From the Umpire’s Table
I would like to welcome everybody back to actually playing Eightball! The revised 2021 ACTEBA Playing Rules are now available on the website. Although there are no significant changes to the rules – mainly it is clarification and correction of some errors that had crept in – I would advise all players to refresh their memory of the rules by reading the new version.
A quick reminder on a couple of important points. ALL Wednesday night frames must be umpired, and both teams must provide umpires for the matches. No separate time-keeper is required, but the umpire should use a tactile timing device (e.g. smartphone app), and not a stopwatch that needs to be looked at.
It is the Umpire’s responsibility to announce the breaking player, and to ensure that the rack is correctly set (Yellow J, Red head ball, Black on the spot), although the breaking player may set the rack themselves if they choose. If the Umpire fails to announce the breaking player (or announces it incorrectly), then it is NOT a foul if the wrong player breaks.
But the Umpire’s most important responsibility is to ensure that both players get, and appear to get, a fair game. The Umpire should therefore be, and appear to be, totally impartial, and must avoid expressing either criticism, or support in the form of barracking, for either player.
Finally – a reminder that although on matters of what actually occurred at the table (e.g. did the ball reach the cushion?) the Umpire’s decision is absolutely final, I am always available on Wednesday nights to resolve any uncertainty on the rules. Please call me on 04683 14683 at the time – don’t wait to ask me about it 2 weeks later!
All the best to all our players,
Iain McCulloch, Head Umpire.
