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1. ACCOUNTS AND ELIGILIBILITY
a. A member is only allowed one account in the Straightshots Pool League (hereafter referred to as the ‘League’). If more then one account is detected it may result in ALL accounts being deleted and that includes all bux and match histories.
b. A member’s League ID must match a member’s Yahoo ID exactly. This includes IDs with @sbcglobal.net or similar add-ons.
If a member has difficulties adding the @ symbol, he or she should contact a HTD or Admin to assist.
c. A member with a League ID which is deemed unsuitable or inappropriate will be asked to change it. This includes any League ID with cuss or rude words in them.
Penalty: Boxing until complied with.
d. Provisional IDs (ie. with less then 20 games) and boosted IDs are eligible and may join and play in the League.
e. A member will not be permitted to join the League if his or her Yahoo rating is less than 1100.
Penalty: Banishment from the League.
f. Ghost IDs, deflated IDs or any otherwise manipulated IDs will not be permitted in the League.
Penalty: Banishment from the League.
g. It is a member’s responsibility to make sure he or she has a valid email address. If one is found to be invalid it may result in his or her ID being removed from the League. Updating an email address this can be done under ‘User Editor’ on the website home page.
h. A member must not play on another member’s ID at any time. Both members will be penalised if it is established that the member owning the ID used gave his password willingly.
Penalty: Boxing of 30 (thirty) days.
2. WITHDRAWING
a. A member must not repeatedly withdraw and then rejoin the League to renew stats.
Penalty: Boxing of 14 (fourteen) days.
b. A member wishing to withdraw to get more bux must contact an Admin or a HTD prior to withdrawal
so that his or her stats can be preserved.
Penalty: Boxing of 14 (fourteen) days.
c. Should a member find it necessary to withdraw to rebuild a bux balance, it must not be done until the completion of any
tournament the member is involved in at the time, regardless of whether he or she have been eliminated or not.
Penalty: Boxing of 3 (three) days.
d. Admins can help a member with restoring his or her stats but can only do so if the member gives them notice that he or she intends to withdraw and then rejoin.
3. GAME RULES – BREAKS
a. All tables are to be ‘rated’ and ‘protected’ unless otherwise stated beforehand.
b. The cueball must be moved a noticeable distance when taking the break. If there is any dispute regarding the cue ball not being removed, which must be made immediately by the opponent, the game must be reracked.
c. If the 8-ball is potted directly on a break, the game must be reracked.
d. If Yahoo gives a ‘ball in hand’ after sinking 2 balls of different types directly on the break, the next shot is to be taken where the cueball lies. If a member fails to play the cueball where it lies, the game must be reracked. Because this is an obvious Yahoo glitch (as neither player has committed a foul shot), ball in hand must not be taken.
e. The ‘Purple Ball’ break – when both the 12-ball (purple stripe) and the 2-ball (blue solid) are sunk off the break – is now deemed to be a legal break (previously prohibited in the League). If the purple break occurs, play must continue.
4. GAME RULES – SAFETIES & TAPPING
a. Safeties – or ‘snookering’ – is recognised as a part of playing pool and is permitted unconditionally in the League.
b. ‘Tapping’ – where the cueball is played lightly against any other ball – is permitted unconditionally in the League.
c. A member may not harrass, intimidate, ridicule or insult any member who chooses to play safeties or tapping, under any circumstances.
Penalty: Boxing of 1 (one) day. If the offence is deemed to be more serious, the offender will dealt with in accorance with the appropriate category in Rule 12.
5. GAME RULES – RERACKS
a. Only the winning member may offer a rerack in any game where the 8-ball is sunk early (apart from directly off the break). It is not a requirement to offer a rerack and this will be up to the individual member whether he or she offer or not.
b. A member losing a game where the 8-ball is sunk early may not request a rerack. If a losing member harrasses his or her opponent to rerack, action may be taken if a screenshot is submitted.
Penalty: Boxing of 1 (one) day.
c. All reracks are to be played as best of 3 games. The member losing the original game begins 1-0 down and must win two games, whilst the opponent must win one further game.
6. GAME RULES – GENERAL
a. Glitches by Yahoo are a fact of life in Yahoo Pool so a member must learn to live with them. Excessive complaining is not permitted.
Penalty: Boxing of 1 (one) day.
b. It is a League requirement to type “gl” (“good luck”) before a game starts, and “gg” (“good game) directly after the 8-ball has been potted. However, “gg” must never be typed BEFORE the 8-ball has dropped under any circumstances. Should this happen before the 8-ball drops, the offending member risks having his or her opponent submit a complaint, in which a screenshot is required.
It is in a member’s best interest, no matter what the outcome of the game, to always show good sportsmanship. Staff must note this type of offence in a member’s log record.
Penalty: If three complaints are received then a mandatory boxing of 1 (one) day will be imposed.
c. Under normal circumstances, as a matter of common courtesy, the member who asks for a ‘league’ or ‘SS’ game is the one who must invite to a table.
d. During any game, a member is not permitted to leave the table before the 8-ball is potted, nor bring up the ‘cancel’ box, nor force forfeit (‘FF’). This includes quitting and forfeiting before a game has ended, and FF if an opponent gets booted.
Penalty: Boxing of 7 (seven) days.
e. Races are not recognised as a legal game or match and may not be played in the League.
Penalty: Suspected of or caught 'racing' – boxing of 3 (three) days.
f. Substitutes may be used in a 2-v-2 or 3-v-3 tournament as long as the substitute is nominated and present at the table before any applied timer has expired. If a member’s nominated substitute leaves the game, a second substitute is not permitted and a timer will apply until either the nominated substitute or original partner returns.
g. Coaching is not permitted in any tournament game. This includes coaching partners in a 2-v-2 or 3-v-3 tournament. Any screenshot taken may be submitted as evidence of coaching.
Penalty: A member using coaching advice will be disqualified in a tournament game.
7. REPORTING LOSSES
a. A game lost must be reported either before another game is played or within 12 hours. If someone has not reported a league game that a member has played based on the criteria just mentioned then the opponent may file an unreported match, by using the link on the website home page. It is imperative that included are the time, month and day that the match took place.
Without this information, it may result in the match not being reported at all.
b. Members must be aware that the League has a period of 24 hours of inactivity for rungs.
This means that a member must play a league game within 24 hours or he or she will lose rungs for inactivity. It is a member’s responsibilty to make sure that any games lost are all reported, as no moving of rank will be applied.
c. A member who fails to report appropriately will be penalised for an unreported match. Staff must note this type of offence in a member’s log record.
Penalty: Three unreported matches by a member – boxing of 30 (thirty) days.
8. BOOTING MEMBERS
a. A member may not boot another member from a table without just cause.
Penalty: Boxing of 7 (seven) days.
b. A member intending to boot another member from a table must, firstly, ask that person to leave, and, secondly, warn him or her that he or she will be booted if failing to leave immediately as requested.
c. Screenshots MUST be taken to record the conversation leading up to the subsequent booting, showing the request to leave and warning. The screenshots must be submitted to the Complaints HTD.
d. If the member booting fails to send these screenshots, then he or she risks a penalty being imposed.
Penalty: Boxing of 7 (seven) days.
e. A member may NOT boot a TD, HTD or Admin from a table at any time nor for any reason.
Penalty: Boxing of 7 (seven) days.
9. ADDITIONAL COMPETITIONS & INTERLEAGUE
a. The League may, at its descretion, run additonal competitions (such as the SS Cam Cup), and also participate in interleague competitions. Any additional competition or interleague will be governed by separate rules, which all members must comply with as directed, in breach of which offenders may be dealt with in accorance with the appropriate category under Rule 14.
b. Representing the League in interleague is considered to be an honour and privilege, and any form of poor behaviour will not be tolerated. A member, or any other non-playing member representing the League, must conduct his or herself in a sporting manner at all times, including game etiquette (‘gl’ and ‘gg’), and must refrain from any form of bad sportsmanship or unacceptable behaviour in any designated interleague room, or in a rival league's home room, or at a pool table in any room.
Penalty: Suspension or removal from the interleague team, and/or a boxing, or, as an ultimate sanction, banishment from the League.
10. COMPLAINTS
a. In tournaments any disputes will be settled by the TD supervising the tournament and the decision of the TD is final. Failure to comply with the instruction of the TD in any dispute will result in the disqualification of the offending member.
b. Any complaints about any violations of these rules must be substantiated with a screenshot and forwarded to the HTD in charge of complaints.
c. Any dispute or other issue that a member may have against another member, or staff member, must be taken to a private table and NEVER aired in the members’ forum or in the AMU lobby.
Penalty: A member will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate category in Rule 12.
d. Complaints or suggestions may be submitted using the form on the website home page. If a member wishes to submit a complaint plus any screenshots, a detailed description of the incident must initially be submitted using the form. Upon receiving a reply by email, the member may then send the screenshots. Alternatively, a complaint and screenshots may be emailed directly to laura@straight-shots.com.
e. A member is expected to accept any decision reached regarding a complain without further communication. Such a decision is final and binding, subject to approval by the Head Admin.
11. BEHAVIOUR & SPORTSMANSHIP
a. A member is expected to behave sportingly and with courtesy at all times. Any form of abusive, foul or offensive language, gamesmanship, goading, harrassment, homophobic remarks (‘gay bashing’), intimidation, jinxing, provocation, racism, taunting, or any other form of unacceptable or unsporting behaviour, including making aimer accusations, whether in the AMU lobby or at any table, is not permitted.
Penalty: A member will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate category in Rule 12.
b. The League has a non-cussing policy. A list of unacceptable terms will be issued on the website and updated from time to time as deemed necessary. Where a member cusses, a warning will be issued to curb his or her language and player notes will be recorded concerning this.
Penalty: Ignoring warning – boxing of 1 (one) day for the first offence. For each additional offence an additional 1 day will be added. In extreme cases an offender risks banishment.
c. Any form of cheating is not permitted. This includes the proven use of aiming programs.
Penalty: The ultimate penalty for cheating is banishment. Other forms of cheating will be looked at on an individual basis.
d. A member must not, at any time, bring the name or reputation of the League into disrepute by defaming the League, or by making adverse comments in the AMU lobby or at tables, or in any other league’s lobby or room, or by spamming SS-related material or details of another league in any lobby.
Penalty: A member will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate category in Rule 12.
e. A member who is boxed will also have a rank reduction of 20 rungs applied.
12. MISCONDUCT & PENALTIES
Unless otherwise listed in the previous rules, the following penalities will apply:
a. Category A offences – A member who is guilty of any of the following offences will be kicked and/or banished from the League:
- Proven cases of severe cheating, including the use of an aiming program.
- Duplicate IDs.
- Repeated breaking of lesser offence rules in Category B.
b. Category B offences – A member who is guilty of any of the following offences will be boxed for 90 (ninety) days. Should it be considered necessary, the boxing of 90 days will be extended on completion of 89 days:
- Bringing the name or reputation of the League into disrepute.
- Defaming the League.
- Proven recruiting of SS members, whether via Instant Messenger, email or a table.
- Spamming information about another league in AMU.
- Spamming information about Straightshots in any other lobby.
- Repeated breaking of lesser offence rules in Category C (or D if deemed necessary).
c. Category C offences – A member who is guilty of any of the following offences will be boxed for 30 (thirty) days:
- Falsifying league games in terms of wins or losses.
- Playing on another member’s ID at any time.
- Giving a Yahoo password to another member to play under a different member’s ID.
- Repeated breaking of lesser offence rules in Category D (or E if deemed necessary).
d. Category D offences – A member who is guilty of any of the following offences will be boxed for 14 (fourteen) days:
- Abusive, foul or offensive language to another member.
- Any racism, discrimination or prejudicial behaviour – this includes ‘gay bashing’.
- Ignoring a TD, HTD or Admin’s rulings or call for cessation.
- Continued harassment or intimidation of another member in the message forum, AMU lobby, at a game table or in instant messenger.
- Repeated breaking of lesser offence rules – Category E.
e. Category E offences – A member who is guilty of any of the following offences will be boxed for 7 (seven) days:
- Gamesmanship, goading or taunting or provocation, harrassment or intimidation, jinxing.
- Force forfeiting another member.
- Booting another member from a table without just cause.
- Unproven accusations of cheating of another member.
- Repeated breaking of lesser offence rules – Category F.
f. Category F offences – A member who is guilty of any of the following offences will be boxed for 1 (one) day:
- Arguing with another member (or non-member) in the message forum, AMU lobby, at a game table or in instant messenger.
- Leaving a game before the 8-ball falls.
- General swearing or using banned cuss words or terms in the AMU lobby or at a table (ignoring a warning to stop). A member may mildly cuss at a table or in instant messenger although if asked to tone it down or stop he or she must comply.
13. AIMING SUSPICIONS
a. The League advocates fair play at all times and will not tolerate aimers under any circumstances. Should a minimum of three League Admins be suspicious of dubious play by any member who they consider may be using an aiming program, they may, at their discretion and at any time, conduct an investigation.
b. In such cases where an investigation is deemed necessary, Admin may order a member to:
- compete in league or tournament games using the Camtasia program or a similar recording program, and to submit tapes accordingly as directed; and/or
- have a Belarc test conducted by Admin on his or her computer immediately to ascertain whether or not an aiming program is present on the system.
c. Should a member fail to comply or cooperate as directed, including submitting tapes to a satisfactory standard or within a reasonable time, he or she will be boxed indefinitely until such a time as the HA is satisfied that he or she is fully clear of any suspicion of dubious play.
14. APPEAL PROCEDURE
a. A member may appeal against a sanction imposed under Category A to E, or for any boxing above 1 day, ONLY in cases where there is proven doubt or there is evidence supporting the appeal.
b. An appeal must be submitted by email ONLY to the Head Admin, with full details explaining the nature of the appeal, and supported by evidence where applicable, including screenshots.
c. The appeal must be submitted within THREE DAYS of notification of the sanction, otherwise it will not be considered, under any circumstances.
d. No appeal will be considered for offences carrying a boxing of 1 (one) day, or if submitted by instant messenger or any format other than by email.
e. Once an appeal is received which complies fully, the Head Admin will consider it and email back a decision which will be final and binding. The Head Admin may not enter into further communication on the subject and the matter will be deemed closed.
f. The email address for an appeal is laura@straight-shots.com.
15. ALTERATION & INTERPRETATION OF RULES
a. These Rules may be subject to change at any time at the discretion of Admin as deemed necessary.
b. By joining the League, each member team will be deemed to have given its assent to these Rules and agree to abide by the decisions of Admins and staff.
c. All questions regarding interpretations of these Rules, or of any point not provided for by these Rules, will be referred to the Head Admin whose decision shall be final and binding on all concerned.
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