U.S. Team Billiards (USTB) insists upon a great culture demonstrated from each of our athletes. This movement began in 2012 with Collegiate Billiards and has continued into the private sector branded as USTB. We are not what billiards has been, but rather what billiards should be.


MISSION STATEMENT

Improving the image and culture of the sport by providing structured education, training, and competition for serious players.


CORE VALUES

U.S. Team Billiards is not “another pool league.” Rather it is the vision for building an organization of serious players dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, to improving the growth and the image of the sport, and to supporting worthwhile charitable causes.

This organization is geared toward higher level amateur players, semi pro players, low level pro players, even pro players. We also welcome entry level and less experienced but motivated players also. Any player is welcome that holds dear our common beliefs and core values of - Honor, Integrity, Respect, Work Ethic, Discipline, Unity, Sportsmanship, and Accountability. Please note that everyone’s contribution on behalf of pool must demonstrate adherence to our core values.


WHAT IS U.S. TEAM BILLIARDS?

We are not the Major Leagues of Pool, but rather a pathway to upper level semi- pro and professional pool. USTB is above and beyond high school level pool, college level, and amateur regional handicapped tournaments and leagues.

USTB is reserved for players that understand the need for an improved and serious pool culture in the United States.

We are an organization to which new players can aspire to become a contributing member.

If you are serious about pool playing excellence and own complete respect for sportsmanship, this is your group.


STRUCTURE

Players will be organized into teams of 5 players from their geographical area. These teams will participate in clinics, competitions, and charitable activities. Statistics will be collected for both teams and individuals, and these statistics will be available for players and fans on the U.S. Team Billiards website, usteambilliards.com

Team records, individual records, standings, schedule, power rankings, rules, training material, and personal information that players would like to share with potential fans will be distributed from our website.


TRAINING CAMPS

We conduct training for the players of USTB and players considering to apply for acceptance and inclusion. This will allow all players the opportunity to learn firsthand what will be required to improve the sport we love and their personal pool playing.


HANDICAPS

​There will be no handicaps in USTB competitions. Handicaps reward and in some cases promote mediocrity.


TIERS

U.S. Team Billiards as an endeavor is not another pool league, rather it is more of a vision and mentality. You do not just study a bit and then practice up a little to become good. Pool excellence requires that you make the sport a part of your lifestyle and for elite professionals it is a complete lifestyle.

Not everyone can or wants to be consumed by the sport, but to get a better performance you must have pool as part of your lifestyle. We will be competing in two separate Tiers the Rackrunners and the Shotmakers.

U.S. Team Billiards is not for everybody and is reserved for serious players that understand that the Sport is more important than the individual player.

The Rackrunners Tier is reserved for highly experienced players that include those athletes with Elite Skills, they are Purists of the sport.

The Shotmakers Tier is the group of players that are earning experience and possess the positive spirit to attack high performance pool skill development.


TEAM COMPETITION

​Each team will compete with 5 players who are registered as USTB members. Each team needs to have additional registered players in case of emergencies.


COMPETITIONS

​The initial competition sessions will consist of a set number of team matches. As USTB progresses, there will be modifications in format to provide the widest variety and best competitive experiences possible.


MATCHES

​Each match between two teams will consist of two parts – 15-Ball, and 9-Ball.

The 15-Ball segment will generate a composite ball count score. Each ball pocketed on a legal shot is worth 1 point.

This score will be added to the points earned playing 9-Ball with each rack won of 9-Ball counting as 10 match points.

Following the 15-Ball, each team member will play three separate sets of 9-Ball against three different opposing team members. Races to 3 games for each player competing.

Every 9-Ball match will be played no matter the team score.

In this way every player will have maximum opportunity to compete; and the USTB statistics will be more consistent and meaningful.


NOTABLE RULES IN EFFECT

  1. Lag for the first break, then alternate break.
  2. No pushout after the Break.
  3. “All ball fouls.”
  4. Rack your own and 2-Ball on the back of the rack in 9-Ball.
  5. Honor and respect for the sport at all times. We call fouls on ourselves whenever they occur.
  6. No ear buds or phones during competition.


PLAYER ATTITUDE

Players willfully invest effort to create a positive image of the sport regardless of circumstances.

There is a zero tolerance policy with no excuse acceptable for becoming involved in perpetuating any negative episode that reflects on U.S. Team Billiards.

Everyone, including new members, enjoys the spirit and legacy that has been created in recent years here, established by our players throughout the entire history of USTB. Everyone is expected to contribute to our refreshingly positive image by adding to the welfare of our group and sport.

The singular most important purpose of U.S. Team Billiards is for setting the example everywhere. We are not what the Sport has been, but rather what the Sport should be.


DRESS CODE

​​The pool match dress code is to demonstrate respect for the sport, and be the proud example for all aspiring players.

  1. Black dress pants.
  2. Team shirt or Polo tucked in.
  3. Belt.
  4. Appropriate shoes; that look clean/new. Athletic shoes are suggested.
  5. No ear buds/head phones during team practices or competitions.


WEBSITE, POWER RANKINGS, AWARDS

​​The USTB website will display updates, rules, team statistics, individual statistics, player profiles, Power Rankings, team records, and session standings.

usteambilliards.com


POWER RANKINGS

Power Rankings are accumulated and based on a competition results. The 15-Ball (6 racks) is worth a possible total of 90 points and each 9-Ball set victory is worth a possible 40 points each. A perfect score would be 210 Power Ranking points.

There will also be a season-end team tournament and the Individual Finals for players that have played in a minimum of 5 of the preliminary events during that season. We have 5 regular season competitions as well as the Team Playoffs which produce the Individual Power Ranking points.

We will use your highest 5 scores to establish your final Power Ranking standings.

These points are cumulative as each competition unfolds and during the year end Individual Competition the season standings are utilized for the competition group that each individual will be placed. The higher the ranking the larger the prize fund that you will be competing for in the year end prize distribution.

The MVP Player of the Session Award is based upon earning the #1 Power Rankings.

We also conduct an All-Star event that is earned by placing in the top 6 players from each location.


USTB FEES

Annual membership fees are $60 per player per year and are renewed on August 1.

Rackrunners Tier match dues are $60 per player per match.
Shotmakers Tier match dues are $45 per player.
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​The annual membership fees will be used for administration costs, web design and maintenance, organization development, miscellaneous tournament expenses, and team jerseys/accessories. These organization proceeds are used for advancement of the sport.

​The season conference match fees are distributed as prize fund in the team playoffs and individual tournament, $15 of each fee is allocated to our greens fees for the pool room along with the operation of U.S. Team Billiards.

In general, prizes are just a small incentive for players; and will be distributed to each of the teams and also the individual players.

If you desire to have meaningful competition against like-minded players in an atmosphere that fosters excellence – then this is for you.

One of the goals of USTB is to assist the sport to become self-sufficient by attracting younger players and fans, along with sponsors from outside the pool industry.

There is no long term benefit to a sport to have monetary growth generated only by the players themselves. We have to become a sport that is profitable, and attracts enough outside interest to generate its own revenue stream, if we are truly to become respected and legitimate.


FIFTEEN BALL RULES

The 15-Ball Challenge is an invaluable training tool and a direct link to substantially faster progress than is available in most traditional pool games. Many players initially assume that it is easy, and then shockingly soon find out that is untrue. The score is honest and can be humbling, as you cannot win on one ball or get lucky, but rather must run the entire rack.

Rack up 15 balls and break, then take ball in hand on the first shot. This is played “call shot” (ball and pocket), in any sequence, attempting to clear all 15 balls. Your inning ends with any missed shot or foul. All balls pocketed on a foul do not count.

If you break and pocket a ball without scratching, you keep that ball and begin shooting with Ball-in-Hand.

If you scratch on the break, you will still get to play, but anything that goes in the pocket on that break foul is put back on the spot before you begin your inning. You still get your turn to take Ball-in-Hand and generate a score.

If you miscue on the Break, you will have Ball in Hand and need to designate and pocket a ball out of the rack to avoid a zero score and continue.

Breaking and running all 15 balls is far more difficult than people think. This challenge can be quite humbling, but is also the very essence of creating tangible progress with your pool skills.

Each player will attempt six racks of 15 Ball. Total and record the score for each rack. The goal is a perfect 60 balls (4 racks of 15 balls).

The total ball count of each player will contribute to produce a total cumulative team score.


9-BALL RULES, FORMAT, and MATCH LENGTH

The 9-Ball segement has everyone playing three sets of 9-Ball against three opponents from the opposing team. Races to three games (3 out of 5 games).

We play all ball fouls. This will require some getting used to, but is the proper way to play pool and eliminates any question of where and who repositions moved object balls.

We call fouls on ourselves as a display of honor and respect for our sport.


TEAM MATCH SCORING

The outcome of a match is determined by adding the cumulative Power Ranking points total for each of your players during that event. The highest team total wins for that match.

Using the scoring format of each 9-Ball rack won counts as 10 Power Ranking points. That amount is added to the total 15-Ball score.

Example- If a player earns a 15-Ball score of 40 balls and then wins 6 racks of 9-Ball (60 points) that produces 100 points toward the team score.

Each team adds the total points of each of their players and the opponents add their team score to establish the winner of that match.

In the event that the match score is a tied score upon conclusion we will use the total 15-Ball score by each team to break the tie and determine victory. If that also is a tie then each player will play one rack against their last opponent and the team that wins the majority of those racks wins the match.