World Standardized Rules

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WORLD STANDARDIZED RULES

POCKET BILLIARDS
RULES INDEX

Download and print these rule sections, or purchase a full copy.

General Rules

8-Ball

9-Ball

14.1 Continuous

One Pocket

Wheelchair Competition

Specifications

2006 Rule Change Summary

Equipment Specifications

Room Size Recommendations

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Cue Sports have exploded worldwide! Organizing the expansion in the numbers of people playing, and standardizing the formats and rules being used for the greater amount of competitions have become a necessary and responsible challenge.

The World Confederation of Billiard Sports delivered the first-ever official application for recognition of cue sports to the International Olympic Commitee in Lausanne, Switzerland, in September, 1992. Since that time the Billiard Congress of America (representing the various federations of North America) has worked in cooperation with the other confederations of WPA - the European Pocket Billiard Federation (representing 24 national federations), the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (representing 7 national federations), and the Astralasian Pool Association (representing 2 national federations) to produce the first-ever world standardized rules for the major tournament games.

In order to promote the standardized rules throughout the various countries and languages, a moratorium on future rules changes was necessary. With the consistency in rules now stabilized in the three most prevalent "competition" games in the sport, the BCA in cooperation with the mandates of the World Pool-Billiard Association agreed on a moratorium on changes to the rules for a period of 5 years - through the end of 2005. Selected revisions were adopted in 2006, and the process closed again through January 1, 2008. [ download a PDF summary of 2006 changes ]

The WPA Board and the annually held WPA General Assembly will consider amendments to the rules, but only in proposals strengthening the textual interpretation of a rule so it is better understood - not a change in the spirit of the rule itself.

The Billiard Congress of America is proud to make these rules available on the Internet. You will find that the interest of the sport is best served both recreationally and competitively when you play by the official rules.