YOOYL

1. Terms:

• 'The D’: The D is the semi circle at the top end of the table behind the baulk line (the line stretching the width of the table.

• ‘Group of colours’: Either the set of red or yellow balls (or variation).

• ‘Eight-ball spot’: This spot is located at the cross point from the bottom corner pockets to the middle pockets on the opposite side of the table.

• ‘Object ball’: Any ball but the cue ball.

2. Object of the game:

   
   
   1. The object of the game is to win by being the first player to pot their group of balls in any order and in any pockets and then pot the eight-ball in any pocket.
   2. When on a group of colours, a player is allowed to pot balls from both groups of colours so long as the initial contact was legally made with a ball from their own group of colours.
   3. A separate shot must be played to pot the eight-ball to win the game – i.e. a player can’t pot their last ball from their group of colours and the eight-ball in the same shot.
      
      
3. Commencement of the game:
   
   
   1. The object balls are racked (as per the diagram above) with the eight-ball on the eight-ball spot.
   2. A coin will be tossed by a member of the home team, with a member of the away team calling. The winner of the toss has choice of break. The break of each subsequent frame will alternate between the two teams.To break, the cue ball is played at the triangle of object balls from the D. The frame commences the instant the cue ball is played.
      1. The break will be deemed a ‘Fair break’ if at least one ball is potted AND/OR two object balls make contact with a cushion.
      2. If the break is NOT a fair break, the balls are re-racked and the opponent is awarded two visits. That player is then under the same obligation to achieve a fair break.
      3. If the cue ball is potted on a fair break it is a standard foul (see section 5) that is penalised by the turn passing to the opponent.
      4. If the break is NOT a fair break and the cue ball is potted, the penalty for failure to perform a fair break applies (section 2; C; i).
      5. If the eight-ball is potted on any break, there is no penalty. The balls are re-racked and the same player breaks again. When the eight-ball is potted on the break, all other aspects of the break are ignored.
         
         
4. Deciding colours:
   
   
   1. From the break:
      1. If a player pots one or more balls from just one of the groups of colours; that determines which colour group that player is (unless the cue ball is potted too).
      2. If balls from both groups of colours are potted, the player must nominate which colour they are before they play their next shot (see ‘Nominating’)
      3. If no balls are potted it is an ‘open table’ and control of the table passes to the opponent. That player must then nominate their choice of colour before they play their shot.
   2. Nominating:
      1. A player must verbally make their nomination ensuring their opponent and the referee have heard them.
      2. Once a player nominates their choice of colour group; that is their group of object balls for the rest of that frame.
      3. Once nominated, if the next shot is a foul – that player is still the colour they have nominated.
      4. Failure to nominate is a standard foul.
         
         
5. General play:
   
   
   1. Legal shots – on all shots a player must:-
      1. Cause the cue ball’s initial contact with a ball from their group of colours AND THEN,
      2. Pot a ball from their colour group OR cause the cue ball or any other ball to make contact with a cushion.
      3. Failure to play a legal shot is a standard foul.
   2. Exceptions:- Total Snooker
      1. A total snooker is when it is impossible for the player at the table to play any part of any of their own colour by way of a straight line shot. I.e. without the need to apply swerve to the cue ball or play it off the cushion first.
      2. When a player believes they are in a ‘total snooker’ the player must verbally declare this for the referee to confirm.
      3. Once confirmed a ‘total snooker’ exists, the player need only cause the cue ball’s initial contact to be with a ball from their colour group. The requirement to pot a ball or strike a cushion is waived.
   3. Interpretations:
      1. If the Cue Ball's initial contact is with an Object Ball that is touching a cushion, simply forcing that Object Ball into the same cushion does not constitute a Legal Shot.
      2. If the Cue Ball and an Object Ball are touching the same cushion, simply forcing the Cue Ball and / or that Object Ball into the same cushion does not constitute a Legal Shot.
         
         
6. Standard Fouls:
   
   
   1. Potting the cue ball (except on a fair break).
   2. Playing from outside the D, when obliged to play from the D.
   3. Potting an opponent’s ball (without legally potting their own ball).
   4. An opponent’s ball dropping without interference (for further detail see section 8)
   5. Failing to cause the cue ball’s initial contact with a ball to be with a ball from their own colour group (except when entitled to play a ‘free ball’ – see section 7; B)
   6. Striking an object ball with any part of the cue.
   7. Playing a shot before all balls have come to rest before the previous shot.
   8. Playing a shot before any balls that require re-spotting have been spotted.
   9. Coaching: during a frame, a player is required to play without receiving advice from other persons relating to the playing of the frame. Should coaching occur, a first and final warning is issued – any repetition is penalised by way of a standard foul.
   10. Playing a shot after neglecting to nominate a choice of colour when required to do so (see section 3 – deciding colours).
   11. Playing a push shot or double hit – i.e. if the cue ball bounces back on to the tip of the cue or if the tip of the cue remains in contact with the cue ball once it has started moving.
       1. Definition – Generally any shot played with speed will not be deemed to be a Push Shot regardless of the fact the cue tip may have come in to contact with the Cue Ball more than once.
   12. Failure to perform a legal shot (see section 4).
   13. Playing a shot while not having at least one foot touching the floor.
   14. Failure to play away from a touching ball.
   15. Deliberate jump shots.
   16. Failure to perform a fair break (see section 2).
   17. Potting the cue ball on a fair break.
   18. Playing a shot out of turn.
   19. Deliberately interfering, by word or action, so as to disrupt an opponent’s play.
   20. Any part of the player’s body / clothing to come in contact with any ball on the table.
   21. Balls of the table – it is a foul if a ball leaves the playing surface (other than being potted) and remains off the playing surface.
       1. It is a Standard Foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, comes into contact with a person or object that is not a part of the table and then returns to the playing surface.
       2. It is not a foul if a ball leaves the playing surface, runs along the top of a cushion, drops back on to the playing surface and comes to rest there or falls into a pocket.
          
          
7. 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 player’s own colour are still on the table (except on the break).
   3. Potting the eight-ball and the last ball of the player’s own colour in the same shot.
      
      
8. Following a standard foul:
   
   
   1. After a standard foul, the player coming to the table is given two shots. They are entitled to play from where the cue ball is (unless it has been potted) or re-spot the cue ball in the D.
   2. On their first shot they are, without nomination, entitled to legally play any object ball (see legal shots – section 4) without penalty.
   3. On their second shot, the player must play in accordance with the general play rules (section 4). Once they miss (or foul), control of the table is handed to the opponent.
      
      
9. Other:
   
   
   1. Re-spotted balls (following balls of the table):
      1. A ball (other than the cue ball) is to be re-spotted with its centre point on the eight-ball spot.
      2. If this is not possible, it must be placed as near as possible in a direct line between the spot and the centre point of the cushion that lies the greatest distance from the baulk line.
      3. If that is not possible, then it must be as near to the spot as possible in a direct line between the spot and the centre point of the baulk line.
      4. If more than one ball requires re-spotting, one ball is to go on the spot, the next in accordance with rule 8; a; ii.
      5. If balls of differing colours (except the cue ball) require re-spotting, the following order of priority must be followed:
         1. Eight-ball
         2. Red balls
         3. Yellow balls.
      6. If the cue ball requires re-spotting, it must be placed in the D.
   2. Re-rack:
      1. If a player is unable to play a legal shot, the object balls are re-racked and the frame will start again, with the player who broke initially, breaking again.
      2. Stalemate: If both players have played several defensive shots and there is no attempt in allowing the game to naturally progress, if both players are in agreement the game can be re-racked.
   3. Touching ball:
      1. If the cue ball is resting against an object ball, this is a ‘touching ball’. The next shot must be played away from that object ball and must not move – unless that movement is a result of the cue ball rebounding off the cushion or a different object ball striking it.
      2. If that object ball is from the player in control’s group of colours, this counts as them making contact with that ball meaning they’re entitled to just play away from the ball and strike a cushion or pot another ball as per the ‘legal shot’ ruling.
   4. Dropping balls (without interference):
      If a player has played their (legal) shot and the balls have come to rest and control of the table is set to change over to the opponent (the moment the player up next actually touches the table), but a ball suddenly drops without interference –
      1. If the ball drops before control of the table has changed, play continues as per normal rules.
      2. If control of the table has changed, and the ball that dropped is from the group of colours of that player now at the table, play continues as normal.
      3. If control of the table has changed and the ball that drops is from the opponents group of colours, that is a standard foul.

• This is a selection of rules that are often misconceived / played incorrectly:
  
  
• 2 shots on the black:

Following a standard foul (see the full rules, section 7), if the player next up to the table only has the eight-ball left to pot, they still get 2 shots.

• Balls off the table:

If any ball (other than the cue ball) comes of the table (other than being potted) it is to be re-spotted. It is NOT to be put down the pocket. See the full rules, section 8.

• Nominating:

Once a colour has been nominated, the player is that colour for the duration of that frame even if they foul on the first shot following nomination.

• Hitting the cushion ruling:

A ball must hit the cushion AFTER the cue ball has legally made contact with an object ball

• Re-racks due to inability to play legal shot:

A re-rack does not apply if the player is simply snookered on all remaining balls from their group of colours. It only applies if the cue ball can’t physically fit through a gap to make contact with one of their object balls.

In this example, the player on reds only has one left. As the cue ball fits through the gap on the right, this means NO RE-RACK.