Southwest Eight-Ball League
AND THE
Team Nine-Ball League
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Billiards Options and Investments
MEMBER OF THE BILLIARD CONGRESS OF AMERICA
&
THE NATIONAL POOL ALLIANCE
B.O.I. Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Office: 1-877-456-3440
Fax: 1-877-457-5506
Email: admin@boi-swel.org
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HANDBOOK
Welcome to organized league play with Billiards Options and Investments. This season marks the 19th
year of a very special partnership. B.O.I. hopes to promote billiards to a new level of participation. You are
joining the second ranked participation sport in America. Our goal is to make it number one. Your goal is
to have FUN, FUN, FUN!
The Southwest Eight-ball League (SWEL) is promoted and directed by Billiards Options and
Investments. SWEL is one of the largest pool league in the United States sanctioned by the prestigious
Billiard Congress of America (BCA). SWEL is a Recreational league that runs from fall to spring, annually
advancing its members into State, Regional and National competitions. SWEL is an original charter
member of…
“BCA of TEXAS”.
The Southwest Eight-ball League is also sanctioned by the National Pool Alliance and annually plays in
their National 8-Ball “Tournament of Champions".
SWEL is open to ladies and gentlemen of all skill levels. Parity is maintained by using flights, divisions
and a competitive handicap system. This system features incentive scoring to benefit players new to the
intriguing and exciting sport of team billiards. There are several great flights to choose from:
•
3 PERSON EXPRESS - PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO LEAGUE POOL
• SWEL HANDICAP - BY UTILIZING POOL'S FINEST HANDICAP SYSTEM, ALL TEAMS
WALK AWAY A WINNER
• SWEL MASTERS - THIS IS STRAIGHT AWAY COMPETITION CHALLENGING THE SERIOUS
PLAYER (ADVANCED & INTERMEDIATE FLIGHTS)
In order to promote greater team exposure and individual recognition, the Southwest Eight-ball League
will be continuing its exciting divisional awards. It's all at your cue tip.
ATTENTION
If you are joining any of our leagues to make money, please do not join.
These are recreational pool leagues designed to have fun. Any monies
earned by your team are generally designated to offset State and National
tournament expenses. If money is your major concern, please play
somewhere else. Thank You.
THE LEAGUE
PURPOSE
•
The purpose of the leagues is to introduce organized league play to the billiard public.
Calculably, our league has been able to improve the image of our sport by managing professionally
run pool leagues. Billiards Options and Investments always encourages friendly competition, fair
play and good sportsmanship within all level of players, ranging from the beginner to the expert.
THE LEAGUE DIRECTOR SHALL
•
Ensure league competition that is well organized and fair for all players.
•
Sanction each and every SWEL member into the BCA & the NPA.
•
Provide handbooks and other league supplies.
•
Schedule all matches of league play and their following post-season play-offs and
tournament.
•
Maintain all the necessary records for operation of the league.
•
Publish timely standings.
•
Issue rulings for all protests and rule on violations in a timely manner.
THE LEAGUE PLAYER SHALL
•
Remain a member in good standing to participate in league play and/or tournaments
operated by Billiards Options and Investments or BCA. Players must fill out a membership
application form. All members agree to abide by the policies and procedures of Billiards Options
and Investments, to pay all established fees and to conduct them self in a sportsmanlike manner.
THE LEAGUE STRUCTURE
FLIGHTS
•
3 PERSON EXPRESS - - PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO LEAGUE POOL
•
SWEL HANDICAP - - BY UTILIZING POOL'S FINEST HANDICAP SYSTEM, ALL TEAMS
WALK AWAY A WINNER
•
SWEL MASTERS - THIS IS STRAIGHT AWAY COMPETITION CHALLENGING THE
SERIOUS PLAYER (ADVANCED & INTERMEDIATE FLIGHTS)
DIVISIONS
•
8 teams form a perfect league division. Each team will travel within their division, with the
exception of IN-HOUSE divisions.
TEAMS
•
Each team will have a home billiard establishment.
•
Each team will provide a proper playing atmosphere.
•
Each team will carefully select and organize the players that represent their home billiard
establishment.
•
Each team will advertise the leagues by displaying and providing the proper information to
interested parties.
•
Each team will post all schedules, standings and events.
•
Each team will have the game tables ready on league night by having one game table per team
ready at 7:00 for warm-up, match starts at 8:00.
•
A team name shall not use vulgarity, sexually suggestive or drug related meanings.
•
Teams consist of 5 players on league night, and may play with less.
ROSTERS
•
Rosters consist of no more than eight players. Any exception must be cleared through the office.
•
You may add a new player anytime during the season by notifying the office.
•
All players must be registered and paid in advance of playing.
•
SWEL Handicap Teams may consist of “C” & “B” ranked players. However only one “B” ranked
player may play in the line-up per match.
•
SWEL “B” Master Teams may consist of “B” & “A” ranked players. However only one
“A” ranked player may play in the line-up per match at a time.
•
SWEL “A” Master Teams consist of all players being ranked an “A” regardless of skill level.
CAPTAINS
•
A team captain shall be elected by the team members, or accepted by Billiards Options and
Investments, and shall remain the team captain as long as they are acceptable to the team and the
Advisory Board.
•
Team captains must maintain a working phone number and if possible an available fax number or
e-mail address.
•
Team captains will attend or be represented by a co-captain at all meetings by Billiards Options and
Investments.
•
Captains shall be the team's representative and be responsible for the conduct, attendance and
finance of their team for all league activity. This also includes extra uniforms for any new players.
•
It is in the captain's authority to remove any player permanently from their team, if they are able to
furnish good and sufficient reason to the Advisory Board.
•
Any opposing team captain or league official may request a player's identification and eligibility
through contact with the office.
•
The team captain shall be responsible for the collection of fees from each player on his team.
•
Home team captain is responsible for paying table time; this shall be paid in full.
•
Visiting team captains is responsible for making the drop at a location that has a DROP BOX. Most
locations have a drop box. If not, SWEL management should have already instructed the captains as
to where to place the SWEL envelope.
•
Captains shall distribute information to the team members and see to it that the team members
receive their awards and prizes at the end of the season.
•
It is the responsibility of the team captains to maintain the integrity and full membership of the
team. Should a team member drop from the team, it shall be the responsibility of the team captain to
find a replacement member, subject to the approval of the Advisory Board.
•
In the absence of the team captain, the co-captain shall assume the responsibility for the team.
INDIVIDUALS
•
It is the responsibility of each individual member to maintain his or her own eligibility (good
standing with team and Billiards Options and Investments) throughout the season.
WITHDRAWALS
•
When a team member withdraws without satisfactory reason or is expelled from the league for
sufficient cause, all sanction monies, fees, dues and prizes shall be forfeited.
GAMBLING
•
No member of league shall be allowed to be involved in any scheme or wagering of any kind while
in league matches, tournaments or other league functions. Gambling of any kind is prohibited and
failure to comply with this rule shall be cause for expulsion from league and all related functions,
subject to review by the Advisory board.
SEASONS
•
SWEL super season starts annually in September and is scheduled for approximately 21 weeks.
•
9-Ball starts annually in May and is scheduled for approximately 14 weeks.
UNIFORMS
•
SWEL uniforms are required to be matching style, collared shirts (color & design). No shorts are to
be worn during Southwest Eight-Ball League play and tournament play.
•
All SWEL players must be in team uniform shirts starting the week after Thanksgiving.
•
SWEL uniform violation will be a team loss of points equal to one game (10 points for handicap, 1
point for masters) per player, per match. This is to be deducted from the team score with the
uniform infraction. The Advisory Board will review all penalties.
•
To handle an infraction, first notify the opposing captain then record players name on the bottom of
the score-sheet. A player is a legal player when the balls have been broken their first game.
•
No captain or player has the authority to waiver this uniform agreement.
HOUSE SUBS
•
House subs are only used in IN-HOUSE divisions.
•
House subs can only be used when a team is short players. No house sub may be used if a team has
5 eligible players available.
THE LEAGUE FINANCES
PLAYER REGISTRATION FEES
•
SWEL registration is $20.00 per player, per season; this includes BCA & NPA sanctioning good
from May 31 to May 30. Players will not receive cards, patches etc. until they have paid registration
fees.
•
All new players must be cleared through the office prior to game time.
•
All BCA and SWEL fees that players are required to pay must be paid by week 4 of the season.
After the 4th week all new players must pay their BCA and SWEL fees the first night of play, no
exceptions.
TEAM DUES
•
In SWEL the weekly dues per team is approximately $65 to $75. These dues vary in certain
predetermined areas of league.
•
Each team is to place collected monies and score-sheet in designated envelope.
•
Table time is to be paid to home establishment and receipt to be put in envelope by the home team
captain.
•
Visiting captain will take that envelope to the pre-arranged DROP SPOT before midnight that game
night.
•
Both teams are responsible for their entire team's dues each week, regardless of absent players.
TEAM & INDIVIDUAL PAYBACK
•
All official season end team and individual payback will be delivered to all team captains at or
before the final state tournament.
•
No payback will be issued to teams that have shortages, until they are made up.
•
No payback will be issued to individuals if their teams have shortages, until they are made up.
•
In order to receive individual place payback in SWEL, a player must play ½ of the season.
Example: If there are 24 weeks in your division schedule then 12 weeks need to be played. If there
is a BYE week scheduled, that can count as 1 week played to qualify for post-season play. All
medical or personal issues will be reviewed by the Advisory Board. This affects only your
individual place payouts in the division you play and NOT eligibility for the BCA National
Tournament(which is 8 weeks minimum).
•
No “B” ranked player playing in a SWEL HANDICAP DIVISION will qualify for any Top Place
payback.
•
No "A" ranked player playing in a SWEL B-MASTERS DIVISION will qualify for any Top Place
payback.
•
In order to receive individual payback in 9-Ball, a player must have 6 weeks played and meet
season end qualifications.
PRIZE FUND DEDUCTIONS
•
Any checks made out to B.O.I. or Billiards Options and Investments that bounce will be an autodeduction from prize fund for the amount of check, plus an additional $20.00 for each time
submitted and returned from bank.
•
Any player registration not paid will be an auto-deduction from prize fund, regardless if the player
finishes the season.
NO PAY-NO PLAY
• A player has a 2 week grace period on match fees. If a player is behind 2 weeks then the player would be
ineligible to play the next week unless the player clears up the past fees. In the case of a NO SHOW, the
captain will be charged the fee. All teams are required to maintain a zero dollar balance. In the event of an
emergency situation, Billiards Options and Investments will allow a team to owe no more than $50.00 for a
seven-day grace period. If by the seventh day, the zero balance is not corrected, then the penalty is NO
PAY-NO PLAY… this is only done upon notification from the office. If this situation occurs, the entire
team roster and applicable circumstances will be brought to the Advisory Board for review and corrective
measures..
GOING TO THE BCA NATIONALS
§ All teams & individuals going to the BCA & NPA Nationals must do the required paperwork through
Billiards Options and Investments.
§ Team captains must fill out a complete roster form, with a list of their players going, along with their
addresses.
§ Individuals must fill out a form, complete with address.
§ It's up to the team captains to find qualified team players to fill out their rosters. Billiards Options and
Investments will help provide some assistance if possible.
WHAT IT’S STILL ALL ABOUT
In case you haven’t heard. The League's primary goal is still social, fun
interaction. That's how we started and that is what it will always be about.
This has never been a professional pool players practice field; nor is it
designed for hustlers to make a buck. This is a place for fun loving, pool
playing people like you to get together and socialize.