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 anytime, 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.

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 at any time 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 advise directly to a player during a "time out" is INDEED a foul as mentioned above.

NOTE: At any time when it is your player's turn at the table, any mention by a team member of a "time out", "want to talk about it", or any action or comment that might suggest a time out from a team member then a time out must be taken if one is available to the player. If a time out is not available to the player, then the result of the bad time out call is a 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 timeout available, a timeout must be taken.

The following are 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, etc. in a non-distracting fashion, when it is NOT their turn. This is considered "sideline coaching" and 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 he or she has or what BALL to shoot or what BALL not to shoot when it is their turn at the table, without calling a time out, is a foul and the incoming shooter receives cue ball in hand.

LEGAL COACHING

The coach may:

• Offer coaching advice to the shooter
• Touch the table at any time
• Place the shooter’s cue ball on to 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

The coach may not:

• 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: In the event a judgement can not be made during the officiating due to the fact that the contact of balls are to close to call, then 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.