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RULES OF CONDUCT

MATCH SCHEDULE

Players are responsible for keeping their own schedules.  The tournament director can give you a good estimate of when your next match will be but cannot determine exactly when your match will be called.  Play for the tournament is continuous.  As soon as your match is called, it is very important that you proceed to your table and start your match immediately.  You are not allowed to hit balls around in order to “warm up” once your match has been called, unless your opponent has not yet reported to the table for the match; however, as soon as your opponent arrives at the table, you must begin the match.  There will be a practice table at each tour stop; it is your responsibility to warm up before your match.

MATCH FORFEITS

A player will have 15 minutes to report to a match table after it is called or the player will forfeit that match.  In the interest of good sportsmanship, and because match times are not scheduled with play being continuous, should your opponent not be at the table within 5 minutes of your match being called, it will be your responsibility to report your opponent missing to the tournament director.  At the point that you notify the tournament director, your opponent will be placed on the clock with 10 minutes remaining, and the tournament director will try to locate your opponent.  If you fail to notify the tournament director that your opponent is not at the table, it will not be a forfeit.

BREAKS DURING THE MATCH

Each player is allowed ONE five-minute break during each match.  A break may only be taken between racks.  The opponent may choose to hit balls around at the table while waiting for the player to return.  If you take your break while it is still your opponent’s turn to shoot, your opponent has the option to have the tournament director (or a board member) rack and continue playing with the tournament director (or board member) observing.  If you take more than one five-minute break during your match (other than for an emergency), you will have a foul called against you that will result in a loss of game.  It will be the opponent’s responsibility to point out this infraction when it happens.  If this infraction occurs again, it will be loss of match.  Again, it will be the opponent’s responsibility to point the infraction out to the tournament director.  If your opponent takes additional break(s) because of an emergency, it will be at the discretion of the tournament director to make a ruling.

SCORE KEEPING/REPORTING MATCH RESULTS

Players are responsible for registering their scores after each game and prior to the next break.  If a player fails to register a score at any time during the match and attempts to register the score at a later time, the player and/or the opponent reserve the right to have the tournament director resolve the score by any means necessary including, but not limited to, inquiries to and from others.  Simply failing to record a score prior to the next break does not constitute a forfeiture of any game(s) earned by a player; however, if the two players cannot agree on the correct score, it will be at the discretion of the tournament director to make a ruling.

It is the responsibility of the winner of a match to report the final score of the match to the tournament director immediately following the conclusion of the match.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Any player whose conduct is deemed unsuitable by the tournament director or a board member will be subject to a single warning or no warning.  The penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct may be loss of game, loss of match, suspension and/or expulsion.  The decision of the tournament director or board member is final. 

CODE OF CONDUCT

Every player who participates in a SEAL Tour event is required to sign a Code of Conduct Agreement.  The SEAL 9-Ball Tour reserves the right to terminate a player’s membership and/or dismiss a player from any and/or all tour stops at any time before, during, or after a tour stop should a player’s behavior be deemed unsuitable according to the guidelines for behavior as spelled out in the Code of Conduct Agreement.  The board of directors meets after each tour stop to discuss any infractions committed and the consequences of such infractions based on the severity of the behavior.  A player will be notified of such violation and penalty by mail.  A player has the right to appeal any decision made by the board of directors ONLY in writing for a period of two weeks after notification of the offense.  The appeal will then be reviewed by the board of directors.  A player wishing to report a violation must do so in writing and submit it to a board member.  No verbal notifications will be accepted, unless an immediate problem exists with a match in progress.

SMOKING

The SEAL 9-Ball Tour wishes to be recognized as a non-smoking organization, and as such, NO SMOKING is allowed in the designated tournament area.  Compliance is required of any player who participates in a SEAL Tour event, or the player will be subject to dismissal.  Those players wishing to smoke may do so outside of the immediate tournament playing area during the one 5-minute break allowed per match.

CELL PHONES & OTHER COMMUNICATION DEVICES

There are to be NO cell phones, pagers, or any other communication devices “turned on” during your match.  If you use any of these devices during your match, or if a device “rings” or makes some other distracting noise, a ball in hand foul will be called against you.  One warning or no warning may be given at the discretion of the tournament director or a board member.  It will be the opponent’s  responsibility to bring the offense to the attention of the tournament director or a board member in order for this foul to be called.  If a player is charged with a foul, and the offense happens a second time, it will be loss of game.  A third time will be loss of match. 

SHOT CLOCK USAGE

Shot clocks may be implemented in order to finish a tournament in the time allotted.  If shot clocks are instituted, the following guidelines will apply:

At 45 minutes after match is called:           If less than 7 games have been played.

At 1 hour 15 minutes after match is called:  If match is not completed, no exceptions.

Shot clock usage will always begin between games and will be at the discretion of the tournament director.

How the shot clock works:  You will have 30 seconds from the time all balls stop rolling to execute your shot.  A referee will start the clock and give you a 10-second warning before your 30 seconds is to expire.  If you are down on a shot in the stance and stroke position, the referee will not give the 10‑second warning; however, once down on a shot, if you stop stroking the shot or otherwise come up from the shot, the warning will be called, and you will have 10 seconds from that point.  One 30-second extension is allowed per player per game.  The player must ask for an extension and receive acknowledgement from the referee upon request.  If your 30 seconds (or 60 seconds with an extension) expires without execution, it will be a ball in hand foul for your opponent.