Official VNEA Rules for 9-Ball | [9 ball rules] [8 ball rules] [Scotch Doubles]&
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A. OBJECT OF THE GAME. 9-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. On each shot the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he/she remains at the table for another shot and continues until he/she misses, fouls, or wins the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after any foul the incoming player may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to call any shot. B. RACKING THE BALLS. 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 random order, racked as tightly as possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the headstring. C. START OF PLAY. The home team breaks first and writes their line-up down first. The break alternates thereafter. A game starts as soon as the cue ball crosses over the headstring on the opening break. D. LEGAL BREAK SHOT. The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except: - The breaker must strike the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to a rail. Failure to do so is a foul. The incoming player accepts the table the way it lies with ball in hand or requests a re-rack with the cue ball behind the headstring.
- If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, of 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 re-spotted.
- Making the 9-ball on the break is an automatic win for the player breaking. However, if the cue ball is scratched when making the 9-ball, the 9-ball is re-spotted (use another stripe from the tray).
E. 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/she continues to shoot until he/she misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the incoming player begins his/her turn and shoots until he/she misses, fouls, or wins. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot. F. PUSH OUT. The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any rail, but all other foul rules still apply. The player must announce his/her intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed, except for the 9-ball. Following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to 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 is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. G. FOULS. When a player commits a foul, he/she must relinquish his/her run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are spotted, except the 9-ball. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his/her first shot he/she 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. - All fouls must be called and acknowledged before the next shot is taken.
- Touching or moving the cue ball is a foul.
- Coaching is a foul.
- Shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off the table is a foul.
- If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul.
- 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.
- Pocketing the 9-ball and the cue ball with the same stroke is a foul.
- Shooting without at least one foot on the floor is a foul.
- An unpocketed ball is considered to be drive off the table if it comes to rest other than on the best of the table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not spotted and play continues.
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. The player may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until he/she takes a shot. H. THREE CONSECUTIVE FOULS. If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive shots without making an intervening legal shot, he/she loses the game. The three fouls must occur in one game. The warning must be given between the second and third fouls. This rule is optional for local league and tournament play. (This rule will not be used at the International Championships.) A player’s turn begins when it is legal for him/her to take a shot and ends at the end of a shot on which he/she misses, fouls, or wins the game. When there are only two object balls on the table and a player scratches while pocketing the ball before the 9-ball, it shall be brought up and placed on the footspot (using another ball from the tray). I. END OF GAME. The game ends at the end of a legal shot, which pockets the 9-ball; or when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul. J. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT - 1. Unsportsmanlike conduct is cause for automatic disqualification.
- Two basic types:
a. One warning before disqualification.
b. Immediate disqualification.
K. HOW TO KEEP SCORE. Point balls are as follows:
(1)one-ball = 1 point;
(2) three-ball = 1 point;
(3) five-ball = 1 point;
(4) seven-ball = 1 point;
(5) nine-ball = 6 points. - 1. In play each player that legally pockets a point ball receives the amount of points allowed to the ball.
- 2. If a point ball is illegally pocketed, the opponent receives the point, except for the 9-ball, which is spotted.
- 3. The 9-ball legally pocketed on the break is worth 6 points plus a bonus of 4 points, bringing the total to 10 points.
L. FORFEITS - 1. Players present will receive one round point per rounds forfeited plus one bonus point (total 4) if all rounds are forfeited. The forfeiting team receives zero round points.
- The players also receive the equivalent of their team average and the equivalent 9-ball games if necessary.
- Both teams must pay monies to the league to receive further points.
M. THE TEAM - Three regular players and up to three subs for a combined total of six players constitute a team. (A female MUST be in the line-up every match.) Each team may have 3 women, 2 women + 1 man, or 2 men + 1 woman (Option: 3 man teams are available).
- Any team with only 2 players available for the match will receive zero (0) points for each game the player is absent. The opposing team will receive at least (6) six or the equivalent of his or her average and credit for the games. If the 3rd player arrives late, he/she may play the remaining games not already bypassed.
- A team must have at least 2 players to make a match.
- New players will play “head to head” on their first night of play.
N. LINE-UPS - The home team captain shall write down his/her players first. The visiting captain shall match as evenly as possible, according to average, his/her line-up (15 game format only).
- The normal grace period to start a match is 15 minutes.
O. TEAM FORMAT #1 - One team match consists of 5 rounds of three games for a total of 15 games played. Starting players from each team must play all 5 games and retain their positions in the line-up.
- Under the 15 game format, the maximum handicap points are 9 per round, regardless of handicaps.
P. TEAM FORMAT #2 - One team match consists of 3 rounds of 9 games for a total of 27 games played. Each player plays each opponent 3 games each for a total of 9 games per player.
- Under the 27 game format, the maximum handicap points are 27 per round.
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