POOL ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES
1. Objectives:
- To promote the spirit of sportsmanship in the game of 8-ball.
- To adopt and enforce uniform laws, rules, conditions and methods of playing and scoring the game of 8-ball.
- To promote business and goodwill for the franchise owners.
- To sanction individuals for team, league and tournament competition.
- To educate players in the use of proper pool etiquette. Examples of poor etiquette are: distracting your opponent, such as standing too close to the table when it is not your turn; “verbal baiting”; breaking down your cue before the game is concluded; and stalling! Each and every league player is bound by not only these, but all rules of pool etiquette to maintain the highest level of sportsmanship at all times!
2. Sanction and Organization:
- Any establishment operator, individual, team, league or association having access to approved pocket billiard tables owned by Accel Entertainment and upon payment of all fees shall be entitled to the stated rights of the league.
- Any of the above may be expelled for poor sportsmanship, unbecoming conduct or any other reason considered by the league to be detrimental to the welfare of the league. Any player could be expelled for throwing the 8-ball into a pocket, obvious sandbagging (such as directly shooting the 8-ball in before pocketing his object balls) or doing anything to bring an early end to a game to lower his average. A protest must be filed by the opponent and will be reviewed by the Board of Directors.
- Any parties so expelled may request a hearing from the league and the findings of the team captains shall be recognized as final.
3. Officers:
- AE Leagues will supply a League Director. AE will coordinate the league and handle all treasurers’ duties.
- A AE Board of Directors (consisting of 7 members) will work with AE to govern league administration, render decisions on protests, aid in the organization of the league, help run any league meetings and tournaments.
4. The Team:
- A team consists of pertinent number of regular players (5, 4 or 3) and subs.
- Regular players may shoot for their team only in that particular league division.
- Franchise owner shall possess full authority to add or remove players from the franchised team.
- The franchise owner shall provide the table at the designated time and he/she shall retain the right to remove any player(s) (whether from his/her own team or the opponent’s) from his establishment.
- Any player that is dropped from their team shall not play in this particular league for the remainder of that league season, unless written approval of original franchise owner or captain is presented to the league.
- Players under 21 (underage): 14 & older may be allowed to play within the AE adult leagues if pre-approved by AE Leagues and AE Leagues Rules Committee if:
-Underage players must have played within the AE Junior League program.
-Underage players MUST speak with the location manager/owner prior to each match for approval to play within the location for scheduled league matches. *Even if a previous week was approved at the location.
-Scheduled matches will not be moved to alternate locations when underage players are not allowed. Instead, an eligible substitute must be permitted to play.
5. Captain’s Duties:
Each team shall appoint a team captain and each team captain shall then appoint a team co-captain. The team co-captain’s responsibilities are to act as a team captain in the team captain’s absence.
- Must be a sanctioned league member.
- Shall be present or send an acting captain to all matches, be responsible for the personnel and the attendance of the team in league play.
- Instruct his/her players as to all league rules and requirements.
- Try to settle all disputes that may arise
- The “HOME” team’s captain will be responsible for supplying current league stats at match time.
- Team Captains are responsible to ensure an accurate score is submitted. If the Team Captain feels an inaccurate score was submitted, they should send a detailed message to the League Director outlining the situation, and accurate score.
- We recommend a screen shot be saved of the final score/match details.
- If a Captain wishes to utilize a paper score sheet, they can be downloaded from the league website. >centralne.aeleagues.com>Pool>Downloadables
>Utilizing a paper scoresheet does not negate the requirement of the match results being submitted from the league scoring software/app. - Pay each member of the team within a reasonable time after receiving prize money. Failure to comply with the above requirements subjects the captain to indefinite suspension.
6. Substitutes:
All leagues: Subs can shoot for any team in any league.
Sub Deadlines: Subs used for any Position Rounds, or a team’s *final session matches, must be approved by the League Director or League Coordinator prior to the match being played. Failure to receive approval could result in a scoring adjustment of any wins. Subs prior to the *final session matches, must be within skill restrictions of that particular league.
>*Final session matches are defined as: last two weeks of a 15-24-week season, or the final week of an 8–14-week season
Following the Average Establishing Period, each team may use a maximum of two players not listed on the current team roster (standings sheet) to be entered into the team’s match line-up prior to the start of play.
7. Match Time & Forfeits:
Matches begin at 7:30 PM M-W-Th and 7:00 PM Tuesdays, and 4:00 PM Sundays. Lineups should be on score sheet and games started at that time.
A “legal team” consists of at least four players shooting in the “5 player” divisions, at least three players shooting in the “4 player” divisions and at least two players shooting in the “3 player” divisions. It is a forfeit if a “legal team” is not present at 7:30 PM or 8:00 PM weeknights and 4:30 PM Sundays even if players present are not finished shooting. The minimum amount of players needed to begin at 7:00 or 7:30 PM weeknights and 4:00 PM Sundays is three in the “5 player” and two in the “4 player” division. If you do not have the minimum needed to begin at 7:00 or 7:30 PM weeknights and 4:00 PM Sundays, you will forfeit.
Before the line-up is placed on the score sheet, an absent player must be declared “absent for the entire match” or “late”. A player declared “late” will receive a “0” for the rounds not played and after arrival, he may play in any rounds where the last game of the round has not been completed.
When a player is declared “absent for the entire match” you must list “straw” on the score sheet and use “6” as the score for each round.
When two players are absent, one from each team, a score of 6 will be given to both.
Team forfeit situation (not “legal” team). Each member of the winning team will receive his average as his score. Winning team will be credited with all match rounds won. The winning team will receive the following number of 8-ball wins – (9 game match) – 6 wins; (12 game match) – 8 wins; (15 game match) – 9 wins; (16 game match) – 10 wins; (25 game match) – 18 wins; (32 game match) – 20 wins.
The losing team members will not be credited with any games played or points scored!
8. Scheduling:
- All schedules shall be posted by the League Director.
- All rescheduling of games must be by mutual consent of both team captains.
- In an emergency, opposing captains may also delay or reschedule their games by mutual consent. All make-up games must be arranged with the League Director and played before the next scheduled Position Round.
- When games are not played, the money to the league must still be paid, or it will be deducted from your winnings at the end of the season.
- Leagues are never canceled because of bad weather, but teams who consider going to a match to be unsafe, should try to reschedule their match and will receive the support of AE in getting their match rescheduled. You must give AE reasonable notice.
9. League Champions: Will be determined in the following manner:
- The team having the highest win percentage will be the league champion.
- In the event that two or more teams have the same win percentage, the team with the highest number of 8-ball games won will be the league champion. In the event the teams also tie for most 8-ball games won, total “scratch” points will decide the champion.
- If win percentage, 8-ball games won and total scratch points are equal, the teams involved will playoff to determine final position in the standings only if a trophy or prize money difference is at stake. A tie can be declared if both teams agree to accept duplicate prizes.
10. Scoring
Each player receives one point for each of his group of balls (stripes or solids) legally pocketed, plus three points when the 8-ball is legally pocketed. A player is always credited with ten points when he wins a game. The loser cannot score more than seven points. Tie breaker for round by round system is the most 8-ball wins in the round or match if total is a tie. Tie in 8-ball wins results in a split of round, each team receives ½ rounds.
8-ball made on an open table (before the groups of balls have been determined) is a 10-0 loss for the person shooting.
11. Handicaps
Team Handicap System. The Average Establishing Period at the beginning of each season is 3 weeks for a season 15 weeks or longer and 2 weeks for a season that is 14 weeks or less. The procedure extends 1 week if your team has a Bye during Average Establishing Period.
After the Average Establishing Period your team average will be computed by dividing team points by team games played and will be listed on your standings sheet. When a player “not listed on your roster” is brought in (after the Average Establishing Period), current averages of the players present + the unlisted player’s average (for that night) will be the team average for that night. If the unlisted player’s average lowers the Team Average, then the Team Average (on the Standings Sheet) will be used. If the unlisted player’s average raises the Team Average, the raised Team Average will be used. You may need to edit the Team Average when entering data using the PPMU System.
100% Handicap for all leagues except that the maximum spot is 9 points / round in 3 player leagues, 12 points / round in 4 player leagues and 15 points / round in 5 player leagues. Fractional averages are rounded up at .5 and higher only!
Lincoln 3 player leagues use averages of individuals who are actually playing, not the team handicap system.
12. Team Matches and Line-ups: Players are not allowed to play more than one league match at the same time. You cannot change your lineup once you have exchanged sheets, unless you have permission of the opposing captain prior to the start of the match.
- Line-up is determined by “Blind Draw”. The line-up system is detailed on the score sheet and is easy to follow by placing player’s name by his/her corresponding number throughout the match.
- Any player shall have the right to shoot out their games (3-5) at the start of the match, but only if the opposing captain agrees.
Wrong player(s) playing in a given game: If noticed before the game is completed the game will be restarted with the correct players playing. If the game has been completed and those 2 players are scheduled to play each other in a later game in the match, the result will be moved to the round where they correctly play each other. If the game has been completed but those 2 players are not scheduled to play each other in the match, the result of the game that they played will be deleted and that game will be replayed with the correct players playing.
Correcting score sheets: All mathematical errors are corrected. However, if a team plays with an average that is higher than its correct average, it will not be changed. The average will be raised up when a team plays with an average lower than its correct average.
It is each team’s responsibility to know their average. Call AE before your match if you are not sure!
13. Player Cost:
Game Cost – Players will pay their own quarters with the total amount for the night shared evenly by all players.
Player Sanction Fee: $25.00 / player for all leagues (subs included)!
Nightly Fee: $8 / player plus cost of games (Scotch Doubles).
$10 / player plus cost of games (all leagues except those noted).
$12 / player plus cost of games (Wednesday High Rollers, Tuesday Platinum).
Money Envelope Liability Policy:
- Envelope drop system: The white league envelope must be inserted into the slot on the right side of the coin door of the AE dart game at your location or into the slot provided in the Q-Ball end of your pool table.
- The Home team will be held accountable for the money in any league envelope not received by Accel Entertainment.
- If the sealed league envelope is turned in to a person responsible at the bar, but then lost or stolen before AE picks it up, the bar will be held accountable for the money.
- The home team captain is responsible for the money placed into the white money envelope. Both team captains must sign to verify their team’s amount deposited.
- If the money in an envelope is not correct, it will be documented on that particular team’s ledger.
- The ledger for every team will be evaluated at the end of each month during the season. It is unacceptable for your Nightly Fee ledger to drop below 80% of the current amount owed. If your team is less than 80% current when evaluated you will be given verbal notice by AE and have 2 weeks to rectify the situation. If your Nightly Fee ledger does not become more than 80% current by the end of that 2 weeks your team will be dropped from the league. You will lose all money that you have submitted. All of your team and individual stats will be deleted for the entire season.
- There is a $20 charge on any returned check!
- Any team that forfeits a match either of the final two weeks of a season will lose half of the prize money they would have won!
14. Submitting Match Results To AE Leagues: All score sheets are submitted through CompuSport. Any questions, concerns or corrections can be addressed by contacting AE at 402-477-9757.
15. Protest Procedure:
- Authority to protest rests with the captain.
- Protest must be in writing and be presented to AE within 48 hours after the match.
- Protest shall include a $25 deposit. Protester loses the deposit if he loses the protest. The $25 is placed in the league fund. If protester wins, his deposit is returned. The Board of Directors decision will be rendered in writing to the parties involved. Signatures by each party will be required at the time the decision is rendered to acknowledge the ruling. A non signature is the same as acceptance. If you reject the decision, you may appeal to the captains of your division, but this appeal must be accompanied with an additional $50. A two thirds majority vote is required to reverse the Board of Directors decision. If you win your appeal, the $50 will be refunded. Decision of league captains is final! AE has the authority to disregard any protest not properly presented!
16. Definition of Feats:
- 1 VNEA “ERO” pin/year will be awarded to each player who shoots an ERO.
- ERO (Eight Ball Run Out): 1. Must be your first trip to the table. 2. All 15 balls must be on the table when you begin your turn.
- RO (Run Out): You must run out all balls of a given suit and the 8-Ball on your first trip to the table.
- Avg. (Average): Points scored divided by games played.
- Power Average: Points scored minus opponents points scored divided by games played.
- Sweeps: Winning all of your individual games on league night.
17. Tournament Rules:
- At no time will a player be allowed to compete on more than one team at any given team tournament, regardless of divisional separations.
- Eligibility is listed in your Information Packet.
- All Midwest rules apply.
