Rules and Local Bye Laws
New Members
- Please fill out new membership form to ensure we have your correct information on file
BCAPL Membership Fees
- Membership fees are good for the full calendar year (January 1 – December 31). All players must submit payment for their $20.00 annual sanction fees by the second week (2nd) week of league play. Failure to do so may result in a match forfeit for any team with unsanctioned players. Players may check their membership status and membership ID number by going to www.playcsipool.com, under the “BCA Pool League” tab, click “Membership Lookup".
Weekly League Fees
- Weekly league fees of $40.00 or $ 48.00 per team each week and due upon matches played. The full amount of weekly league fees is owed even if there are absent players. Team Captains shall be responsible for payment. Missing payments for 3 consecutive weeks may lead to the suspension of that team's membership in the league and forfeiture of that team's right to any team or individual awards, prizes, prize money, or right to participate in the league playoffs.
Forfeit Bye
- Forfeit bye is a forfeit when a team drops out after the league starts it session. Then your team will pay full weekly dues for that forfeit and get 60 points.
Bye Week
- Bye weeks are a result of an uneven number of teams in the division. League fees will not be owed. The teams will be awarded the maximum number of 65 points.
Make Ups
- From time to time it is necessary to reschedule a match. Both team captains must agree to reschedule and the match must be played within 2 weeks. No make up matches will be allowed in the last 4 weeks of the session unless the match is played before the next scheduled league match.
Slow Play
- We encourage people to have fun and enjoy league play. Any complaints of players who are suspected of consistent and deliberate slow play may be placed on a 45-second shot clock at the League Operator’s discretion.
Sandbagging
- Mid Atlantic BCAPL will not tolerate "sandbagging" (playing at a skill level below a player's true ability to manipulate and gain an unfair advantage) of any kind. The League Operator reserves the right to manually adjust a new player's rating at any time if the player is suspected of purposefully playing below their rating. A player may be warned by the League Operator if they are suspected of sandbagging, and repeated offenses may result in suspension or expulsion from the league.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
- The guidelines for unsportsmanlike conduct are outlined in the Official Rules of the Cuesports International, Section AR 1-45 page 100. This includes, but is not limited to, actions that are embarrassing, disruptive, or detrimental to other players, spectators, event officials, or sport in general. In addition to the rules regarding sportsmanship as specified in The Official Rules of Cue Sports International, specific attention and scrutiny will be given to the following situations:
- The guidelines for unsportsmanlike conduct are outlined in the Official Rules of the Cuesports International, Section AR 1-45 page 100. This includes, but is not limited to, actions that are embarrassing, disruptive, or detrimental to other players, spectators, event officials, or sport in general. In addition to the rules regarding sportsmanship as specified in The Official Rules of Cue Sports International, specific attention and scrutiny will be given to the following situations:
- Failure to comply with league rules.
- Displays of anger or poor sportsmanship in general.
- Rating manipulation (sandbagging).
Suspending Teams from League Play
- Any team that forfeits two (2) consecutive weeks or any three (3) weeks in a league session will be automatically suspended from all further league competitions. All sanction monies, fees/dues and prize money shall be forfeited. Previously suspended teams who wish to resign up for league must clear all unpaid weekly league fees/dues before being allowed to play. This may include fees for the past weeks even though they were not participating
Drop Out Teams
- Teams that drop out during a session can create many issues within the league including changing division standings, scheduling problems and reducing the prize money for the other teams. All members of a team that has dropped out will not be allowed to participate in HI BCAPL until all owed fees are paid. The League Operator will try to find a "replacement" team to fill the vacant spot, but if that is not possible the League Operator will try to find the most equitable and fair way to adjust the league's team and/or singles standings. This may include averaging points by a team for the session and applying that number of points to a forfeited match, or a similar method of points averaging.
Time Outs/Coaching Time Outs/Coaching
- Teams that drop out during a session can create many issues within the league including changing division standings, scheduling problems and reducing the prize money for the other teams. All members of a team that has dropped out will not be allowed to participate in HI BCAPL until all owed fees are paid. The League Operator will try to find a "replacement" team to fill the vacant spot, but if that is not possible the League Operator will try to find the most equitable and fair way to adjust the league's team and/or singles standings. This may include averaging points by a team for the session and applying that number of points to a forfeited match, or a similar method of points averaging.
Time Outs/Coaching Time Outs/Coaching
- Each player will be allowed one (1) time out per rack. Time outs are 1 minute. Time outs can be called by the player at the table or the coach. The coach has the right to refuse the time out if called by the player.
- Loud discussion of the player’s turn or table layout by the player’s teammates is not allowed as it may be misconstrued as coaching. The opposing team can call a coaching foul, and the opponent will receive ball in hand. A coaching foul may only be called by the player involved or the opposing Team Captain.
Eligibility for BCA Pool League World Championships
- Players who have played a minimum of eight (8) weeks during regularly scheduled BCAPL league matches in a single division and are deemed an active player by the League Operator are eligible to play in BCA Pool League World Championships held in Las Vegas. To verify eligibility please visit www.playcsipool.com, under the “BCA Pool League” tab, click “Membership Lookup".
Scoresheets
- Each team will be responsible for completing their own scoresheet during league play.
Electronic Scorekeeping
- We will be introducing electronic scorekeeping (look for instructions in your envelopes). Download the BCAPL App use your fargorate user name and password to log in. Some teams will like to keep paper scoresheets you are welcomed to do so but please keep in mind your scores will take days to be posted. All electronic scorekeeping will be posted immediately into the LMS.
Scoring the 9 Ball
- It is imperative to keep track of 9 balls made because it is used to report scores to fargo
Fargo
- All player matches will be reported to fargo
Team Roster
- The maximum number of players on a roster is 8 and 5 play a night
- Changes to team rosters are allowed through Week 4 of the league session. Any changes to a team’s roster after week 4 will not be allowed unless special exception is made by the League Operator.
Double Play
- If a team does not have a full roster available to play on a league night, they will be allowed to double play a player up until the last 4 weeks. The opposing team will choose which player will be double and the player they choose must not cause the team to exceed the total team 27 cap.
Break Requirements
- You begin the break with ball in hand behind the head string. The cue ball must contact the 1-ball before any other ball or cushion or it is a foul. You must either legally pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact one or more cushions, or it is a foul.
- Jumped object balls other than the 9-ball are not returned to the table. If the 9-ball is jumped, it is spotted.
- If you legally pocket a ball, you continue to shoot. Your inning ends if you do not pocket a ball or if you foul. If you legally pocket the 9-ball on the break, you win the game. If you foul on the break and pocket the 9-ball, it is spotted.
Push-out After the Break
- If there was no foul on the break, the player taking the first shot after the break has the option to shoot a push-out. On a push-out:
- you must notify your opponent before the shot and your opponent must acknowledge your intention
- the cue ball does not have to contact the lowest numbered ball first, or any object ball at all
- no ball has to contact a cushion
- all other rules and fouls still apply.
- Any object balls except the 9-ball that are pocketed on a push-out remain pocketed. If the 9-ball is pocketed it is spotted.
- After a push-out without a foul, your opponent may:
- accept the table in position and shoot
- require you to shoot again with the table in position
- Any object balls except the 9-ball that are pocketed on a push-out remain pocketed. If the 9-ball is pocketed it is spotted.
Legal Break Shot
- The breaker must strike the 1-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 are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
- 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 cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not respotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted).
Continuing Play
- On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a "push out." If the breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins his inning and shoots until he misses, fouls, or wins. 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.
Fouls
- When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are respotted (exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted). 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 commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.
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.
No Rail
- If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball on is a foul.
Ball In Hand
- When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact with an object ball. He may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until he takes a shot.
Object Balls Jumped Off The Table
- An unpocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not respotted (exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted) and play continues.
Jump and Masse Shot Foul
- If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).
Team Handicap Points
- The team handicap is 27 points. You can play any 5 players whose skill levels do not exceed the 27 team average. If your team exceeds 27 points you will receive 0 points for the night, the opponents points will remain what they earned