The pub pool year
Pub pool has no single national calendar. Most players follow the rhythm of their local league, which runs one or two seasons a year and finishes each with a night of finals.
A typical league year
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| September or October | Winter league begins |
| Autumn | Early rounds of the knockout cups |
| December | Short break over Christmas |
| January to March | Second half of the winter league |
| March or April | Winter finals night |
| April or May | Summer league begins |
| August | Summer finals night |
Not every league runs a summer season. Where there is one, it is usually shorter and has fewer teams.
Registration
Teams register a few weeks before a season starts. A league normally needs a venue, a captain’s contact details and a list of players. Late signings are often allowed up to a cut-off date so that nobody can bring in a strong player for the finals.
Knockout cups
Alongside the league, most organisers run several knockouts.
| Competition | Format |
|---|---|
| Team knockout | Teams play a full match, loser goes out |
| Singles knockout | Individual players, usually a race to a set number of frames |
| Doubles knockout | Pairs, taking alternate visits |
| Captain’s cup or plate | A second competition for teams knocked out early |
Finals night
The season ends with the cup finals played on one evening at a single venue, followed by the presentation of trophies. It is the one night when every team in the league is in the same room.
County and national play
Above the local leagues there is representative pool. Strong league players can be picked for a county side, which plays other counties over a season. National bodies for each rule set run their own championships and select international teams.
The governing bodies for World Rules and for blackball rules are separate, each with its own events. If you want to go beyond league play, find out first which rules your league uses.
Tournament pool on television
Professional English pool has grown in recent years, with televised events played to short, fast formats and a shot clock. These use their own rule variations, so do not assume a rule you see on screen applies in your league.