Effective from: 2025/26 season

The ALES Pool League is built on sportsmanship, respect, and common sense. Rules exist to keep things fair, but we keep administration simple. Every fixture should be competitive, enjoyable, and welcoming for all players and venues.

1) Code of Conduct

· Captains are responsible for ensuring their teams behave in a friendly, sportsmanlike manner at all times.

· Home teams must be hospitable hosts; away teams should represent their venue with pride and respect.

· Captains should work together to resolve playing issues on the night so fixtures run smoothly.

· Venue managers/landlords/landladies must ensure the venue welcomes visiting teams, captains fulfil responsibilities, and players/supporters enjoy their evening.

· Equipment standard: Pool tables must be in excellent condition, levelled, and ready before any match begins. Balls and cloth should be clean and consistent for the full match.

· Honesty & integrity: All players are expected to avoid unnecessary conflict before, during, and after matches.

· Escalation: In the rare event of repeated complaints about a player, team, or venue, the league may call an emergency meeting with the parties involved. We expect captains, teams, and venues to act proactively to avoid such situations.

2) Rules of Play by Competition

· League fixtures: Played to EPA Standard Rules (no exceptions).

· Team Cup (group stage & all knockout rounds, including the final): Played to BlackBall Rules.

· Individual events (Singles, Singles Plate) and Doubles events: Played to EPA Standard Rules.

Where a rule interpretation is needed, consult the official EPA or BlackBall rulebook for that competition type. If captains cannot agree on the night, play the frame(s) under protest and notify the league after the match.

3) Season & Competition Structure

League

· Each division plays home & away (each team plays every other team twice).

· If a division has an odd number of teams, bye weeks will appear in the schedule. The total number of league weeks will reflect home/away rounds (e.g., still two rounds despite a bye).

Team Cup (Groups → Knockouts)

· Group Stage: Teams are allocated to groups and play each opponent home & away (twice).

· Qualification:

o Top 4 in each group → ALES Pool League Cup Quarter‑Finals (BlackBall rules).

o Next 2 in each group → ALES Pool League Jug Quarter‑Finals (BlackBall rules). Where specified, Jug Quarter‑Final ties may include losing quarter‑finalists from the ALES Team Cup to complete the bracket.

o Remaining teams: May either not qualify or be invited to an optional Wooden Spoon competition (subject to entries and calendar space).

· Knockout Rounds: Single‑leg ties unless otherwise stated. Neutral or showcase venues may be used for semi‑finals and finals at the league’s discretion.

Detailed draws, seeded positions (if any), and published dates will be confirmed pre‑season and visible in the RackEm app/league comms.

4) Match Night & Administration

· Latest start: Matches should begin by 8:15 PM (earlier if both captains agree).

· Running late: If a team is delayed, captains must notify opponents and the venue as soon as possible.

· Starting short: As long as one player is present, the draw may be made and the match can start. Frames should be kept in order of the Captains pick ensuring any players not able to arrive or needs to leave are played in a position that suits their time. Ideally, players should be ready to play at 8.15pm but where circumstances dont allow, this should be determined by the Captains order.

· Playing Order & Frame Allocation (Rackem): Captains may set any lineup and frame order in the RackEm App. The only restriction is fair distribution: no player may be scheduled or finish the match having played more than one (+1) frame more than any teammate. Captains should keep frames as evently distributed as the format allows. 

12 Frames:

4 Players = 3 Frames each

5 Players = 2 Frames each with 2 players playing 3 each 

6 Players = 2 Frames each

7 Players = 5 players playing 2 each, with 2 players playing 1 each  

· Breach Handling: If the playing order rule is breached, frames from the point of the breach onward may be voided and awarded to the opponents at the Committees discretion. Captain should note issue, complete the match under protest if needed and include details when submitting the result. Any errors on the night can be corrected by contacting Dan or Mark.

· Break Order: Away team breaks first, then alternate breaks (unless both captains agree another fair method before the match begins).

· Refereeing: For each frame, the non breakting team must allocate the referree. As the break alternates, referees alternate between teams. The referee must remain neutral (no coaching) and apply the relevant ruleset; Captains should resolve any disputes calmly.

5) Team & Player Eligibility

· Minimum players to start: 4 players.

· If only 3 players are present: The team may still play and field a team of 3, either home or away. This can be used ONLY once and in the event of the full team not being available. If this option has been used already then the team must insert “Forfeitt Frame” into one slot. All frames tied to that slot are forfeited to the opponents.

· Fewer than 3 players: The team cannot play and the fixture will not count unless rescheduled by mutual agreement (see Rescheduling).

· Only 2 players on arrival: The opposing captain may claim the match (recommended, as players, venues, and staff have committed time) or agree to reschedule.

Captains are within their rights to claim points where an opponent cannot reasonably field a side on the night.

6) Rescheduling & Cancellations

· 24 hours’ notice minimum must be given to the opposing captain and venue if a team cannot field a side. Teams can only reschedule a match twice, once in each half of the league. Any team who repeats offends may face the committee and points penalties or games awared to the opposition. 

· Double‑headers are not permitted. Any rescheduled match must be a stand‑alone fixture.

· Venue duty: Venues must notify their captain immediately if a match is cancelled or impacted by venue issues.

· Confirm with League: Any reschedule must be agreed by both captains and then confirmed with the league:

o   Phone: Dan Reilly - 07792 819968 / Mark Court - 07361 473218
o   Email: alespoolleague@gmail.com

7) Forfeits, Scoring & Points Deductions

· Forfeit result: The non‑offending team is awarded a maximum‑frames win for that format (e.g., 9–0 with 2 bonus points for the team win).

· No‑show/No contact: Teams failing to attend and failing to contact their opponents may face points deductions at the league’s discretion.

·  Persistent issues: Repeated late starts, persistent short teams, or poor conduct may also result in sanctions after league review.

8) Results, Tables & Stats

· Submission: Both captains (or team admins) must submit the result via the RackEm app on the night, or by 10:00 AM the following day at the latest. If the app is unavailable, send a text or email to the league.

· Verification: Results visible in RackEm stand once both teams have confirmed. Discrepancies should be raised within 24 hours.

· Player Leaderboard (League): A combined Top‑8 leaderboard across both divisions will be produced from all league frames played. The Top 8 qualify for a Finals Day Top‑8 Championship. Tiebreakers (in order): Win %, fewest frames played, head‑to‑head, then Committee decision/play‑off if still tied.

· Leading Player (Overall): The player with the most league frames won across both divisions will be acknowledged at season’s end (separate from the Finals Day Top‑8 champion).

9) Disputes & Common Sense

· Sort it on the night: Captains should first try to resolve any issue calmly on the night using the relevant official ruleset.

· If unresolved: Play under protest where necessary and submit a brief note with the result. The league will review promptly.

· Spirit first: We expect all players, captains, and venues to prioritise fairness, hospitality, and good spirit.

10) Contacts

· League Phone:

Dan Reilly : 07792 819968
Mark Court: 07361 473218

·  League Email: alespoolleague@gmail.com

Final Reminder

Respect for opponents, captains, and venues is the foundation of the ALES Pool League. By working together with fairness, hospitality, and good spirit, we ensure every match night is enjoyable for all.