Cambridge University Pool Club

College Leagues

Cambridge University Pool Club – College League Rules

These rules have been revised as of 10/11/2009 and are effective immediately. Captains will receive an email notifying them of these changes.

Note in particular changes to part 1 (the appeals procedure) and part 4.6 (substitutes)

These rules apply to any match played by college teams in the CUPC League or the Cuppers/Plate knockout competitions.

Part 1 – Rule Disputes and Flexibility

  1. ALL the rules listed below are to be followed wherever possible.
  2. If, during a college match, there is any dispute over World Rules (as defined below) or the League Rules, the teams should take the following steps:
    1. Consult the rules, either on the CUPC website or the EPA website for World Rules (see link below).
    2. If the issue still cannot be resolved, the away team captain should attempt to contact the League Secretary (Tim Henshaw - 07791028168). If the League Secretary is unavailable, the captain should be sure to leave a missed call or an answer-machine message. The frame concerned will then be played through using the home team’s interpretation of the rules, and the away team may choose to appeal after the match to the League Secretary.
    3. If no attempt to contact the League Secretary can be proved (i.e. by phone call, missed call or answer machine message), no appeal will be considered.
    4. The result of any appeal made to the League Secretary after the match will be entirely up to the League Secretary, but possible decisions include (but are not limited to) forcing the frame concerned to be replayed, docking points from either team, or awarding a walkover to either team.
    5. If a team is unhappy with the League Secretary’s decision they may appeal to the CUPC Committee via email. The decision of the Committee will be FINAL.
  3. Any other complaints may be made to the League Secretary, and again the League Secretary may make any decision they see fit regarding the situation, even if it is not a strict application of the rules given below, however this will ONLY be done in extreme circumstances where the League Secretary feels it is necessary to override the rules. Any appeals against the League Secretary’s decision may be made to the CUPC Committee and their decision is, again, FINAL.

Part 2 – Application of World Rules to College Matches

  1. “World Rules” are the set of rules known by this name, as defined by the EPA at www.epa.org.uk/wrules.php.
  2. All college matches are subject to the full world rules with the following exceptions:
    1. Timing shots is not necessary, unless agreed prior to the start of the frame by both teams or the referee feels it is necessary to begin timing. Timing will be as per rule I of World Rules, although it is recommended that someone other than the referee be responsible for the timing of shots.
    2. Common sense and leniency is to be used when dealing with inexperienced players.
    3. The “Spirit of the Game” (see rule N7, etc.) is understood to be that these matches are intended to allow people to enjoy playing competitive pool, and that a balance between the strict application of the rules and having fun be sought by the teams.
    4. Coaching/conferring – No advice may be offered by anyone to a player during the frame, as per rule K12. In addition, in a doubles match, the partners may confer with each other at the start of their first visit ONLY. Once the first shot of that first visit has been played, no more discussion is allowed, even if the pair have two visits as a result of a foul. The only exception to this is that players may confer after the break if balls are potted before continuing.
    5. Any rude/unfair behaviour by an opposing team or their supporters should be reported to the League Secretary immediately, who may make any punishment they see fit.
  3. The following rules are expected to be known by all college teams, regardless of experience, etc.:
    1. Cushion fouls (rule G1).
    2. Nomination rules (rule H).
    3. Total and foul snookers (rules P, Q, R and S)
    4. Two visits carry (even onto the black).
    5. Deliberate or 'professional' fouls are part of the game, and are not punished over and above the standard penalty for a foul
    6. Rules on coaching (rule 2d above).
    7. How the balls are racked (see photo on EPA rules).

Part 3 – Structure of College Matches

  1. All matches played in the Open League, Cuppers and Plate will consist of six singles frames and three doubles frames. Any one player may only play in one singles and one doubles frame at most (i.e. a minimum of six players is required to form a full team).
  2. All matches played in the Women’s League will consist of nine singles frames. Any one player may only play in three singles frames at most (i.e. a minimum of three players is required to form a full team).
  3. Unless agreed otherwise by both teams in advance, breaks will be decided by the toss of a coin at the start of the match, with singles frames and doubles frames alternating separately. The winner of the coin toss may decide whether to break first in singles and in the doubles separately.
  4. Referees should be assigned in each frame. Referees should be from the same team as the player(s) breaking in that frame. Referees must have a good understanding of the rules. Poor refereeing may be seen as grounds for punishment by the League Secretary.
  5. It is recommended, but not necessary, that the home captain write down their order of players at the start of the match and then allow the other captain to in turn write their own players down, therefore deciding who plays whom in each match. Thereafter the order in which frames are actually played is unimportant, so long as the break alternate as specified above.
  6. The home team will pay for all frames in the match plus allow at least one frame of practice for the away team before the start of the match. The only exception is any match played at Cambridge Snooker Centre, where any costs not covered by CUPC must be split between the teams. This does not include any practice before the match.
  7. The home team must provide a table that is as fair to play on as practically possible. If the away team feel that the table is unfair to play on they may request to play on a different table, which the home team must agree to whenever practically possible.
  8. Players in a team need only be present at the match in order to play their frames. The order of frames should be juggled if necessary to allow play to continue if a player is unavailable. If the match reaches a stage where it is impossible to continue due to absence of players from one of the teams, then one frame will be awarded to the other team or voided every ten minutes until it becomes possible to play a frame again. Frames which neither team are able to field enough players for will be voided (i.e. not played at all). Frames which only one team are unable to play will be awarded to the other team. Frames should be voided before others are awarded wherever possible. Frames are awarded alternately to the home and away teams, starting with the away team, wherever possible.
  9. The winning team in a match must upload the result to the CUPC website. The losing team should make sure that the result uploaded is correct.

Part 4 – Structure of College Leagues

League Structure
  1. The structure of the Open League will be as shown in the picture above. Divisions may be amalgamated or added by the League Secretary subject to number of teams entered for the season.
  2. The Women’s League will consist of as many divisions as the League Secretary deems appropriate, with three being promoted/relegated from each division as required.
  3. If a team from the previous season drops out, or a new team emerges, the League Secretary will decide where to place teams, however in general teams will be promoted from lower divisions to fill spaces and new teams will be required to start in one of 3A or 3B unless the League Secretary feels exceptional circumstances apply.
  4. Each team will play each other team in their division once per season, with each team playing as equal a number of home and away matches as possible.
  5. One point will be awarded for each frame a team wins, plus a further three points for each match won by a team.
  6. Players may only play for one college team for the whole season, with the following exceptions/conditions:
    1. A full team squad list must be submitted to the League Secretary at the start of each season, and any subsequent changes to the teams must be reported to the League Secretary BEFORE they play in a match whenever possible, and never more than 24 hours after the finish of a match. This team list will be made available to all captains in the division.
    2. A team is considered ‘above’ another team if it plays in a higher division, but NOT in a parallel division (i.e. 3A teams are not ‘above’ 3B teams, etc.).
    3. Players must be STUDENT members of that college (college staff, fellows and alumni are not eligible for the Leagues without prior permission from the League Secretary).
    4. Players in the Women’s League must be biologically female. No men in wigs and dresses are allowed.
    5. Women may also choose to play in the Open League as well as the Women’s League if they wish.
    6. A player may change teams ONCE during the season. They may move to any other team they are eligible for. The League Secretary must be notified of this BEFORE they play in a match whenever possible, and no more than 24 hours after the finish of a match.
    7. If a team requires a substitute, they may NOT get a substitute from a team that is ‘above’ them, as described in 5b above, nor from a team in the same division. No team may use more than one substitute for any match, except with the PRIOR permission of the League Secretary.
    8. It is the opposing team’s responsibility to ensure that all players on a team are eligible for that team.
  7. A date will be given for each match to be played in the league. The home team must contact the away team by this time, otherwise the away team may apply for a walkover (see below), however the match need not necessarily be played by this date.
  8. Teams must make every effort to find a time to play a match. This is particularly expected of the home team. Any team that is not managing to play enough matches or otherwise causing problems can be penalised by the League Secretary by docking points, awarding walkovers (see below) or removing a team from the league, as they see fit. If a team is removed from the league none of its results will be considered in the division standings.
  9. If a team must cancel a match, it must do so at least 5 hours before the agreed start time. If it is cancelled any later than this, the other team may apply for a walkover (see below).
  10. Teams level on points at the end of the season will be differentiated by frame difference and then by the result between the two teams if necessary.
  11. The playoff between the division 2 runners-up will be played on the same day as the Cuppers/Plate finals and semi-finals, at the same location.

Part 5 – Structure of Knock-out Competitions

  1. Colleges must enter exactly one team into the Cuppers competition, which must be a team playing in the Open League and be the best team that college can put forward. No team that has a team from the same college ‘above’ them in the leagues (as described above) may enter Cuppers.
  2. Teams from the Open League that are not entered in Cuppers are entered into the Plate competition.
  3. Teams from the Women’s League may be entered into the Plate however they are required to play the six singles and three doubles format (i.e. a team of six is required). Two teams from the Women’s League may amalgamate to form a Plate team, even if they are from separate colleges.
  4. Both the Cuppers and Plate competitions will be straight knock-out competitions, with the draw made by the League Secretary with at least one witness on the CUPC Committee from a different college.
  5. The semi-finals and finals of the Cuppers and Plate competitions will be played at Cambridge Snooker Centre (or another suitable, neutral venue if necessary) on the same day, as decided by the League Secretary.
  6. A Cuppers/Plate result must be taken from a different match to that used for a League result.
  7. A Cuppers/Plate team is considered identical to the corresponding League team (or teams in the case of an amalgamated women’s team) in terms of player eligibility.
  8. A deadline will be issued by which time all matches must be played in that round. Any matches that have not been completed can only still be played with permission of the League Secretary.

Part 6 – Walkovers and Unplayed Matches

  1. A ‘walkover’ is treated as a 7-2 match result between two teams.
  2. Walkovers are given at the discretion of the League Secretary, subject to appeal to the CUPC Committee.
  3. All walkover claims will require evidence of correspondence between the two teams. Hearsay and word of mouth will not be accepted as evidence.
  4. A policy of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ will be adopted by the League Secretary in deciding whether to award a walkover.
  5. If a match remains unplayed at the end of the season in the League, and the League Secretary cannot find enough evidence to award a walkover to either team, then no points will be awarded to either team for the match.
  6. If a match is unplayed after the deadline in the knock-out competitions, the League Secretary can award a victory to either team, send a bye into the next round or allow a postponement as they see fit.

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