Fighting Cocks Pool League

Fighting Cocks Pool League Ruleset

Last updated 06/01/2026

These rules apply to all league matches unless otherwise stated by the organiser.
In any situation not explicitly covered by these rules, the decision of the league organiser shall be final.
The league reserves the right to revise these rules at any time.
All players will be informed of any rule changes via email.

The cue ball must contact a ball on the break. Failure to contact any ball is a foul (see Fouls & Penalties).
The table is always open after the break. Balls potted on the break do not determine a player's colour.
If one or more balls are potted on the break, the player continues their visit on an open table to determine colour.
A player's colour is determined by the first colour legally potted after the break.
If the cue ball is potted on the break, standard cue-ball foul rules apply (cue ball placed behind the baulk line and opponent receives free shot rules as defined below).
If the black is potted on the break, it is loss of frame.
While the table is open: if a player hits a red first and pots a yellow (or hits a yellow first and pots a red), this is a foul: loss of turn, and the table remains open.

"Open table" means neither player is assigned reds or yellows yet.
Colours are assigned by the first legally potted colour after the break.
While the table remains open, potting a colour that does not match the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is a foul (loss of turn) and the table remains open.

Hitting an opponent's colour with the cue ball before your own is a foul. Penalty: loss of turn. The cue ball remains where it finishes.
Potting the cue ball is a foul. Penalty: loss of turn and the cue ball is placed behind the baulk line for the incoming player.
Potting an opponent's ball at any time is a foul. Penalty: loss of turn.
No ball may be moved by hand during play, except the cue ball after it has been potted (see Interference / Moving Balls).

After any foul, the incoming player receives a "free shot opportunity" governed by normal shot rules.
If no object ball is contacted on the free shot, that is a foul: loss of turn. No further shot may be taken.
If the opponent's colour is contacted first on the free shot, that is a foul: loss of turn. Play passes to the other player.
If the player's own colour is contacted first and nothing is potted, that counts as the free shot being used and the player is awarded one additional shot.
Potting an opponent's ball on the free shot remains a foul and ends the visit (loss of turn).

Combination shots and cannons are permitted.
You may pot any of your balls off another ball provided that:
- The first object ball contacted by the cue ball is your own colour, and
- None of the opponent's balls are potted during the shot.
If any of the opponent's balls are potted during a combination/cannon shot, it is a foul: loss of turn.

Potting the black off a foul is always loss of frame.
If the black is potted where the first object ball contacted is the opponent's ball, this is treated as potting the black off a foul and results in loss of frame.
No player shall receive two shots or multiple visits on the black. Following a foul, only one attempt to pot the black is permitted.

A player may pot their final colour and the black in the same shot provided that:
- The final colour is potted first, and
- The black is potted cleanly, and
- No other foul occurs during the shot, and
- The cue ball remains on the table.
If the black is potted before the final colour, or it cannot be clearly determined that the final colour was potted first, the result is loss of frame.
In the event of any doubt as to the order in which balls were potted, the frame shall be deemed lost.

Potting the black off a foul at any time is loss of frame.
A player wins the frame when:
- All of their colours have been legally potted, and
- The black is potted in a legal shot (including the same-shot finish rule above where applicable), and
- The cue ball remains on the table, and
- No other foul occurs during the shot.

Intentional jump shots are not permitted and will be treated as the cue ball leaving play, at the discretion of the referee/organiser.
If either the cue ball or any object ball leaves the table:
- The shot is a foul,
- Any object ball that leaves play is treated as potted (remains off the table),
- The cue ball is placed behind the baulk line for the incoming player, and
- The incoming player receives their free shot opportunity (see Free Shot Rules).

If the cue ball is touching an object ball, the cue ball must be played away from the object ball to avoid a push shot.
A push shot (cue contacting the cue ball and object ball simultaneously) is a foul: loss of turn.

If the cue ball is potted, placing the cue ball behind the baulk line is the only time the cue ball may be touched by hand.
Once placed, the cue ball cannot be picked up again by hand.
Moving the cue ball with the edge of the cue or a finger is permitted to line up a shot (once placed).
If the player moves the cue ball with the tip of the cue whilst shot-prone, that is treated as a free shot taken. If no object ball is contacted as a result, it is a foul: loss of turn.

Drink and toilet breaks are permitted.
Excessive time wasting can be penalised with loss of frame at the organiser's discretion after a single warning.

All matches must be officiated by a neutral third party.
The officiating party must not be one of the two players involved in the frame.
The referee’s decisions on fouls, ball order, and rule interpretation are final for the duration of the frame.