Rules

League format, match deadlines, reporting rules, and 8-ball / 9-ball match rules.

League Contact:

League Rules & Format

$100 buy-in. Everyone gets payout based on wins and head-to-head. If a winner by head-to-head cannot be determined, those players split those payout positions.
At the front counter, pay for your table time when you arrive and say you are playing in the Bollman League.
You can start early if the table is available.
45-second shot clock. Be flexible, but keep the pace moving.
If there is a session after yours, please vacate the table by that start time so the next session can begin on time.
If you are the last match on a table, return the balls to the front desk when finished.
Try to play on your assigned table, but be flexible when needed.

Reschedule if there is an emergency, when possible.
Let your opponent know if you are going to be late.
Let your opponent know if you play in other leagues or divisions and scheduling is tight.
If you want someone to watch a close hit, ask before the shot.
If there is no contact, no call, or no text, the player who shows up does not have to make up the match and can take the win by forfeit.

End-of-session deadline will be 24 hours before the end-of-season payout unless otherwise specified or arrangements are made with the league.
All regular-season matches must be played and reported by the posted deadline.
After the deadline, standings are locked. No additional matches will count for that session’s standings.

Match results, including forfeits, must be reported through the Bollman League website before the end-of-season deadline.
Only one player needs to submit the result. The opponent does not re-enter the score.
After a result is submitted, the match is marked Submitted while it waits for the opponent to review it.
The opponent can confirm the submitted result or dispute it if something is incorrect.
If the opponent confirms the result, the match is marked Completed and counts toward the standings.
If the opponent does not respond within 24 hours, the submitted result is automatically confirmed and marked Completed.
If a result is disputed, the match is marked Disputed and the session admin will review and correct the result.
Forfeits must also be reported through the website using the forfeit reporting option.
If a result is not reported by the deadline, the match is treated as unplayed.
For reporting problems or disputes that cannot be resolved in the website, contact the league at 757-279-8669 or bollmanleague@gmail.com.

Any match not played and reported by the deadline is scored as a double forfeit.
A double forfeit gives no points or credit to either player.
This applies no matter the reason, including scheduling issues, miscommunication, no-shows, emergencies, or disputes.
The league will not decide who was at fault after the deadline.

If one player is late, especially with no call or text, the player who is there may wait and play with penalties, reschedule, or take the forfeit if the opponent is more than 30 minutes late.
10 minutes late: 1-game penalty.
20 minutes late: 2-game penalty.
25 minutes late: 3-game penalty.
30 minutes late: forfeit loss for the late player.
To lock in the forfeit, the player must notify the league and report it as a forfeit win.

These apply to 8-ball matches. General fouls and sportsmanship carry over to 9-ball unless noted.

Matches are best 2 out of 3 sets.
Sets 1 and 2 are race to 5 games.
Any handicap games apply in Sets 1 and 2 only.
If players split the first two sets, Set 3 is a straight race to 3 with no handicaps.

Moving any ball with the rake is a foul.
Moving multiple balls is a foul.
If one ball is moved and it does not come into play with another ball, the opponent may return it to the original spot or leave it where it lies.

Call the 8-ball if it is questionable.
Call banks, kicks, combos, difficult shots, or which ball if balls are close together.
If the shot is obvious, do not over-call every single shot. Use common sense.

For anything not listed here, the league follows current BCA league 8-ball rules.
When in doubt, pause the game, get another player to watch if needed, and lean on honesty and BCA rules.

Matches are best 2 out of 3 sets.
Each player has a 9-ball rating of 5, 6, or 7.
In each set, each player races to their own number.
Example: 5 vs 7 means the 5-rated player races to 5 and the 7-rated player races to 7.
Sets 1 and 2 are race to player ratings.
If players split the first two sets, Set 3 is a straight race to 3 with no handicaps.

Legal break: cue ball behind the headstring, hit the 1-ball first, and either pocket a ball or drive at least 4 balls to a rail.
Illegal break: if those requirements are not met.
After an illegal break, the other player may choose to re-rack and break.

If the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal break in any pocket except the two bottom corner pockets, it counts as a win for the breaker.
If the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal break in one of the two bottom corner pockets, spot the 9-ball and the breaker continues shooting from where the cue ball stops.

Standard fouls include scratch, failure to hit the lowest-numbered ball first, no rail after contact, cue ball off the table, obvious double-hits, push shots, and similar fouls.
All standard fouls result in ball in hand anywhere on the table for the incoming player.

The three-foul rule is in effect in 9-ball.
Fouls must be consecutive in the same rack to count.
A player with 2 consecutive fouls in a game must be warned before they shoot again.
A third straight foul in that rack is a loss of rack.
Any legal shot with no foul resets that player’s foul count to zero.