Coachella Valley Pool Players Association Policy

The Coachella Valley Pool Players Association (CVPPA) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting enjoyable pool competition among the patrons of sponsor establishments. To this end the administrative structure, consisting of a Board of Directors and whatever committees they may form, is intended to facilitate communication between various groups of people, thereby providing a groundwork on which they may join in organized competition. It is intended that the Board be alley varied opportunities for pool competition as time goes by.

The CVPPA membership has adopted the BCA rules as the guidelines for which it will use. The BCA rules in print at the time of team registration will be in effect for that season. Any deviations from these rules will be defined in the Policy section as decided by the CVPPA membership. General membership meetings will be held each season at which time rules will be discussed and altered if necessary.

Members should attend these meetings.

1. Teams and Sponsors

A.      Prospective players may apply for membership on a team at any CVPPA bar. Try-outs, at sponsor’s or team captain’s discretion, may be held to fill team member positions.

B.      Teams consist of at least Five (5) but not more than Ten (10) members.

C.      Sponsor fees are due at team registration. Sponsor fees are $25 for one (1) team and $5 for each additional team per establishment. Sponsors are limited to two (2) teams per pool table to a maximum of four teams per sponsor.

D.      Membership fees for a minimum of ffive (5) players are due at team registration all others are due on player’s first night of play. Individual fees are $10.00 Players joining after the mid-season break shall pay $10.00 on their first night of play.

E.      Team Captains will submit a list of members’ addresses and phone numbers to the Board on the registration night(s) designated by the Board.

F.      All teams will be randomly assigned to a number of divisions decided by draw conducted by the Board. An establishment with more than one team will have each in a different division. Every team in a division plays all others of that division during regular season play, plus inter-divisional matches if scheduled. The Board reserves the right to seed teams based on previous season(s) final statistics.

G.     During home matches, sponsors are expected to provide quarters enough for 25 games, or an opened ball return, or, in the case of pool halls, free table time beginning one hour prior to the match and continuing until the tewnty-five match games have been played.

H.      Sponsors may be asked for the use of their table(s) for CVPPA sponsored tournaments. Unless otherwise arranged with the sponsor, CVPPA will provide quarters or rent table time for these tournaments.

Note: If a team dissolves during the first half of the season, all games actually played to date will remain as part of the stats for those teams and individuals affected. Forfeited games will not remain as part of the team stats. If a team dissolves after the first half of the season, all games to date including forfeits will remain and any remaining matches against the dissolved team will become a bye.

2. Knowledge of Policy and Rules: It is the responsibility of each individual league member to

familiarize themselves with the CVPPA policy and playing rules.

3. Captains’ Responsibilities: The Team Captain serves a vital function in the CVPPA. It is the Team

Captain who ensures that:

1. Players have paid dues prior to playing.
2. Players are knowledgeable about the rules.
3. The Board is to be advised of unusual events, which may occur during a match.
4. The match score is communicated promptly and the scoresheet is submitted promptly.
5. The Captain or his/her representative (a current teammate) attends the meeting held in conjunction with the Captain’s Tournament.
6. Act as liaison between the sponsor and the CVPPA.
7. Each Team Captain shall delegate one member of the team as an eligible playoff referee. Said player must attend one of the referee training sessions held during the regular season by the Head Referee.
8. Captains or their delegate (team member other than the player) shall act as a designated observer during a regular season team match. Captains must inform their opponents Captain who will be watching prior to start of game.

4. Scoresheets: It is the duty of the home Team Captain to keep scoresheets. See Scoresheet

Instructions on how to complete scoresheet. Match results must be submitted by the home Team

Captain using the online scoresheet form at CVPPAPool.org by noon of the day after the match

(Wednesday). Captains of visiting teams are encouraged to check that the scoresheet submitted

by the home team captain is correct or enter the scoresheet if it has not yet been entered.

Scoresheet Instructions

1. Home Team Captains write in date.
2. Fill in team name.
3. Fill in player names in spaces 1-5.
4. Fill in substitute player names.
5. Give scoresheet to visiting Team Captain.
6. Fill in visiting team name.
7. Fill in player names in spaces A-E.
8. Fill in substitute player names.
9. Give scoresheet back to home Team Captain.
10. Game schedule. Game 1 – Home player “1” versus Visitor player “A”. Fill in wins and losses following each game.Indicate by using an “10” for a win and count the number of balls down  for a loss. If there is a forfeit use an “F” for a win and continue to use the “0“ for a loss. B on the bottom left corner indicate who breaks.
11. Record home team and visiting team results. Indicate by using an “10” for a win and count the number of balls down for a loss. If there is a forfeit leave individuals game box empty and record an “10” for a win and a “0“ for a loss in the appropriate Forfeit boxes. Note: If both teams forfeit the same game then each team will receive no credit for that game. The match then becomes a 20 game match.
12.  After game 5 has been completed, total the score of the round and add handi-cap score if applicable. Follow this procedure for each inning and total both the players score at the end and total point for the game. Make sure these total balance.
13. When the match is completed, fill in the final score.
14. Total each player’s wins and losses.

 Note: Forfeits do not count as a win for individual players only for the team.

1. The total team scores should match the game total.
2. Indicate Table Runs with a “TR” in the far right column.
3. Both team captains sign the scoresheets.
4. Distribution: White to home Team Captain; Canary to visiting Team Captain.
5. Any comments to the board (disputes, address changes, notes to Board) should be written on the white copy and then entered by the home Team Captain in the comment box at the end of the online submittal process.
6. Enter the scoresheet at CVPPAPool.org using the online scoresheet submittal form by noon of the following day (Wednesday).

5. Playing Equipment: Home teams should ensure that there is an adequate selection of cue sticks, chalk, powder, and a bridge at each site of play. The Sponsor’s table(s) must be of dimensions of 3½' x 7' or 4' x 8' only.

6. Protests: If a disagreement occurs during the course of a match game, play shall be stopped

immediately and the Captains shall confer to resolve the dispute. If no resolution is possible, the

Captains will agree to a re-rack. Contact Head Referee for any clarifications of any rule or policy.

7. Sportsmanship: The Board shall take aggressive action to discipline members who fail to

maintain high standards of sportsmanship. Actions may include fines, suspension, or loss of

membership, in accordance with Section 9 of the By-laws of the Association. Verbal complaints policy:

1st Complaint – A board representative will contact captain where the situation will be stated. The individual making the complaint will be kept anonymous. A request will be made to the captain to keep an eye out for any such incidents in the future and that they should take corrective action at that time. i.e. – reminding the player of the rules and league policy.

2nd Complaint – A general letter will be sent to the team members stating the situation with no

names mentioned. A reminder will be made of the league policy regarding such behavior and that

it will not be tolerated.

3rd Complaint – The person making the complaint will be encouraged to write a letter to the board regarding the situation so the individual can be brought in front of the board to explain the

continued actions.

8. Team Matches:

1. A match consists of twenty-five (25) individual games. As many as five (5) players may be used during a match; five (5) starting players. Note: If both teams forfeit the same game, that game will not be counted and the match becomes a 24 game match.
2. Lineup: All matches shall begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. The home team lineup shall be posted by the captain no later than 6:55 p.m. The visiting team’s lineup shall be posted no later than 7:00 p.m. Alternate(s) names must appear on the before an inning begins.
3. Substitutions: shall be made by Team Captains. Each player’s score shall be recorded by his/her name on the scoresheet. Once a player has been removed from the match, the player may not re-enter the match. Substitutions may not be made during a game.
4. Tardy Player: If a player is not present at the start of his/her game in the first quarter, the other three (3) games in the quarter shall be played, and the tardy player shall forfeit his/her game for that quarter, unless he/she arrives before the quarter is finished; the tardy player will be allowed to play the first quarter game. If that player is absent for his/her second game, the player has until the end of the second quarter to play the game without the game being forfeited. If a player is not present for their first and second game, and a substitute is not available by the end of the second quarter, all games attributed to that player will be forfeited. If a player is absent from the third quarter when his/her game is called, the player has until the end of the third quarter to play that game without the game being forfeited; this same condition applies to the fourth quarter.
5. Forfeits: In the event that a team fails to appear at a scheduled match, the opposing team will be credited with twenty-five (25) team wins. The forfeiting team will be charged with twenty-five(25) losses. No individual will be either credited with a win or charged a loss. The forfeiting captain shall make an explanation to the Board within 24 hours. Should the captain fail to do so, all members of the forfeiting team shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Board.
6. Practice Sessions: The home team has the table from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. 
7. Coaching: There is no talking/coaching allowed between the player and their teammates during the player’s inning. However, he/she may talk with his/her own teammates while the opponent’s inning is in progress.
8. Protests and Disputes: Players at the table, or their Team Captains, may request a rule interpretation or application from the opposing team’s observer at any time during the game. Requests or protests must be made immediately, before any subsequent shot has been taken, or they cannot be considered. The shooter must honor an opponent’s request that play be halted when an observer has been requested to make a rule interpretation or application. Failure to honor such a request may result in disciplinary action as provided under unsportsmanlike conduct (see “I” below).
9. Role of the Observer: The observer for each team should watch all shots taken by both players. When asked by one of the players, the observer(s) may give their opinion(s) on any issue of question or disagreement, such as whether a ball made contact with the rail, whether a ball is frozen, etc. The observer is not a referee, and disagreements must be resolved by the players, or by the captains if the players cannot reach agreement. Generally, observers should not get involved in play unless players have requested their opinion. The exception is that an observer may speak up to voice opinion that a foul was committed, without being asked, but this opinion only opens a dialogue, it does not necessarily mean a foul has been committed.
10. Unsporstmanlike Conduct: No player shall be allowed to engage in any activity, which is unsportsmanlike in nature, embarrassing, disruptive or detrimental to other players, referees, sponsors, spectators, or the sport in general. Such behavior may result in loss of game, suspension or loss of CVPPA membership, as decided by the Board. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1.       Illegally Causing a Ball to Move. Intentionally causing a ball to move by any illegal means, i.e., pushing on bed cloth, bumping or slapping the table, etc.

2.       Interference. Deliberate interference with a player in the process of shooting on the part of an opposing player or team member. If a spectator or player accidentally interferes with a player in the process of shooting, the referee may either return the balls to their original positions, or instruct the players to replay the game.

3.       Harassment. Verbal or physical harassment of participants, including players, referees, sponsors, and spectators during Coachella Valley Pool League sanctioned activities.

K.      Eligibility for payment: Team members must have been on their current team’s roster at the beginning of the second half of the season and must have participated in at least fiftyfive percent (50%) of available games over the length of the entire season to qualify for payment

L.       Powers and Duties of the Referee: When a match has a neutral referee (such as a playoff match), the referee is in complete charge of the game at all times. The referee’s decision is final, unless the penalized player can cite rules that substantiate a protest, in which case the referee may reverse the decision. If no referee is available, team captains must reach a mutual decision. During playoffs and finals, the referee is required to:

1.       Rack the balls and brush the table

2.       Make calls as required by CVPPA rules

3.       Provide information on rules when asked