Canadian Cue Sport Association (CCS) - General League Play And Play Off Policies

GENERAL LEAGUE PLAY AND PLAY OFF POLICIES

This summary of Policies is meant as a guideline only. They are based on both experience and what happens when you're at a CCS Championship. Your League is free to establish its own unique set of Policies that works best in your circumstances. Whatever they are, it's always best if they are documented in your Team Handbook.

TEAM ROSTERS

Team Rosters shall consist of a maximum of 10 Players, any 4 or 5 of which play each Round of a Match, depending on the Match Format the League uses. A Player may be deleted from a Team Roster to make room for adding a Player. The Team Captain provides the final advice on who's on the Team and who's not.
Additional Players may be registered on the first Match they play in by advising the League in writing (include full name, address, postal code, phone numbers and email address) on the back of the Score Sheet to be turned in.
Once a Player is registered and played a Match with a Team:
1. That Player may not play for any other Team in the same Schedule.
2. That Player may play for another Team in a different Zone of the same Division only until the Team Roster Freeze.
3. That Player may play for another Team in another Division.
Team Rosters are frozen after the date voted on in the Captains Meeting. Any Team that can't field a Team on a regular basis after that date may have their situation reviewed by the League Executive who have the authority to make an exception.
For League Play Offs, Team Rosters must consist entirely of original Team Members who have played the minimum number of Matches as specified by Captain Meeting vote.
For ACS Championship Team Event Play, Team Rosters must consist of a minimum of three original Team Members but two or more Players may be added who were registered Players within the same League.
The League may have Team Restrictions as decided by Captain Meeting vote. This will generally involve the Ranking of Players whereby only a specified number of higher skilled Player(s) are allowed to play for a Team in any one Round of a Match. If exceeded, the game played by the ineligible Player becomes a forfeit and the Match scoring and results are adjusted accordingly. Repeated infractions will be reviewed by the League Executive for further action.

MATCH PLAY

Match Locations and Tables will be as assigned by the League Executive and/or the Play Off Director which may be one, two or three as required.
The Match must start within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, unless specified otherwise by the League Executive and/or the Play Off Director. A Player has 5 minutes to start an individual game from the time it's called. A first Round game only may be delayed until the final match up in that Round. When either is exceeded, a game forfeit occurs.
The World Pool-Billiard Association rule for slow play is 45 seconds between shots. A Player must be warned first. When one Player is placed 'on the clock', then all Players and all remaining Match games are also 'on the clock'. The clock starts when all balls stop moving from the previous shot. After 35 seconds, a 10 second warning will be given unless the Player has already assumed a shooting stance. The penalty is a 'cue ball in hand' foul.
The biggest single reason for slow Matches is Players not ready to play. All Captains are reminded to make sure each Player knows when they're next up, whether they rack or break, who they're playing and where.
For Play Offs, a Referee will be available upon request for Match Rulings as follows:
1. Judgement Calls on observed shots – the decision of the Floor Referee will be final.
2. All other Rulings – may be appealed to the Head Referee. If there is no Head Referee, the Play Off Director becomes the Head Referee.
In matters of Play Off Direction, Play Off Scheduling, Equipment etc. the decision of the Play Off Director is final.
If the wrong Player breaks, the game carries on. It's up to both Players to know who was supposed to break.
If it is noticed during a game that a Player is playing the wrong Player, the game is stopped and the right Players play. If it wasn't noticed until after the game was finished, the game will stand if they are scheduled to play each other later in the Match. If they don't, then that game is considered null and void.
If neither Player notices that the 8 Ball is no longer on the Table, the game is replayed with the same Player breaking.
Any Player who plays on another Table during a Match Game that they are playing will be assessed an automatic game forfeit.
The Canadian term of 'just a shot' will be accepted as having said 'safety'.
Everyone is reminded that display of poor sportsmanship may result in a game, match or play off forfeit as decided by the Head Referee and/or the Play Off Director and/or the League Executive.
Although the official World Rules specify no 'coaching' during a game, all Teams are asked to exercise good sportsmanship in this regard, especially in the first few weeks, when new Teams and new Players are adjusting to the Game and League Rules.
There will be no Make Up Matches played unless both Captains agree to same prior to the original scheduled Match date. If agreed to, then the Match must be played within 2 weeks. If not, then both Teams get no Points. Teams have the right of appeal to the League Executive should there be extenuating circumstances.
All Teams are required to pay the full Match Fees for the entire Schedule, even in the event of a forfeited Match or unplayed Make Up Match, as the Prize Fund pay out schedule depends on it.
A Team claiming a Match forfeit may take all the Match Points, half the Match Points, or none of the Match Points. Whatever they don't take, the other Team will automatically receive. If no advice is received, they will automatically be given all the Match Points.
Any Team that forfeits two consecutive Matches or a total of three during the League Schedule will be automatically suspended from all further competition. Any Team may also be suspended or expelled by the League Executive for conduct or actions deemed harmful to the best interests of the League as a whole. This may include the failure to turn in Match Fees. Should this occur, any and all Fees paid to date by the expelled Team including any rights to Prizes shall be forfeited in their entirety to the League.

PLAY OFF ELIGIBILITY

All Teams in all Divisions are in the Play Offs, unless specified otherwise by Captain Meeting vote. If there is more than one Play Off Group within a Division, Team placement is determined by Final Team Standings as of a specified date.
The League Executive reserves the right to place Teams in specified Play Off Groups.
All outstanding Team Fees must be paid unless prior special arrangements have been made with and agreed to by the League Executive.
Every Player on your Team Roster must be a fully paid, registered Member of the League.
Every Player must have played the minimum number of games as specified by Captain Meeting vote. Exceptions by the League Executive can only be made in the event of confirmed hospitalization or death.
A Player's eligibility may only be challenged prior to that Player's first game in the Match. If this is not done, the Player will be allowed to complete the Match. If upon challenge, the Player's eligibility cannot be confirmed to the satisfaction of the Play Off Director and/or League Executive, that player cannot play. No prior Matches played by such Player will be forfeited or replayed.
A Player's identity may only be challenged at the start of the Match or any subsequent Round. The Player, upon challenge, has 15 minutes to provide a means of identification suitable to the Play Off Director and/or the League Executive. If unable to do so, that Player cannot play, but the Team may substitute another confirmed eligible Player. Any games played already will count. If the Player's identity is proven false, the Penalty is immediate Match forfeit. No prior Matches played by such a Player will be forfeited or replayed.
Any Team that is a 'No Show' for a first Round Play Off Match will be also be considered an automatic 'forfeit' for their next Match unless prior advice was provided to the Play Off Director and/or the League Executive including their intention to appear and play in that next Match.

PLAY OFF FORMAT

All games and Matches are to be played according to the latest World Pool-Billiard Association Standardized Rules.
All Play Off Charts are double elimination unless specified otherwise by Captain Meeting vote. This means that a Team has not been eliminated until they lose twice.
For 5 Player Teams, the Match Format is 25 games. For 4 Player Teams, the Match Format is 16 games.
All Play Off Charts are 'seeded', unless specified otherwise by Captain Meeting vote. That means that, for example, in an 8 Team Chart, the #1 'seed' will play the #8 'seed' in the first round, etc. If there is no #8, then #1 will receive the first bye, etc. The 'seedings' are based on Team Standings as of a specified date. If an unequal number of Matches have been played to date, the League Secretary will assign one-half the normal Match Points to equalize same.
Each Play Off Group will be Non-Handicapped or Handicapped, as determined by Captain Meeting vote. In 25 game Matches it will either be a simple Race to 13 games won or “On Points' with Handicaps. For 16 game Matches, it will either be a simple Race to 9 games won or 'On Points' with Handicaps. The Match continues until one Team can no longer win.
Any Handicap is to be computed and applied at the start of the Match or each Round in the case of Substitutions.
The correctness of a Score Sheet may only be queried for the current and/or the last Round played. Any Round already played previous to that will be considered final as per the “Home' Team Score Sheet. A 'Home' Team Score Sheet signed by both Captains will be considered final and may not be replayed for any reason.
The higher 'seeded' Team has the choice of being 'Home' or 'Visitor'. In CCS Championships you flip a coin.
Players must be listed on both the 'Home' and 'Visitor' Score Sheets before the start of the first Round they play in.
Substitutions are allowed prior to the start of a Round, providing the other Team is notified in advance. If an unplayable match up occurs (can't play the same Player twice), the Team who caused it will be penalized by the awarding of a win or a 10 to 0 to the other Team.