VIMTO CLASSIC POOL LEAGUE RULES

Standard penalty for foul
2 visits, (2 shots carry on, even on the black) If a player pots a ball after receiving 2 shots then he still has 2 shots (The referee will state 1st visit each time until he/she misses, the referee will then state 2nd visit)

The Break.
The balls are racked as in the picture above.
2 balls must hit a cushion (or one potted).
If black is potted off the break then it is a rerack & the same player breaks again.

Foul Break.
Standard foul (see above),
If 2 balls failed to hit the cushion the balls are re-racked and cue ball played from the baulk. (2 visits to opponent).
If the cue ball goes down a pocket it is a foul (2 visits to opponent).
If the cue ball leaves the table it is a foul (2 visits to opponent).

Deciding colours.
If nothing goes down on the break, play continues with the first legally potted ball deciding colours.
If both colours are potted on the break, the shooter must nominate their choice of colours before playing the next shot (and colours are decided by this nomination) If the shooter misses the nominated colour and hits the opposite colour then it is a foul (2 visits to opponent).
If following a foul break where nothing was potted then the player on strike has an open table and can pot any colour and then proceed to take the opposite colour (If so wished) without losing his/her 2 shot advantage.

Deliberate Fouls.
Deliberate fouls are not punished over and above the punishment for the foul itself (except for abusive fouls such as deliberately moving balls with the hand). In which case the game will be forfeited.

Push shots & touching balls.
Push shots are not illegal per se. The rules say that a push shot is only illegal if the balls remain in contact long enough for the cue to be visibly pushing the cue ball along, or if a double hit is seen. In practice this means that if the balls are close but not touching, the player can "jack up" and play the cue ball, with a sharp stroke, directly into the object ball. Push shots and double hits, in the above sense, must be seen (not merely inferred) for a foul to be called.

Touching Balls Continued
(a) If the Cue-Ball is touching an Object Ball, the player is obliged to "Play Away" from that Object Ball at an angle of more than 90 degrees, (that is, play the shot without causing the Cue-Ball to make any initial further contact with that Object Ball).
(b) If, when playing away from a touching ball, the touching ball rocks or moves, without being contacted further, but simply because the Cue-Ball is no longer there, no penalty will apply.

(2) When Colours have been decided:-
(a) Playing away from a touching Object Ball of the players own Colour: The instant a player plays away from a touching Object Ball of the player's own Colour the player is deemed to have played that ball.
(b) Playing away from a touching Object Ball of the opponent's Colour: The player must play away from the touching ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot
(c) Playing away from two or more touching Object Balls:-
(i) If any of the touching Object Balls are of the players Colour, the player will be deemed to have played away if the player plays away from any one of the touching balls of the players Colour. That is, the player may play into any of the other touching balls.
(ii) If none of the touching Object Balls are of the players coloured group, the player must play away from all the touching balls and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.

(3) When Colours have yet to be decided:-
(a) Playing away from a touching Coloured Ball: The instant a player plays away from a touching coloured ball the player is deemed to have played that ball.
(b) (b) Playing away from a touching Eight Ball: The player must play away from the touching Eight Ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.
(c) Playing away from two or more touching Object Balls: If the player plays away from any of the touching coloured balls the player is deemed to have played that ball. That is, the player may play into any of the other touching Object Balls. In most situations, a player must play away from a touching ball (the exception occurs when the cue ball is touching more than one object ball, which is "on". In this case you only have to play away from one of them).

Potting an opponent's ball.
Potting an opponent's ball is always illegal except when you have a "free ball" (following a foul)

Time Warning.
Although there is no strict time limit for each shot taken, The referee can use is discretion if he thinks the time taken is excessive and issue a time warning by stating "Time Warning, 20 seconds". After receiving this warning the player on strike must take his/her shot within the next 20 seconds or it will be called a foul by the referee, (2 visits to opponent).

Other Rules.
· Any part of ones clothing that touches a ball whether it moves or not is a foul. (2 visits to opponent).
· Only players in the doubles matches may confer, even if the player has addressed the table. (Any other coaching by spectators is not allowed). The referee will give a warning and can even forfeit the game to the opponent, (If the referee's warnings are ignored).
· In the doubles matches only the player taking the shot next is allowed to touch the table, Although his/her partner may direct his/her partner by pointing. He/she must not touch the table while conferring, If this happens then it is a foul. (2 visits to opponents).
· The referee's decision is final.
· The white ball can be placed anywhere behind the baulk line following an in off, and can either be struck up the table or down the table.
· If a player misses potting a ball and it is left balancing over the pocket and he/she leaves the table, The table is still on until the opponent has addressed the table. If the next player addresses the table and the ball drops in, then it is a foul. (2 visits to opponent).

Other Fouls (Standard Fouls)
· Standard Fouls are to be called by the Referee as soon as they occur and the fouled player is in control, until all balls from that shot come to rest. The referee then awards two visits to the opponent.
(1) Potting the Cue-Ball - "In Off"
(2) Playing from outside Baulk when obliged to play from Baulk.
(3) Potting an opponent's ball.
(except, when it is the properly nominated ball following a Foul Snooker or Foul Jaw Snooker)
(4) Failing to cause the Cue-Ball's initial contact with a ball, to be with a ball "On".
(5) Accidentally striking the Cue-Ball with any part of the cue other than the tip.
(6) Accidentally striking an Object Ball with any part of the cue.
(7) Playing a shot before the balls have come to rest from the previous shot.
(8) Playing a shot before any balls that required spotting, have been spotted.
(9) Touching the table while having a cigarette (lit or unlit) in hand or mouth.
(10) Causing a cigarette (lit or unlit) to touch the table or enter the space directly above the table.
(11) Touching the table while having a beverage container in hand.
(12) Causing a beverage container or beverage to touch the table or enter the space directly above the table.
(13) Touching the table when not in control of the frame.
(14) Playing a shot while not having at least one foot touching the floor.
(15) Failing to "Play Away" from a touching ball,

Loss of Frame Fouls
(1) Committing a foul in the same shot that the Eight Ball is potted, {except on the Break).
(2) Potting the Eight Ball when a ball or balls of the players own Colour are still on the table, {except on the Brea
(3) Potting the Eight Ball and the last ball, or balls, of the players own Colour in the same shot.
(4) Any deliberate attempt to prevent the opponent from potting the Eight Ball, when the opponent is on the Eight Ball, by way of a Serious Foul or other unsporting manoeuvre.

Stalemate.
The Referee shall declare a Stalemate if both the player and the opponent have three turns in succession where the Cue-Ball fails to make contact with an Object Ball. In such a case the frame will be replayed with the same player breaking