
2.8 CALLING
SHOTS
If a referee incorrectly calls a shot, where required by specific game
rules, a player should correct him before completing the shot. If an
incorrect call does occur for any reason, the shot shall be credited if,
in the judgement of the referee, the player did legally execute the shot
as intended.
2.9 CALLING
FOULS
The referee will call fouls as soon as possible after they occur. No
further play may occur until a decision regarding a foul has been
rendered and both players informed. If the offending player continues to
shoot after a foul is called, the referee may consider the action to be
unsportsmanlike conduct, and the offending player loses the game (or
fifteen (15) points if playing 14.1 Continuous). The referee shall
inform the incoming player of ball-in-hand where specific game rules
apply and should pick up the cue ball and hand it to the incoming
player. The referee may announce "Ball-in-hand."
2.10 SPLIT HITS
When the referee observes that 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 will go in
favor of the shooter.
2.11 CLEARING
POCKETS
On tables, which do not have ball return systems, the referee will
remove pocketed object balls from full or nearly full pockets. It is the
player's responsibility to see that this duty is performed; he has no
recourse if a ball rebounds from a full pocket.
2.12 CLEANING
BALLS
During a game a player may ask the referee to clean one or more balls.
The referee will clean any visibly soiled ball.
2.13 SPOTTING
BALLS
To avoid any unnecessary guidance to a player when spotting balls, the
referee should position each ball so that the number is facing upward.
2.14 SOLICITING
INFORMATION
If the referee does not have a clear view of a possible foul, he may
form his decision by any means by which he feels comfortable.
2.15
INAPPROPRIATE USE OF EQUIPMENT
The referee should be alert for a player using equipment or accessory
items for purposes or in a manner other than those for which the items
were intended, or for the use of illegal equipment, as defined under
"equipment specifications." Generally, no penalty is applied.
However, should a player persist in such activity or use of equipment,
after having been advised that such activity or use is not permissible,
the referee or other tournament official may take action against him as
appropriate under the provisions of "Unsportsmanlike Conduct."
2.16 MANDATORY
WARNINGS.
The referee must warn a player who is about to commit a serious foul
(such as three consecutive fouls, requesting coaching assistance, or
failure to stop shooting after a foul has been called) whenever the
referee has been given enough time to do so; otherwise, any foul is
considered to be a standard foul (except as specially noted). For
instance, in games where the rule applies the referee must inform a
player who has had two (2) consecutive fouls; otherwise, the player is
considered to have had only one foul prior to the shot. The referee must
inform a player when an object ball is touching a rail; otherwise, any
contact on that ball is considered to have driven that ball to the rail.
The referee should notify the player as soon as the corresponding
situation arises and whenever enough time was given to issue the
warning. A warning issued just as a stroke occurs or is about to occur
is not considered sufficient time for the shooter to react, and the
warning will be considered not to have been issued.
2.17 RESTORING A
POSITION
When necessary for balls to be restored or cleaned, the referee will
restore disturbed balls to their original positions to the best of his
ability. The players must accept the referee's judgment as to placement.
The referee may ask for information for this purpose from whatever
source deemed appropriate.
Question: Here I have only changed
"the referees judgement" to "the referee's
judgment".
2.18 OUTSIDE
INTERFERENCE
When outside interference occurs during a shot that has an effect on the
outcome of that shot, the referee will restore the balls to the
positions they had before the shot, and the shot will be replayed. If
the interference had no effect on the shot, the referee will restore the
disturbed balls and play will continue. If the balls cannot be restored
to their original positions, the game should be replayed with the
original player breaking.
2.19 ILLEGALLY
CAUSING BALL TO MOVE
Any player who, in the referee's judgment, intentionally causes a ball
to move by any illegal means (pushing on bed cloth, bumping or slapping
table, etc.) will lose the game and/or match by forfeit. No preliminary
warning from the referee is required. (Referee's judgment and discretion
under "Unsportsmanlike Conduct.")
2.20 JUDGING
DOUBLE HITS
When the distance between the cue ball and the object ball is less than
the width of a chalk cube, special attention from the referee is
required. In such a situation, unless the referee can positively
determine a legal shot has been performed, the following guidance may
apply: if the cue ball follows through the object ball more than 1/2
ball, it is a foul.
2.21 OUT OF HEAD
STRING WARNING
When player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string, the referee
shall warn him before he shoots if he has placed the cue ball on or
within 1/2 ball width outside of the head string. If the player then
shoots from on or within the specified distance outside the string the
stroke is a foul. If the shooter places the cue ball outside of the head
string beyond the specified limit, no warning is required and the stroke
is a foul.
2.22 REMAINING
IN PLAYER'S CHAIR
Players are to remain in the chair designated for their use while
opponent is at the table. Should a player need to leave the playing area
during matches, he must request and receive permission from the referee.
Should a player leave the playing area without the permission of the
referee, it will be a concession and loss of game (or fifteen (15)
points if playing 14.1 Continuous). The referee shall apply his good
judgment to ensure that undue time is not being used or that a player is
not abusing the privilege as a means of unsettling an opponent.
2.23 OUTSIDE
ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED
Unless specifically permitted by the rules of a given tournament,
players may not knowingly accept any form of playing advice during a
match. A player may not engage in communication, either verbal or
nonverbal, with persons other than the tournament officials or his
opponent during play, or during time-outs. Should a player desire to so
communicate, for example to obtain a beverage, get a piece of equipment,
etc., he should either communicate through a tournament official or with
the approval and observance of the referee.
If the referee has reason to believe that
a player knowingly solicited or accepted outside assistance in any
manner regarding the play of a game or match, he shall take steps
appropriate under the provisions of "Unsportsmanlike Conduct."
In team or doubles play, communication
rules may be altered by the appropriate organization as provided for
under "Administrative Discretion."
2.24 NON-PLAYER
INTERFERENCE OR HARASSMENT
If a non-player by any means interferes with either or both players, the
referee should request the offending non-player or players be removed
from the playing area for the duration of the match.
Question: I do not understand why the
players eventually should be removed from the playing area for the
duration of the match? May I suggest that after the first mentioning of
"non-player" you will add in brackets (such as a spectator or
a coach, etc.), and that you will write "non-player(s)" the
second time when the word is used?
2.25 PROTESTS
A player may request a rule interpretation or protest a failure to call
a foul to the referee or appropriate tournament authority, but the
request or protest must be made immediately and prior to any subsequent
shot being taken, or it cannot be considered or honored. If the player
fails to do so, the foul is considered not to have occurred. The referee
is the final judge on all matters of fact. If either player thinks the
referee is applying the rules incorrectly or has made an interpretation
incorrectly, the referee must take the protest to the tournament
director or an appointed substitute. The tournament director or his
appointed substitute's interpretation of the rules is final. Play will
be suspended until the protest is resolved.
All players must honor an opponent's
request that play be halted if an official is to be summoned or if a
referee is to check or verify a rule question with other officials.
Failure to honor such requests may result in disqualification or
forfeiture of the game or match under the provisions of "Unsportsmanlike
Conduct."
2.26 SUSPENDING
PLAY
The referee has the authority to suspend play during protests by players
and whenever he feels that conditions are unsuitable for play to
continue. If a spectator is interfering with the game, play may be
suspended until that spectator is removed from area.
2.27
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
The referee has the right and obligation to ensure that no player
engages in any activity which, in his judgment, is unsportsmanlike in
nature, embarrassing, disruptive or detrimental to other players,
tournament officials or hosts, or the sport in general. The referee or
other officials shall have the right to penalize or disqualify, with or
without warning, any player who acts in an unsportsmanlike manner.
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