Tournament Guidelines

General Guidelines

Schedule, sign-ups, format, eligibility, and conduct for all DCTX tournaments.

01 Schedule & Check-In
  1. Doors open at 10am.
  2. Check-in begins at 11am.
02 Sign-Up & Deposits
  1. For all tournaments you must sign up at or below the cap. You can NEVER sign up above the cap.
  2. Minimum deposit is due to sign up. The remainder is due in cash on the day of the tournament. Deposits become nonrefundable once the online bonus begins.
  3. There is no “sign me up,” “put me in,” or “put me down.” If you want to sign up, you must pay at least the deposit.
03 Online Bonus

The online bonus starts 3 days before the tournament and lasts until 8pm the day before the tournament begins. A link will be posted in the Facebook Group. The bonus is free to view, but a membership is required to bid — please read the bonus rules carefully and reach out with any questions.

  1. If you are interested in playing, screenshots of both players’ Fargos must be sent via Messenger or text.
  2. A players list will be posted the Monday before the tournament.
  3. Races will always be on the flyer — read it to know if the races are handicapped or even.
04 General Info
  1. Double elimination.
  2. Always keep the same rotation.
  3. BCA modified rules.
  4. Played on 8ft Diamond tables.
  5. Jumping is allowed.
  6. If the cue ball is pocketed or jumps off the table, it is ball in hand for the opponent.
  7. If any other ball jumps off the table on the break or any other time, it is a foul; the ball stays down and it is ball in hand for your opponent.
  8. If you accidentally move a ball that is not the cue ball, your opponent has the option to move the ball back or leave it where it is. This is not a foul.
  9. If a ball you moved after a shot would have been in the path of the cue ball, this is a foul.
  10. With ball in hand, you can move the cue as much as you want with your hand, cue, bridge, etc. The cue is not live until a shot attempt has been made.
  11. If the shot you are attempting is not obvious, make it VERY clear to your opponent what you are trying to do.
  12. Stalemate: If neither team is advancing the game after 3 foul shots by each team (6 total), re-rack and the original breaker breaks.
  13. If a team has an issue that cannot be resolved, they may re-rack that one rack and the original breaker breaks.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Depending on the situation, the TD may issue warnings, hard warnings, BIH fouls, game loss, or a forfeit of the entire match.

05 Timeouts — Scotch Matches Only
  1. Each team has 1 timeout per rack.
  2. Make it VERY clear that you have not used your timeout before talking to your partner.
  3. It is not a foul if a player tells their partner to make sure their opponents know what they are doing.
  4. It is not a foul to ask whether you have used your timeout.
  5. Both players can call timeouts, and both can waive them off.
  6. Waiving off a timeout is not considered a timeout.
  7. If you have used your timeout and talk to your partner while shooting, the first offense is a hard warning; any time after is a ball in hand foul. The TD must give the warning, which lasts the entire tournament (including day 2).
  8. During a timeout with ball in hand, either player can move the cue.
  9. Both players may be at the table at the same time and may use any objects to help their partner.
  10. If you are not involved in the game, please do not talk to the players while they are at the table shooting.
06 Shot Clock

A 45-second shot clock can be enforced if another team is taking a long time between shots. A warning must be given first. Once enforced, both teams are on the clock.

07 Move Your Stone
  1. Stones are at every table — please leave them at the table.
  2. Move your own stone. If you forget to move it, both teams must agree before moving it. The bracket text you receive can also be used to keep score.
  3. If there is a disagreement, the stones’ positions are final.
  4. Streaming tables must be scored on Digital Pool for streaming purposes.
  5. Scoring on Digital Pool is strongly recommended for all matches.
08 Watch a Shot

If anyone thinks there might be a foul on a shot, call the TD or someone not involved in that match over to watch it. If no one is called over, the call goes to the shooter. Slow-motion video is used on certain shots and we always try to get the right call — but we are not professional refs. There will be no debate on calls; our call is final.

09 Out of Rotation
  1. Once a Scotch match starts, you must stay in the same order the entire time — even after a win.
  2. Players can call a foul if their opponent(s) shoot out of rotation. The foul must be called before the next shot is taken, even if that next shot is the break.
10 5-Minute Cushion Time Limit

On the Clock

Once your match is called you have 5 minutes to get to the table. After 5 minutes your opponent may put you on the clock: you receive a one-game loss for every 5 minutes past that. After 15 minutes, you concede the match entirely.

11 Eligible Players
  1. If you have an established Fargo (min 400 games for Texas players, min 800 games for out-of-state players), that rating will be used.
  2. Exceptions apply. If your known ability differs significantly from your Fargo, the TD may decide what you play as — before or during the tournament.
  3. If you do not have an established Fargo but have an APA SL (min 10 matches), the chart below is used. The TD may adjust based on known ability.
  4. The highest Fargo is always used, based on the day before the tournament.
  5. If you have fewer than 500 Fargo games and the TD does not know you, further investigation may occur.
  6. Every brand-new player must make their matches public for verification.
  7. If you have neither an established Fargo nor APA ranking and the TD has no information on you, you will automatically come in as a 600 Fargo. No exceptions!
  8. TD discretion is always in effect.

Fargo / APA SL Chart

APA SL 1 = 250
APA SL 2 = 300
APA SL 3 = 350
APA SL 4 = 400
APA SL 5 = 450
APA SL 6 = 500
APA SL 7, 8, 9 = TD decision

12 Point Cushion

If you have signed up (paid at least the deposit) and your team is at or under the Fargo cap at that time, the TD allows the following cushion on the day of the tournament:

  1. Scotch Doubles: 10-point cushion
  2. Scotch Triples: 15-point cushion
  3. Teams: 20-point cushion
13 Team Payouts
  1. 1–16 teams: top 3
  2. 17–23 teams: top 4
  3. 24–32 teams: top 6
  4. 33–48 teams: top 8
14 Side Pot

Side pot payouts are determined the day of the tournament and depend on how many teams participate.

15 Charity Donations

Donations are being collected for Mission Arlington Charity. If you are able to donate — money or food — please do so. You will receive an extra raffle ticket for a gift card, and 100% of the proceeds go to the charity.

  1. Peanut butter and jelly
  2. Canned meats
  3. Canned soups, stews, spaghetti, etc.
  4. Dry goods, macaroni and cheese, etc.
16 Additional Info
  1. Events need to finish as quickly as possible. If you smoke, need to make a call, step outside, eat, etc., please do so before your match, not during it. If you need a restroom break during a match, please be mindful of the time.
  2. Please respect each other, Clicks staff, and the establishment. Good sportsmanship is expected throughout the entire tournament.
  3. Some things are TD decisions, especially Fargo ratings and unsportsmanlike conduct.
  4. Questions, concerns, or suggestions? Text or message on Facebook.

*TD = Tournament Director. TD will update these guidelines as needed.

Questions? Send a message to [email protected]