General

1. How many players do I need to form my own team?

Common Rules

1. When breaking the rack 4 balls did not hit the rail and my cue ball goes in the pocket. Do I rerack?
2. When breaking the rack I miss the rack completely and I scratch with the cue ball. Is this a foul?
3. I have paid my membership and have not received my copy of the The American Poolplayer. What should I do?
4. Why do we have the new rule revision stating that the coach may place the cue ball for the player in a ball-in-hand situation (during a coaching time-out)? I would like to learn how to place the cue ball myself when I have ball-in-hand.

9-Ball Rules

1. In 9-Ball is a foul on the break ball-in-hand behind the headstring?
2. Does the pocket need to be marked in shooting the 9-ball?
3. If I shoot the 2-ball into the 9-ball, which then falls into the pocket, is this a legal shot?
4. Are push-outs allowed in 9-Ball?
5. If 8-Ball has a team cap of 23 points and the highest skill level is 7 why isn't there a team cap of 24 or 25 in 9-Ball where the skill level goes to 9?

General

1. How many players do I need to form my own team?

   Teams consist of 5-8 players. 5 players play in each match. If 5 players are not available for a match, individual games must be forfeited.

Common Rules

1. When breaking the rack 4 balls did not hit the rail and my cue ball goes in the pocket. Do I rerack?

   Yes. If you strike the rack and the rack is not legally broken and you scratch a foul has occurred. The balls will be reracked by you and broken by the opposite player.

2. When breaking the rack I miss the rack completely and I scratch with the cue ball. Is this a foul?

   No. A rack must be struck before a foul can occur. You would continue your turn by breaking the rack.

3. I have paid my membership and have not received my copy of the The American Poolplayer. What should I do?

   You need to make sure your address information is correct and current by calling your Local League Operator or you can call or email the APA National Office. Also, please remember that The American Poolplayer is issued 3 times per year – Spring, Summer, and Fall.

4. Why do we have the new rule revision stating that the coach may place the cue ball for the player in a ball-in-hand situation (during a coaching time-out)? I would like to learn how to place the cue ball myself when I have ball-in-hand.

   The purpose of allowing the coach to place the cue ball during a coaching time-out is to cut down on the time taken during the match when the coach is attempting to explain to the player where the ball should be placed. With the rule revision the coach can simply go ahead and place the ball. It is important for the player to bear in mind, however, that it is the player's choice if he wishes to have the coach place the cue ball or do it himself.

9-Ball Rules

1. In 9-Ball is a foul on the break ball-in-hand behind the headstring?

   In 9-Ball, a foul on the break is ball-in-hand anywhere on the table.

2. Does the pocket need to be marked in shooting the 9-ball?

   The 9-ball does not have to be called and therefore, the pocket the 9-ball is going to be pocketed in does not have to be marked.

3. If I shoot the 2-ball into the 9-ball, which then falls into the pocket, is this a legal shot?

   Yes, it is a legal shot. Combination shots are legal in 9-Ball as well as extremely common and any ball that sinks counts as long as the shooter hits the lowest numbered ball on the table first.

4. Are push-outs allowed in 9-Ball?

   No, they are not allowed in the APA 9-Ball League.

5. If 8-Ball has a team cap of 23 points and the highest skill level is 7 why isn't there a team cap of 24 or 25 in 9-Ball where the skill level goes to 9?

   The use of the 23-rule in 9-Ball is in place for the same reason we utilize it in 8-ball with the additional requirement that only 2 senior skill level players may play in any given 9-ball team match. The 23-rule was adopted to encourage the beginning player and to discourage the stacked teams that might form or advance to the level where they might dominate a division every session. The fact that only 2 senior skill level players may play in a match in 9-Ball further compensates for the variance in skill levels between 8-Ball and 9-Ball.