SECTION 4 THE PLAYERS

1. Unsporting Conduct

  1. In the event of

    1. a player using offensive language, or making offensive gestures; or

    2. any conduct by a player which in the opinion of the referee is wilfully or persistently Unsporting; or

    3. any other conduct by a player which otherwise amounts to Unsporting Conduct; or

    4. any player refusing to continue the current frame; the referee shall Warn the player that in the event of any further Unsporting Conduct the frame will be awarded to their opponent.

  2. If the referee has Warned the player under (a) above, in the event of any further Unsporting Conduct, the referee shall award the frame to their opponent, or, if this happens between frames, the referee shall award the next frame to their opponent, and the referee shall Warn the player that in the event of any further Unsporting Conduct the game will be awarded to their opponent.

  3. If a referee has awarded a frame to a player’s opponent, under (b) above or (d) below, in the event of any further Unsporting Conduct by the player concerned, the referee shall award the game to the player’s opponent.

  4. In the event that the conduct, in the opinion of the referee is sufficiently serious, the referee shall award the frame or the game to the player’s opponent, even if previous Warnings for Unsporting Conduct were not issued.

  5. Any decision by the referee to award a frame and/or game to a player’s opponent shall be final and shall not be subject to any appeal.

2. Conceding

  1. A player may offer a concession, but this becomes null and void if their opponent chooses to play on.

  2. A player shall not concede a frame in any game, or match unless any player requires penalty points. Any breach of this Rule shall be regarded as Unsporting Conduct by the player concerned. If the referee has already Warned the player under Rule 1(a) above, the next frame shall be awarded to their opponent.

  3. If a player touches or moves a ball(s) in play to indicate the offering of a concession, the referee will not call FOUL or PENALTY if the concession is accepted by their opponent. If the concession is not accepted, Section 3 Rule 16 or Section 3 Rule 3(k) shall apply.

  4. If a player, prior to needing penalty points to win the frame, intentionally commits an infringement so that, as a result, they now require penalty points, it will be deemed as Unsporting Conduct and the player shall be Warned by the referee as in Rule 1(a) or 1(b) above.

  5. The offer, or the acceptance of a concession, cannot be withdrawn.

  6. When aggregate scores determine the winner of a game or a match and a frame is conceded, the opponent shall receive the equivalent of the value of any balls remaining on the table, where Reds shall count as eight points each and any colour incorrectly off the table shall be counted as if spotted.

3. Time Wasting

  1. In the event of a player taking an abnormal amount of time over a stroke, or the selection of a stroke, the referee shall Warn the player that in the event of any further Time Wasting during the game, the frame will be awarded to their opponent.

  2. If the referee has Warned the player for Time Wasting under (a) above, in the event of any further Time Wasting by that player, the referee shall award the frame to their opponent.

  3. If a referee has awarded a frame to a player’s opponent for Time Wasting, in the event of any further Time Wasting by the player concerned, the referee shall, each time thereafter, award a frame to the player’s opponent.

4. Penalty

  1. If a frame is forfeited under this Section, the offender shall:

    1. lose the relevant frame; and

    2. when aggregate scores determine the winner of a game or match, forfeit all points scored and the opponent shall receive the equivalent of the value of any balls remaining on the table, where Reds shall count as eight points each and any colour incorrectly off the table shall be counted as if spotted.

  2. If a game is forfeited under this Section, the offender shall:

    1. lose the relevant frame; and

    2. additionally, lose the required number of unplayed frames to complete the game where frames are relevant; or

    3. additionally, lose the remaining frames, each valued at 147 points, where aggregate points determine the winner of the game.

5. Non-striker

The non-striker shall, when the striker is playing, avoid standing or moving in the line of sight of the striker. They shall sit or stand at a reasonable distance from the table and avoid making any movement or action that may interrupt the concentration of the striker.

6. Scoring Responsibility

As well as the referee, it is the players' responsibility to make sure that the correct score is being applied, either on the scoreboard or by the referee announcing the scores. If any player notices that the score is incorrect, it is their responsibility to inform the referee at the earliest opportunity.

7. Absence

In the case of their absence from the table, the non-striker may appoint a deputy to watch in their interest and claim an infringement if necessary. Such appointment must be made known to the referee prior to departure.