Log In | Register
About Game Rules 🏗 Search Pool Halls 👍 Like Us

FindTourneys.com

Your gateway to pool tournaments

Browse Upcoming Tournaments → View Past Tournaments →

Know of a tournament that isn't listed? Click the green + button in the bottom-right corner to add it!

❌

Leave Us a Message

NAPA 10-Ball Coaching and Officiating

Below is a summary of the official NAPA (North American Pool Shooters Association) rules for 10-ball pool. Always refer to the official rulebook for the most up-to-date details.

Coaching & Time Outs

NAPA offers “no coaching” and “coaching” league formats.

In the NAPA “no coaching” league format, players are not allowed to receive coaching at any time while it is their turn at the pool table. They are allowed to receive coaching when it is not their turn at the table.

NAPA Singles leagues are always “no coaching” and sideline coaching is not allowed either, unless it is a designated youth league.

In the NAPA “coaching” league format, the following grid must be followed at all times during league and match play.

Player Class Skill Levels Time Outs Allowed per Game
Grandmaster Class 110 and higher None
Master Class 90 to 109 None
Class A 70 to 89 None
Class B 50 to 69 1
Class C 30 to 49 1
Class D 10 to 29 2
Class E 9 and under 2

The shooter’s coach must be a shooter on his or her team. Only the shooter, team captain, acting team captain, or designated coach may call a time out. The designated coach is allowed to change at any time during a shooter's match. The designated coach does not have to always be the same person during the shooter's match. If a time out is called, the time out must be taken. The coach may not consult, converse, or communicate with another person other than the shooter once the time out has been called/requested or during the time out.

Note: A 3rd party not playing on a team who is participating in “friendly chatter” or offering “friendly advice” when it is not a player's turn at the table is not considered a foul. A 3rd party giving advice directly to a player during a time out is a foul.
Note: If it is your player's turn at the table, any mention/suggestion of a “time out” by a team member means a time out must be taken if one is available. If no time out is available, the result is a cue ball in hand foul for the opponent.

It is not a foul for the shooter to ask a teammate if he or she has any time outs left to use; however, if the shooter does have a time out available, a time out must be taken.

Not Considered Coaching

  • Wishing your teammate good luck.
  • Reminding your teammate to chalk up.
  • Reminding your teammate to call their pocket.
  • Telling your teammate a foul has occurred.
  • Telling your teammate that he has ball-in-hand.
  • Answering or asking a rule question.
  • Complimenting your teammate for good play.
  • Quietly discussing strategy/advice in a non-distracting fashion when it is not their turn (“sideline coaching”). This is legal; however, all sideline coaching must cease immediately after your opponent’s turn has ended (the last ball stops rolling).
Note: Telling your teammate which category of balls they have, or what ball to shoot (or not shoot) when it is their turn without calling a time out is a foul. The incoming shooter receives cue ball in hand.

Legal Coaching

  • Offer coaching advice to the shooter.
  • Touch the table at any time.
  • Place the shooter’s cue ball onto the table into position in a cue ball in hand situation.
  • Use the shooter’s pool cue to show an example of how to line up a shot.

Illegal Coaching

  • Mark any part of the table with chalk or any foreign object. Placing the chalk on the table is not considered marking the table.
  • Touch any ball at any time (except the cue ball in a ball in hand situation).
Note: Any violation of these two items is cue ball in hand for the opponent.

Time Out Time Limit

A shooter’s time out limit cannot exceed 1 minute. Exceeding 1 minute is a foul and the incoming shooter has cue ball in hand.

Officiating

In certain situations players in a match may need a 3rd party to watch a shot to ensure the shot being performed does not result in a foul.

Any player on the participating teams may officiate a shot.

When officiating a shot it is recommended that a video camera be used and it is highly preferred that slow motion video be used. Slow motion video apps are available for Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone.

Any person's smart phone can be used for the video capture.

Note: If a judgement cannot be made during officiating because contact is too close to call, “tie goes to the shooter”.
Note: If the shooter proceeds with the next shot (after having been asked by the opponent to wait), it is a foul and the opponent is awarded ball-in-hand. If the opponent does not dispute the shot before the next shot is played, the shot cannot be questioned and is assumed legal.

More Information

For full official rules, visit the NAPA Rulebook.