Cambridge University Pool Club

College Leagues

Cambridge University Pool Club - College League Rules

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. 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 (Alex Fisher - 07739 481817). 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. For an appeal to be considered, any dispute over the rules MUST be raised with the opposition team during the match.
    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.
  2. 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/images/rules/World%20Rules%202015.pdf.
  2. All college matches are subject to the full world rules with the following exceptions:
    1. Matches are not required to be timed, unless either team requests it be before the start of the match. 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. Captains should agree prior to the match if they do not want certain types of fouls (e.g. nomination fouls). It is recommended that all fouls are called and disputed relating directly to decisions not to call certain types of fouls are likely to be considered by the League Secretary.
    3. During a frame players may ask the opposition captain (or any other opposition player) about the rules if they are usure of them. In the case that the opposition are unaware of the rules the player's own team may explain the rules.
    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 League and Cuppers 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). In the Women's league all league matches will consist of six singles frames with each player playing a maximum of two frames.
  2. Unless agreed otherwise by both teams in advance, breaks will be decided by a lag at the start of the match (http://www.epa.org.uk/wrulguid.php 4.1), with singles frames and doubles frames alternating separately. The winner of the lag may decide whether to break first in singles and in the doubles separately.
  3. It is suggested that referees are assigned for each frame and 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.
  4. It is recommended 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, thereby deciding who plays whom in each match. If either team requests it then the frame lineup must be decided in this way. Thereafter the order in which frames are actually played is unimportant, so long as the break alternates as specified above.
  5. For the women's league the order of frames will be:
    FrameHomeAway
    11a1a
    22a1b
    31b2a
    43a2b
    52b3a
    63b3b
    The order frames are played is not important. What is important is that when a player plays twice they must remain in the same position. E.g. if player 1 for the home team plays two frames they must play the opponent listed for frame 1 and 3.
  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. 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.
  8. The home team are responsible for recording the CSRids and scores (this should be done within 24 hours of the result). The winning team in a match must upload the results to the CUPC website (if the away team win, the home team should pass the recorded results to the away team captain). The losing team should make sure that the result uploaded is correct. Failure to enter CSRids onto the CUPC website could lead to points deductions.

Part 4 - Structure of College Leagues

  1. For the 2015/16 season the first division consists of 11 teams of which the bottom 3 will be automatically relegated and 8th place will play in a play-off.
  2. There is a division 2A and 2B with the top of both divisions getting promoted to division 1 as well as the best second place (determined on points, followed by frame difference, or if still level a play-off will be required). The other 2nd place finisher will compete in the play-off against the 8th in division one. The bottom two teams in 2A and 2B will be relegated.
  3. The top four teams in division 3 will be promoted into 2A and 2B.
  4. Any teams dropping out of the league during the season will take up a relegation spot. The CUPC committee will determine how to place teams in the case of any teams not re-entering next year.
  5. Places will be determined firstly on points (2 for a win), followed by frame difference and then head-to-head record.
  6. Players must be students of that college in order to play in the college leagues. To play for a lower ranked team, a player must NOT have played in MORE THAN half of the games that a higher ranked team has played, at the time when each game takes place. (So a player that has played 66% of games for Robinson 1 could not play for Robinson 2 or 3. Though a player that has played every game for Robinson 2 could play for Robinson 1, but not Robinson 3). In determining the percentage of games played only league games (play-off games and cuppers do not count) for the relevant team counts. However, players will only be eligible for one of their college teams for the duration of the Cuppers tournament. (Any captain that is unclear about the rules should contact the league secretary).
  7. Lower ranked teams within the same college will not be able to get promoted to, or remain in a division higher than that, of their higher ranked teams. Likewise only first teams can win division 1 (although lower ranked sides can win the cup).
  8. Playing for CU Women (or in the women's college league) does not affect eligibility to play for college sides and CU Women are ignored for promotion purposes (if CU Women finished first the 2nd team would be counted as 1st, 3rd as 2nd, etc.). CU Women must field a mimimum of four players with each playing a maximum of three frames (with a maximum of two being singles or doubles).

Part 5 - Structure of Knock-out Competitions

  1. Teams will be entered into Cuppers provided they have shown a willingness to play and complete their league matches. It is the League Secretary's prerogative to refuse entry to a team into Cuppers if they believe that team is unlikely to organise and play Cuppers matches in a timely manner.
  2. The Cuppers competition will be a single-elimination knockout tournament, with the draw made by the League Secretary with at least one witness on the CUPC Committee from a different college.
  3. At least from the semi-finals onwads of the Cuppers competition will be played at Cambridge Snooker Centre (or another suitable, neutral venue if necessary) on the same day, as decided by the League Secretary.
  4. A Cuppers result must be taken from a different match to that used for a League result. Results should be emailed to the league secretary including the CSRids of players from both teams.
  5. A Cuppers team is considered identical to the corresponding League team in terms of player eligibility.
  6. 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 - Scheduling Matches, Walkovers and Unplayed Matches

  1. All matches must be played and submitted (or walkovers claimed) on/by the 23rd April 2016. If a game has not been played by the deadline of the relevant fixture on the CUPC website, a walkover may be claimed. For the matches between teams from the same college, matches must be played before the deadline on the CUPC website (unless you have the League Secretary's permission) and walkovers shall not be given.
  2. Both teams must make a significant effort to find a time to play a match.
  3. If no date before the deadline acceptable to both teams can be agreed upon, the Home team captain must offer the Away team captain two times on different days before the deadline, with at least 72 hours notice for each. The Away team captain must then choose one date on which to play the match, giving 48 hours notice.
  4. Should one and only one team fail to abide by rules 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, a 'walkover' shall be awarded, the conditions for which are given below:
    1. A 'walkover' is treated as a 8-1 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.
  5. If a match remains unplayed by the deadline 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. Once a suitable date has been agreed between captains, a team captain may then attempt to rearrange ('postpone') a match, subject to the following conditions:
    1. Each team may only postpone one match per season after having agreed a date with the opposition captain. This includes both league and cuppers matches.
    2. Both the opposition captain and league secretary must be notified at least 5 hours in advance, with valid reason given. The league secretary is the sole judge of whether or not a reason is valid.
    3. If either of the opposition captain or league secretary are notified less than 48 hours in advance, the opposition captain may then pick any date of his choosing within 14 days of full term in which to play the match. Failure to play on this date will result in a walkover being awarded to the opposition team.
    4. If both the opposition captain and league secretary are notified at least 48 hours in advance, the match must be rearranged according to rules 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4, where the 'deadline' is now 14 days of full term from the date on which the match was originally agreed to be played.
    5. Matches between teams from the same college in the same division may not be postponed.
  7. 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.
  8. Any team that fails to compete (concedes a walkover/game not played or claimed) in three or more of its league fixtures will be removed from the league and will take up a relegation place.

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