NAPA 8-Ball Match Play Rules
Below is a summary of the official NAPA (North American Pool Shooters Association) rules for 9-ball pool. Always refer to the official rulebook for the most up-to-date details.
MATCH TIME & ADVANCED NOTICE
Teams, Singles, Scotch Doubles, and Scotch Triples matches are to commence at the scheduled match time displayed on the main NAPA website for the division being played in. If a team is a no show after 15 minutes have passed from the match start time it is considered an automatic forfeit for that team.
ADVANCED NOTICE EXCEPTION:
Local league operators are allowed to set their own Advanced Notice rules for their local leagues. Advanced Notice rules allow for a team to give advanced notice of their inability to participate on the scheduled date and time of a match and therefore should be granted a make up match. As long as a team (or a singles player in a singles league) follows the Advance Notice rules of the local league operator no foul and no forfeit points should be given out and a make up match will be scheduled.PLAYING TABLE - HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The home team always has "home field advantage". The home team gets to decide which table is to be used at the playing location. All matches are to commence at the designated league night starting time. If the preferred table chosen by the home team is occupied at the designated league start time another table must be chosen immediately. Under no circumstance should a visiting team be forced to wait for a table to be available which would postpone the league match to a later time.
WHO PLAYS FIRST - HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The home team gets to determine if they would like to put up a shooter first or if the visiting team puts up a shooter first. After this is announced the designated team to put up first must announce which shooter they will be playing first. The opposing team can then put up the shooter they would like to challenge. After each match, putting up a shooter first will rotate between the teams until all of the matches are over.
NOTE: Once a team fields a player the fielded player can not be changed.
THE "BLIND PUT UP OPTION"
The local League operator, at the beginning of the session, may exercise the "Blind Put Up Option". The Blind Put Up Option requires that very high skill level players be put up blind before their match. In other words they must be fielded for their match during league night before knowing who their opponent is. The options available for the league operators are:
- 130 skill level and higher.
- 140 skill level and higher.
- 150 skill level and higher.
PAUSED MATCH
If a player must prematurely quit, leave, or pause a game in the middle of a "match in progress", the pausing player shall get full credit for all games played up until the point of pausing, if the local league operator deems that the reasons for pausing fall under the categories health, occupation, family crisis, or death. The paused game shall be allowed to recommence anytime in the following 14 days from it's previous point of pause.
If, at the time the match was paused, both players of the paused match were in the middle of a "game in progress", THAT GAME will be awarded to the non-pausing player, however, all remaining games of the match (if any are left to play) must remain open for contest when the match is resumed at a later date and time. A screen shot should be taken of the match score card and sent to your local league operator so that the match score can be properly documented.
If the match can not physically be resumed within the 14 day window, all remaining games will be awarded to the non-pausing player.
If the match was paused for any other reason other than the reasons mentioned above, the entire match shall be a forfeited win for the non-pausing player.
MAKE UP MATCH DEADLINE
NAPA League Operators may set a Make Up Match Deadline for each session. Any make up matches that are not completed by this set deadline shall be ruled a forfeit.
More Information
For full official rules, visit the NAPA Rulebook.