General Rules

Player Responsibility

You are responsible for knowing the rules, applied rulings, regulations, and schedules that pertain to any CSI event you enter. You are also responsible for cooperating with all referees and event officials, and for accurately providing all requested information concerning your participation in the event.

Event officials and referees will provide information as required by the rules to the best of their ability and knowledge. However, the ultimate responsibility for knowing the correct information still rests with you. You may still incur penalties if you commit a foul or violate the rules as a result of incorrect information provided to you by an event official or referee.

Acceptance of Provided Equipment

Once your match begins, you accept all provided equipment as standard and legal. After a match has begun, only a referee or event official may declare the equipment defective or unsuitable for play. If the equipment is declared unsuitable for play, all games previously played on that equipment will be counted.

During a match, it is a foul if you attempt to modify provided equipment without the permission of a referee or event official. The foul occurs immediately upon the attempt, regardless of whether a stroke or shot is attempted.

Use of Equipment

CSI reserves the right to prohibit any equipment it deems untested or inappropriate, or that has not been evaluated by the CSI National Office.

• a.You may use a billiards glove.
• b.You may use either a built-in or an add-on cue extender.
• c.You may use your own chalk provided that it closely matches the color of the cloth. First offense: warning. Second and subsequent offenses: foul.
• d.You may not shoot while using more than two mechanical bridges at any one time. A bridge may only be used to support the cue or another bridge. Penalty: foul upon execution of the shot.
• e.You may not shoot while using any item to support or elevate your bridge hand. Penalty: foul upon execution of the shot.
• f.You may use your cue to help align a shot and to measure angles and distances for bank shots and kick shots. No other cues, bridges or equipment may be used. Penalty: foul immediately upon the violation.
• g.You may only use your vision to judge whether the cue ball or an object ball would fit through a gap. You may not use any ball, cue, rack, chalk cube, or any other equipment as a width-measuring device. Penalty: foul immediately upon the violation.

You may not wear any electronic headgear, use any electronic device, or voluntarily impede your hearing during a match. This includes headphones, earphones, earplugs, Bluetooth accessories, and cell phones. Hearing aids are permitted. First violation: warning. Subsequent violations: foul.

Cue Requirements

Your cues must meet CSI specifications. It is a foul if you shoot with a cue that does not meet CSI specifications. The cue must be removed from play.

Start Time of Match

The start time for your match is the scheduled time or the time the match is announced, whichever is later. If you are not present at the table with your equipment within the time allowed by Tournament Administrators, you lose the match by forfeit.

Playing Without a Referee

When a referee is not available, the Tournament Director or designated event official will fulfill the duties of the referee.

Beginning and End of Game or Match

Your match or game begins when the cue tip strikes the cue ball during any stroke on the break shot.

Your match or game ends when the game-winning ball is legally pocketed and all balls on the table have stopped moving. After that time, there can be no fouls involving the game on the table for that game. However, unsportsmanlike conduct immediately after a game or match may be penalized by loss of that game or match, or by other penalty at the referee's discretion.

No Practice Allowed During Match (Tournament Play Only)

It is a foul if you practice at any time during your match, including during time-outs and periods of suspended play. "Practice" is defined as any stroke or shot that is not a part of your match, taken on any table at the event venue.

If the first offense of a practice foul occurs between games there is no penalty applied, but a warning will be issued. For second and subsequent offenses between games, the offended player is awarded the option to break or, if it is their turn to break, ball in hand on the first shot after the break.

Stopping Play

You may stop play to request the assistance of a referee if you believe that a foul may occur or has occurred, or if you need information concerning the rules. You must notify your opponent and your opponent must acknowledge your request. If it is your opponent's inning, you must notify them before they are down on the shot. It is a foul if you interrupt your opponent after they are down on a shot.

If your opponent requests that play be stopped in order to summon a referee, you must acknowledge and honor that request. After play has stopped, it is a foul if you take any stroke or shot until a referee authorizes you to shoot.

Suspended Play

Play may be suspended at the referee's discretion. It is a foul if you take any stroke or shot while play is suspended.

Time-Out

If time-outs are allowed by event regulations, you may only take a time-out during your inning, or when it is your turn to break. Each player is allowed one time-out per match, limited to five minutes. If you exceed five minutes, you will forfeit one game for every two-minute period you fail to return. Time-outs are not allowed in team play during CSI sanctioned tournaments.

Lag for Break

Each player begins with ball in hand behind the head string, one to the left and one to the right of the long string. The players shoot at approximately the same time toward the foot cushion. The ball must contact the foot cushion. The player whose ball comes to rest closest to the head cushion wins the lag and may either break or require their opponent to break.

You lose the lag if your ball: does not contact the foot cushion; contacts the foot cushion more than once; crosses the long string; contacts a side cushion; is pocketed or jumped off the table; or comes to rest past the nose of the head cushion.

Breaking Subsequent Games of a Match

In matches consisting of multiple games, the Administrative Authority of the event will set the procedure for determining which player or team will break subsequent racks.

Racking Procedures

You must rack for yourself when you are breaking. You must rack the balls as tightly as possible — each ball should touch all balls adjacent to it.

After you rack the balls, your opponent may inspect the rack but must not touch any ball. If your opponent is not satisfied with the rack, they may require you to re-rack one time. After one re-rack, if both players cannot agree that the rack is suitable for play, a referee must be called. The referee will rack the balls and the opponent must accept that rack as is.

Shot Clock Procedures

There is normally no time limit for you to take a shot. However, a referee may implement a shot clock if you are delaying a match unnecessarily or in an unsportsmanlike manner. The shot clock is set to 45 seconds.

• —The shot clock does not apply to the first shot after the break in any game.
• —The clock starts when the previous shot ends, or when you have possession of the cue ball for ball in hand.
• —If you are not down on the shot when ten seconds remain, a "ten" warning is announced. Failure to strike the cue ball within ten seconds is a foul.
• —If you are already down on the shot with ten seconds remaining, the clock pauses. If you stand up, "ten" is announced and the clock resumes.
• —Each player is permitted one 45-second extension per rack. If both players are on the hill, each is permitted two extensions. Extensions must be verbally requested before the clock expires.

Calling Ball and Pocket

This rule applies only to games designated as call shot games. You must designate the called ball and the called pocket before each shot, verbally or by a clear, unambiguous gesture. You are not required to call obvious shots, or to indicate incidental kisses, caroms, or cushion contacts that do not constitute bank shots or kick shots.

• —You may only call one ball on a shot. If you call more than one ball, or use any conditional phrase, your inning ends after the shot regardless of whether you pocket any ball.
• —If you are not certain what shot your opponent is attempting, it is your responsibility to ask before they are down on the shot.
• —You must always call shots defined as not obvious, regardless of whether your opponent asks.
• —For not-obvious shots, you are only required to designate the called ball and called pocket. You do not have to specify which ball is struck first, cushions involved in a bank, or use the words "combination," "bank," or "kick."
• —If you do not call a shot defined as not obvious and you pocket any ball on such a shot, your inning ends. The incoming player accepts the table in position.

Calling a Safety

This rule applies to 8-Ball and 14.1 Continuous. If playing a safety, you must communicate with your opponent in a clear and unambiguous manner. Safeties must be called verbally — gestures are not sufficient, no matter how clear they may appear. The non-shooting player should acknowledge a called safety clearly and unambiguously.

Legal Stroke

You must use a legal stroke. Any lifting, sideways, or other brushing motion of the cue, such that the force propelling the cue ball does not primarily result from a forward motion of the cue, is a foul.

Legal Shot

For a shot to be legal, the first ball contacted by the cue ball must be a legal object ball (or a simultaneous hit with a legal and illegal object ball may occur). After that contact, either:

• a.any object ball must be pocketed, or
• b.any object ball or the cue ball must contact a cushion.

It is a foul if one of those requirements is not met. If the ball used to meet the cushion contact requirement is declared frozen to a cushion at the beginning of the shot, that ball must leave the cushion it is frozen to and then contact another cushion or another object ball before contacting its frozen cushion.

Cue Ball Frozen to Object Ball or Cushion

The cue ball is not considered frozen to an object ball or cushion unless it is declared frozen immediately prior to the shot. If the cue ball is frozen to a legal object ball, it is legal to shoot toward the object ball provided you use a legal stroke. If the cue ball is frozen to a cushion, it is legal to shoot the cue ball into the cushion.

Penalties for Fouls

If you commit a foul, or otherwise violate the rules, you are penalized according to the General Rules and the specific rules of the game being played. Unless otherwise stated, if you commit a foul: your inning ends and your opponent receives ball in hand.

Some fouls specify a warning for the first offense during a match. However, if you continually commit such fouls from match to match, it may be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and the penalties may be more severe.

Successive Fouls

This rule applies to 9-Ball, 10-Ball, 14.1 Continuous and One Pocket. You always begin a game with a successive foul count of zero.

• 1.When you commit a foul, your successive foul count is one ("on one foul") and you incur the normal penalty for the foul.
• 2.When you are on one foul, if your next shot is legal your successive foul count resets to zero. If you foul again, your count is two ("on two fouls") and you incur the normal penalty.
• 3.When you are on two fouls, another foul is your third successive foul and you incur the penalty indicated by specific game rules. After the penalty, your successive foul count resets to zero.
• 4.When your opponent is on two fouls, before they shoot you or a referee must warn them that they are on two fouls, and they must acknowledge the warning. If the warning is not issued and they foul, it is not considered a third successive foul.

Calling Fouls / Fouls Not Called

A foul may only be called by a player playing in the game or by a referee that has been properly called to the table. Any foul not called before the next stroke is taken is considered to have not occurred.

Multiple Fouls

If you commit more than one foul during a shot, only the foul that carries the most severe penalty is enforced. However, unsportsmanlike conduct may be penalized in conjunction with any foul or violation.

One Foot on the Floor

It is a foul if you do not have at least one foot in contact with the floor when the cue tip strikes the cue ball. Footwear must be worn and be normal with regard to size, shape, and manner of wear.

Balls in Motion

It is a foul if you shoot while any ball on the table is in motion. A spinning ball is in motion.

Scratch

It is a foul if you scratch.

Jumped Balls

It is a foul if you cause any ball to be jumped off the table.

Push Shot

It is a foul if you shoot a push shot.

Double Hit

It is a foul if your cue tip strikes the cue ball more than once on a single shot. It is also a foul if your cue tip is still in contact with the cue ball when the cue ball strikes an object ball. However, such a stroke may be considered legal if the object ball is legal and the cue ball strikes it at a very fine angle.

Miscues

A miscue is not necessarily a foul.

Disturbed Balls (Cue Ball Fouls Only)

During a game, it is not a foul if you accidentally touch or move a single stationary object ball with any part of your body, clothing or equipment, unless the disturbed ball has an effect on the outcome of the shot.

"Effect on the outcome of the shot" means that either the disturbed ball contacts any ball set in motion as a result of the shot, or the base of any ball set in motion passes through the area originally occupied by the disturbed ball (approximately a seven-inch circle centered on the original position).

If a disturbed ball has no effect on the outcome of the shot, your opponent has the option to leave the disturbed ball where it came to rest or to restore it to its original position before the next shot.

It is a foul if you disturb the cue ball, disturb more than one object ball, a disturbed ball contacts any other ball, or you disturb a ball that is in motion. Your opponent has no restoration option in these cases.

Jump Shots and Massé Shots

Jump shots are legal shots. However, it is a foul if you intentionally cause the cue ball to rise off the bed of the table by "digging under" or "scooping" the cue ball. If such a motion is unintentional, it is considered a miscue and not a foul in and of itself.

Position of Ball

The position of a ball is determined by its base.

Shooting with Ball in Hand Behind the Head String

When you have ball in hand behind the head string, it is a foul if:

• 1.The first ball contacted by the cue ball is behind the head string, unless before that contact you first shoot the cue ball past the head string and it contacts a cushion at a point below the head string.
• 2.Before contacting the first object ball, the first cushion contacted by the cue ball is behind the head string.
• 3.You place the cue ball outside of the kitchen and shoot.

Ball in Hand Placement

When you have ball in hand, you may use your hand or any part of your cue, including the tip, to position the cue ball. Once you have picked up or moved the cue ball to take ball in hand, it remains in hand until it is contacted by the tip on your next stroke. You may place the cue ball, pick it up, and replace it successive times until you take that stroke.

When placing or moving the cue ball, it is a foul if you touch or disturb any object ball with the cue ball or your hand. Your opponent has no restoration option.

Marking the Table

It is a foul if you intentionally mark the table in any way to assist you in executing any shot. Marking includes the deliberate placement of chalk or any other object at a specific point on a rail or cushion to aid alignment, or placing any mark on any part of the table. The foul occurs at the moment you mark the table, regardless of whether you remove the mark or whether a shot is taken.

Deliberate Foul

During a game, deliberate fouls include:

• a.Deflecting cue ball on break: After a stroke on a break shot, it is a deliberate foul if you intentionally touch or deflect the cue ball. Your opponent may either re-rack and break or require you to re-rack and break again (no re-rack in 9-Ball or 10-Ball).
• b.Cue ball: It is a deliberate foul if you intentionally strike, move or deflect the cue ball with anything other than your cue tip; pick up the cue ball while it or any other ball is in motion; end your inning by picking up the cue ball or refusing to shoot; or cause the cue ball to move by contacting or moving any part of the table.
• c.Object balls: It is a deliberate foul if you intentionally stop or deflect any object ball that is in motion, or intentionally move any stationary object ball, by any method other than a legal shot.
• d.Placing hand in pocket: It is a deliberate foul if you catch any ball that is falling into a pocket, or place your hand into a pocket while any ball in play is in motion near that pocket.

Upon the first violation of any sub-section of Rule 1-40 during a match, you will receive a mandatory warning that second and subsequent violations of the same sub-section will be penalized by loss of game.

Coaching

During your match, it is a foul if you ask for, or intentionally receive, assistance in planning or executing any shot. It is also a foul if you receive unsolicited assistance from a spectator associated with you (e.g., spouse/partner, relative, teammate), including being alerted to an opponent's foul.

The Administrative Authority of the event may modify this rule for team or doubles play.

Non-Shooting Player Requirement

It is unsportsmanlike conduct if you intentionally distract your opponent or interfere with their play. The non-shooting player has an obligation to pay attention to the game on the table, including clearly and unambiguously acknowledging called shots and safeties.

If asked, the non-shooting player must provide information to the shooter concerning the game on the table. Any information provided must be given in good faith and, to the best of your ability, be correct.

Concession of Game

You must not concede any game at any time for any reason. "Concede" means that, through any verbal or non-verbal action, you lead your opponent to believe that you are awarding them the game before its normal conclusion. Before a game has ended, you must refrain from statements such as "good game," putting away your cue, beginning to mark a score sheet, or any other similar verbal or non-verbal action.

If you concede a game, in addition to losing that game you will receive a mandatory warning. A second violation results in the loss of the conceded game and an additional one-game deduction. A third violation results in loss of match.

Concession of Match

When your opponent is on the hill, if you make a motion to unscrew your playing cue during your opponent's inning, you lose the match.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

You must not commit any act that is unsportsmanlike in nature. This includes, but is not limited to: actions that are embarrassing, disruptive, or detrimental to other players, spectators, referees, event officials, or the sport in general. Offering to gamble with opponents or spectators during your match is specifically defined as unsportsmanlike conduct.

You are responsible for your actions at all times while you are present at the event venue, whether playing or not. You may be penalized with or without warning. Penalties are at the discretion of the referee or event officials.

Disqualification from any CSI event for unsportsmanlike conduct will result in forfeiture of any prize money, trophy, or award won by that player or team.

Spotting Balls

Balls to be spotted are placed on the long string with the number facing up. A single ball is placed on the foot spot. If more than one ball is to be spotted, they are placed on the long string in ascending numerical order, beginning on the foot spot and moving toward the foot of the table. If there is no room below the foot string, balls are spotted on the long string above the foot string, moving toward the head of the table.

If other balls interfere with spotting, the ball(s) to be spotted will be placed on the long string as close as possible to the foot spot without moving the interfering balls. Whenever possible, spotted balls will be placed frozen to interfering object balls or other spotted balls.

Jawed Balls

If balls are wedged in the mouth of a pocket, a referee will inspect them and judge whether, if they were free to fall directly downward, the balls would come to rest on the bed of the table or in the pocket. The referee will then place the balls in the positions as judged and play will continue.

Non-Player Interference

If balls move because of the action of a non-player or other influence beyond the control of the players, a referee will restore the balls as nearly as possible to their original positions and play will continue. If the interference occurs during a shot and has an effect on the outcome of the shot, the shooter shoots again after the restoration. If the referee judges that restoration is not possible, the game will be replayed.

Balls Settling or Moving

If a ball settles or otherwise moves by itself, it will remain in the position it assumed and play continues. It is not a foul if a ball settles or otherwise moves by itself as you are shooting.

If a ball is hanging on the lip of a pocket and falls into that pocket by itself after being stationary for five seconds or longer, it will be replaced as closely as possible to the position it was in prior to falling. The five-second count does not begin until all balls in play have stopped moving.