Rule Amendments:

HANDICAP – Every player in the league will be assigned a rating.  These ratings will have NOTHING to do with ANY outside rating source.  Whether you are a 6 in the APA, a 7 in TAP, a 9 in the BCA or a 10 in the Arizona Ratings it will not have anything to do with your rating in the AZPL.  Your post-season (State Championships) performance will be factored into your rating as well as your regular season performance. 

The ratings scale will range from 4-10.

Ratings will be determined as follows as well as your personal stats:

10 - Semi-pro, or player possessing professional skills. Capable of winning or placing high in the money in local open tournaments.

9- Advanced. Very good position play, strategy and consistency. Top league player. Consistent competitor in local open tournaments.  

8 - Advanced. Good position play, strategy and consistency. Good league player. Competitive in local open tournaments.

7 - Intermediate. Fair amount of knowledge and experience, but inconsistent in execution. Average league player.

6 - Intermediate. Has learned quite a few shots, but has a lot to learn about position play and strategy. Inconsistent.

5 - Novice. Has a grasp of the fundamentals, but does not know much about the physics of the game. Lower-level league player.

4 - Novice. Very basic knowledge of the fundamentals. Knows almost nothing about position play. Lowest-level tournament player.

For their first two matches in the league men will be rated a 6, women a 5, unless otherwise determined.  After that the automated rating will kick in.

·        Players that are rated 9 or higher cannot be on more than one team together.  You can play on more than one night but you cannot have any common members with your other team.  Not even as a sub. 

Add the three players ratings together to get the team total.  Compare with opponents team.  Determine the difference between the teams and apply handicap points. 

If your team of 3 totals 22 or less there is no handicap!

If your team of 3 is at 23 it’s 2 points per point. 

If your team of 3 totals 24-25 it is 3 points per point. 

26 to 27 is 4 points per and

28 to 29 would be 5 points per point with 30 being 6 per!

·        When playing short-handed (less than 3 players) the vacant spot (the forfeit) counts as 4 points toward the handicap total. 

To win by the handicap the lower rated team must score as many points equal to their ratings total. 

Basic Weekly Due - The weekly dues are $18 per team.  The entire weekly dues are due regardless of how many players are on the roster or how many players played during the match.  Dues must be current and fully paid each week.  Players/teams that do not pay will receive 0 points for the match.  If dues are not made current the following week the player/team will be dropped from the roster/schedule.    

Time-Outs - So that coaching does not cause excessive delays in the progress of a match, players with a rating of 6 and up may receive one time-out per game, and players with ratings of 5 or less and non-rated players may receive two time-outs per game. 

Calling a time-out - Only the coach or the shooter of the shooting team may call for a time-out.  In order to avoid confusion say it loudly and clearly enough for all to hear.  Any member of the team may ask the shooter if he/she would like a time-out from the sideline.  The shooter may ask for a coach from any one of his/her teammates.

Using a sub in last 2 matches - After the 12^th match teams that qualify for the tournament may NOT use any players that are not listed on your roster.  Any team using unauthorized players will receive 0 points for that person’s matches.  It doesn't just affect your teams, it affects other teams in the division.  

STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY – Tournament eligibility will be based on your rating.  The minimum number of matches to be eligible for Championship play is equal to your rating meaning if you are a 7 you must play in at least 7 matches to qualify for your team.  If you are a 9 you must play in at least 9 matches.  No more “minimum match” ringers in the tournament. Occasionally we have a team who for whatever reason cannot meet those requirements. In that situation they can use a player that hasn't met the minimum requirements but has played on their team during the season.  The penalty for this is a half point added to their rating for every match they are short.  Meaning a 7 that has played only 5 matches would be raised to an 8 (half point each for the 6th & 7th match) for the tournament. 

Ø      State Champions – The top shooter from the 1st place team will have their rating temporarily raised by one point for one season unless the team repeats as champion then that rating will remain and another member of that team will go up.   Players must shoot at least one full season before rating can drop. 

Accidental Ball Movement - Causing even the slightest movement or altering the course of the cue ball, even accidentally, is a foul.  Even dropping the chalk on the cue ball is a foul.  It is not a foul, however, to accidentally move 1 of the other balls (including the 8-ball) unless, during the process of shooting, a player moves a ball and it in turn comes in contact with the cue ball.  Moving 2 or more balls, while even accidentally, is ball in hand.  It is at the opposing players discretion for the shooter to position any balls moved accidentally during a shot after the shot is over and all balls have stopped rolling.  If it occurs before the shot, it must be replaced before the shot is taken.