Rules F.A.Q.

Below is a list of common rule questions that arise during the course of a season. For a complete listing of ALL rules, please refer to the Official Rule Booklet.

THE GHOST RULE

DEFINITION
If a team is short a player on a designated league night, their opponents may allow them to use the “Ghost” rule. The “Ghost” rule allows the team that is short a player to play a player twice in the same match.

CRITERIA
The following criteria must be followed when using the “ghost” rule:

a. OPPONENTS HAVE THE OPTION OF ALLOWING A GHOST OR FORCING A FORFEIT
Teams that have their full roster DO NOT HAVE TO ALLOW their opponents to ghost. But under certain circumstances, it may be advantageous to allow them (for example - your team needs a sweep to generate enough points to improve your standings more than you would get from receiving one forfeit).

b. NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO START OF 1ST MATCH
Teams must notify their opponents of the need to use/or potential need to use a “ghost” prior to the start of the 1st individual match. If a team fails to do so, a ghost will not be allowed. If a team has a 5th player show up prior to the start of the 5th match, the player is not only entitled to play but must play before a “ghost” is utilized.

c. GHOST PLAYER MUST BE SELECTED PRIOR TO CONCLUSION OF 1ST MATCH
The player that plays the 5th match when a “ghost” is used is chosen by the team’s opponent. The player that is chosen to play the “ghost” should be notified by the opponent at the conclusion of the 1st match (thus, other players can leave if not chosen).

If the opposing team fails to choose the “ghost” player prior to the end of the first match, the opposing team will lose their right to choose and the choice will be given to the team playing the “ghost.” This default choice can be decided as late as the beginning of the 5th match.

d. 23 RULE MUST BE RESPECTED
The player chosen to play the “ghost” match must still allow the team to comply with the 23-Rule (or “4-19 Rule” if it applies to the team in question). The “ghost” player selection may be any handicap level but the choice may not force the 23-Rule to be broken.

e. FULL TEAM FEES ARE STILL DUE
Full team fees are still due if the “ghost” rule is used in a team match.

f. ONLY 1 GHOST PER NIGHT

Teams are allowed to use only 1 ghost per league night.

g. RESPECT THE INTENT
The ghost rule is not meant for teams to get an edge and take advantage of the system. And so, a player may not be sent home and/or made unavailable so that a team may request a “ghost” from their opponent. Attempts to take advantage of the “ghost” rule should be reported to your Division Representative who will pass it on to the league office.

A team that has enough players present is not allowed to use the “ghost” rule not even to stay within the 23-Rule. They have to play a player that has not yet played in the match and if they cannot field a team with the 5 or more players present and abide by the 23-Rule or the 4-19 Rule, the result with be forfeit(s) at the point the 23-Rule is broken.

h. ONLY DURING REGULAR SEASON
“Ghosts” will NOT be allowed during playoffs or during any Higher Level Tournament play.

I. BOTH TEAMS MAY GHOST
Both teams may utilize the “ghost” rule on the same night if necessary. In this situation, teams will stay in rotation regarding player selection.

WHERE GHOSTING IS ALLOWED

League	Ruling
Bayonne	Not allowed.
Jersey City Harrison/Kearny Hoboken	Allowed, within the criteria stated above.

LATE SEASON SUBSTITUTIONS - AFTER WEEK 6

In an effort to clear up any confusion about the Late Season Substitutions, be advised that you may drop a player from your roster and add a new player if and only if the situation meets ALL of these requirements:

The player being dropped is EITHER...	The NEW player being added both…
is moving out of North Jersey	...has a handicap equal to or lower than the dropped player. If adding someone new to the APA, and you believe them to be greater than a 3, you MUST use a real life ability level as their starting handicap, not just a 3.
has a serious medical issue	....pays their $25 membership fee prior to play that night.
has a family emergency causing their absence for the rest of the season

NOTE – Neither the dropped player or the added player will be playoff or tri-cup eligible. Also, this rule is meant to accommodate teams dealing with unfortunate situations. If we find that teams are abusing this rule, they will be penalized.

CLOSE HITS

Potential bad hit situations are usually fairly obvious. Disputes over these situations can almost always be avoided by having a third party, agreed upon by both shooters, watch the shot. The sitting team should protect itself by stopping the game prior to the shot. The shooter is required to stop if their opponent wants the shot watched. Once an agreed upon third party is asked to watch the shot, their call will stand and cannot be disputed.

In general, the shooter has the advantage in close hit situations. If the outside party cannot determine which ball was struck first, such as a simultaneous hit, the call goes to the shooter. Teams involved in repeatedly calling bad hits without third party verification may be subject to a sportsmanship violation and possibly a loss of points at the discretion of Local League Management.

NOTE: If a third party is not asked to watch the hit, and the hit is disputed, the call will tend to favor the shooter.

ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHING THE CUE BALL

It is a foul if the shooter accidentally touches the cue ball, before executing the shot UNLESS its:

● touched by a shirt or hair & the ball c.b. doesn’t move
● already a ball in hand already and the c.b. doesn’t touch another ball

8 BALL BREAK CLARIFICATIONS

To clear up confusion about 8 ball breaks:

● If only one category (stripe vs solid) is pocketed on the break, and there is not a scratch, the breaker is now that category.

● If both categories are pocketed, and no scratch, then the table is still open.

PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS

4-5 TEAM DIVISIONS
First place team in the division will play the wildcard winner for a Tri-Cup spot.

6-7 TEAM DIVISIONS
First place team in the division will earn an automatic Tri-Cup spot; Second place in the division will play the wildcard winner for a Tri-Cup spot.

8-16 TEAM DIVISIONS
First place team in the division will earn an automatic Tri-Cup spot; Second place in the division will play the wildcard winner for a Tri-Cup spot; and Third place in the division will play the fourth place team for a third Tri-Cup spot.

MATCHES NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRI OR GOLD CUPS
To participate in Tri or Gold Cups, a player must have 10 lifetime matches played AND a minimum of 4 matches on the team that qualified. In the Summer session of 2020, the number of matches on the qualified team will increase to 6.

PLAYOFF TIE BREAKERS

Coming soon...