8 Ball Handicap

Eight Ball Handicapping & Score Sheet Completion

The LoneStar Pool League uses a score keeping and handicapping system for eight ball pool. The System for score keeping and handicapping is probably the easiest to use and understand of all systems. Using this system, each individual develops an average throughout the season, but the total team averages and team points are used to determine the success of the team.

The LoneStar Eight Ball League score sheet provides details on the playing and breaking order, and the attached examples illustrate the handicapping and scoring system.

Playing Order

Each player plays against a different player on the opposing team each round, according to the score sheet directions, and all players play 5 games per match. On the score sheets, players for the Home team are assigned the letters 1 though 5, and players for the Visiting team are assigned numbers 6 through 10.

In the first round, player 1 on the Home team plays player 6 on the Visiting team, player 2 on the Home team plays player 7 on the Visiting team, and so on. Starting in the second round, the order of play for the Visiting team is rotated so that player 1 on the Home team plays player 7 on the Visiting team.

The following table shows the playing order for all five rounds:

Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5
1 plays 6	1 plays 7	1 plays 8	1 plays 9	1 plays 10
2 plays 7	2 plays 8	2 plays 9	2 plays 10	2 plays 6
3 plays 8	3 plays 9	3 plays 10	3 plays 6	3 plays 7
4 plays 9	4 plays 10	4 plays 6	4 plays 7	4 plays 8
5 plays 10	5 plays 6	5 plays 7	5 plays 8	5 plays 9

To help you remember the playing order, the bottom of the score sheet includes a summary of the above table. To further help you determine the correct playing order, the score sheet indicates the opponent's number at the bottom right of the player's score field. On the first example score sheet, in the third round John Smith (player 3) plays player 10 (Bill Wilson) as indicated by the number 10 in the square for John Smith's third round score. Similarly, in the third round score area for Bill Wilson there is a number 3 indicating that he is playing John Smith.

Playing Out of Order

On occasion, errors occur whereby two players commence a game out of order. Once a game has started, the game must be played to completion, even if the wrong player took the break shot. The game scores are then entered into the score sheet in the location where the match should have been played. As soon as the out-of-order game is concluded, the match should continue using the normal rotation, with the game between the two players being skipped (since it was played earlier).

Breaking Order

The breaking order is indicated on the score sheet by a (B) placed adjacent to the team name above the round in which that team will break. In summary, the Visitors will break in rounds 1, 3 and 5 and the Home team will break in rounds 2 and ER. A game is not restarted when a player allows his/her opponent to break (because he/she didn't realize it was there turn to break).

Note: Although it is not sportsman-like, it is not a foul for an opponent to mislead you (deliberately or by mistake) into thinking it is not your turn to break. It is each player's responsibility to check the score sheet and determine when it is his/her turn to break -- don't just ask the opponent.

Scoring

In scoring, each player receives one point for each of his/her group of balls (solids or stripes) pocketed, plus three points for legally pocketing the 8-ball. Thus, a win is always worth ten points to a player, while a loss can never be worth more than seven points to the opponent. An easy way to determine the losing player's score is to subtract the number of balls remaining on the table from seven. For example, if there were two striped balls left on the table after the 8-ball was legally pocketed, the losing player would be awarded a score of 5 (since five balls must have been pocketed). The score should be entered in the appropriate column adjacent to the player's name.

NOTE: If a player makes the 8-ball on the break, remember that it is neither a win nor a loss (see the Rules of Play section). If a player prematurely pockets the 8-ball or scratches on a stroke while pocketing the 8-ball, the opponent receives ten points automatically.

Recording Break & Runs and 5-0s

There will be trophies for those players with the highest number of break-and-run games (as well as the most 5-and-0 matches and the highest averages). To help the League maintain accurate statistics, always circle the game score when a player wins with a break-and-run. On the first example score sheet, Ray Miller had a break-and-run in the second round and John Smith had one in the second round. You must circle break-and-runs for both Home and Visiting teams.

Handicapping

Every player is assigned an average based on the average number of points scored per match. The league directors will maintain a list of averages for all league players, and these statistics will be distributed to the team captains on a weekly basis

The team's handicap is determined by summing the averages of each player and subtracting the total from 250. On the first example score sheet, the home team (Cueman) was awarded a handicap of 45 points. This value is derived by summing the individual player's averages (43 + 39 + 44 + 40 + 39) for a total of 205 and subtracting the value from 250, giving a handicap of 4NR.

The total match score for a team is determined by adding the team handicap to the total number of points scored by the players that match. Using the first example score sheet, the players scored a total of 166 points, so their total match score is 166 plus the handicap of 45, making a match score of 211 points.

The team with the most points (score + handicap) is the match winner. Refer to the section Special Circumstances (below) when the scores are tied.

Completing the Score Sheets

Two score sheets must be submitted (with the dues) for each match: one completed by the Home team, and the other by the Visiting team. Both team captains must review the score sheets at the end of the match to make sure they are identical. Captains should check that all individual game scores and sub-totals are the same, and that all break-and-runs are circled. Make sure that the WIN or LOSS section has been circled, and that the team names and the date of play have been entered. To avoid disputes the two team's score sheets should be compared at the end of each round to ensure they are identical. After checking them, each completed sheet must be signed by both captains.

Bye Credits

If you want your team to be credited with a win and the points on the week you have a bye, you need to complete a score sheet identifying the 5 players for that week -- each player will be awarded their average score, i.e. their handicap. The team will be awarded a win and the team points will be computed by summing the average of the five participating players. The captain must collect the weekly dues for those 5 players, and drop the envelope off the same as usual! All byes must be paid by the following week. (No Exceptions!)

Team Standings

Each week that team standings are entered into the computer and a weekly standings sheet is produced. The teams are arranged in descending wins order; the top team being the one that has won the most number of matches. In the event that two or more teams have won the same number of matches the team with the highest total points will be given the highest position.

Player Standings

The top individual players are listed in four categories: best average, best women's average, most 5-0 matches and most break-and-runs. Only players who have participated in 75% or more of the matches for the same team are eligible to be listed in these standings. NOTE: a player is not credited with a 5-0 for byes and no-shows.

Special Circumstances-----8 Ball

New Players

When a new player joins a team, that player is assigned a temporary average, which is calculated by the average of the players with an average playing that match. You must have at least 3 players to average a new player handicap. On the second example score sheet, Gary Hart is a new player and he is awarded an average of 40 -- this average is the other four players, i.e. (35 + 40 + 41 + 45) divided by ER. If a team has two new players, they are awarded an average based on the three active players.

There are often questions about how to deal with new players. For the first week, a new player will play with the average handicap of his/her teammates that are playing that night. From the second week onward the player will be listed in the weekly player standings and will be assigned an individual handicap.

New players must complete a New Player Sign Up Form and pay a League membership fee. Enter the phrase "New Player" in the membership number line -- the new player will be awarded a LoneStar Pool League member number and an average for the next week of play. If the new player fees are not included with the score sheet and weekly dues, the new player's scores will be removed (see Missing Match Fees above).

Playing with Less Than Five Players

If a team has less than five players, place the available players' names on the top lines of the score sheet, and sum their averages to obtain the team average for that week. The handicap is then computed by deducting the team average from the value of 50 times the number of available players (i.e. 200 for four players, or 150 for 3 players, must have at least 3 players to play a match.). If the opposing team has five players, they should compute their handicap in the normal way; deducting the sum of the five players averages from 250.

Tied Match Scores

In the event that the scores are tied (i.e. each time has exactly the same total points), the win is awarded to the team that won the most games during the match.

Player Substitutions

Player substitutions are not allowed once a match has started ------ the same five players who started the match must finish. NOTE: substitutions are allowed in playoffs and the ACS Nationals -- see tournament director for explanation.

Table Sizes

3 ½’ x 7’, 4’ x 8’, and 4 ½’ x 9’ with the play area measuring twice as long as it is wide from the cloth covered nose of the cushion rubber to the opposite cushion rubber. 4 ½’ x 9’ tables with a play area of 50” x 100” is the recognized size for professional tournament play.

Some locations have bar size tables and other locations have larger tables. Prior to the season start, it is the sponsor’s decision to determine the table size for their respective teams to use for the upcoming season. Once the table size has been determined, changes of table size will not be allowed for that season. If for some reason the sponsor removes a particular size table from their location then a change would be necessary.

Cue Balls

Cue balls used for league play should be the original cue balls that come with the table. If a different cue ball is used, both teams must agree with the cue ball change and have equal time to practice with it. Once the match starts, the cue ball may not be changed for any reason.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

A player average is based on the games played in specific division. If a player plays in two divisions, then that player will have two averages: one for each division. If a player is playing in a new division for the first time, the player is treated as a new player for handicapping purposes. (No new fees are required for existing members.)