One Pocket Rules

Due to the nature of the strategic play in NAPA One Pocket it is highly recommended that NAPA One Pocket be played on larger tables.  Generally a 9-foot table or larger is recommended.  The local LO is allowed to play on smaller tables, however, doing so could greatly impact the matches being played.

NAPA One Pocket is played with 15 object-balls and the cue-ball. Each player is assigned a corner pocket closest to the rack, and the winner of each game is the first to score eight object-balls in their assigned pocket. 

THE LAG

The lag must be performed in order to determine who breaks first in a match between two players. Coin flipping instead of lagging is not allowed at anytime. 

To perform the lag, both shooters are to simultaneously shoot a ball from behind the head string to the foot cushion and back toward the head cushion. The shooter's ball that comes to rest closest to the head cushion is the winner of the lag. It does not matter if a shooter's ball touches a side rail or the head cushion; the ball closest to the head cushion wins the lag.

1. If a shooter, during their lag, lags their ball into any pocket or off of the table it is a loss of the lag.
2. If both shooters lag their balls into a pocket then both shooters are to re-lag.
3. If, during the lag, both shooter's balls make contact with one another both shooters are to re-lag.
4. If, during the lag, one of the shooter's balls travels past the head cushion, and resides inside the jaws of one of the pockets closest to the head cushion without falling into the pocket, both shooters are to re-lag.
5. If, during the lag, a shooter's ball makes contact with any foreign object such as a stick, human being, or rack it is a loss of the lag.
6. Lagging simultaneously is required. If, during the lag, a shooter waits to perform the lag until after the other shooter's lagged ball reaches the far rail, it is a loss of the lag for the shooter who delayed their lag. 

CHOOSING POCKETS?
In NAPA One Pocket the winner of the lag must choose one of the two corner pockets closest to the rack to be their assigned pocket. Once chosen, the opposite corner pocket will be assigned to the loser of the lag. If the breaker does not indicate a pocket, they should be assigned the foot corner pocket opposite to the side of the cue-ball placement for the break.

WHO BREAKS?
In NAPA One Pocket the winner of the lag must break.  

WHO RACKS THE BALLS?
In NAPA One Pocket players must rack for themselves.  

ORDER OF THE BREAK
In NAPA One Pocket players must alternate the break after the completion of each game.

The fifteen object-balls are racked as tightly as possible in a triangle rack, with the apex ball on the foot spot. The balls are to be placed in the triangle in no particular pattern or order. 

 

1. The breaker must break with the base of the cue ball in hand anywhere behind the headstring.
2. If the breaking shooter miscues and the cue ball does not make contact with the racked balls or the breaking shooter interferes with the cue ball at any time before making contact with the racked balls, it is a foul. The incoming shooter takes over the break with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
3. If on the break shot, the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, it is a foul. The incoming shooter has cue ball in hand anywhere behind the headstring.
4. If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the cue stays where it lies. Any object balls that are knocked off the table should be placed on the spot in no particular order.

5. The cue-ball begins in hand above the head string. There are no special requirements for the break shot.

NOTE: A foul on the break is a 1-point penalty.

If the shooter performing the break shot, during their stroke, completely misses and makes no contact with the cue-ball (basically a "swing and a miss"), this is not considered a foul and the shooter may try the break shot again.

• Making a ball in either foot pocket on the break shot does not count and is an automatic re-rack.
• Any balls made in any pockets other than the assigned foot pockets should be respotted on the foot spot in no particular order.

AFTER THE BREAK
The shooter’s turn continues until they fail to pocket a ball in their pocket, foul, or the rack is won by a player reaching eight points. The incoming player shoots from the position left by the previous player except when they have ball in hand behind the head string. 

Each ball legally pocketed in one of the foot pockets counts one point for the corresponding player. In addition, balls pocketed in the opponent’s pocket on a foul shot count for the opponent and are not spotted unless the only foul committed is a cue ball scratch. 

If a score keeper or NAPA Play is not being used, it is recommended that the score be kept as follows. The balls scored by each player are used as physical markers for the score in two corresponding storage locations.

PENALTY

When a foul occurs, one of the fouler’s scored balls is spotted as the one-point penalty in addition to any other balls that need to be spotted at that time. If a player has no ball to spot for a foul, a marker is placed to indicate a ball is owed. If the player later scores balls, they are spotted to cancel any owed balls.

If the shooter commits a foul they lose one point, balls are spotted as necessary, and play passes to the opponent. (See "Penalty" in rule 1.6). 
The cue ball remains in position except as noted below.

• Cue Ball Scratch or Cue Ball Off The Table
  • Cue ball in hand behind the headstring.
• No Rail After Contact
  • If, after the cue ball first strikes a legal ball, and neither the cue ball nor any other ball on the table hits a cushion or is pocketed, it is a foul. This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
• No Foot on the Floor
  • Failure to have at least one foot on the floor at the moment the cue tip strikes the cue ball is a foul. This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
• Ball Driven off the Table
  • This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
• Touched Ball
  • If you are using NAPA All Ball Fouls
    • Any accidental movement(s) of any ball(s) during a shooter's turn at the table is a foul. This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
  • If you are using NAPA Standard Fouls
    • See NAPA Standard Rules procedures below
• Double Hit
  • If the cue tip strikes the cue ball twice on the same stroke it is a foul. This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
• Balls in Motion
  • Shooting while any ball is moving or spinning is a foul. This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
• Bad Cue Ball Placement
  • When the cue ball is in hand and restricted to the area behind the head string, it is a foul to play the cue ball past the head string.  
  • Placing the cue ball on the head string is legal as long as the apex of the cue ball is either right on the head string or behind the head string.
• Playing Cue Ball In Hand 
  • When the cue ball is in hand behind the head string, and the first ball the cue ball comes in contact with is also behind the head string, the shot is a foul unless the cue ball crosses the head string before the initial contact. 
• Playing Out of Turn
  • Playing out of turn is a foul. This results in a 1-point penalty. Cue ball stays where it lies.  
• Multiple Ball Spot Foul
  • If a shooter makes a ball and commits a foul in the same shot then the ball that was pocketed PLUS a penalty ball must spot.

Balls are to be spotted if they have been pocketed on a foul shot, pocketed in a side or head pocket, or driven off the table. Balls are also spotted as a penalty for a foul or to pay for previous fouls (owed balls). Spotting is usually done at the end of the shooter’s turn, but if the shooter clears the table and has not reached eight points, perhaps due to balls having been pocketed in extraneous pockets, all balls to be spotted are spotted at that time and the shooter continues their turn. 

If a ball is accidentally forgotten to be spotted, sometimes referred to as "Sleepers balls", the ball/balls must be spotted once both players complete one (1) inning after it is remembered.

NAPA League Operators have two interference rule options available to them for local leagues.

Option #1:  All Ball Fouls

ANY accidental movement(s) of ANY ball(s) during a shooter's turn at the table results in loss of turn and 1-point penalty.

Pocketed balls must be spotted.

Option #2:  The NAPA Standard 

THE FOLLOWING APPLIES AT ANY TIME DURING YOUR SHOT.  BEFORE OR AFTER YOU STROKE THE CUE BALL DOES NOT MATTER.

1. If the cue ball is accidentally moved at any time, results in a 1-point penalty.
    
2. If more than one ball is moved at any time, results in a 1-point penalty.
    
3. If only one object ball (any ball other than the cue ball) is accidentally moved, no foul has occurred unless one of the following occurs:​

   1. If the moved ball contacts another ball.

   2. The moved ball is pocketed.
      
      In the instance where only one object ball has been moved and no foul has occurred, the shooter must ask the opponent if they want the ball that was moved to be returned to its original position or left where it came to rest. 
      
      If it is requested by the opponent that the moved ball be placed back to its original position the shooter must move the ball back to the agreed upon original position.

4. ​If a moving ball is accidentally touched, moved, bumped or interfered with, it is a foul and results in a 1-point penalty.
    

SPECIAL SITUATIONS (Applies to Option #1 and Option #2)

 
1. Intentionally moving any ball, directly (picking up, pushing, touching, rolling, bumping, blowing on) or indirectly (such as hitting, pounding, bumping, stomping, slapping the table or floor that may cause a vibration and possibly altering an outcome), is a loss of rack (and poor sportsmanship).
 
2. If there was outside interference or act of God:

2.1 If you can restore the table balls shall be replaced as near as possible to their original positions immediately prior to the incident and play shall resume with no penalty on the shooter affected.
 

2.2 If you cannot restore the table the shooters shall replay the game with the original shooter breaking.