EUKPF 2005 Statement
Late in 2005 the following statement was provided by the EUKPF (European and UK Pool Federation) subsequently re-named the European Blackball Association. It provides a useful insight into the development of blackball pool.
As part of the introduction of Blackball Rules and the inception of the European Blackball Association (EBA) the EUKPF have said they are committed to keeping everyone informed of its progress. The EUKPF Chairperson answers some of the most common questions that players have asked....
What are Blackball Rules ?
The Blackball Rules are a mixture of EUKPF (BAPTO, a member of EUKPF) and what are referred to as World Rules, plus rules and interpretations taken from other continents and other cue sports.
It is hoped that by including the best from all the rules that this will be viewed by the majority of players as being fair and impartial and encourage all players to embrace them and also enjoy playing them.
They include things like the combination shot, 2 shots don't carry, free table after foul, lift the white after a foul if you want, no 'D' just baulk line, 60 seconds rule (IN TOURNAMENT PLAY), touch cushion rule plus no deliberate fouls such as playing into space etc.
It should be appreciated that although we have spent many months on the drafting of these rules there will be some aspects which will become clearer when the referee's guidelines are printed.
With this in mind we will be holding referee's seminars to explain the interpretations and enhancements needed to cover all situations. In this we need the players suggestions (so do please be constructive in your comments and help us to get it right).
The rules come into play from the 1st January 2006 in all WPA/EBA sanctioned events starting after that date, there will of course be leagues and tournaments/tours already being played who will finish with the rules they began with.
The rules committee was made up of invited players and officials from all the spectrums of the 8 ball pool world both here and abroad and top professional Players (some invited players were not allowed to attend by their governing body) we also had representation from the EUKPF/EBA Junior, Youth and Under 21 and Special pool sections as they are the future of our sport.
Who will play these rules? What associations are involved?
The WPA and their members (please visit their website for a complete list of member countries and the correct structure from the I.O.C. and the continents involved) including Africa and Australasia, plus the EUKPF/EBA and its current members will adopt the rules.
BAPTO, as a founder and valued member of the EUKPF will adopt the 'Blackball' Rules at their competitions.
The EPCF will be recognized by the WPA and EUKPF/EBA as the governing body for pool in England as long as the EPA refuse to be part of the bigger picture. However, should the EPA decide to come on board at some time in the future there would be negotiations with all parties involved to achieve a situation that benefits and satisfies all.
The WPA, and EUKPF/EBA will actively encourage all other pool associations including the WEPF membership to come on board to embrace Blackball and become part of correct structures of world pool.
Who are the EBA and who will make up their committee ?
The EBA are the European Blackball Association and will supersede the existing EUKPF.
The new body of the EBA will initially comprise of the current EUKPF Office Bearers and Member Countries and will be voted upon, in accordance with their constitution, at an AGM.
Will there be banning policy enforced upon players and associations who refuse to take part ?
Generally there will be no banning policy in place, except where disciplinary matters must be taken into account. However, the general rule within the WPA/EUKPF/EBA has always been that players have the right to play pool were and whenever they want, we do not however interfere in any nations decisions regarding this matter.
How will this new venture be funded ?
Blackball in the first instance will be funded by its member countries and current sponsors, but as part of something bigger it is envisaged that more sponsorship and funding will be readily available under the banner of the WPA and I.O.C., which can only be good for the players.
Who does the EBA cater for? How many countries are?
In the first year of the Blackball World Championships it is expected that upwards of 20 Countries/flags will be competing, rising thereafter.
It will cater for Mens A and Ladies events (7 person teams and 9 person squads is proposed but not finalized) but in the future will cater for all groups.
The event being held in Bridlington in April 2006 will be a World Championships for these groups while the A Team event will be referred to as a World Masters.
Will the WPA/EBA recognize Professional Pool Players?
The WPA/EBA will recognize the PPPO and its professionals.
Yours Sincerely,
Martin Kirwan
World Pool Association Statement 2004
In September of 2004, in the Marriot Hotel, London, a meeting was attended by the president of the World Pool Association (WPA) Ian Anderson (Australia), the World Pool Association's Peter Hawley (WPA Development Director and South African representative), the vice president of the European Pocket Billiards Federation (EPBF), David Morris, the chairman of the European and United Kingdom Pool Federation (EUKPF), Martin Kirwan and a number of highly ranked representatives from most of the home nations, namely, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Plus a representative from the Republic of Ireland.
Meeting : Marriot Hotel, London in 2004
The group gathered to map out the unification of pool as played by their respective countries on what is commonly known as the 'small ball' or '7ft table' game and now known as 'Blackball'.
The main organiser in England, the English Pool Association (EPA) failed to attend, although invited. With or without this organisation, English players will be represented in the future by this new committee.
Unfortunately, different variations of rules on these tables caused division and unnecessary confusion amongst players and administrators alike. This created cliques and opened the way for petty politics rather than allowing the sport to grow to its full potential world wide.
"Blackball is the ONLY discipline recognized by the WPA on these tables" Mr. Anderson (WPA President) emphatically stressed, doing away with any doubts that might have existed on this topic amongst the attendees.
The representatives agreed to form a controlling body, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) for pool on the "small" tables called the 'Blackball' discipline. Under "one roof" they will be responsible for the European Blackball championships and for creating events throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. Through the existing membership, they will have the task to increase membership, thus paving the way for democratic elections to the committee.
This body will in future affiliate and co-operate with all their counterparts at World level currently playing Blackball and under "one roof" be responsible for the 'World Blackball Championships'. Together with the other continental members they will affiliate to the WPA and promote the game of Blackball. It was noted that Africa already features strongly as another continent within the WPA structures actively involved in Blackball.
A single committee will be soley responsible for all events within Europe under the flag of the EPBF. The Blackball World Championships are in planning for 2006, and should then be held annually.
This newly formed body will be the affiliated committee to the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and known as the Blackball division. The EPBF in turn is the continental affiliate to the WPA-WCBS-IOC which gives blackball the necessary recognition it deserves within the IOC structure.
These affiliations will ensure that players on the continent will for the first time be uniting under a single World structure and be playing to the same rules. This of course means that all blackball tournaments have the official sanction of the WPA giving players true recognition and word rankings.
The meeting was noted for the enthusiasm amongst the participating countries and the consensus was that this unification was long overdue.... the sport can now develop and advance.
|
|
 |
