There are numerous changes in the rules of Snooker and English Billiards which have now been adopted by the ABSC, and therefore should be applied immediately in all levels of the game. The majority of changes are simply clarifications or corrections to the structure and grammar of the rules, but a few involve some alterations to the way certain rules are applied.

Here is a brief explanation of the significant changes.

Snooker

Striker and Turn
It is clarified that if the non-striker comes to the table and plays out of turn, he will be considered as the striker for any foul he may commit. Previously, it could be interpreted that since only the striker could commit a foul, if the non-striker moved a ball it would be replaced to its original position.

Stroke
Previously, it was defined that a stroke ends when the balls come to rest. Now it is clarified that the striker must stand up and remove any equipment from a hazardous position on the table before the stroke is complete. Therefore, touching a ball with the rest as you pick it up from the table makes the stroke just played a foul, not the next one – any balls potted would then not be counted.

Play Again
It is clarified that a request to have the balls replaced after a Foul and a Miss cannot be withdrawn.

Foul and a Miss
In addition to the circumstance where a Miss will not be called if either player needs snookers (now correctly worded as needing penalty points) before or as a result of the stroke, this will also apply if the difference in scores is exactly equal to the value of the balls remaining on the table. However, a miss can still be called if the referee thinks that the miss may have been intentional.

When a Foul and a Miss is played and the balls are replaced, if the player commits a foul before playing a stroke, the referee will not call a Miss, but the opponent can still ask to have the balls replaced and the ball on remains the same. For example, if the player is snookered in the pack of reds and needs to hit a colour, then after a failed attempt and the balls are replaced he touches a red with his finger while feathering, the opponent can ask for the balls to be replaced, and the player still needs to hit a colour, although he may change his mind as to which colour he chooses.


Billiards

Stringing
It is clarified that if your ball falls into a pocket, touches a side cushion, or crosses onto the other half of the table, you lose the string.

Stroke
It is clarified that the stroke must be made ‘in the direction of cue alignment.’ This means that the stroke where the tip of the cue is brought down across the face of the cue ball (sometimes seen in nursery cannon play) is not valid, and will be considered a foul.

Running a Coup
The definition of Running a Coup is clarified in that it is not deemed running a coup if the ball first makes contact with the flat of a cushion and then (indirectly) enters a pocket.

Action After a Foul
If a player commits a foul before playing a stroke, then intentionally (in the referee’s opinion) plays a stroke after being called for a foul, he shall be deemed to have committed a further foul for playing out of turn and shall be further penalised.

After a request to have the balls re-spotted from a foul has been made, it cannot be withdrawn