Bobble Ball Hand Billiard Bowling Tournament Rules
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Note: These rules are an expanded version of the normal rules. When competing for prizes, clarity is required.
Section A - Legal Roll Defined:
Section A1 - A legal roll is defined as a player standing or sitting behind the foot string and rolling a team billiard ball by hand so that the ball contacts a minimum of ANY one rail (cushion). A player who does not roll a legal roll has committed a foul (See Foul Penalties in Section G). The opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame.
Section A2 - A player's roll need not pass the foot string in order to be considered a legal roll. If the team billiard ball rolled does not pass the foot string, the roll is valid (as long as a cushion was contacted). However, the team billiard ball rolled is considered "dead" and removed from play. If any part of the billiard ball is touching, intersecting, or dissecting the foot string line, the billiard ball is considered dead and is removed from play.
Section B - Release
Section B1 - A player must release his hand from the billiard ball by the time the ball reaches the foot string. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section B2 - A player may not touch the billiard ball again once he has released the ball into a rolling motion. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one false roll per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section B3 - A player rolling a team billiard ball into motion must stand or sit to the left or the right of the center string depending on which quadrant of the table his team is currently positioned. A player's body must remain on his side of the table and may not encroach on his opponent's side. A player may not stand in a manner which allows his feet, hips, shoulder, or head to encroach on his opponent's side. A player may stand or sit along the sides of the table when rolling a team billiard ball into motion, but must release the ball by the rules defined in Section B1. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section B4 - A player must roll the billiard ball is such a manner that the billiard ball remains in contact with the table surface at all times. No player may toss, throw, or bounce any billiard ball at any time during the game. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section B5 - A player must wait for the motion of all billiard balls on the table to stop before rolling another billiard ball into play. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round (See Exception below). At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. If the prematurely released billiard ball does not touch a moving billiard ball, the frame continues. Exception: If a player prematurely releases a billiard ball and that billiard ball contacts another billiard ball that is in motion, a foul has been committed. The opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame.
Section B6 - A player may be in either a standing or sitting position when rolling team billiard balls onto the game playing surface. Players may not sit on the table. Penalty: A player is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section C - Banking
Section C1 - A player must roll his billiard ball so that it contacts a minimum of one rail before stopping or contacting any other billiard ball or Bobble Ball on the table. (Note: A billiard ball that rolls directly into a pocket without touching a rail is dead and no foul has been committed). Penalty: A foul has been committed. The opposing team may choose whether to keep the balls in their existing location or replay the frame.
Section C2 - A player is allowed to bank his billiard ball against any of the six rails during his turn. However, if he chooses to use any rail between the foot rail and the foot string, he may not hit any of the resting billiard balls set up and waiting to play in that area. A player may request his opponent to move his billiard balls away from a rail if they are in the way of an intended shot. Penalty: If a player rolls his billiard ball so that it does hit resting billiard balls on his initial release of the roll and none of these balls hit any "live" billiard balls on the game playing surface, then the billiard ball rolled is considered dead and removed from the table and the frame continues. Exception: If any of the resting billiard balls are disrupted so that they hit "live" billiard balls on the game playing surface, a foul has been committed. The opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame.
Section C3 - A player is allowed to bank his billiard ball against any other billiard ball in play on the game table surface whether it be Bobble Ball, the opposing team's billiard balls, or his own team's billiard balls. (This assumes that the player has banked his billiard ball against a rail first prior to contacting any other ball on the table surface. Refer to Section C1 penalty if a rail was not contacted first).
Section C4 - A player may bank a billiard ball against the rail on the opposing team's side of the table, but only from a position from his own team's side of the table. A player may extend his arm or hand, but not his body (refer to Section B3), across the center string into the opposing team's side when rolling his billiard ball onto the game playing surface. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section D - Ball Status
Section D1 - Bobble Ball must remain on the game playing surface. If Bobble Ball is hit into a pocket, is hit so that it stops on the table surface between the foot rail and the foot string, or is hit off of the table, the frame is void and must be replayed. In the event that Bobble Ball is hit off of the table, a warning foul may apply if unsportsmanlike conduct occurred.
Section D2 - Any billiard ball which rolls back into and stops between the foot rail and foot string is dead and must be removed or pocketed. No additional penalty is imposed. If any part of the billiard ball is touching, intersecting, or dissecting the foot string line, the billiard ball is considered dead and is removed from play. If this same billiard ball hit resting billiard balls not in play causing these balls to hit other balls in play, the opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame. However, if the resting billiard balls that were hit have not disrupted the game play by hitting balls within the game playing surface and can be replaced to their line up positions without controversy, the frame continues.
Section D3 - A player may not touch or move any team billiard ball or Bobble Ball which is on the game playing surface during the course of a frame. (Exception: Section C2 Penalty) Penalty: The team touching or moving the billiard ball or Bobble Ball during the course of a frame has committed a foul. The opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame.
Section D4 - A team billiard ball that is hit off of the table is dead. The frame continues, but a warning foul may apply if unsportsmanlike conduct occurred.
Section D5 - A team billiard ball that is pocketed is considered "dead" and no penalty is imposed or foul committed.
Section D6 - A player shall not prematurely stop and remove a moving billiard ball that has rolled out of the game playing area and into the resting billiard ball area between the foot rail and the foot string. (Reference Section B5) Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The frame continues.
Section D7 - When playing on a ball return/coin operated table where the pockets have been "stuffed," a billiard ball may roll into the pocket and roll back out onto the game playing surface depending on the type of "stuffing" used. Such a billiard ball is still considered to be in play and the frame continues.
Section E - Rotation
Section E1 - Players/teams alternate rolling first from frame to frame. If the wrong player rolls first and the error is discovered during the frame being played, the frame is interrupted and shall restart with the correct player rolling first. If the error is discovered after the frame is completed, the frame is scored and the round continues as if the error had not occurred.
Section E2 - If by mistake the players or teams have not rotated when a rotation should have occurred and the error is discovered during the frame being played, the frame is interrupted and shall restart with the correct player or team playing the frame. If the error is discovered after the frame is completed, the frame is scored and the round continues as if the error had not occurred.
Section E3 - If Bobble Ball was not placed in the correct position at the beginning of a frame and the error is discovered before the third ball is rolled into play, the frame is replayed with Bobble Ball being placed in its correct position. If the error is discovered after the third ball is rolled into play, the frame continues and is not interrupted. Bobble Ball shall be placed in its typically correct position at the beginning of the next frame.
Section E4 - Teams consisting of two or three players most commonly play in a "Scotch Doubles" format meaning that team members will alternate rolling balls within any given frame. Each member of a two member team must roll three balls per frame while each member of a three member team must roll two balls per frame. Penalty: The opposing team should allow a deviation without penalty for valid or reasonable causes (ie. food pick up, bathroom call, etc.), but may request the tournament coordinator to impose a foul penalty if it feels the deviation is for invalid or unreasonable causes.
Section E5 - Teams consisting of two or three players must allow each team member to roll first against each member of the opposing team. Once this has occurred, the team is free to decide and choose its player rotation throughout the remainder of the round. (Exception: Unless a specific "team rotation" chart is being used).
Section E6 - The timely rotation of teams throughout the tournament is important for the smooth progression of the tournament. In the event that one table is not finished with a round when all other teams are ready to rotate, then the referee may stop the round at that table and divide the matches and points for any unfinished frames between the two teams. Intentional or repetitive delay of game may result in a foul being issued.
Section F - Scoring
Section F1 - The final score after a frame must be agreed upon by the two team captains and recorded. When a final score cannot be agreed upon, the two team captains will call upon the tournament coordinator/referee and decide the score.
Section F2 - When the distance between two opposing billiard balls and Bobble Ball is too close to differentiate which billiard ball is closer, a measuring device may be used to quantify the distance.
Section F3 - In the event of a tie and one team has already accumulated uncontested point(s), the tying opponent's team billiard ball stops the point accumulation.
Section F4 - In the event of a tie where no uncontested point(s) have been accumulated, each team receives a 1/2 "X" (match) and/or a 1/2 point.
Section F5 - Before a measuring device is used, a preliminary score must be agreed upon by the two team captains. The location of Bobble Ball and billiard balls must continue to remain undisturbed until this preliminary score has been agreed upon. (Reference Section F1). This preliminary score will be the basis for the final score in the event that a controversy or movement of the billiard balls or Bobble Ball occurs during the measurement process. Either or both captains may use the measuring device. If both captains are hesitant to measure, the two team captains will call upon the tournament coordinator/referee to use the measuring device and referee a decision. In the event that the measurement is inconclusive, controversial, or negated due to ball movement occurring during the measurement process, the agreed upon preliminary score will be used.
Section F6 - After the completion of all Rounds, the team with the highest "Matches" is the winner of the game. If two or more teams have the same number of "Matches," then the team (among these two or more teams) with the highest "Points" is the winner of the game. If two or more teams have the same number of "Matches" and "Points," then a tie breaker frame is played in order to determine the winner (or placement position of the team).
If two teams are tied, then a player from each team will "lag" for choice of which team rolls first. The team that is chosen to roll first stands on Side A. (A "lag" is defined as two players standing at the foot rail and rolling by hand a billiard ball toward the head rail so that it bounces back from the head rail and comes back toward the foot rail. The billiard ball that is closest to the foot rail, whether or not it contacted the foot rail is the winner of the lag. Both players who are lagging should roll their billiard balls at the same time). Bobble Ball is place at Position 2/4 (Site #2 and Site #4 coordinate) in a tie breaker frame. The winner of the tie breaker frame is the winner of the game (or places in the higher placement position).
If three teams are tied, then a player from each team will lag at the same time. The two losers of the lag will play each other in a tie breaker frame and the winner of that tie breaker frame will play the winner of the lag. (In determining placement positions, the winner of the second tie breaker frame would have the highest placement, the loser of the second tie breaker frame would earn the next placement position and the opponent that did not advance to the second tie breaker frame would earn the next placement position.)
Note: The most advantageous choice for the team winning the lag is to choose to roll second because then it will have the opportunity to roll the last billiard ball in the tie breaker frame.
Section G: Fouls
Section G1 - For each foul committed, the player or team committing the foul receives a two point penalty against its accumulated points for the round in which the foul was committed.
Section G2 - For every two fouls committed, one match point ("-X") is subtracted from the team committing the fouls. This more severe penalty discourages players from intentionally fouling in order to replay a frame.
Section G3 - When a tournament score sheet is being used, fouls are recorded by circling one "-2" for each foul committed and one "-X" for each two fouls committed. The foul penalties are deducted for the matches/points earned in the calculation of "Round Totals." (Note: Based on fouls committed, it is possible for a player or team to have negative score totals).
Section H: Tournament Fees and Absenteeism
Section H1 - One person shall be selected to collect tournament entry fees. Entry fees should be collected by the end of the second round. From the entry fees collected, this person must pay the facility any "table rental" fees and/or tournament coordinator fees due. The remaining monies are divided up into the various cash prizes to be awarded at the end of the tournament. (Tournament payout amounts will vary from tournament to tournament depending on the entry fees collected and number of teams entered to play).
Section H2 - A team that quits or leaves early forfeits any claim to tournament prize money. A substitute may replace a team that quits or leaves early, but the team will still forfeit any claim to tournament prize money.
Section H3 - A team playing an absent team that was not filled by substitutes will receive a "Match" score for the round where it had no opponent equal to its three/four round average from the three/four rounds that were played and a "Point" score equal to its three/four round average from the three/four rounds that were played. The average score will be rounded to the closest whole number (ie: An average of 3.45 equals 3 matches and an average of 3.65 equals 4 matches.)
Section H4 - If two teams are absent, or an even number of teams are absent, then the two teams that do not have a team to play during the rotation will play each other and record their actual scores as if there was not an absent team. The teams will play each other on the lowest numbered table in the sequence of tables and the lowest team number will play on Side A if both teams are scheduled to play on Side A or Side B.
Section I: Strategy and Sportsmanship
Section I1 - A player is not required to call out his play or strategy in advance of rolling his team billiard ball. However, strategic discussions between all players serve to provide the game with fun, controversy, competitiveness, and improved skills. Assistance may be requested or offered without solicitation by players within reason and in a manner that does not disrupt the flow or atmosphere of the game.
Section I2 - A player may receive only verbal assistance. A player may not receive physical assistance from another person (ie. A person physically holding or guiding a player's arm during the rolling process). As assisting player may place his finger on the table to point ot a location recommending where another player could roll the ball, but the assisting player must remove his finger from the location prior to the player's release of the ball. A foul has been committed if a player rolls while an assisting player's finger is still pointing. Penalty: A player/team is allowed one warning per round. At the second infraction, a foul has been committed. The opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame.
Section I3 - Observers may sit or stand around the perimeter of the table, but should be instructed to keep their hands and fingers out of the game playing table surface area. Penalty: If interference of ball movement occurs due to a non-team member observer, the frame is replayed unless both teams agree to continue the frame. If the interference was caused by a team member, the team causing the interference has committed a foul and the opposing team may choose whether to allow the frame to continue or to replay the frame.
Section I4 - All players should conduct themselves with manners appropriate to the game. Socializing and strategic interaction is encouraged. However, actions which are intended to distract another player or cause another player to perform under his capabilities exhibit poor sportsmanship and should be avoided by all participants and spectators. Appropriate language is also encouraged so as not to offend surrounding players. Team captains and tournament officials are ultimately responsible for maintaining the integrity of the game, but all of the participants share the responsibility to make this happen. Teams may request a tournament official to issue a foul for non sportsmanlike behavior.
Section I5 - No food or drink is allowed on the table surface or table rails.
Section J: Equipment
Section J1 - Only official Bobble Balls bearing the DiRiginal® "Squiggle" logo should be used for tournament play. Official Bobble Balls have been designed and manufactured for consistency in weight and dimension tolerance so that the reaction of Bobble Ball remains constant from frame to frame and table to table.
Section J2 - Tables that may be used are pool tables (any size 6' and up), billiard tables (any size), snooker tables, or DiRiginal Bobble Ball tables which have been designed and manufactured to replicate the performance and size of a standard pool table or standard pool tables meeting the BCA Equipment Specifications as defined for "Table Sizes," "Table Bed Height," "Pocket Openings & Measurements," "Playing Bed," and "Cushion." During tournament play, table sizes or brands may vary as long as the rotation format rotates teams and players around the differing table sizes or brands in a somewhat even manner.
Section J3 - All team billiard balls used within a tournament must be molded and finished in a perfect sphere meeting the weight and diameter specifications below: Weight: 5 1/2 to 6 oz. Diameter: 2 1/4" (±.005")
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