Pocketed Balls (outside forces) - Rule of the Week

December 26, 2025 6:22 PM

Pocketed Balls (outside forces) - Rule of the Week

December 26, 2025 6:22 PM

Situation: While shooting my opponent doesn't make a ball but one of their balls sits on the edge of the pocket. They walk away from the table and it falls into the pocket. Is it still their turn?

No, Once a ball has stopped all motion, it cannot move again without outside forces affecting it. Therefore, if a ball which has been hanging in a pocket for more than a few seconds suddenly drops, it is to be placed back on the table where it was originally sitting.

Rule: OTM page 48-49 section 7 "Pocketed Balls": https://media.poolplayers.com/TMRB/Team-Manual-English.pdf

Note: The debate over "outside forces" is usually the discussion around this rule in some cases. The APA HQ and SDAPA is if the ball (5-ball in this example) wasn't hit by another ball then it is considered outside forces that caused it to drop.

This section also covers:

Balls that don't stay in the pocket
Two frozen balls jammed in the pocket

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.

Lagging - Rule of the Week

3/30/26 - 5:00 pm

Situation: Both players don't lag at the approx same time, is this a re-lag? No, only the following conditions will result in a re-lag: If the lagged balls make contact with each other, both players fail to strike the foot rail during the lag, or a ball stops in the jaw of a pocket, re-lag. Rule: Official Team Manual (OTM) page 44 section 1 “Lagging”: https://media.poolplayers.com/TMRB/Team-Manual

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