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.

Continuous Play - Rule of the Week

3/16/26 - 5:00 pm

Situation: The other team stated the next player they are posting is just 5 mins out. They are saying they have 15 mins until it is a forfeit, is this true? No, once a team match begins, play must be continuous. Upon completion of each individual match, the team must have another player available to play or the remaining match(es) will be forfeited. The San Diego APA League Office deems "continuo

World Qualifier (Cities): Qualification Can Be Lost

3/12/26 - 6:00 pm

Official Team Manual (OTM) “Tournament Information and Rules”: Players Must Maintain Current Membership If your membership is not current, you are not eligible to participate in the World Championships. If any of your teammates are not available at renewal time, consider renewing for them so they do not get dropped from the roster and become ineligible. Notify your Local League Management immedia

New Session of Doubles 8-Ball Starting Soon!

3/10/26 - 9:00 pm

Play 8-Ball Doubles for a chance to go to Vegas! Starting Saturday April 18th New Teams: To start the new session week one please have your info emailed (sandiego@apaleagues.com) into the League Office no later than Monday April 13th. Teams can join after week one. Returning Teams: You may update your roster and team name throughout the session. However, Host Locations are locked once play begins