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GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
The Canadian Cue Sport Association strongly encourages and promotes Good Sportsmanship in League Play and Tournaments. Why? Because competing in Amateur League Play and CCS Tournaments is supposed to be fun; not a hard time. For nearly everyone, it's a hobby and entertainment; not a job or a career. In organized competition: You can win the Match and still be a Loser. You can lose the Match and still be a Winner. It's the Sportsmanship that you display that makes the difference. So win or lose…Always be a Winner! Have Fun…and be Fun to be around. WHAT IS GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP?According to the dictionary, it's: ....'to treat with courtesy and respect' ....'a reputation for being just, good, fair, etc.' HOW DOES IT APPLY TO LEAGUE PLAY and TOURNAMENTS?- Know the Rules
- It's to your advantage and your opponent does have the right for the game to be played by all the Rules, regardless of whether you know or like them.
- Always Give Your Best Game
- You may be way better or way worse than your opponent,
You may be on your game or totally off,
You may be way ahead or way behind, but
....always give it your best shot and then leave the game on the Table.
- No 'Sharking'- Win on Merit, Not Gamesmanship
- What's sharking? Any act that serves to upset your opponent or their concentration during a Match.
- Here are a few examples you may have experienced yourself:
Acting Aggressive
- Using excessive profanity
- Making rude or sarcastic comments (Don't miss).
- Smashing or throwing your cue around, slamming chalk down, etc.
- Stroking while your opponent is racking and breaking one second later.
- Refusing to acknowledge an obvious foul or objecting to a shot being refereed.
Acting Annoying
- Insisting on unnecessary repeated re-racks.
- Deliberately and excessively slowing the pace of the game.
- Making reference to a likely loss of game.
- Making your opponent hunt for the chalk.
- Seeing whether your opponent's next shot is makeable even when there is little chance of a foul and/or even before they've had a chance to look.
- Asking your opponent their shot when it's completely obvious, or before they've even decided or even worse…just before they are about to shoot.
- Loud complaints about you name it – the playing equipment, the playing conditions, the pool gods; whatever.
Creating A Distraction
- Standing close to the Table in your opponent's vision.
- Standing over the shoulder of the Player as they are shooting.
- Causing a sudden or distracting movement or sound, just as they're shooting.
- Talking to your opponent while they're shooting.
- Talking loudly to others about the game or the opponent while they're shooting.
- Handle Disputes the Right Way
- Almost all disputes stem from a lack of Rules knowledge or a judgement call on a shot. If it's about the Rules, go to the Rule Book. If it's about a judgement call on a shot, take note that the Official Game Rules say it will always go in favour of the shooter, unless the opponent exercised their right to have it refereed. There is never a valid reason for the two Players to just stand there and argue.
- Getting disputes settled out in League Play should be a straight forward matter if you do the following:
Step 1. The two Players involved in the dispute 'agree to disagree'.
Step 2. The two Players involved explain the dispute to their Captains only…and then they are no longer involved. At no time are any other Team Mates or Spectators to be involved.
Step 3. The two Captains attempt to reach a reasonable agreement which will then be considered by the League to be final. This may often result in a simple replaying of the game.
Step 4. If the two Captains 'agree to disagree', then the game automatically carries on in favour of the shooter.
Step 5. A written Protest may be filed with the League Executive whose decision will be final and which will also take into account the display of any poor Sportsmanship.
- If it happens in a CCS Tournament, just call a Floor Referee over who will handle it immediately and entirely.
- It's All About Courtesy and Respect
- Do shake hands before and after a game or Match without anyone having to chase you down.
- Do pay attention to the game. No one else can call a foul.
- Do give it your best game without gloating when you win or complaining when you lose.
- Do acknowledge a well played shot or game or Match.
- And remember, two wrongs do not make a right. A display of poor Sportsmanship by someone else is never an excuse for a similar display by you.
In the end, it's the display of Good Sportsmanship on everyone's part that makes League Play and CCS Tournaments the fun and enjoyable experience they're meant to be.
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