AIMS AND CONSTITUTION OF THE

ALL ENGLAND BAR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION.

1). The Association shall be known as the All England Bar Billiards Association.

2). The aims of the Association shall be to promote and encourage the playing of Bar Billiards throughout the United Kingdom, and particularly by the Organisation of Inter County competition.

3). Competitions will include a County Championship, a Ladies County Championship, an Individual Championship and a Ladies Individual Championship.

4). Membership of the Association will be open to any County Association. Acceptance of new members will be by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting.

5). An annual affiliation fee shall be paid to the Association by each County, the amount to be determined by the Annual General Meeting, which will also decide a date by which fees will be due. If fees are not paid by the agreed date then they will be doubled every two months for which they remain unpaid. Counties will not be permitted to enter the A.E.B.B.A. competitions unless affiliation fees have been paid.

6). Membership of the Association may be revoked or suspended by a majority vote of the Annual General Meeting.

7). The Association will be governed by a Committee comprising two voting members from each affiliated County.

8). The day to day administration of the Association will be vested in a sub-committee consisting of a President, Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary.

9). The Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary will be elected each year by the Annual General Meeting. Retiring Officers will be permitted to stand for re-election.

10). The President, once elected, shall retain the position for life or until voluntary retirement.

11). Honorary Life Vice-Presidents may be nominated and elected at the Annual General Meeting.

12). The Secretary shall be paid an honorarium which will be fixed each year at the Annual General Meeting.

13). A quorum for committee meetings and Annual General Meetings shall be representation by at least 50% of the Affiliated Counties.

14). Voting at Committee Meetings and Annual General Meetings will be up to two votes per county.

All decisions will be made by a majority vote. The Chairman will have a casting vote if required.

15). Changes of the Association’s Rules may only be made by a majority decision of the Annual General Meeting.

Propositions relating to changes of rules must be in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

16). An extra-ordinary meeting must be called by the secretary within thirty days of receipt of a written request from at least five member counties.

17). Member counties agree by their affiliation to abide by the association’s rules.

RULES GOVERNING INTER COUNTY TOURNAMENTS

AND A.E.B.B.A. TEAM K.O. COMPETITIONS.

1). Dates and venues will be determined by the All England Bar Billiards Association Committee.

2). An Overall Referee will be appointed for each event. In the event of any dispute the referee’s decision will be final.

3). The format for all Inter County Competitions will be determined by the All England Bar Billiards Association Committee and may vary depending upon the number of participants.

4). Only counties affiliated to the All England Association may enter A.E.B.B.A. competitions.

5). In all A.E.B.B.A. Team Competitions all games will be break-apiece, the balls being respotted after the first player has completed his opening break.

6). Lady players will be permitted to play in both the County Championship and the Ladies County Championship.

Lady players will not be permitted to play in both the Individual Championship and the Ladies Individual Championship in the same year.

7). Table time at County and Individual Group Play-offs and Finals will be a minimum 15 minutes and a maximum 19 minutes.

8). Individual matches played over two games will be played consecutively on the same table. Rule 5 will not apply.

9). When tournaments are organised in groups of three, unless matches are played simultaneously, the third team in the group will play the losers of the first match before playing the winners.

10). In Inter County Play-offs and Finals positions will be determined as follows.

1. Highest number of points gained.

2. When equal points - most matches won.

3. When equal points and equal matches won - least matches lost.

4. When equal points, equal matches won, equal matches lost - highest overall points.

11). Inter County representative matches will be seven-a-side.

12). In Team K.O. Competitions the team drawn first will break first in the opening game, with breaks going alternatively in subsequent games. In the final game, if the match is all square, the Equal Time Rule will apply.

13). In Team K.O. Competition a draw will be made before the start of the match to determine the order of play.

14). EQUAL TIME RULE.

The table time should be established and agreed before the start of the final game.

Should the first player consume in excess of half the agreed time with their opening break, the second player shall be permitted equal time for their opening break in the attempt to pass the first players opening break. Further coins should be inserted before the second player commences their break.

Once extra coins have been inserted, the game will be over when;

a) the second player passes the first players opening score.

b) the second player has consumed the agreed equal time.

c) the second player breaks down on their opening break.

PLAYING CONDITIONS.

1. The playing area of the table shall not be less than 54½ inches or more than 56½inches in length, and not less than 32 inches in width, measuring from the inside edge of the cushions.

2. The table shall be not less than 34 inches and not more than 36½ inches in height from the floor to be top of the cushion.

3. The table must be level and in good condition.

4. There shall be one black and two white skittles of equal size and weight. To a height of at least two inches above its base each skittle should be cylindrical with a diameter between six and seven tenths inches. The black skittle shall be placed on a spot, the back edge of which will be a quarter of an inch from the front edge of the 200 hole. The white skittles shall be placed on spots level with and seven inches from the centre of the 100 hole.

5. A "D" shall be firmly fixed to the table in the centre of the base of the playing area. This should be approximately one and nine sixteenth inches radius and the centre of the " D" shall be clearly marked with a spot, to be known as the break spot.

6. Another spot shall be fixed in the centre of the table with its centre not less than six and three quarters inches and not more than seven and one sixteenth inches from the centre of the break spot on the "D". This shall be known as the red spot.

7. Baulk lines shall be clearly drawn on the table radiating from the centre of the base of the playing area to the side cushions so as to form an arc of not less than 150 degrees and not more than 160 degrees.

8. The table shall be adequately illuminated.

9. One red ball and seven white balls of equal size and weight shall be provided.

RULES OF PLAY.

10. All shots must be played with the cue ball within the area of the "D".

11. The red ball shall be placed by the hand on the red spot and a white ball placed on the break spot, also by hand. The white ball is then played with a cue onto the red ball with the object of potting one or both balls. This is known as playing from the break position.

12. If from the break position, both balls are potted into any holes, three times consecutively, the player on his next shot shall be barred from potting more than one ball.

13. If no balls remain on the table at any time during the course of the game, play will be continued from the break position.

14. From the break position the red ball should always be used on the red spot. At any other time use of the red ball as the cue ball is optional.

15. Other than from the break position and the last ball shot (see rule 26) the cue ball may be placed anywhere on the "D".

16. A white ball potted into an hole shall score the value of that hole. The red ball when potted will score double the value of that hole.

17. A break will continue until such time as the player fails to pot a ball or plays a foul shot.

18. At the end of a break the score should be recorded progressively on the scoreboard.

19. If during a break a ball on the lip of a hole falls in without being struck by another the ball shall count as if potted and the score will count.

20. If a player plays at a ball on the lip of a hole and the ball falls before the cue ball reaches it, no penalty will be incurred and the player will continue with his break, except for any penalty incurred before the cue ball reaches the position previously occupied by the object ball.

21. If a ball on the lip of a hole falls in at the end of a break this ball shall not count.

22. Should a ball knock a skittle off it’s spot but the skittle does not fall over, the score shall count and the skittle should be replaced in it’s correct position before the next shot is played, unless prevented by a ball encroaching on the skittle’s correct position.

23. Should any ball be touching a skittle causing it to lean or preventing it from being respotted this ball shoud be returned to the rack AT THE END OF THE BREAK.

24. When no balls are left in the rack play continues by taking the ball furthest from the top (back) cushion. If two balls are equidistant from the top cushion the ball nearest the Centre line of the table should be taken.

25. After the Bar has dropped, play should continue until all balls in the rack had been used.

25 a. If two balls are "bridged" over a hole and one must be returned to the player, the scorer must hold the balls, "tilt" the back ball onto the table at its nearest point, and bring the other ball back to the player.

26. If only one ball remains, either in the rack or on the table, the break score should be recorded before the last shot is played. The last ball must then be played from the centre of the "D" into either the 100 or the 200 hole OFF ONE SIDE CUSHION. This is known as the last ball shot.

Before playing the last ball shot the white skittles should be placed in the 50 holes and the top holes guarded. If the ball strikes a skittle in the 50 hole and falls into the 100 or 200 hole the score will not count. Both players should continue to play the last ball shot alternately until the ball is potted or the black peg is knocked down.

27. Foul shots incurring loss of break score penalty.

A). Potting both balls from break position four consecutive times. (Except as in rule 33v).

B). Failing to hit another ball with the cue ball. (Except as in rule 20).

C). Any ball returning over or obstructing the baulk line. A ball shall be deemed to be obstructing the baulk line if when viewed from directly above it obscures any part of the line. The ball should be returned to the rack.

D ). Any ball obstructing or hitting the "D". A ball shall be deemed to be obstructing the "D" if when viewed from directly above it obscures any part of the " D". The ball should be returned to the rack.

E). Any ball mounting the cushion or leaving the table. The ball should be returned to the rack.

F). Knocking down a white skittle with a ball.

G). Deliberately knocking down a white skittle with cue or hand while the balls are in motion or before a ball has fallen completely down a hole.

H). Playing a shot while balls are still in motion or before a ball has fallen completely down a hole.

I). Assisting the balls into the holes by any means.

J). Knocking the cue ball off the "D" with the cue. The cue ball will not be considered to be in play until it is completely clear of the "D" and the baulk line as in rules 27c and 27d.

K). Double hitting the cue ball after it has left the "D".

L). Not using the red ball, when available, at the red ball spot, at the break shot.

28. Foul shots incurring loss of entire score penalty.

A). Knocking down the black skittle with a ball.

B). Deliberately knocking down the black skittle with a cue or hand while balls are in motion or before a ball has completely fallen down a hole.

29. Should both a white and a black skittle be knocked down, if the white skittle falls first, the penalty will be loss of break. Should the black skittle fall first, the penalty will be loss of entire score.

30. If a player is nudged or jolted while in the act of playing a shot, causing him to play a foul shot, no penalty will be incurred. The scorer should replace the balls in what he considers to be their original positions and the player should then replay their shot.

31. If the balls are disturbed in any way other than in the normal course of play, then the scorer should replace the balls in what he/she considers to be their original positions and play should continue.

32. Deliberately foul shot.

If, after the bar has dropped, a player in the opinion of the scorer deliberately plays a ball directly into a hole without touching another ball, then the ball should be retrieved and the other player allowed to play it. Any additional coins required to do so should be provided by the player deemed to have played the foul.

33. Scorer and marker.

i). A competent scorer should be appointed.

ii). The scorer will act as referee and will be the sole arbiter on matters of facts and interpretation of the rules during the course of the game.

iii). The scorer will call out progressively the score after each shot.

iv). Progressive thousands must be recorded either by placing in clear view coins or other suitable markers, or alternatively by recording them on the scoreboard.

v). After a player has potted both balls three times consecutively from the break position the scorer must clearly warn the player to leave one ball up. Should he fail to do so the player will not be penalised under rule 27a.

vi). If during the course of play a ball remains on the lip of a hole the scorer shall decide when to call end of break in accordance with rule 21.

vii). The scorer shall be responsible for ensuring that the scores recorded on the scoreboard are correct.

viii). A marker should be appointed to record the progressive scores on the scoreboard at the end of each break.

ix). The marker should check the score as it is called out by the scorer and should draw his attention to any discrepancy at the earliest convenient time.

x). No person other than the marker should touch the scoreboard during the course of the game.