UPDATES TO THE RULES OF SNOOKER SINCE LAST REPRINT OF NOV 2019
Effective: August 2024
Page 15, Section 2, Rule 22 Consultation Period
Was: A consultation period is the period in which players may assist the referee
with replacing any ball(s) to the original position prior to when an
infringement was committed (Section 3 Rules 2(c)(ii), 3(k), 10(i), 14,15 and 16)
or as described in Section 3 Rule 9.
Now: A consultation period is the period in which players may assist the referee
with replacing any ball(s) to the original position prior to when an
infringement was committed (Section 3 Rules 2(c)(ii), 3(k), 10(i), 14, and 16) or
as described in Section 3 Rule 9 and 15. The consultation period starts from
the moment the decision is made to replace the ball(s) and ends when both
players are satisfied as to the position of the ball(s), or by the referee’s final
decision.
Page 17, Section 3, 3.2(c) (iii)
Was: the device used to mark the position of a ball being cleaned shall be regarded
as, and acquire the value of, the ball until such time as the ball has been
cleaned and replaced. It is an infringement if any player contacts the device.
The referee shall award the relevant penalty points to the non-offender and
replace the device or ball being cleaned to its original position, if necessary,
even if it was picked up.
Now: the device used to mark the position of a ball shall be regarded as, and
acquire the value of, the ball until such time as the ball has been replaced. It is
an infringement if any player contacts the device. The referee shall award the
relevant penalty points to the non-offender and replace the device or ball to
its original position, if necessary, even if it was picked up.
Page 28, Section 3, 12(b) (ii)
Was: after a non-scoring stroke, be snookered on all Reds or the ball on by the
nominated free ball, except when the Pink and Black are the only object ball
remaining on the table
Now: after a non-scoring stroke, be snookered on all Reds or the ball on by the
nominated free ball, except when there are only two object balls remaining on
the table i.e. Pink and Black, or Black and one other colour as described in
Section 3, Rule 7.
Effective: 9 May 2022
Page 17, Section 3 Rule 2(c)(ii).
Reworded to make it clearer that any player (striker and non-striker) will be penalised if they
contact the device used to mark the position of a ball.
Page 37, Section 4 Rule 2.
Rewritten (new paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) are added) to take out any referee’s
interpretation on how to deal with the offering and accepting of a concession.
Effective: 15 July 2021
Page 13, Section 2 Rule 14.
The definition of “Forced off the Table” has changed.
For explanatory notes, see below:
14. Forced Off the Table
A ball is forced off the table if it comes to rest other than on the playing area or in a pocket.
[END]
By taking out the wording ‘…. A ball is also forced off the table if it is moved or picked up by the
striker….’ means that, even if the ball is picked up by the striker, it will only be considered ‘forced off
the table’ if it does not come to rest on the playing area.
By using this new definition, the Rules Committee could now simplify Section 3 Rule 16 and still keep it in
line with other Rules and their requirements.
Page 20, Section 3 Rule 4(a) - replace “infringement” with “foul”.
Was: When Black is the only object ball remaining on the table, the first pot or
infringement ends the frame excepting only if the following conditions
both apply:
Now: When Black is the only object ball remaining on the table, the first pot or
foul ends the frame excepting only if the following conditions both apply:
Page 25, Section 3 Rule 10(c) – add “or a penalty”
Was: If a foul is neither awarded by the referee, nor successfully claimed by the
non-striker before the next stroke is made, it is condoned.
Now: If a foul or a penalty is neither awarded by the referee, nor successfully
claimed by the non-striker before the next stroke is made, it is condoned.
Page 32, Section 3 Rule 16.
The Rule “Ball Intentionally Moved” has changed.
For explanatory notes, see below:
Section 3
16. Ball Intentionally Moved
Other than striking the cue-ball to make a stroke, or contacting a ball during a consultation period, if
any ball is intentionally moved or picked up by the striker from the playing area, the referee shall call
FOUL.
(a) In a situation where a stationary ball is intentionally moved or picked up, the non-offender may
then;
(i) elect to play themselves or request their opponent to play from the position left. For
this situation, any ball that did not come to rest on the playing area will be considered
forced off the table.
(ii) elect to have all balls replaced to their original position and play themselves or request
their opponent to play again. In the latter case the ball on shall be the same as it was
prior to the infringement, namely;
(i) any Red, where Red was the ball on;
(ii) the colour on, where all the Reds were off the table;
(iii) a colour of the striker’s choice, where the ball on was a colour after a Red, or
a free ball nominated as a Red had been potted.
If the above situation arises during a sequence of FOUL AND A MISS calls as
described under Section 3 Rule 14(d) and the request is made for the offender to play
again, any Warning concerning the possible awarding of the frame to their opponent
shall remain in effect.
(b) In a situation where a moving ball is intentionally moved or picked up, the referee shall make
the best possible decision in the interest of fair play.
(c) If the striker strikes the cue-ball to make a stroke as an act of Unsporting Conduct, they may
be Warned as described in Section 4, Rule 1 and the non-offender will have the options as
described under (a) and (b) above.
A consultation period starts when the decision is made to replace the ball(s).
[END]
With this rewrite, the options for the non-offender are a lot clearer i.e.
- they play from the position left or let their opponent play from the position left.
- They have all balls replaced and play themselves (ball on is Red if Reds are on the table) or
let their opponent play (ball on is the same as it was prior to the foul)
- only balls that did not come to rest on playing area are considered ‘forced off the table’ and
therefore, if elected to play again from the position left, they stay down (if Red), get spotted (if
colour) or become in-hand (if cue-ball). All other balls that have moved will either stay where
they are (if played from position left) or will be replaced (if requested to replace).
The Rules Committee is satisfied that this rewrite has delivered a Ruling that is now fairer,
without interpretation and much easier to understand and implement
Effective: August 2024
Page 15, Section 2, Rule 22 Consultation Period
Was: A consultation period is the period in which players may assist the referee
with replacing any ball(s) to the original position prior to when an
infringement was committed (Section 3 Rules 2(c)(ii), 3(k), 10(i), 14,15 and 16)
or as described in Section 3 Rule 9.
Now: A consultation period is the period in which players may assist the referee
with replacing any ball(s) to the original position prior to when an
infringement was committed (Section 3 Rules 2(c)(ii), 3(k), 10(i), 14, and 16) or
as described in Section 3 Rule 9 and 15. The consultation period starts from
the moment the decision is made to replace the ball(s) and ends when both
players are satisfied as to the position of the ball(s), or by the referee’s final
decision.
Page 17, Section 3, 3.2(c) (iii)
Was: the device used to mark the position of a ball being cleaned shall be regarded
as, and acquire the value of, the ball until such time as the ball has been
cleaned and replaced. It is an infringement if any player contacts the device.
The referee shall award the relevant penalty points to the non-offender and
replace the device or ball being cleaned to its original position, if necessary,
even if it was picked up.
Now: the device used to mark the position of a ball shall be regarded as, and
acquire the value of, the ball until such time as the ball has been replaced. It is
an infringement if any player contacts the device. The referee shall award the
relevant penalty points to the non-offender and replace the device or ball to
its original position, if necessary, even if it was picked up.
Page 28, Section 3, 12(b) (ii)
Was: after a non-scoring stroke, be snookered on all Reds or the ball on by the
nominated free ball, except when the Pink and Black are the only object ball
remaining on the table
Now: after a non-scoring stroke, be snookered on all Reds or the ball on by the
nominated free ball, except when there are only two object balls remaining on
the table i.e. Pink and Black, or Black and one other colour as described in
Section 3, Rule 7.
Effective: 9 May 2022
Page 17, Section 3 Rule 2(c)(ii).
Reworded to make it clearer that any player (striker and non-striker) will be penalised if they
contact the device used to mark the position of a ball.
Page 37, Section 4 Rule 2.
Rewritten (new paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) are added) to take out any referee’s
interpretation on how to deal with the offering and accepting of a concession.
Effective: 15 July 2021
Page 13, Section 2 Rule 14.
The definition of “Forced off the Table” has changed.
For explanatory notes, see below:
14. Forced Off the Table
A ball is forced off the table if it comes to rest other than on the playing area or in a pocket.
[END]
By taking out the wording ‘…. A ball is also forced off the table if it is moved or picked up by the
striker….’ means that, even if the ball is picked up by the striker, it will only be considered ‘forced off
the table’ if it does not come to rest on the playing area.
By using this new definition, the Rules Committee could now simplify Section 3 Rule 16 and still keep it in
line with other Rules and their requirements.
Page 20, Section 3 Rule 4(a) - replace “infringement” with “foul”.
Was: When Black is the only object ball remaining on the table, the first pot or
infringement ends the frame excepting only if the following conditions
both apply:
Now: When Black is the only object ball remaining on the table, the first pot or
foul ends the frame excepting only if the following conditions both apply:
Page 25, Section 3 Rule 10(c) – add “or a penalty”
Was: If a foul is neither awarded by the referee, nor successfully claimed by the
non-striker before the next stroke is made, it is condoned.
Now: If a foul or a penalty is neither awarded by the referee, nor successfully
claimed by the non-striker before the next stroke is made, it is condoned.
Page 32, Section 3 Rule 16.
The Rule “Ball Intentionally Moved” has changed.
For explanatory notes, see below:
Section 3
16. Ball Intentionally Moved
Other than striking the cue-ball to make a stroke, or contacting a ball during a consultation period, if
any ball is intentionally moved or picked up by the striker from the playing area, the referee shall call
FOUL.
(a) In a situation where a stationary ball is intentionally moved or picked up, the non-offender may
then;
(i) elect to play themselves or request their opponent to play from the position left. For
this situation, any ball that did not come to rest on the playing area will be considered
forced off the table.
(ii) elect to have all balls replaced to their original position and play themselves or request
their opponent to play again. In the latter case the ball on shall be the same as it was
prior to the infringement, namely;
(i) any Red, where Red was the ball on;
(ii) the colour on, where all the Reds were off the table;
(iii) a colour of the striker’s choice, where the ball on was a colour after a Red, or
a free ball nominated as a Red had been potted.
If the above situation arises during a sequence of FOUL AND A MISS calls as
described under Section 3 Rule 14(d) and the request is made for the offender to play
again, any Warning concerning the possible awarding of the frame to their opponent
shall remain in effect.
(b) In a situation where a moving ball is intentionally moved or picked up, the referee shall make
the best possible decision in the interest of fair play.
(c) If the striker strikes the cue-ball to make a stroke as an act of Unsporting Conduct, they may
be Warned as described in Section 4, Rule 1 and the non-offender will have the options as
described under (a) and (b) above.
A consultation period starts when the decision is made to replace the ball(s).
[END]
With this rewrite, the options for the non-offender are a lot clearer i.e.
- they play from the position left or let their opponent play from the position left.
- They have all balls replaced and play themselves (ball on is Red if Reds are on the table) or
let their opponent play (ball on is the same as it was prior to the foul)
- only balls that did not come to rest on playing area are considered ‘forced off the table’ and
therefore, if elected to play again from the position left, they stay down (if Red), get spotted (if
colour) or become in-hand (if cue-ball). All other balls that have moved will either stay where
they are (if played from position left) or will be replaced (if requested to replace).
The Rules Committee is satisfied that this rewrite has delivered a Ruling that is now fairer,
without interpretation and much easier to understand and implement