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The billiards league and the sportsmanship of the billiards hall: changing the negative perceptions of the game of billiards

The principles of good sportsmanship in billiards are communication, integrity and respect for your opponent.

Failure to adhere to the basic principles of good sportsmanship can invoke ball in hand and game loss from the first offense in some billiards game formats, as well as possible removal from a billiards league or venue. While there are plenty of places where you can play pool that leave players fighting over what is essentially a simple matter, the best places won’t allow it. Establishments with transparent and direct signage on the subject, an in-house professional or instructor, or premier tours and associations (ie BCA, WPBA, etc.) should tell you that proper etiquette must be observed and followed.

COMMUNICATION

Of paramount importance is open and strong communication between players. Many pool game formats are based on it, for example the call shot formats. Many (if not all) disputes can be avoided by practicing strong and balanced communication skills. Each player is responsible for his actions at the table!

INTEGRITY

Most of the time when there is a question of sportsmanship, someone has allowed their better judgment to be compromised. The offending player is not being entirely honest. If a player is dissatisfied with his opponent’s unsportsmanlike conduct during a match of any type, he should suspend play before advancing to the next shot and seek a venue administrator, tournament director, or group league representative. This way, it’s obvious to everyone looking into the matter that you didn’t question it because you missed a critical shot or lost a game. In cases where the offense occurs before a shot, he must get up from the shot and suspend play.

SHARK – COMMON SIGNS OF LACK OF RESPECT TOWARDS YOUR OPPONENT

Poor sportsmanship is often exploited as a means to distract and disrupt a player’s patience and focus. This type of unsportsmanlike conduct is called “shaking” in the game of billiards. The following is just a reference starting point for shark techniques. It is by no means a complete list.

1) Stand in your opponent’s line of sight, or move through it while shooting.

2) Deliberate interruption of your opponent (talking to him, dropping a cue/chalk, etc.).

3) Pick up the basket before the player puts in the final ball.

4) Loosen your cue joint as your opponent tries to sink one of the last balls.

5) Deliberate delay of the game to disturb your opponent’s rhythm.

FINAL WORD

While a tournament director or league representative will have the final say in all cases of organized unsportsmanlike conduct, they may be alone to discuss these matters. Remember that it is often best to walk away from an opponent who will resort to any measure to gain an advantage. As you perform better, his behavior gets worse and worse. Is it really a good use of your time? Respect your time and your game.

Practice good sportsmanship consistently and you will make the game much more fun for everyone.

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