9 BALL RULES - JuniorNorris.com

“JUNIOR NORRIS” Memorial Shoot Out – 9 BALL RULES

PLAYER MUST CALL THE “9 BALL” FOR THE WIN!

NO CONCESSIONS OF GAMES OR MATCHES

Player’s Responsibility

It is the player’s responsibility to be aware of all rules, regulations and schedules applying to competition. While tournament officials will make every reasonable effort to have such information readily available to all players as appropriate, the ultimate responsibility rests with the player.

GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES:

All cellphones will be put on silent.
If cellphone goes off during opponent shot, there will be a verbal warning. 2nd time, it will be a considered a foul and loss of shot. 3rd time, loss of game.
If you get a phone call, please step away from the playing area to the designated area and you will have 2 minutes, which will be timed or there will be loss of shot.
No headphones will be permitted during play.
No smoking inside the building. There are designated smoking area outside. With regard to cigarette butts, trash, beer bottles, etc., please use the receptacles provided and be respectful of the property.
No Drinks on the pool tables.
Spectators and/or non-players will not be allowed in the playing areas. Tournament officials, referees will be allowed when called over by players or to continue play in the tournament.
Cameras flashes will not be permitted during play. You will be warned, and then asked to leave.
There will be no heckling or distractions from spectators, players or non-shooting players. Please give respect at all times.
Players will keep track of game by using the provided markers under the rails. You must be responsible for your own maker. Any discrepancies must be immediately brought to the attention of an official.
When called to play, you will have 10 minutes to show at the assigned table to play or there will be a foul or possible forfeit of 1st game.

Format:

Lag for the break and then alternating break.
Rack you own, no pattern racking.
No concession of games.
NO JUMP CUES – jump shots must be performed with your PLAYING cue. Must be a full length cue. Phenolic or Leather Tips are allowed.

THE GAME:

9-Ball is a game played with a cue ball and 9 object balls numbered one through 9. You shoot the balls in ascending numerical order. The 9-ball is the game-winning ball and must be called except on the break. AND the 9 ball on the Break does NOT count in the bottom two racking corner pockets.

9-BALL RACK:

The balls are racked as follows:

the 1-ball on the foot spot, 9-ball in the middle, 2-ball in the back.
The remaining balls are placed at random.

BREAK REQUIREMENTS:

You begin the break with ball in hand behind the head string There is no requirement to call a ball on the break. The cue ball must contact the 1-ball before any other ball or cushion, or it is a foul. You must either pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact one or more cushions, or it is a foul.
If you legally pocket a ball, you continue to shoot. Your inning ends if you do not legally pocket a ball or if you foul.
Jumped object balls other than the 9-ball are not returned to the table. If the 9-ball is jumped, it is spotted.
9-Ball in the bottom two corner pockets doesn’t count on the break.
No soft breaking and no pattern racking.

PUSH-OUT AFTER THE BREAK:

1. 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 is not required to contact the lowest numbered ball first, or any object ball at all;
No ball is required 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 push-out, your opponent may:
Accept the table in position and shoot, or;
Require you to shoot again with the table in position.

CONTINUING PLAY:

1. After the break (and push-out, if one occurs), play continues as follows:

a. You must contact the lowest numbered ball on the table first or it is a foul;

b. The 9-ball is spotted if it is illegally pocketed or if it is jumped;

c. Other jumped balls and illegally pocketed balls are not spotted.

2. When it is your inning, you continue to shoot as long as you legally pocket a ball on each shot.

3. The player who legally CALLS & pockets the 9-ball wins the game.

THREE SUCCESSIVE FOULS:

You lost the game if you commit three successive fouls in one game.

(NOTE) you must notify your opponent when they are on two fouls.

STALEMATE:

If a referee judges that the table is in position such that any attempt to pocket or move a ball will result in loss of game, and each player has had three consecutive innings without significantly changing the position, the referee will declare a stalemate. The game will be replayed with the player who broke the game breaking again.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

AT THE “JUNIOR NORRIS” Memorial Shoot Out

NOTICE: Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The normal penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is the same as for a serious foul, but the referee may impose a penalty depending on their judgment of the conduct. Among other penalties possible are a warning; a standard-foul penalty, which will count as part of a three-foul sequence if applicable; a serious-foul penalty; loss of a rack, set or match; ejection from the competition possibly with forfeiture of all prizes. Unsportsmanlike conduct is any intentional behavior that brings disrespect to the sport or which disrupts or changes the game to the extent that it cannot be played fairly.
It includes:
(a)   Distracting the opponent;
(b)   Changing the position of the balls in play other than by a shot;
(c)   Playing a shot by intentionally miscuing;
(d)   Continuing to play after a foul has been called or play has been suspended;
(e)   Practicing during a match;
(f)    Marking the table;
(g)   Delay of the game; and
(h)   Using equipment inappropriately.
(i)    Disrespect of the game or opponent, other players or Referees. Disrespectful behavior.

FOULS

1. Cue Ball Scratch or off the Table

2. Wrong Ball First: The first object ball contacted by the cue ball must be the lowest numbered ball remaining on the table.

3. No Rail after Contact: If no ball is pocketed on a shot, the cue ball must contact an object ball, and after that contact at least one ball (cue ball or any object ball) must be driven to a rail, or the shot is a foul. Also, if an object ball is frozen to a rail, the rail is considered “dead” or “neutral”. Player must hit another rail if the shot is not made. If there are any discrepancies about a ball being frozen to the rail, please call a referee over to the table for clarification.

4. No Foot on Floor: If the shooter does not have at least one foot touching the floor at the instant the tip contacts the cue ball, it is a foul.

5. Ball Driven off Table: It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. Cue ball: Ball in hand. Object ball placed in pocket unless it was the 9 ball and will be spotted.

6. Touched Ball: Opponent has the option to replace the ball where it was or leave it where it stops as long as the ball does not interfere with the line of the object ball.

7. Double Hit/Frozen Ball: If the cue stick contacts the cue ball more than once on a shot, the shot is a foul. If the cue ball is close to but not touching an object ball and the cue tip is still on the cue ball whenther cue ball contacts that object ball, the shot is a foul. If the cue ball is very close to an object ball, the shooter will shoot at an angle or elevate cue, foul still in place. However, if the cue ball is touching an object ball at the start of the shot, it is legal to shoot towards or partly into that ball (provided it is a legal target within the rules of the game) and if the object ball is moved by such a shot, it is considered to have been contacted by the cue ball. It is the player’s responsibility to call a referee if they believe a foul will occur.

8. Push Shot (Other than after opening break)

9. Balls Still Moving: Cue ball or object ball must be motionless before shot can occur.

10. Cue Stick on Table: If the shooter uses their stick in order to align a shot by placing it on the table without having their hand on the stick it is a foul.

11. Playing out of Turn

12. Attempting a jump shot with an illegal cue

13. Slow Play: If a referee feels that a player is playing too slowly, the referee may advise that player to speed up play. If the player does not speed up, the referee may impose a shot clock on that match for both players. If the shooter exceeds the time limit specified for the tournament, a standard foul will be called and the incoming player is rewarded according to the rules applicable to the game being played. (Unsportsmanlike Conduct may also apply.)

14. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The normal penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is the same as for a serious foul, but the referee may impose a penalty depending on their judgment of the conduct. Among other penalties possible are a warning; a standard-foul penalty, which will count as part of a three-foul sequence if applicable; a serious-foul penalty; loss of a rack, set or match; ejection from the competition possibly with forfeiture of all prizes. Unsportsmanlike conduct is any intentional behavior that brings disrespect to the sport or which disrupts or changes the game to the extent that it cannot be played fairly. It includes:
(a) Distracting the opponent;
(b) Changing the position of the balls in play other than by a shot;
(c) Playing a shot by intentionally miscuing;
(d) Continuing to play after a foul has been called or play has been suspended;
(e) Practicing during a match;

(f) Marking the table;
(g) Delay of the game;
(h) Using equipment inappropriately;
(i) .Disrespect of the game or opponent, other players or Referees. Disrespectful behavior.

15. Concession of Game (NO CONCESSION OF ANY KIND AT THE JUNIOR NORRIS EVENT)

1. You must not concede any game at any time for any reason. “Concede” means that, as a result of any verbal or non-verbal action, you lead your opponent to believe that you are awarding them the game before its normal conclusion on the table. Before a game has ended, you must refrain from making any statements such as “good game”, etc., or any other verbal inference that the game is over or that your opponent is certain or likely to win. You must also refrain from any similar non-verbal action, such as putting away your cue or accessory items, beginning to mark a score sheet, changing clothes, retrieving or juggling coins or tokens, etc. Whether or not you have conceded a game is determined solely by the referee’s judgment.

2. If you concede a game, in addition to losing that game you will receive a mandatory warning against further concessions. A second violation results in the loss of the conceded game and an additional deduction of one game from your score (if you have zero games, your score would be; “minus one game”) and a final mandatory warning. A third violation results in loss of match.

3. In the absence of any act by your opponent judged to be a concession under Rule 15-1, you must not assume that your opponent has conceded the game. If you disturb the position of the table in such a situation, then you are charged with a concession violation.

4. If you disturb the position of the table in an act that presumes the game is over before it is actually over, such as gathering balls together to rack the next game, you lose the game.