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Blackball Pool

Blackball Superleague - Constitution

The Black Ball rule set played for the first time at Federation County level in the 2006/2007 season; needs to grow the Federation into a major player, not only in this country but throughout the world pool playing community.

It was thought that a Superleague Competition could only help this promotion in making the local pool leagues aware of Blackball rules. It was also seen as an event for players to improve their game to try to reach county level standard and maybe go on to represent their county at national level. (Which as we all know is the route to perhaps one day representing your country).

The initial format of this tournament is a seven person team event to be played once a month at a centrally local region venue.

Teams will be made up from local pool leagues.

A local league can enter any number of teams.

A team name must have some or all of its name as part of the league it represents. I.E. Britannia pool sharks, Chalk Farm hustlers etc.

An entrance fee of £50 per team is all that is required to enter you into this new exciting event.

On the day at the chosen venues, competing seven person teams will play a number of matches consisting of two sets of seven singles. If a match finishes seven frames all, then a best of three play off will be played to decide an outcome.

All teams will compete against each other twice, but not on a home and away basis just on a by-venue basis.

A team can have a squad of up to ten players with the captain being able to select from their squad different players after the first set of seven frames.

After the first set of matches the teams start to form the basis of a league table. 64 of the teams at the end of the season will then qualify for the National Superleague finals, (depending on your position in the league).

This will be a major event in the pool calendar and gives all players a chance to experience a top pool week-end away playing to a very high standard.

Blackball Superleague - Rules of Entry

  1. The competition is open to local pool league players of any standard, age or sex venue permitting.
  2. Ten players are initially registered for your team at a fee of £50. Your team will not be eligible to play until the fee is paid. A clearly printed entrance form must also be presented with your fee, with the name of all the players clearly legible and returned by the deadline date on the form.
  3. Players are not allowed to change from one team to another once registered for that season.
  4. If during the course of the league you lose players and you wish to add players to take their place, you must go through the correct process
  5. The correct process for adding to players who have left your squad is as follows. The old player cannot come back if they have been brought to the attention of the Superleague organizers as having left the team. The new player has have had to been playing in the league they represent from the start of that leagues season. Written conformation from those league organizers must be produced to verify the validity of the new player. A fee of £5 will be charged for new players.
  6. There will be a dress code for all players. Non compliance will result in the team forfeiting the frame/ frames that player would have played.
  7. Dress Code. All players must be smartly turned out. Shoes, trousers and a shirt with a collar is the minimum required standard. Polo shirts are acceptable. NO JEANS, TRAINERS, OR T-SHIRTS will be entertained. It is up to team captains to enforce this and not try to attempt to play players without the correct dress code. Team shirts are encouraged with clean nicknames.
  8. Each team will play a minimum of two matches on the day sometimes it may involve playing the same team twice.
  9. All match cards must be signed by the team captains at the end of the game to avoid disputes over the result.
  10. A certain amount of flexibility will be given in the first couple of matches for teams who are not familiar with the blackball rules. However after the first two matches the rules will be correctly implemented.
  11. Disputes. Any disputes must be brought to the attention of the Superleague organizers. All disputes will be weighed up and the organizers decision will be final. Right of appeal to the Superleague National Organisers.
  12. All matches on the day will commence at 1.30pm sharp. Tables will be available for practice before this time and practice will finish at 1.25pm. Any late comers without a reasonable cause will lose a frame for every fifteen minutes they are late. Please ring up if you are running late.
  13. No matches can be cancelled or rearranged from the dates set at the start of the tournament. Failure to show up will result in a 10-4 score, of frames to your opponents and will threaten your future participation. You may with the agreement of the Interleague organizers play matches early if you cannot attend a future match. This will only be for future matches not matches you have not attended and are trying to make them up. This rule must be brought to the Interleague organizers the month before you intend to do this so it can be organized for you.
  14. All matches require seven players. You can play a match with a minimum of four players only if you are struggling to maintain a side. This will be viewed as a privilege as opposed to an acceptance. If a team drops out all matches against this team will be null and void.
  15. All matches should be played in the spirit to which they are intended. Please abide by the rules set out in this constitution and by Blackball and this will ensure a smooth and enjoyable event.

Blackball Superleague - Match Day Rules

  1. All frames will be played to Blackball rules. (Rule sheet included).
  2. Every break off to every frame will be decided by a lag.
  3. Captains are to fill their match cards in separately, first set of seven first and then swap them with their opponents. The captains then fill in their players first seven names on the opponents match card. This will repeat for the next seven frames and any play off frame situations. When the match is completed both filled in match cards signed by both captains will be presented to a Superleague organizer.
  4. Matches are to be refereed by both teams. The player winning the first lag means their team referees the first frame. Alternate referees after that. Any tight calls or disagreements are to be brought to the attention of a Superleague organizer who will make the final ruling.
  5. All frames must be played as it will determine frame differences as part of the league table.
  6. A point per frame and two points for a win will fill the points scored column of the league table.
  7. League positions will be determined by the following.
  8. Points scored, frame difference, most frames scored, matches won and finally head to head scores. If all these are equal then a play off match will decide the final outcome.
  9. Please play all the games to the spirit to which they are intended. Respect for your opponents must be shown at all times and excessive barracking could forfeit the frame to your opponent.