General Rules:
Team Skill Level Limit
PAGE 33-34
All formats, with the exception of Masters, have a Team Skill Level Limit. Each format’s Team Skill Level Limit is indicated in the bullet points below. A team playing less than a full match must show that it would not have exceeded the Team Skill Level Limit, if all the matches had been played. If the Team Skill Level Limit is broken, the offending team receives zero points for the entire team match. The non-offending team would receive:
8-Ball Open (23-Rule) – All points they won up to the point the violation occurred, plus two points for the match in which the 23-Rule was broken and any subsequent individual matches.
9-Ball Open (23-Rule) – All points they won up to the point the violation occurred, plus 15 points for the match in which the 23-Rule was broken and any subsequent individual matches.
Ladies 8-Ball and 9-Ball (13-Rule) – All points they won up to the point the violation occurred, plus two points (15 points in 9-Ball) for the match in which the 13-Rule was broken and any subsequent individual matches.
3-Person 8-Ball and 9-Ball (14-Rule) – All points they won up to the point the violation occurred, plus two points (15 points in 9-Ball) for the match in which the 14-Rule was broken and any subsequent individual matches.
Doubles Formats (10-Rule) – Check your Local Bylaws.
Juniors – Check your Local Bylaws.
NOTE 1: Once both teams have declared a player, the players cannot be changed unless the Team Skill Level Limit rule is in jeopardy.
NOTE 2: It is permissible for a team to count the skill level of an eligible player who is on the roster but not present at the match site towards the Team Skill Level Limit.
NOTE 3: During Playoffs, Tri-Annuals, World Qualifiers and the World Pool Championships, an ineligible player’s skill level may not be used towards the Team Skill Level Limit.
When forming a new team, be cautious about the number of highly skilled players you recruit. Teams that cannot comply with the Team Skill Level Limit rule must play:
Open Divisions (8-Ball & 9-Ball) – Four players whose combined skill levels do not exceed 19, and forfeit the fifth match. If the team’s skill levels increase to the point where the skill levels of the lowest four players on the roster exceed 19, then they can play three players to 15 and forfeit the fourth and fifth matches.
Ladies Divisions – Two players whose combined skill levels do not exceed 10, and forfeit the third match.
3-Person Divisions – Two players whose combined skill levels do not exceed 11, and forfeit the third match.
Doubles Divisions – The sum of the Highest Skill Levels of each team’s members must equal, or be less than, 10 at the start of
the division.
Junior Divisions – Check your Local Bylaws.
A violation of the Team Skill Level Limit rule has officially occurred when the rack is struck in the individual match that causes the violation. If your opponent violates the Team Skill Level Limit, notify the opposing Team Captain.