Rule of the Week - Switching Coaches During a Timeout

January 27, 2025 9:43 PM

by San Diego APA

Rule of the Week - Switching Coaches During a Timeout

January 27, 2025 9:43 PM

by San Diego APA


Situation: My opponents team calls a timeout and one of the players on the team starts to give the timeout. After the coach has already talked to the player at the table they switch coaches to someone else on the team. Is this allowed?

No, during their turn at the table, the shooter may discuss strategy only with the coach designated for that time-out. A coach may get a group consensus from other players on their team and pass it on to the shooter, but only the designated coach may pass it on.

A team can change coaches from timeout to timeout but not during a timeout. In addition this is the only non-shooting Ball In Hand foul (see page 54 section f of the OTM).

Rule: Official Team Manual (OTM) page 28-30 “Coaching”: https://media.poolplayers.com/TMRB/Team-Manual-English.pdf

This section also covers:
  • Ineligible players
  • What is considered a timeout and what is not
  • Number of timeouts based on SL and divison format

You can submit a "Rule of the Week" to the league office:

  • Email to sandiego@apaleagues.com.
  • Email Subject Line must read “SDAPA Rule of the Week”
  • Clearly state the rule/situation and if you know where the answer is found please provide those details.


Eligibility: Playoffs, Tri-Annuals and World Qualifiers
3/25/26 - 7:00 am
Match Requirements for Eligibility Related to Playoffs, Tri-Annuals, and World Qualifiers 4 Matches on that team by the end of the regular session (associated with the Tri-Annuals being run) → Eligible for Playoffs for that team. 6 Matches Lifetime in that format by the end of the session (associated with the Tri-Annuals being run; playoff matches in that session count toward the 6) → Eli
SDAPA Sending SIX (6) 8-Ball Teams to WPC
3/24/26 - 6:53 pm
More Vegas-bound teams to represent San Diego at the 2026 APA World Pool Championships! SDAPA earns SIX (6) 8-Ball WPC Slots For the first time since 2012, San Diego APA (SDAPA) will be sending six (6) 8-ball teams to Vegas for the 8-Ball World Pool Championships (WPC). In 2025, SDAPA sent five (5) 8-ball teams to compete with the 793 teams that participated in 8-Ball. This year we are adding to t
Equipment - Rule of the Week
3/23/26 - 5:00 pm
Situation: The host location we are playing at has a few tables. The home team wants to play on a table we believe isn't the best one due to the location of the table. Who decides on which table? Unless the Host Location management designates a specific table for league play, the Home team picks which table and cue ball to use. You must use the same equipment for the remainder of the matches, un