REFEREE's GUIDE

MATCH INFORMATION

[1] Create a headquarters table in the designated room at least 20 minutes before the match start time. If you don’t have a yahoo all-star, please find someone who can make a table banner for you so visiting and home players can find the UIC Headquarters Table.

[2] When both Managers are present, let them know a few things such as:

- Managers should make sure their players have registered to UIC properly with league initials before name.

- Managers should be sure that the players who will be playing on their team have played at least 20 games on home league ladder.

- Yahoo Provisional ID's will NOT be permitted to play.

- Anyone who disturbs the match (cussing, arguing, caps, etc) will be removed from the table.

[3] When match start time arrives, the VISITING team has choice of sides. Whichever side they choose, is the side they will play on for all 5 games. (This keeps the breaks alternating)

[4] For game 1, the visiting team puts up the first player, the home team follows. (In game 2 the home team picks first... in game 3 visitors go first... in game 4 home goes first... in game 5 visitors go first.)

[5] It is the referee's duty to back check each player. First, make sure they are not playing on a Provisional ID, if they are on one, they can't play at all. Its always a good idea to check their home ladder to be sure that they have played at least 20 games and are not idle more than 7 days at time of match (this is also a Managers job), also, make sure the yahoo ID they are using for UIC is EXACTLY the same as their home league name. Once you have checked that, check the UIC ladder to be sure the player has registered properly with league initials before their name. ALWAYS back check each player at the time they are chosen to play before you invite them to sit.

[6] Once a Manager puts up a player and ref back checks/invites them, they cannot change their mind. If the chosen player has either registered wrong or isn't found on the UIC ladder, the player or an admin can fix the error, preferably by the player.

[7] Each of the 5 games MUST be reported to the UIC ladder by 12:00am(est.) *try to encourage report right after match is played. A warning of this is to be mentioned at start of match (i.e.. All reports are to be made by 12am est. or a 7 day boxing will occur).

[8] If a player times out, or is DQ'ed in a match, that game DOES NOT get reported. An easy way for a referee to keep track is to have a piece of paper handy for each match you ref and write down the winner and loser of each game. As the match proceeds, you can check to see if match is reported, if so, cross it off your list, until all 5 are reported. (*To see if matches are reported, click DAILY RESULTS link on the UIC site, then click TODAYS RESULTS.*) If matches aren't reported, make note of it and turn into ref mgr at end of match along with match results (scores).

[9] If a player causes problems at the table, give them a warning to stop, if they still continue, then booting them will have to take affect. If it was a player that was suppose to play for one of the teams, you can invite them back at the time they are to play, and warn them no more or will be booted again after match is over. If the player gives you problems during their game you can DQ that game, boot, and move on to next game.

GAME SPECIFIC RULES

[1] Be sure that the Headquarters table is a RATED, PROTECTED table with NO TIMER, and make sure you, as the ref is table host. (*If you are booted by yahoo during the match, when you get back someone else will be table host. You can still run the match, but tell the new host who and when to invite, as you must back check players before they are invited.*)

[2] If a player is booted, frozen, or becomes absent from the table at any time during the game, they are put onto a 7 minute timer. Teams cannot use substitutions once a game has begun. Once time expires, they lose that particular game.

[3] Making the 8 Ball on the Break is a RE-RACK.

[4] if any player offers a re-rack due to good sportsmanship, that game will then be played as bo3 to ensure fairness.

[5] Yahoo Glitches can happen to anyone, and could go either way. If a glitch happens, players will continue the game as if the glitch never happened. There is, although, 1 glitch that you have control over as the ref. ***If a player makes both a stripe and a solid from the break, yahoo gives them the option of Ball In Hand. The player awarded ball in hand can NOT take it, and must continue shooting from where the cue-ball is.***

[6] SAFETY SHOTS should not be looked down on. They are as legal as a bank shot, and when players become upset that they have been "safetied", they should be reminded that this is part of the game. Players who use safety shots should not be discouraged or verbally battered by their opponents, the player should not be called dirty, cheap, cheater, or anything else. Safeties are legal and the referee should remind everyone of this when the topic arises.

[7] It is against the rules to be in a playing seat at another table while in an official UIC game. Someone who is playing in a UIC game can be at another table watching a game, but not in a seat. The visiting team sometimes makes their own separate headquarters table for their league only, and if you notice this, you must instruct them to make sure the current person playing in the UIC match is not in a player's seat at their other table.

[8] Players must always show good sportsmanship and respect to the room, the referee, their opponents, and all others. In the case of swearing, cussing, caps use, etc, give the person 1 warning to stop. If they continue, you as a ref have full authority to DQ them and remove them from the table. Any UIC player also must never disturb the lobby. If you notice that someone is disturbing the host room's lobby, warn them heavily, as bothering a lobby will NOT be tolerated.

[9] A player may request no chatting during their game and all must respect that. After game is over, chatting may continue until another player playing a game makes request again.

PROBLEM SOLVING

[1] PROBLEM: You have created the Headquarters for your UIC match, there is only a few minutes before the start time, and 1 of the leagues has no team there yet.

SOLUTION: Go to that league's room, and ask if there is a staff member present for that league. (If you cant find staff, speak to a player who knows what UIC is) Once you have found someone to speak with,

Let them know in the lobby that they have a UIC match to play in a few minutes and there is no team there yet. Let them know that they will be put on a timer, and if they have no players there in 7 minutes, they forfeit

Game 1, and after a second timer of 5 minutes, they forfeit the entire match. If their Manager is not there, simply tell them that some players should go to the room ASAP, and then you can leave. Meanwhile back at the Match Headquarters,

Inform the league who is present what the procedure is, and the clock starts immediately when match time arrives. Match start time is 6:00pm, the clock starts at exactly 6, and game 1 times out at 6:07, the entire match is forfeited at 6:12

if no one comes by then. (You must go to the absent league's lobby at least 5 mins prior to putting a timer on them)

[2] PROBLEM: A team is a no show, you have gone to their lobby and informed members, and still no players have come and the first 7 minute clock has expired.

SOLUTION: The score is now 1-0 for the present team. You now start a 5-minute clock on them, if they don't have any players at the match when 5 minutes expires, the entire match is forfeited and present team wins.

[3] PROBLEM: A team is a no show, their first 7 minute clock is expired, making it 1-0 for the present team. You have now put them on the 5-minute match forfeit clock, but a player comes before the clock expires. They play as game #2 in the match, but when the game ends, the person has no other teammates there to play game 3.

SOLUTION: This team goes back on the 7-minute clock. Have the person who played game 2 go find some players before the clock expires. If the 7-minute clock expires, it gives the present team a game 3 win, then the 5-minute match forfeit clock starts again. If the 5-minute clock expires, the match is forfeited.

[4] PROBLEM: After back checking a player before inviting them, you have found one of the following errors: (a) the player has not played 20 games on their home league ladder (b) their yahoo ID doesn't match their home league name (c) they are using a Yahoo Provisional ID, a Ghost ID, or an ID extremely below 1200 (d) they are idle more than 7 days on home ladder.

SOLUTION: This player cannot play at all in this 5v5 match. It is up to this player's Manager to be sure that the players fit the UIC qualifications. Ask them to use another player, and explain to the player with the error, that they should fix this before the next UIC event.

[5] PROBLEM: After back checking on a player before inviting them, their home league info is correct, 20 games played, yahoo name matches home name, and isn't provisional, not idle more than 7 days, BUT you have found a registration error on his/her UIC name, or they haven't yet registered to UIC.

SOLUTION: This player is put on a 5-minute timer. He/she has 5 minutes to register/fix their UIC account. Please, try and make the player fix the error his/herself and not have an admin do it for them. If the problem is a forgot password, then an admin can correct it so he/she can play.

[6] PROBLEM: A player disagrees that his/her opponent has benefited from a glitch, (or is upset about another situation) and when it becomes his/her turn to shoot, the player says "I get a 7 minute clock, I think I will sit here until 6 minutes pass before I shoot"

SOLUTION: You have complete authority in this situation to give the person 2 minutes to shoot. If the player continues to be a problem, or attacks you or anyone else, you have the right to DQ the player.

[7] PROBLEM: 2 players continue to argue with each other. You realize that both are at fault, and you can't DQ 1 of them and not the other.

SOLUTION: Give them a strict warning. If they don't listen, nullify the match, the game won't count toward the total, have them cancel the game, and the 2 players who are arguing must leave the headquarters table. If 1 of the players will not cancel the game, warn him/her that they will be penalized if they don't comply by UIC staff. The longer they don't comply, the heftier the UIC League penalty they will receive.

[8] PROBLEM: A player who is not involved in the current game is purposely aggravating 1 of the players playing. The player begins to argue back, this could possibly create a major argument.

SOLUTION: Act fast. You do not want the match to get out of hand here. Give a very strict warning to both. Tell the person not playing in the game that if he/she continues to aggravate the player, that they will be removed from the table and won't be allowed back at all. Stay in control; don't let them walk all over you.

[9] PROBLEM: The match has gotten completely out of hand, people are arguing, and the room is moving very fast. This could very well distract the players, and could cause a war between these 2 leagues.

SOLUTION: Take control. Warn them that you will start booting right now and people who get booted won't be allowed to get back even if they were supposed to play. Next person to say a negative thing, no matter what it is, gets removed from the table. If they all keep going, then use your boot button. Make the room Private. Once the players see that you are booting people, they will realize that you mean business and it will surely calm the room.

[10] PROBLEM: After 3 games are completed; one of the leagues has run out of players.

SOLUTION: That league goes onto a 7-minute timer. They have 7 minutes to find a player from their league, make sure they are all registered to UIC properly, and get them to the room to play. If there is a time-out, that game is awarded to the present league. Then, the absent league goes onto another 5-minute clock, if they time out again, they forfeit the entire match.

[11] PROBLEM: A player uses a few safeties in the game. His opponent and/or teammates begin to attack the player, calling him cheater, or dirty, or cheap.

SOLUTION: Safeties are legal, and quite honestly, safeties are smart. People need to realize that safety shots are a major part of this game, and should not be looked down on. Anyone who attacks someone for this should be warned, and if they continue, they should be removed. Also, if the player who used the safety fights back, he/she should also be warned that using safeties is fine, but he should let the referee handle people that verbally attack him.

REFEREE'S DECISIONS ARE FINAL....

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT!!

As the referee, your decisions on situations are final and must never be disputed. If you have a tough decision and want to get advice, you can get advice from a UIC Admin or another referee. (You cannot take advice from a UIC Staff member who is a member of 1 of the 2 leagues playing) The leagues playing are not allowed to go over your head and get one of your decisions reversed, you are the referee, so we trust that you will always make the right decision and NEVER TAKE SIDES. (If a league decides to make a complaint about the referee, let them know they can do so in an email AFTER the match is complete, but they cannot go over your head to get a decision reversed)

You have the right to DQ or Boot someone in any situation you feel fit. People who swear, cuss, scroll, use caps, etc can/should be given 1 warning if their actions weren't too drastic, but if they continue to get out of hand or cross the line in any way, don't let them discourage you, DQ or Boot them. If a person completely has gone off the deep end, submit their name and situation to a UIC Admin and the person will be penalized accordingly.

If someone personally attacks you, please do not argue with him or her, or try to make fun of or embarrass him or her at all. Don't combat them; simply remove them from the table. If you have people that keep coming back in and disturbing the match, you have the right to make the table PRIVATE, and if players or spectators wish to be invited, their Manager will ask you to do so.

If a table starts to get out of hand, you have the right to remove everyone except the players and Managers and make it Private. Warn the table, do everything in your power to keep the table free of trouble, even if that means removing players, and try and keep the games running so the match comes to an end faster.

REFEREE'S CREED 

I swear to never take sides; I will always be fair to both competing teams.

I will never overuse my power, but I will always use my power when I have to.

I will keep my match clear of disputes and problems, and I will never insult anyone, even if they insult me first.

Fun, competition, and fairness are the main objective of this game, and I will always promote it that way.

I won't cheer for either side, but I will acknowledge superb play and congratulate those who accomplish it.

Making everyone feel welcome is a goal I will achieve, and even though there is always 1 team that loses, I will make everyone feel like a winner.