SECTION 9 - MISS RULE
With effect from the 2011 / 2012 season, the Executive Committee of the Guernsey Billiards & Snooker Association recommends that the application of the Miss Rule will depend on which division the player or team is currently playing in. How the Miss Rule is applied is noted under each competition, and can be described as follows:
Matches between Premier players and teams: The full miss rule below should be applied.
Matches between First Division players / teams or First and Premier Division players teams: Only point 1 of the miss rule below should be applied.
Matches involving players / teams below the First Division: The miss rule is not applied.
We request that affiliated clubs ensure that they have up to date copies of the Rules of Snooker and Billiards.
The main points to remember are highlighted below:-
1. Should a player fail to hit an unobstructed ‘ball on’, this is automatically called as a ‘foul and a miss’
2. Should a player in attempting to get out of a snooker, whether indirect or direct, play short on the ball, this is a ‘foul and a miss’
3. Should a player hit the effective snookering ball, this also is a ‘foul and a miss’
The shot should always be played with sufficient strength to hit the ‘ball on’ and the referee should take into account the ability of the player when making a ‘miss’ call in circumstances other than those listed above.
A ‘miss’ unless intentional, i.e. making no attempt to hit the ‘ball on’, should not be called if either player requires ‘snookers’ before, or as a result of, the foul.
In a situation where a player (or pair, in the event of a pairs match contested between four Premier League players) commits a foul stroke which, after application of the appropriate penalty points, results in a position where the value of points remaining on the table is equal to the points difference between the two players/pairs on the scoreboard, a foul and miss can be called, as the player/pair who is behind in this situation could still win the frame without the aid of penalty points by potting the remaining balls (with blacks if reds remain on the table at that point) to tie the frame, then winning it on a re-spotted black (either by potting it themselves to win it or their opponent committing a foul stroke to forfeit it).
NOTE: Following a ‘miss’ call, the opponent always has three options. He does not have to request that the cue ball is replaced but may opt to play from where the cue ball comes to rest, or request that the offending player plays again from the position left.