Rules

BWPPA Tour Format 

PLEASE NOTE: Any player who is not ready to play at their scheduled match time will have a one   rack  deduction and another rack deducted at 5 minutes late and another at 10 minutes late, if the player is not at the table ready to play 15 minutes after their scheduled match time they will forfeit the match.  Players are advised to arrive 30 minutes before a match.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

  • Membership is now £5 per event or £20 for four events if you pay in full at first event.

NEW MEMBERS

  • Players who are attending a BWPPA event for the first time will only need to pay the relevant membership fee, as their first event entry is free.

ENTRANCE FEES

  • Players ranked 1-4 pay £40
  • Players ranked 5-8 pay £30
  • Players ranked 9+ pay £25

 So please check the ranking list before you attend the event.

  • All entrance fees will be pay on the day of the event.

THE DRAW

The tournament software at the start of play will electronically generate the draw on Saturday at 10am.

MAIN EVENT

  • The event is double elimination format, to the Semi-Finals if 16 players or under, to Quarter Finals if over 17.
  • We will play down to the SF’s on Saturday, or the QF’s if over 16 players,
    both the main event and the challenge cup will commence on Sunday morning at 11am, unless any losers qualifiers games are left from the Saturday, and they will commence at 10am on the Sunday.

PLEASE NOTE: A random draw for table allocation will take place just before matches start.  

  • The top 4 ranked attending players will be seeded.
  • Alternate break format.

Please note when using the Magic Rack in 9-ball events, the 7 & 8 Ball are to be positioned directly behind the 1-Ball, and the 2-Ball is to be positioned at the back of the rack this is to avoid a soft break advantage.  The TD will be made aware of this rule, however the sole responsibility lies with the player not breaking to ensure the rack is laid out correctly.

  • The main event rankings will be updated after each event and the number one ranked player will be known as the GB Number One Wheelchair Player as long as they remain at the Number One position.  If points are level at any stage then the result from the previous tournament will decide ranking positioning (i.e. the event just played) 
  • The rankings will be made up of the best 3 results from the last 4 events.
  • After the last event of the season players will receive a prize from one of our sponsors depending on their ranking.

CHALLENGE CUP (PLATE)

  • Challenge-Cup will be held on the Sunday at 11am.
  • Free Entry, Winner receives £50 and runner up £30.
  • Challenge-Cup will be single elimination and races to 5 racks in all rounds
  • Winner breaks and players must lag for first break.  (Tapped tables alternate break format)
  • The Challenge Cup will attract separate challenge cup ranking points for all players. If points are level at any stage then the result from the previous tournament (i.e. the one just played) will decide positioning.
  • Winner 7 ranking points.
  • Runner-up 6 ranking points.
  • Semi-finalist 5 ranking points.
  • Quarter-finalists 4 ranking points
  • Also at the end of the season the player ranked No.1 on the Challenge-Cup rankings will be offered a prize from one of our sponsors.  If the same player also finishes in the prizes on the main rankings but decide to take the 1st place challenge prize then his/her main ranking prize will go to the second place finisher on the challenge.

TOURNAMENT PRIZE FUND

  • Main Event 
    • Winner £250 + Trophy
    • Runner-Up £150
    • Losing Semi-Finalists £100 each
  • Challenge Cup
    • Winner £50 + Trophy
    • Runner-Up £30

EUROPEAN, WORLD & INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Rankings will be used when offering European & World Championship spots or other places at invitational events.  The highest ranked players will be offered places first and places may be made available to other players if players further down the rankings are unable to attend. What ever the rankings are on the required date of entry to these events will be used. 

COMMITTEE’S DECISION IS FINAL. UPON TWO OR MORE PLAYERS BEING TIED FOR A RANKING POSITION – RESULTS IN PREVIOUS EVENT(S) (I.E. THE ONE JUST PLAYED) WILL APPLY.   THIS ALSO APPLIES TO END OF SEASON RANKINGS.

The above criteria’s only apply if the BWPPA are requested by the international governing bodies to submit players to these events.  In some circumstance they may have their own selection process in which case the process will be out of our control.

Where possible, the 5 highest ranked players (British Only) will receive some financial help towards their costs when attending the European & World Championships.  This will be based on an average cost identified by the committee.  This will only be available towards the cost of flights, accommodation and entry fees.  From 2018 those players eligable for financial support must have attended at least 3 of the last 4 ranking events in order to receive any support.  

GENERAL NOTES

PLEASE NOTE – All players must have both feet and wheelchair footrests off the ground and one buttock touching the seat or seat cushion of the wheelchair when taking a shot to do otherwise will result in a foul stroke and ball in hand being awarded to the opponent.  

Players must act in a sportsman like manner at all times during the event and all supporters and friends must not distract players in any way.

Wheelchair seats cannot measure any higher than 27 inches including cushions.

Any player who has qualified for the second days play in either the Main Event or Challenge Cup will forfeit any prize money and points attracted for that days play if they do not make themselves available to play on time.

WPA 9-BALL RULES APPLY.

TD has the final decision in ALL disputes.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE

All tour members must observe the following rules of discipline.

1 Dress Code:

  • Dark polo shirt/t-shirt or jumper (No sport tops)
  • Dark Trousers (No T-Suite bottoms)
  • Dark Shoes.

Medical exemption will be at the committee’s discretion, so please check with the committee prior to attending the event if you have a medical reason.

  1. Sponsors:

No BWPPA member must in any way criticise a BWPPA sponsor or any member of staff of a sponsoring firm. This includes comments made in private or public including Internet chat forums, Facebook, verbal, written, email or any other method. Sponsors include those mentioned on this website and venues hosting events. If any player has any concerns about any of our sponsors they must communicate these via the Committee who will investigate these concerns as appropriate on their behalf.

3 Tournament hosts:

The rule above applying to sponsors applies equally to firms who agree to host our events (who are sponsors too). When at tournament venues players and their guests must always conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner towards venue staff and other customers.  Venue facilities must be respected at all times. Drunkenness, abusive behaviour or any behaviour, which in the opinion of the Committee, is damaging to our sport or our relationship with our hosts will not be tolerated.

BWPPA value the relationships with our sponsors and hosts and take this VERY seriously. Any breaches of the above rules will be dealt with.

4 Conduct:

Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a proper manner consistent with their status as sportsmen. Members shall not make a nuisance of himself or herself during a match and shall not attempt to purposely cause their opponent to be distracted during a match. Members shall not make any improper vocal or non-vocal gestures at any time before, during or after a match. Members shall not make or cause to be made any statement (whether in writing or otherwise) or take or cause others to take action, which in the opinion of the Committee brings the Tour into disrepute.  This includes such forums as the BWPPA public and private presence on Facebook.

5 Officials:

Members shall treat the TD with dignity and respect. Members shall observe the rules of play and abide by the directions and decisions of the Tournament Director. Members must comply with the instructions of the TD concerning matters arising during a Tournament, which fall within the general authority and responsibility of the Tournament Director, whether or not specifically provided for in these Rules. 

6: Grievances:

Any complaint or grievance arising during a Tournament shall be made or referred to and decided by the TD. A member who is dissatisfied with a decision of the TD may make written representations to the Committee. The Committee shall consider the complaint or grievance afresh and make such decision as it deems fit, there is no further appeal route.

Penalties:

The penalty for breaches of these rules is as follows:

1) Verbal warning from the TD or Committee.

2) For repeat offences, disqualification from tour stop at which the breach occurs or the next event, and reported to the committee who have the power to ban the member from all future tour stops, or remove them from the private BWPPA Facebook forum.