Snooker Questions for January 2011.
1. Play Again.
When an opponent has been requested to play a shot again following a foul, can he change his mind as to which ball he is attempting to hit?
Answer
The offender, having been asked to play again, is entitled to (a) change his mind as to (i) which stroke he will play, and (ii) which ball on he will attempt to hit. Sec 3. Rule 13.
2. Spotting Colours
Striker in potting a green ball inadvertently also pockets the black. The only spot available is the green spot. Where are the balls placed and what penalty is given?
Answer
The green ball is spotted on its own spot, and the black is placed as near to its own spot as possible. Sec 3. Rule 7. (f) If all spots are occupied, the colour shall be placed as near to its own spot as possible, on the centre line of the table below the spot. Penalty 7 points. Sec 3. Rule 12.b (iii) causing a ball not on to enter a pocket. Value of the ball on or concerned, whichever is higher.
3. Touching ball.
Does the referee always have to state if a ball is touching another ball?
Answer
The referee only calls a touching ball when it comes to rest touching another ball or balls that are or could be on. Sec 3. Rule 8. (a)
4. Snookered after a foul.
Referee states free ball, yellow is the ball on, player nominates blue and pots both balls after first hitting the blue. What score is called and which balls are replaced?
Answer
Value of the ball on is scored ie 2 points but stays in the pocket and the blue ball is re spotted. Sec 3. Rule 10 (e) If both the nominated ball and a ball on are potted, only the ball on is scored unless it was a red. The free ball is spotted and the ball on remains off the table.
5. Foul and a Miss
Player A is 30 points behind with one red remaining.
He can hit the red central full ball contact – however in attempting a thin safety he misses the red completely. As the referee, you call “foul and a miss” and Player B asks for the balls to be replaced. Now 34 points behind, with 35 on the table, Player A again fails to hit the red. What action do you take?
Answer
You should call “Foul and a Miss”. Even though Player A now needs snookers as a result of the foul, because this is the second in a series of misses a miss must be called regardless of the difference in scores. Sec Rule 14 (c) (i).
6. Penalties
A player uses a ball from a pocket in order to check if it will pass in between a ball on the table and a cushion. Is this acceptable?
Answer
No – It is a foul (penalty seven points) to use any ball off the table for any purpose – and it is also a foul (seven points) to us any object to measure gaps or distances. Hence the referee should state foul and award the opponent seven points. Sec 3 Rule 12 (d) (ii).
7. The Referee
The Striker comes to the table and asks the referee how many points he is in front. How should the referee respond?
Answer
The referee is not able to state any difference in scores. He should instead respond by telling the player the actual frame score instead. Sec 5 Rule 1 (b) (iii).
8. Spotting the colours
The striker has potted a red followed by a black. The referee, when spotting the black, is a little careless and doesn’t spot the black very accurately, leaving part of the spot still visible. The player then pots another red before noticing that the black had not been spotted correctly. He then asks the referee to re-spot the black. What action would you take as the referee?
Answer
You cannot re-spot the black once a stroke has been played. As the player has potted a red the black must remain where it is – even if this means that the player cannot pot it! As the referee you should apologise to the player and advise him that you are unable to re-spot the black. Sec 3 Rule 7 (c).
9. Touching Ball
Having potted a red, the cue ball comes to rest touching the black. The Striker plays towards the baulk end of the table, hits the green and pots it. His opponent claims this is a foul. The Striker claims he was attempting to pot the green. What action would you take and why?
Answer
In this situation, the referee should have stated “touching ball – please declare” to ensure that the striker nominates the ball he intends to hit with the first impact of the cue ball. In this case, the referee failed to ask the Striker – therefore he must give the Striker the benefit of the doubt. Sec 3 Rule 8
10. Touching Ball
Having potted a red, the cue ball comes to rest touching the black. The Striker plays away from the black and hits the blue being the ball on which he has nominated. However, in playing the stroke, the black, which had been “resting” against the cue ball, moves slightly causing the opponent to claim a foul. What action would you take?
Answer
Providing you are satisfied that any movement of the black was not caused by the Striker and that he played away from the black, no action should be taken – this is not a foul. Sec 3 Rule 8 (f).
Rob Wright January 2011
1. Play Again.
When an opponent has been requested to play a shot again following a foul, can he change his mind as to which ball he is attempting to hit?
Answer
The offender, having been asked to play again, is entitled to (a) change his mind as to (i) which stroke he will play, and (ii) which ball on he will attempt to hit. Sec 3. Rule 13.
2. Spotting Colours
Striker in potting a green ball inadvertently also pockets the black. The only spot available is the green spot. Where are the balls placed and what penalty is given?
Answer
The green ball is spotted on its own spot, and the black is placed as near to its own spot as possible. Sec 3. Rule 7. (f) If all spots are occupied, the colour shall be placed as near to its own spot as possible, on the centre line of the table below the spot. Penalty 7 points. Sec 3. Rule 12.b (iii) causing a ball not on to enter a pocket. Value of the ball on or concerned, whichever is higher.
3. Touching ball.
Does the referee always have to state if a ball is touching another ball?
Answer
The referee only calls a touching ball when it comes to rest touching another ball or balls that are or could be on. Sec 3. Rule 8. (a)
4. Snookered after a foul.
Referee states free ball, yellow is the ball on, player nominates blue and pots both balls after first hitting the blue. What score is called and which balls are replaced?
Answer
Value of the ball on is scored ie 2 points but stays in the pocket and the blue ball is re spotted. Sec 3. Rule 10 (e) If both the nominated ball and a ball on are potted, only the ball on is scored unless it was a red. The free ball is spotted and the ball on remains off the table.
5. Foul and a Miss
Player A is 30 points behind with one red remaining.
He can hit the red central full ball contact – however in attempting a thin safety he misses the red completely. As the referee, you call “foul and a miss” and Player B asks for the balls to be replaced. Now 34 points behind, with 35 on the table, Player A again fails to hit the red. What action do you take?
Answer
You should call “Foul and a Miss”. Even though Player A now needs snookers as a result of the foul, because this is the second in a series of misses a miss must be called regardless of the difference in scores. Sec Rule 14 (c) (i).
6. Penalties
A player uses a ball from a pocket in order to check if it will pass in between a ball on the table and a cushion. Is this acceptable?
Answer
No – It is a foul (penalty seven points) to use any ball off the table for any purpose – and it is also a foul (seven points) to us any object to measure gaps or distances. Hence the referee should state foul and award the opponent seven points. Sec 3 Rule 12 (d) (ii).
7. The Referee
The Striker comes to the table and asks the referee how many points he is in front. How should the referee respond?
Answer
The referee is not able to state any difference in scores. He should instead respond by telling the player the actual frame score instead. Sec 5 Rule 1 (b) (iii).
8. Spotting the colours
The striker has potted a red followed by a black. The referee, when spotting the black, is a little careless and doesn’t spot the black very accurately, leaving part of the spot still visible. The player then pots another red before noticing that the black had not been spotted correctly. He then asks the referee to re-spot the black. What action would you take as the referee?
Answer
You cannot re-spot the black once a stroke has been played. As the player has potted a red the black must remain where it is – even if this means that the player cannot pot it! As the referee you should apologise to the player and advise him that you are unable to re-spot the black. Sec 3 Rule 7 (c).
9. Touching Ball
Having potted a red, the cue ball comes to rest touching the black. The Striker plays towards the baulk end of the table, hits the green and pots it. His opponent claims this is a foul. The Striker claims he was attempting to pot the green. What action would you take and why?
Answer
In this situation, the referee should have stated “touching ball – please declare” to ensure that the striker nominates the ball he intends to hit with the first impact of the cue ball. In this case, the referee failed to ask the Striker – therefore he must give the Striker the benefit of the doubt. Sec 3 Rule 8
10. Touching Ball
Having potted a red, the cue ball comes to rest touching the black. The Striker plays away from the black and hits the blue being the ball on which he has nominated. However, in playing the stroke, the black, which had been “resting” against the cue ball, moves slightly causing the opponent to claim a foul. What action would you take?
Answer
Providing you are satisfied that any movement of the black was not caused by the Striker and that he played away from the black, no action should be taken – this is not a foul. Sec 3 Rule 8 (f).
Rob Wright January 2011
