Captains know about the 23 rule. What trips teams up on match night are the six procedural rules that govern how the evening actually runs: the ones that determine whether you lose a player declaration, trigger a forfeit you didn't expect, or lose the right to protest a bad call. This page covers each one directly, as interpreted from the APA Official Team Manual.
Key Takeaways
- Once both teams declare a player, the choice is locked; only 23 Rule or Senior Rule conflicts allow a change.
- No more than two SL6+ players can appear in a single open division team match.
- APA uses real clock time for the 15-minute forfeit window, not bar time.
- Forfeits must always be the last matches of the night; you cannot choose which match to give up.
- Once the scoresheet is submitted to Local League Management, the protest window is permanently closed.
Rule 1 How Player Declaration Works, and When It Locks
Team Captains flip a coin to decide who declares first. Whichever team declares first in the first match declares second in the second match, first again in the third match, and so on.
It is considered good sportsmanship to notify the opponent of a potential violation and give them an opportunity to declare a different player.
Rule 2 The Senior Skill Level Rule - Two SL6+ Players Maximum
Senior Skill Level players are anyone playing at SL6 or above. No more than two of them can appear in a single team match.
What Happens After a Senior Rule Violation
The third SL6+ player loses their individual match by forfeit. Any points they earned do not count, and the non-offending team picks up forfeit points for that match. The match night continues from there; unlike a 23 Rule violation, this does not wipe the entire night. One important wrinkle: both players' skill levels still count toward the team's running total for the 23 Rule, even though the match itself was forfeited.
LineUp Magic tracks your players' skill levels and flags Senior Skill Level conflicts before match night.
🎱 Check My Lineup NowRule 3 Forfeits - Timing, Order, and Scoring
The forfeit clock starts at the official scheduled start time, and APA uses actual clock time, not whatever the bar clocks say. If no player from a team is at the table and ready to play within 15 minutes of that time, the match is a forfeit.
| Format | Individual Match Forfeit (Regular) | Individual Match Forfeit (Playoffs) | Full Team Forfeit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-Ball Open | 2 points | 3 points | 8 points |
| 9-Ball Open | Up to 15 points | 20 points | 60 points |
| Ladies & 3-Person 8-Ball | 2 points | 3 points | 5 points |
| Ladies & 3-Person 9-Ball | Up to 15 points | 20 points | 40 points |
| Doubles 8-Ball | 2 pts (singles match) 4 pts (doubles match) |
— | Check Local Bylaws |
| Doubles 9-Ball | Up to 15 pts (singles match) 30 pts (doubles match) |
— | Check Local Bylaws |
| Masters | 5 points | 7 points | 15 points |
Rule 4 Coaching and Time-Outs
A time-out must be called before coaching begins. A team can only be charged with a time out after the rack has been struck in any individual game. If the shooter requests a time-out, the coach may refuse it and no time-out will be charged.
- Confirming solids or stripes (8-ball)
- Telling a player to mark the pocket when shooting the 8-ball
- Reminding player of next ball in rotation (9-ball)
- Advice or placing cue ball before the break
- Answering rules questions
- Reminding a player to chalk up
- Telling a player a foul has occurred
- General encouragement: "nice shot," "good hit," etc.
- Conversations with a player when it is not their turn
- Which ball to shoot (except 9-ball)
- Where to leave the cue ball
- Shot speed or use of English
- Whether to play safe or defensive
Important Note: Ineligible players cannot coach or participate in a group consensus. Only the designated coach may pass advice to the shooter.
Rule 5 Splitting a Match Onto Two Tables
If the fourth match has not started by two hours after the official League start time, teams should put up their next player and start play on a second table of the same size, if one is available. The fifth match then takes whichever table opens first. A team is subject to penalties if it deliberately prevents a second table from being available or resists using it.
The option to split onto a second table can only be waived if both teams agree in advance to complete the entire match on one table.
Rule 6 How APA Protests Work
Captains should attempt to resolve issues through negotiation and compromise first, including replaying a game if both teams agree. If a game is replayed by mutual agreement, no protest may be filed later about that dispute.
If no resolution is reached, both captains must submit a written protest describing the circumstances, along with a $50 fee from each team. The League Operator rules on the protest or submits it to the Board of Governors. The losing team forfeits their $50; the winning team gets theirs back.
Managing skill level caps, senior player limits, and lineup order is exactly what LineUp Magic was built for.
Free for all APA and TAP team captains.
The rule descriptions on this page are our interpretation of APA procedures and are intended as a general reference only. Rules may vary by local area. Always confirm with your League Operator or the APA Official Team Manual.
LineUp Magic is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the American Poolplayers Association (APA).
