• All players must have 4 scored matches in a session to be eligible to play in Best of the Rest, Titleholders or Nationals.  This does not supersede the eligibility requirements for any TAP sanctioned event including Nationals.  Each event has its own eligibility requirements.

• Forfeits are to be avoided as much as possible.  With that in mind, if a team only has 4 players on a given night, they may ask the opposing team if they may “ghost.”  If the opposing team agrees, the opposing team gets to choose one of the 4 players to shoot a second match.  A player may not be chosen that puts the team over the 25 max handicap limit.  This is only for regular session play.

• At Best of the Rest or at Titleholders, if a situation arises that the score of a match is 2-2 and both teams do not have a 5^th player, each team shall choose a player from the opposing team that has already played to shoot the 5^th match.  They may not choose a player that puts the team over the 25 max handicap limit.  This situation, however, may be avoided if one or both teams use the “burnout” strategy.

• All players skill level 4 and up receive one timeout per rack.  2’s and 3’s receive two timeouts per rack.  For 3’s and above, a coach need not be designated.  A player may only receive information from one coach per timeout but may use a different coach on each timeout.  For 2’s, a coach must be designated as 2’s may receive unlimited coaching so long as the coach does not approach the table.  If the team needs to change who is the coach during the 2’s match, they must inform the opposing team.  Only the coach may speak to the player.  The coach may get advice from other players on the team so long as the player shooting the match doesn’t hear.

• During ball-in-hand, a coach is not prohibited from touching the cue ball.  The coach is prohibited from “placing” the cue ball.  Therefore, if the player is the last to touch the cueball before a shot occurs, no foul may be called.  This will be handled differently at Nationals or other higher-level tournaments.  Best practice would be for coaches to make it a habit to not touch the cue ball at all and avoid the issue.

• All new players will shoot their first match as a 4 SL (skill level).  After their first match, their SL may go up or down based on their performance.  The only exception to this will be for players that are known to be of a high skill level in other leagues or otherwise.  Those players will shoot their first match as a 5 SL.  No skill levels will vary based on gender.  If a player is joining an 8 ball team and has an established TAP 9 ball or 10 ball rating, they will start in 8 ball at that rating.

• At the completion of each session, each division’s 1^st place team will advance to Titleholders for a chance to win the trip to Nationals.  The remaining teams from that division will have a single-elimination playoff tournament called Best of the Rest.  The winner of that tournament will also advance to Titleholders.  Prize money will be paid to the top teams based on placement in the regular session standings, not based on Best of the Rest performance.

• Ties in the standings are to be decided by the following:

1^st tie breaker – Games Lost

2^nd tie breaker – Games Won

3^rd tie breaker – Head to head from most recent matchup