Snooker rules and refereeing
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  • Rules you must understand as a player
    • The Break
    • Frame, Game or Match?
    • Who takes the top scorer
    • Keeping score
    • When is the Frame over?
    • Understanding the 'Miss'
    • Understanding the 'Three Miss Rule'
    • Angled Ball (Pocket hook)
    • Seven Point Fouls
  • How do I .....
    • Rack the balls
    • Respot the colour balls
    • Re-spot the cueball after a Miss
    • Use the Ball Marker
    • Handle the rests and other furniture
    • Organise a tournament
  • So you don't like the call; now what?
  • Some information on the Equipment
    • The cue
    • The Balls
    • The Chalk
    • Videos about the table
    • The Cloth >
      • "Double Shaved"
    • The Spots
    • Scoring Software
    • Pocket Templates circa 1996
  • Guides for the Referee
    • Referee’s Guide to Positioning by Steve Fletcher
    • Referees Guide to What to Say, and When to Say it by Clive A Brown, January 2012
    • Calling the score
  • Variations of the game
    • The six -red game
    • Snooker Shoot Out
    • The 900 rules
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SNOOKER QUESTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2011
1. CUE
Are there any limitations applied to a players cue?

ANSWER
Yes. It shall not be less than 3 feet in length and show no substantial departure from the generally accepted shape and form Section 1. Rule 3.]

2. POT
What is a Pot

ANSWER
A pot is when an object ball, after contact with another ball and without any infringement of the rules enters a pocket. [Section 2. Rule 7]

3. STROKE
Player has “potted” the final Black and the cue- ball is still moving when the striker picks it up from the table. Is this a foul?

ANSWER
Yes. Various rules apply:- a stroke is not complete until all balls have come to rest. [Section 2. 6d] The cue- ball is in play when not in – hand [Section 2. 10a] A ball is forced off the table if it comes to rest other than on the table or in a pocket, or if it is picked up by the striker whilst it is in play. [Section 2. Rule 14]

4. PLAY AGAIN.
After a foul can a player withdraw a request to “play again”?

ANSWER
No. Section 3. Rule 13

5. FOUL AND A MISS.
At the start of a frame, first striker, playing from in hand, misses all object balls. A foul and a miss is called. If the next player accepts the miss where is the cue-ball played from, the original position or anywhere in the D. [in hand]

ANSWER
From the original position. The foul was committed with the cue-ball in play. [Section 3. Rule 14b]

6. BALL MOVED BY OTHER THAN THE STRIKER
Striker about to play a stroke has their arm nudged by a person passing behind them, causing the striker to mis-cue. The cue-ball first strikes a ball not on and other balls. What should the referee do/say?

ANSWER
No foul. All balls moved will be replaced and the striker allowed to play again. [Section3. Rule 15a]

7. STALEMATE.
In the third frame of a 5 frame match it was agreed by the players to have a “reset”. The referee told player (A) who had broken off at the start of the third frame to break off again. It was then realized that Player (B) should have broken off at the start of the third frame. What should happen now? Which player should break off?

ANSWER
Player (B) should break off. This will restore the original order.[ Section 3. Rule 3 d iii]

8. ABSENCE
If a player needs to leave the room during a frame can he ask for someone to look after his interests and claim possible fouls if necessary

ANSWER
Yes. Such appointments must be made known to the referee. [Section 4. Rule 7]

9. CONCEDING
When can a player concede?

ANSWER.
Only when he is the striker [Section 4. Rule 2)]

10. REFEREE
If referee has failed to notice any incident what can he do to resolve any dispute?

ANSWER.
He may take the evidence of the marker or other official or spectator best placed to assist in his decision. He may also view a camera / video recording if available. [Section 5. Rule 1c]

Vic Hartley February 2011