Snooker rules and refereeing
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  • R.A.C.C.S. and Canadian Referees
  • How to become a referee
  • Beginners start here
    • Snooker for beginners
    • Getting started video
  • The Rules
    • The Official Rules as revised; November 2014
    • AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF SNOOKER AND BILLIARDS TO TAKE EFFECT ON AUGUST 12TH 2014
    • Snooker Rule Changes (2010) Explained by Referee Andy Yates
    • Question and Answers as agreed at a WPBSA Rules Meeting held on 27th June 2013.
  • Rules Quizzes
    • EASB Snooker referee quiz: (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Snooker referee quiz: (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: October 2010 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: October 2010 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: November 2010 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: November 2010 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: December 2010 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: December 2010 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: January 2011 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: January 2011 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: February 2011 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: February 2011 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: March 2011 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: March 2011 (questions with answers)
  • Rules you must understand as a player
    • The Break
    • Frame, Game or Match?
    • Who takes the top scorer
    • Keeping score
    • When is the Frame over?
    • Understanding the 'Miss'
    • Understanding the 'Three Miss Rule'
    • Angled Ball (Pocket hook)
    • Seven Point Fouls
  • How do I .....
    • Rack the balls
    • Respot the colour balls
    • Re-spot the cueball after a Miss
    • Use the Ball Marker
    • Handle the rests and other furniture
    • Organise a tournament
  • So you don't like the call; now what?
  • Some information on the Equipment
    • The cue
    • The Balls
    • The Chalk
    • Videos about the table
    • The Cloth >
      • "Double Shaved"
    • The Spots
    • Scoring Software
    • Pocket Templates circa 1996
  • Guides for the Referee
    • Referees Best Practice by English Association of Snooker and Billiards
    • Referee’s Guide to Positioning by Steve Fletcher
    • Referees Guide to What to Say, and When to Say it by Clive A Brown, January 2012
    • Calling the score
  • Variations of the game
    • The six -red game
    • Snooker Shoot Out
  • English Billiards
  • Links to Videos
  • Other Links
  • Contact
Picture
Here is a representation of the table.

The 'Top' of the table is that cushion to the left of the black, opposite the Baulk end.

The colours are normally spotted as we see here, with the three baulk colours spotted "God Bless You" (GBY) as you spot them from the Baulk end.

When re-spotting the colours, they go back on their own spot.

If that spot is occupied, they go on the highest-values spot available i.e. Black spot first, Pink Spot second, then Blue, then Brown, then Green, then Yellow.

If ALL Spots are occupied, then they go as close as possible to their own spot towards the top of the table directly towards the top of the table i.e. towards the Black spot, in a straight line down the table. If, with the Black or Pink there is no room between their own spot and the top of the table, then the ball is placed as close as possible to its own spot toward the Baulk end.

If two or more colours are to be spotted, any balls which can be are spotted on their own spot first, otherwise the highest-valued ball is spotted first. e.g. the Yellow spot being free and the Black spot occupied, the Yellow ball spots first on its own spot, and then the Black ball is taken care of. If the yellow spot is NOT free, the Black ball is spotted first.

If, when spotting the ball, it sinks into a dimple and in doing so touches another ball, then it does not go on its own spot because that spot is occupied. Replace the other ball if it moved and the spot the ball in question on the highest available spot. If there is no open spot, then it goes as close to its own spot, towards the top of the table, as possible, even if it does not spot properly until it is 1/2" or more away from its spot. DO NOT PLACE THE BALL AS CLOSE TO ITS OWN SPOT AS POSSIBLE AND THEN WHACK IT WITH A DEAD BALL TO SETTLE IT INTO THE CLOTH as this just makes the problem worse in the future.

Of course, as a referee, you should have checked all the spots for consistency prior to the start of the game and repaired any damaged spots or replaced the stick-on spots. If you are not using a stick-on spots, I find that using a toothbrush to rough of damaged spots and then settling them down again with the heal of a spoon sometimes restores integrity when done gently.