The game shall be known as International Eightball Pool, with rules that must be played in a sporting manner at all times.

A spotted white cue ball; two groups of object balls (seven reds and seven yellows); a striped eight-ball; spider, rest, gooseneck rest and cross rest; prescribed cues. All equipment generally accepted throughout the industry is permitted — anything else must be ratified by the tournament director. Using any equipment in a non-customary manner is never allowed and constitutes a foul.

Played on a six-pocket rectangular table with six cushions. The playing surface is the flat part of the table bordered by the cushions, marked with: an eight-ball spot at the intersection of imaginary diagonal lines joining the centre and corner pockets; a 280mm rack line running from the eight-ball spot towards the top cushion, with marker points for the head ball and the eight-ball; and a break line parallel to the bottom cushion, one fifth of the table length from the baulk cushion.

One player must pocket all seven balls of one group (reds or yellows); the other player takes the alternate group. The player who pockets their entire group and THEN legally pockets the eight-ball wins the frame. The eight-ball must be potted in a separate shot from the last ball of your group.

A lag determines who breaks first, with alternating breaks thereafter. Both players strike a ball simultaneously from baulk towards the top cushion; the winner is the player whose ball comes to rest closest to the baulk cushion. The winner of the lag chooses whether to break or not.

Lag balls must be of equal size and weight (two cue balls, or a red and a yellow — never a cue ball and a group ball mixed). The referee counts the players in from 3 to 1 and both strike simultaneously. It is an automatic loss of the lag if a ball crosses into the opponent's half, fails to contact the top cushion, drops into a pocket, hits a side cushion, jumps off the table, comes to rest within the area of a corner pocket, or the player commits any standard foul. Players re-lag if both foul, the referee cannot decide which ball is closest, or one ball has struck the top cushion before the other was hit.

The breaker positions the cue ball anywhere in baulk, but must not place it over the break line by more than 50% of the ball's diameter. The break line itself counts as part of baulk.

A break is legal if the breaker scores a minimum of three cumulative points: one point for each object ball potted (the eight-ball counts), and one point for each object ball that fully passes the imaginary line between the two centre pockets without being potted. A ball that passes the line AND is potted counts once.

Failure to perform a legal break MUST result in a re-rack. The opponent chooses whether to break or hand the break back to the original breaker.

The table remains open after the break, whatever is potted. If the breaker does not make a legal pot, the table stays open for the incoming player.

If the eight-ball is potted off the break it is always re-spotted (on the eight-ball spot, or as near as possible to it in a direct line towards the top cushion; if there is no room, towards the bottom cushion). If the eight-ball was the ONLY ball potted on a legal break, control passes to the incoming player; if it went down along with other balls on a legal break, the breaker continues.

On an otherwise legal break: if the cue ball goes in-off, it is a loss of turn and the incoming player gets one visit with ball in hand played from baulk, in any direction. If the cue ball leaves the playing surface, it is a standard foul and the incoming player gets one visit played from anywhere on the table.

The eight-ball is racked on the eight-ball spot, with the apex ball on the head marker of the rack line.

Groups are decided by the first ball legally potted (never on the break, and never on a foul shot). Until then the table is 'open'. If one ball of each group is potted in the same legal shot, the player is 'on' the group the cue ball struck first. Where the choice of group is not obvious — cueing into a cluster, balls of both groups close together, snookered behind the eight-ball, or no clear target — the player MUST indicate the intended group to the referee and/or opponent before the shot. Failing to call a group (when required) after potting a ball, failing to strike the called group, or striking the called group but potting the other, are all loss of turn and the table stays open. Potting the called group assigns it to the striker. The eight-ball can never be used as a ball 'on' while the table is open.

If a legal shot pots one or more balls of the player's own group, play continues with another shot. The player loses their turn if they fail to pot one of their own group and/or commit a standard foul.

Balls from both groups can be potted without penalty in a single combination shot, in any order, provided the ball 'on' is struck legally first. Combinations do not have to be called. A combination attempt that pots ONLY a ball that is not 'on' is loss of turn. Potting the eight-ball and then an opponent's ball in the same legal shot is a legal frame-winning shot.

If you strike a ball 'on' first but pot only an opponent's ball, that is loss of turn — not a foul. The opponent plays the cue ball from where it lies. Examples: accidentally potting an opponent's ball, a failed combination, or a deliberate tactical shot (legally striking your own group to pot an opponent's ball).

Potting the cue ball is a standard foul (except off the break, where rule 4j applies — ball in hand from baulk).

Playing from outside baulk when obliged to play from baulk — including positioning the cue ball over the break line by more than 50% of its diameter.

Playing a shot immediately after playing a foul, or immediately after the referee has called a foul on you, is playing out of turn. This also covers breaking out of turn, and applies at any time during a frame.

Accidentally striking the cue ball with any part of the cue other than the tip. Positioning the cue ball with the cue is allowed when you have ball in hand, as long as the tip is not used.

Accidentally striking any ball other than the cue ball with any part of the cue or cue tip.

Playing a shot before all balls have come to rest from the previous shot.

Playing a shot before any balls that require re-spotting or replacing have been re-spotted or replaced. This includes playing without repositioning the cue ball when it was touching an object ball after a foul.

During a frame a player must play without receiving advice relating to the playing of the frame. If a team member or supporter offers advice, the referee issues a first-and-final warning to that person; a repeat is a standard foul against the player. Any statement made to a player, other than general barracking, is deemed to be coaching.

A player must have a timeout granted by the referee before leaving the playing area during a frame or match.

A push shot — the tip of the cue remains in contact with the cue ball after it has commenced its forward motion.

Double-hitting the cue ball.

Failing to perform a legal shot as defined in rule 6p (strike a ball 'on' first, then pot a ball or send any ball to a cushion).

Playing a shot without at least one foot touching the floor.

Failing to play away from a touching ball or balls (see rule 6o).

A ball that leaves the playing surface and remains off it (see rules 6l and 6m).

A player's body, clothing, jewellery or accessory, or any part of the cue (except the tip in a legal shot) coming into contact with any ball. A tip falling off a cue, or dropped chalk, is the player's responsibility if it contacts a ball — but equipment supplied by the competition itself (e.g. the end falling off a supplied rest) is not the player's fault and is no foul.

A jump shot: the cue ball leaves the bed of the table and fails to strike an object ball it would have struck on an otherwise identical shot.

Deliberately marking the playing surface or cushions to assist a shot — chalk marks, finger marks, strategically placed chalk or coins, and similar.

Failing to strike the cue ball within the shot clock (45 seconds per shot in the official rules, one 15-second extension per player per frame).

Deliberately not playing a ball from your own group first, or a ball 'on' after a foul.

Unsporting behaviour or bringing the game into disrepute, including (but not limited to): a second offence of foul language after a warning; throwing a cue or unscrewing it as if to concede; continually arguing with the referee or opponent; interfering verbally or physically when the opponent is on a shot.

Committing a foul in the same shot that the eight-ball is potted (except on the break).

Potting the eight-ball when any ball of your own group is still on the table (except on the break) — including potting your last group ball and the eight-ball in the same shot.

Clearly and intentionally failing to make an attempt to play a ball of your own group.

Legally potting the eight-ball, then moving the remaining balls before they have come to rest.

Deliberately striking the cue ball with any part of the cue other than the tip.

Deliberately striking any ball other than the cue ball with the cue or cue tip.

Deliberately moving any ball other than by playing it as part of a shot. This includes handling the cue ball out of process after a foul — see the referee guidance on fouls.

If a legal shot cannot be played — no path OUT for the cue ball, or no path INTO a ball 'on' — it is the player's responsibility to ask for a stalemate. The referee (or opponent, if no referee) decides. If confirmed, the frame is restarted with a re-rack and the original breaker breaks again. If not confirmed, the player must continue their visit.

An object ball touching a cushion is 'frozen'. It is a standard foul if the cue ball's first contact is with a frozen ball and the shot does not then result in: a ball being potted, OR the cue ball contacting a cushion, OR the frozen ball contacting a different rail's cushion, OR any other object ball contacting a cushion it was not already touching. A ball only counts as frozen if confirmed by the referee or a player before the shot.

No penalty if balls are moved by persons not playing in the frame, by players being bumped, or by events outside a player's control. The referee returns the balls as close as possible to their original positions. Re-racks are granted only in extreme circumstances; the referee's decision is final.

In the official rules each player has 45 seconds per shot, counted down from 5, with one 15-second extension per player per frame.

A shot is 'complete' when all balls have come to rest. A ball that drops into a pocket unstruck AFTER the shot is complete is replaced in its original position. A ball that drops unstruck DURING a shot and would NOT have been part of the shot is replaced once the balls stop. If the dropped ball WOULD have been part of the shot, ALL balls are replaced to their original positions and the shot is reset — the original player continues with no penalty and may choose any shot.

It is a standard foul if a ball leaves the playing surface at any point (break included) and does not return by its own means. If it is the cue ball: ball in hand anywhere on the table. Object balls are re-spotted (rule 6m).

An object ball is re-spotted with its centre on the eight-ball spot, or as near as possible to it in a direct line towards the top cushion (towards the baulk cushion if there is no room). Multiple balls are re-spotted in order: eight-ball, then reds, then yellows — each as close as possible to other balls without touching.

Every player is responsible for knowing all the rules. A referee may, on request, advise on the rules — but must not offer any subjective opinion that would affect the result. There is no recourse if a player fails to obtain correct or complete information.

A player must play away from ALL touching balls at an angle of 90 degrees or greater, and still fulfil the requirements of a legal shot. If the table is open with a touching ball confirmed, the player must first nominate a group (for shot clarity only — it does not fix groups for the frame), then play a legal shot. If the cue ball is touching a ball 'on', the player is deemed to have already made initial contact for legal-shot purposes.

A legal shot has two elements: (a) the cue ball's initial contact must be with a ball 'on'; AND THEN (b) any ball must be potted (except the eight-ball if not 'on'), OR the cue ball or any object ball (including the eight-ball) must contact a cushion. The six pockets count as cushions for this purpose — this covers balls that are potted and bounce back out without touching a rail.

Striking two object balls at exactly the same time is allowed, as long as one of them is a ball 'on'.

A frame is over when the eight-ball is potted on a legal shot and all the balls have come to rest, or in a loss-of-frame situation. Conceding also ends the frame: shaking hands, throwing the towel on the table, or verbally conceding all count as giving up.

ADPL doubles is played to the Scotch format: the players in each pair take alternate shots throughout the frame, whether or not the previous shot potted a ball. Once the order of play within each pair is set on the pair's first visit, it stays fixed for the rest of the frame — the break counts as that player's shot in the alternation.

Partners may confer — with each other only, and nobody else — from the moment the balls stop at the end of their own visit, all through their opponents' visit, and up to the moment the cue ball is FIRST STRUCK in their own visit. That first strike ends all talking between the partners until their visit is over, including between shots while a visit continues. One exception: if the break pots a ball and the breaking pair stay in control, they may keep conferring until the cue ball is struck for the first shot after the break. Conferring after the cutoff is a standard foul.

Only the player whose shot it is may address or touch the table. After the cutoff, advice by gesture counts exactly the same as advice by word: the non-shooting partner must not point out a shot, indicate a target or line with a hand or cue, or touch the playing surface. General encouragement is fine; anything that communicates what to play is conferring.