VNEA Rules 2026–27

Wal-Mac Pool League · 2026–27

Use the section menu to find a rule. Original wording and rule numbering are retained.

VNEA RULES and GUIDELINES

TABLE

Balls And Racking

1. The game is played with one cue ball and 15 numbered object balls.

2. The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack in the foot spot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner, as the above illustration shows.

3. The objective of the game is to make one group of numbered object balls, either stripes or solids, and then legally pocket the 8-ball which then wins the game.

Break Shot – The game is not considered started until a legal break is made

1. Start of play-the home team breaks first and writes their line-up down first. The break will alternate thereafter.

2. If the breaker hits the racked balls with the cue ball driving four or more numbered balls to a cushion or pocketing one or more object balls, the game is considered started. If the player fails to make a legal break, it is not a foul; however, the opponent has the option (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) have the balls re-racked and shooting the break himself or have original breaker rebreak.

3. Stopping or deflecting the cue ball prior to hitting the racked balls are considered illegal breaks and the opponent can have the balls re-racked and shoot the break himself or have original breaker rebreak. (Wal-Mac Rule)

4. When positioning the cue ball for the break shot, the base of the ball must be behind the headstring (kitchen).

5. If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed (exception, the 8- ball), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table is open. PLEASE NOTE: Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the headstring and may not shoot an object ball whose base is not outside the headstring, unless he/she first shoots the cue ball past the headstring and causes the cue ball to come back behind the headstring and hit the object ball. If a player positions the cue ball completely and obviously outside the kitchen and shoots the cue ball, it is a foul, if called by the opponent.

6. The opposing player must inform the breaking player of improper positioning of the cue ball before the shot is made. If the opposing player does not inform the breaking player before the shot is made, the break is considered legal. If the shooting player is informed of improper positioning, he/she must then reposition the cue ball.

7. Making the 8-Ball on The Break: The breaker may ask for a rerack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. Should the breaker pocket the 8-ball and scratch, the incoming player has the option of spotting the 8-ball and shooting from behind the headstring or re-racking and assuming the break. The game cannot be won or lost with an 8-ball on the break, regardless of what is pocketed in the same shot.

8. If the player legally breaks the racked balls and does not make any balls, his opponent then shoots, having an open table.

9. If a player jumps an object ball off the table in the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the headstring and shooting. Any jumped balls are spotted in numerical order.

Open Table

The table is “open” when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice versa. Note: The table is always open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open it is legal to hit any solid or stripe or the 8-ball first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or solid. On an open table, all pocketed balls remain pocketed. The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups. THE TABLE IS ALWAYS OPEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK SHOT. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot.

Game

In Call Pocket, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the opponent’s right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. Banks and combinations are not considered obvious, and both the object balls and the pocket must be called, or it is a loss of turn. When calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicate details such as number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to the shooter or the opponent. The opening break is not a “called pocket.” Any player performing a break shot in 8-ball may continue to shoot his next shot so long as he has legally pocketed any object ball on the break.

Play

1. If a shooter inadvertently pockets his opponents’ ball, it remains down, however, if the shooter does not legally pocket one of his own group, he loses his turn.

2. Each player continues to shoot so long as he legally pockets any of his object balls (Exception: calling a safety). Should a player fail to pocket his designated group ball, he shall lose his turn.

3. If a player fails to hit the 8-ball while shooting at it, it is a foul and the game continues. When the 8-ball is the legal object ball, a scratch or foul is not a loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed or jumped off the table. Incoming player has cue ball in hand.

4. In the event the cue ball or an object ball stops on the edge of the pocket then falls into the pocket because of vibrations, fan or stamping of feet, it shall be replaced on the edge of the pocket as near as possible to its position before interference.

5. If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the 8-ball, which is a loss of game. Any jumped object balls are spotted in numerical order.

6. SLOW PLAY RULE: Exaggerated slow play will be penalized. After a warning, any longer than ONE MINUTE between shots will be a foul. The third infraction will result in loss of game. During the National competition, referee’s judgment will prevail, and both players will be timed.

7. STALEMATED GAME: If in 3 consecutive turns at the table by each player (6 turns in total), they purposely foul or scratch and both players agree that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in immediate loss of game, then the game will be considered a stalemate. The balls will then be re- racked, and the breaker of the stalemated game will break again. PLEASE NOTE: Three consecutive fouls by one player is not a loss of game.

Loss Of Game

1. Pocketing the 8-ball when it is not the legal object ball except on an opening break.

2. Pocketing the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls.

3. Jumping or knocking the 8-ball off the table at any time.

4. Pocketing the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one designated.

5. Fouling while (pocketing) the 8-ball in the designated pocket.

6. Third infraction of the slow play rule.

Legal Shots

On all shots (except on the break and when the table is open), the shooter must hit one of his group of balls first and (1) pocket any group ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or any other ball to contact a rail. (There are two groups of balls: stripes and solids) PLEASE NOTE: It is permissible for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball; however, after contact with his object ball, any group ball must be pocketed, or the cue ball or any other ball must contact a rail.

Safety Shot

For tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also discontinue his turn at the table by declaring “safety” in advance. A safety shot is defined as a legal shot. If the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, he must declare a safety to his opponent. If this is NOT done, and one of the shooter’s object balls is pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot again. Any balls pocketed on a safety shot remain pocketed.

Fouling

1. All fouls must be called and acknowledged before the next shot is taken. (Exception: scratching) The following results in fouls:

2. Failure to make a legal shot as noted above.

3. Shooting the cue ball into the pocket or off table.

4. It is a foul when a player scratches on the break or deflects the cue ball prior to hitting the racked balls. The incoming player receives (cue ball in hand behind the headstring).

5. When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot.

6. Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor.

7. Coaching is a foul. Any member of a team called for coaching will result in a foul on the team member shooting.

8. Object Ball Frozen to Cushion or Cue Ball. This applies to any shot where the cue ball’s first contact with a ball is with one that is frozen to a cushion or to the cue ball itself. After the cue ball makes contact with the frozen ball, the shot must result in either:

a. A ball being pocketed, or.

b. The cue ball contacting a cushion, or.

c. The frozen ball being caused to contact a cushion attached to a separate rail, or.

d. Another object ball being caused to contact a cushion with which it was not already in contact.

e. A ball which is touching a cushion at the start of a shot and then is forced into a cushion attached to the same rail is not considered to have been driven to that cushion unless it leaves the cushion, contacts another ball, and then contacts the cushion again. An object ball is not considered frozen to a cushion unless it is examined and announced as such by either the referee or one of the players prior to that object ball being involved in a shot.

9. Picking up or shooting the cue ball while any balls are still in motion is a foul.

10. Push shots and/or double hits will be considered fouls.

11. With cue ball in hand, touching any object ball with the cue ball is a foul or touching any object ball with your hand while touching the cue ball is a foul.

12. When the slow play rule is enforced, taking longer than ONE MINUTE between shots is a foul.

13.Jumping object balls off the table.

14. After a scratch on a legal break, if a player positions the cue ball completely and obviously outside the kitchen and shoots it is a foul.

15. If your opponent commits a foul and you do not receive his/her acknowledgement of such foul prior to touching the cue ball, you have committed a foul. (Exception: scratching). If the cue ball is scratched and the player removes the cue ball from the pocket, it is a foul. The cue ball must be allowed to travel through the table.

16. Illegal jumping of ball.

Accidentally Moving or Touching A Ball

A. This is not a foul unless:

• the moved ball is the cue ball or

• a moved ball contacts the cue ball or

• a moved ball that is jumped off the table or pocketed or causes any ball to be jumped or pocketed. (Exception to #3: If the 8-ball is jumped off the table or pocketed it is loss of game if called by the opponent before the next shot is taken). Only the opponent may replace the ball moved as closely as possible or leave it where it rests. If the shooter replaces the moved ball, it will be considered a foul. See supplemental rules regarding BALL IN HAND

Penalty For Fouling

1. Only the players involved may call a foul. In the event of a foul call, the opposing player receives cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (the cue ball does not have to be behind the headstring except on opening break or immediately after a foul on the break).

2. A player must stop shooting when a foul is called. If a player refuses to yield to a foul call, the opposing captain may protest.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

1. Unsportsmanlike conduct can be automatic disqualification.

2. Two basic types:

A. One warning before disqualification.

B. Immediate disqualification.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS OF POCKET BILLIARDS

Striking Cue Ball

Legal shots require that the cue call be struck only with the cue tip.

Pocketed Balls

A ball is considered a pocketed ball if, as a result of an otherwise legal shot, it drops off the bed of the table into the pocket and remains there. A ball that rebounds from a pocket back onto the table is not a pocketed ball.

Position Of Balls

The position of a ball is judged where its base (or center) rests.

Foot On the Floor

It is a foul if a player shoots when at least one foot is not in contact with the floor. Foot attire must be normal in regard to size, shape, and the manner in which it is worn.

Kitchen Defined

The headstring is part of the kitchen. If the base of an object ball is dead center on the headstring, the ball is not playable. This will apply on a scratched cue ball on the break. Likewise, the cue ball when being put on the headstring; it must be behind it.

Fouls By Double Hits

It is a foul if the cue ball is struck more than once on a shot by the cue tip (such shots are usually referred to as double hits). If, in the referee’s judgment, the cue ball has left initial contact with the cue tip and then is struck a second time during the same shot, it shall be a foul. (Note: this can be a difficult call-in officiating, because on shots where the distance between the cue ball and the object ball is very short, the referee must judge whether the cue ball had time to move out of contact with the cue tip prior to being impeded and then propelled again by the follow through of the stroke. Nonetheless, if it is judged by virtue of sound, ball position and action and stroke used that there were two separate contacts of the cue ball by the cue tip on the stroke, the stroke is a foul and must be so called.

Push Shot Fouls

It is a foul if the cue ball is pushed by the cue tip, with contact being maintained for more than the momentary time commensurate with a normal and legally stroked shot. (Such shots are usually referred to as push shots).

Jumped Cue Ball

When a stroke results in the cue ball being a jumped ball, meaning jumping completely off the pool table on the floor, the stroke is a foul. The cue ball may leave the playing surface and return, which is not considered a foul if it does so without hitting anything

Illegal Jumping of Ball

It is a foul if a player strikes the cue ball below center (“digs under” it) and intentionally causes it to rise off the bed of the table to clear an obstructing ball. Such jumping action may occasionally occur accidentally, and such “jumps” are not considered fouls on their face; they may still be ruled foul strokes, if for example the ferrule or cue shaft contacts the cue ball during the shot.

Player Responsibility Fouls

The player is responsible for chalk, bridges, files and any other item or equipment he brings to, uses at, or causes to approximate the table. If he drops a piece of chalk, or knocks off a mechanical bridge head, as examples, he is guilty of a foul should such an item contact a cue ball.

Balls Jumped Off the Table

Balls coming to rest other than on the bed of the table after a stroke (on the cushion top, rail surface, floor, etc.) are considered jumped balls. Balls may bounce on the cushion tops and rails of the table in play without being jumped ball if they return to the bed of the table under their own power and without touching anything not a part of the table. The table shall consist of the permanent part of the table proper. (Balls that strike or touch anything not a part of the table, such as the light fixture, call pocket disc, chalk on the rails and chalk on the wood cushions tops, shall be considered jumped balls even though they might return to the bed of the table after contacting items which are not parts of the table proper).

Balls Moving Spontaneously

If a ball shifts, settles, turns or otherwise moves “by itself” the ball shall remain in the position it assumed, and play continues. A hanging ball that falls into a pocket “by itself” after being motionless for three seconds or longer shall be placed as closely as possible to its position prior to falling and play shall continue.

Spotting Balls

A single ball is placed on the foot spot; if more than one ball is spotted, they are placed on the long string beginning on the foot spot and advancing toward the foot rail.

Jawed Balls

If two or more balls are locked between the jaws or side of the pocket, with one or more suspended in air, the referee shall inspect the balls in position and follow this procedure; he shall visually (or physically if he desires) project each ball directly downward from its locked position; any ball that, in his judgment, would fall in the pocket if so moved directly downward is a pocketed ball, while any ball that would come to rest on the bed of the table is not pocketed. The balls are then placed according to the referee’s assessment, and play continues according to specific game rules as if no locking or jawing of balls had occurred.

Non-Player Interference

If the balls are moved (or a player is bumped such that play is directly affected) by a non-player during a match, the balls shall be replaced as near as possible to their original positions immediately prior to the incident, and play shall resume with no penalty on the player affected. If the match is officiated, the referee shall replace the balls. This rule shall also apply to “act of God” interference, such as earthquake, hurricane, light fixture falling, power failure, etc.

Play By Innings

Players alternate turns (innings) at the table, with a player’s inning ending when he either fails to legally pocket a ball, or fouls. When an inning ends free of foul, the incoming player accepts the table in position.

Object Ball Frozen to Cushion or Cue Ball

This applies to any shot where the cue ball’s first contact with a ball is with one that is frozen to a cushion or to the cue ball itself. After the cue ball makes contact with the frozen ball, the shot must result in either: A ball being pocketed, or. The cue ball contacting a cushion, or. The frozen ball being caused to contact a cushion attached to a separate rail, or. Another object ball being caused to contact a cushion with which it was not already in contact. Failure to satisfy one of those four requirements is a foul. A ball which is touching a cushion at the start of a shot and then is forced into a cushion attached to the same rail is not considered to have been driven to that cushion unless it leaves the cushion, contacts another ball, and then contacts the cushion again. An object ball is not considered frozen to a cushion unless it is examined and announced as such by either the referee or one of the players prior to that object ball being involved in a shot.

Playing From Behind the String

When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the string (in the kitchen), he must drive the cue ball to a point outside the kitchen before it contacts either a cushion or an object ball. Failure to do so is a foul.

Slow Play Rule

Exaggerated slow play will be penalized. Certain moments during a game or type of game may require extra thought or concentration. However, continuously taking 1 to 3 minutes between shots is not acceptable. When your opponent abuses this rule, stop playing. The team captains will assign a player to time your opponent for the rest of the match. After a warning, any longer than ONE MINUTE between shots will be a foul. The third infraction will result in a loss of game.

Scratch

The cue ball pocketed or knocked off the table.

Eight Ball Run Out (Ero)

The ONLY time a player may achieve an ERO is in his FIRST approach, with ALL 15 balls on the table. If the breaker runs out and wins the game from the break, it is an ERO/BRO (if your league is using that stat). If the breaker does NOT make any balls, his opponent will have a shot at an ERO. He MUST pocket his 7 object balls and the 8-ball WITHOUT a miss.

Table Run

A players first time at the table and they run out and win but all 15 balls do not need to be on the table when their turn begins.

End of VNEA Rules 2026–27

Rules & racking

Break Shot