Rule of the Week - Breaking

March 4, 2025 11:01 PM

by San Diego APA

Rule of the Week - Breaking

March 4, 2025 11:01 PM

by San Diego APA


Situation: Player breaks but the cue ball scratches without making contact with any object balls. What happens next?

The rack must be struck before a foul can occur. So the same player will attempt to break again.

Rule: Official Team Manual (OTM) page 45-46 section 3 “Breaking”: https://media.poolplayers.com/TMRB/Team-Manual-English.pdf

This section also covers:

  • Players physically unable to break and what happens.
  • Where the cue ball needs to be to break.
  • Legal and non-legal breaks.
  • When the break switches to your opponent.
  • Where the rack must be struck.
  • Soft breaking.

In addition, page 28 section 18 "Coaching" Note 3 states:

A team can only be charged with a time out after the rack has been struck in any individual game.

Note: a coach can help a player position the cue ball and even how to break and this isn’t a timeout.

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.


New 2025-26 Ladies Session Starts March 21st!
2/24/25 - 7:42 pm
Qualify for the 2026 APA Ladies 8-Ball Championships! Three Divisions with Alternating Schedules!Play Every Other Friday in One Divisionor Every Friday in Two Divisions! New Session Cosmopolitan (Break Room) Starts Friday, March 21st Hooters (Travel) & Primadonna (Break Room) Starts Friday, March 28th New Teams: To start the new session week one please have your info emailed into the League
New Session of Doubles 8-Ball Starting Soon!
3/7/25 - 8:02 pm
Play 8-Ball Doubles for a chance to go to Vegas! Starting Saturday April 19th Sign up your team by Fri April 11th to make the first week of the schedule Bi-Weekly Play *1st and 3rd Sat of the Month Team Skill Cap of 10 Consists of 2 to 3 players per roster Check out the "Session Ending Singles Board" award as part of playing doubles league. (see FAQ below for details) Click the following links
Player/Team Eligibility Requirements
3/6/25 - 3:03 am
4 Matches for that team by end of the regular Spring Session = Eligible for Spring Playoffs on that team. *6 Matches Lifetime in that Format by end of Spring Session = Eligible for the Spring Blast (playoff requirement must be met as well). **10 Matches Lifetime in that Format by end of Spring Session = Eligible for Cities & WPC Vegas (playoff requirement must be met as well). *For the Spri