Player Frequently Asked Questions

The Players Frequently Asked Questions section of this site is intended to answer common player questions and help educate current and potential players about APA rules and policies. Questions APA Members submit through the "Contact the APA" links are what comprise the pages of this section. Therefore, if you e-mail a question APA believes could help educate its Members about the League with a correct answer, it will get posted online.

The American Poolplayers Association is recognized as The Governing Body of Amateur Pool in the United States, yet each league has its own set of rules. The APA League is run on a local basis by APA League Operators, who are allowed to make some modifications to certain "General Rules" regarding League play, but they are not allowed to change the "Game Rules." Additionally, any such variances must be approved by the APA and included in their Local Bylaws to avoid confusion.

If you have a question about a rule or local bylaw, the first place to go for an answer is the Official Rules section or to your League Operator. The rules section contains the official rules for 8-Ball and 9-Ball and the online version of the APA Team Manual.

This section will continue to grow as APA receives more questions, so please keep 'em coming and we'll try to address each of your questions and concerns just as quick as we can!

General

1. When breaking the rack 4 balls did not hit the rail and my cue ball goes in the pocket.  Do I rerack?
2. When breaking the rack I miss the rack completely and I scratch with the cue ball.  Is this a foul?
3. I have paid my membership and have not received my copy of the The American Poolplayer.  What should I do?
4. Why do we have the new rule revision stating that the coach may place the cue ball for the player in a ball-in-hand situation (during a coaching time-out)?  I would like to learn how to place the cue ball myself when I have ball-in-hand.

9-Ball

1. In 9-Ball is a foul on the break ball-in-hand behind the headstring?
2. Does the pocket need to be marked in shooting the 9-ball?
3. If I shoot the 2-ball into the 9-ball, which then falls into the pocket, is this a legal shot?
4. Are push-outs allowed in 9-Ball?
5. My problem is that if 8-Ball has a team cap of 23 points and the highest skill level is 7 why isn't there a team cap of 24 or 25 in 9-Ball where the skill level goes to 9?