Ideas On How To Play Bar Billiards In Social Distancing

[Chris_Sav]

Ten minutes continuous play either player, sanitising your balls before you start?  

["Silent"]

Wash the balls before each leg, players and scorer wash hands before and after the leg

[jordans]

That's what Wycombe are looking at too Matthew :)

[iang]

Along with good hygiene, before the match the baulk area and ball return should be sanitized.

Also to minimise  contact the player should retrieve the nearest ball or ball occupying the peg spot following knocking over a peg as agreed with the scorer.

[lewisstrat26]

Just wash your hands before and after the leg(s). Avoid touching your face throughout the game, simples.😛

The two burning questions really are,
1.  How will social distancing be applied for one v one game / league matches ?
2.  What extra measures will need to be put in place for multi-person competitions such as Opens ?

This is not something we are likely to be able to decide for ourselves and we will be reliant on the venues to take the lead regarding partitions etc.
Also the Government are unlikely to issue bespoke guidelines for bar billiards, we will be obliged to follow the directives issued for Pool.

All captains can do is eagerly await the re-opening of the venue, and unless the current 2 metre distancing is relaxed to 1.5m or 1m  many will simply throw the towel in.
Meanwhile being the eternal optimist and a captain myself, I am building up a supply of cleaning materials (for balls and leatherette as suggested) and rubber gloves.

[Chris_Sav]

My view is it's essential we come up with some ideas on how to play bar billiards in a socially distanced world of pubs. Social distancing is going to be with us for many months from the look of it and, horribly, likely to extend into the next flu season!

If a bar billiards table is not being used in a socially distanced pub where space becomes a premium then it's going to be the first thing out the door to make more room.

The flip side of the coin is that ideas have to allow for old gits like me to feel they are protected enough. Personally, at 73 and circulation problems,  I will not be sharing a small bar with two teams when pubs reopen. Certainly in the pub I play for socially distanced bar billiards would appear impossible. Thus it's much more than hand wash that needs considering.

Every pub is different but we must have ideas for the rules of the game itself to allow it to be played, but also to do that under safe and legal social distancing in the bar in general in the eyes of the law.

In tight situations, just players and scorer present, and relaying games via Zoom or similar to more open areas of a pub / garden comes to mind. Even this could be difficult for pairs matches.

Planning is needed, locally and nationally, for teams to utilise their tables as soon as pubs reopen or the damage to bar billiards nationally could be catastrophic in my view. The health and safety of all players, not just the keen ones, must be the prime concern.

Nobody wants to feel that they are risking their own life playing bar billiards, Sav, I appreciate that.

But the whole essence and allure of bar billiards to me is its social aspect: quite often I turn up at a major event not to take part in it myself but to watch and cheer others on.

With recent hints of breakthroughs in both prevention and treatment of Covid-19,  I am still hoping that things will in a matter of months be able to get back to something like normality. And quite honestly if stringent measures have to be put in place which make it impossible to enjoy the game in the format that we know and love, then I for one will probably be calling it a day.

[Chris_Sav]

Cheers Clive,


That is precisely why we need contingency plans in case no immunisation is available within our timescale.

July 4th will not allow us entry into pubs as things stand, only into pub gardens. Some time after that, once we are allowed into pubs, it will likely be under social distancing regs.

Thus leagues restarting is a long way off at present.

[Sir Chancelot]

We are fortunate living in Guernsey. No confirmed cases in the Bailiwick (Includes Alderney, Sark and Herm) for 46 days. We are still testing and all visitors must self isolate for 14 days (at the moment). On Saturday 20th June we exit Lockdown locally and no distancing rules officialy apply. Pubs can open as before if they have survived, and no restrictions for contact sports. Darts and snooker leagues are starting up. There is some support among the younger players for completing our 2019/2020 Bar Billiards league season fixtures. Only 8 league games to play. We are still awaiting final decisions from all of our five teams. Most people are returning to work as from this coming Saturday, if they have not already done so.

[daveuk1]

My understanding is when pubs finally open, the insides will also be open in a limited way. I also believe our great goverment want us to start gambling again and want fruit machines switched on, but punters must clean the machine before they play on it and again when they've lost all their money in them and finish. I am sure we can come up with a similar system for bar billiards, hand sanitizer by the table, no pub cues, if you wanna play you use your own cue, etc.
The biggest challange for pubs in going to be the bottle neck in and around the toilets. When you get old, like me, when you've gotta go you have gotta go and I think the toilet arrangement is going to determine the capacity of the pub.

[Chris]

Dear All

Still working in a school with over 60 pupils in now, this is not an easy question and hand washing is not the answer to everything although the best way of killing the virus on our hands.

So we can or cannot use PPE. This can be from face masks to full clothing. This is total personal preference.

We are at present 2 metre distanced but that will come down to 1 metre soon I am sure.

Yes we all hand wash frequently.

So as an extra we temperature check daily, anything above 37.5 is a mild fever so we close the bubble and send the pupils hone 're self isolation guidance.

How does this relate to Bar Billiards well just some ideas and thoughts. Please don't rant back these are only thoughts.

You could initially temperature check any player, cost of a good one 50 pounds from Boots but worth a life I totally believe. Even if one in every pub.

You will need to ensure players wash their hands re entry.

You can buy wipes or sprays to sanitise the balls or Milton's in a bucket to wash baĺls inbetween time on the tables. Use disposable cloths. You would need a swing bin to dispose of these at the table.

You will need gloves, hand sanitizer ( note this does not prevent spread of the virus only handwashing does )

Face masks - controversary here your decisions as leagues or just players.

I can't say how to play, your decisions but I do recommend you truly, truly take precautions.

Could I also add that you check some of the statistics 're COVID especially if you are Diabetic or BEM. Only you personally can make an informed choice.


Regards
Chris x

[Chris_Sav]

Re my earlier post and today's announcement on socially distanced pubs reopening, first call already received to remove the table from a league pub as they view playing the game will not be possible for several months and they want every inch of socially distanced space.

["Silent"]

It is always great to read such positive news on here. Does anyone have any good news regarding the possible return of the game we all (I think) love? Contrary to an earlier post customers will be allowed inside pubs from 4th July albeit under strict rules. Let's hope some pubs will want to keep their bar billiard tables believing that they might secure some regular income

Well, Matt, today's news will certainly be welcome to local (Billingshurst) landlady Jodie Kidd, who campaigned nationally for the reduction to 1m:

Quote:

May 22, 2020 20:28:21 GMT 1 tommo said:
Full page on Jodie Kidd and her Half Moon (Kirdford) pub: page 12 of today's Sun.
www.thesun.co.uk/news/11681161/pubs-dna-open-landlady-jodie-kidd/

Concluding line from Jodie: "I have put too much sweat, blood and tears into this pub to lose it!"
Much depends on the post-Corona distancing rules .... most publicans are pushing for 1 metre rather than 2.

Although she doesn't have bar billiards !

To me, this is a step made just in time to save the pub trade. We don't know quite yet how this will affect the game of bar billiards, but at least a step in the right direction.

[davejones]

Jun 23, 2020 19:48:56 GMT "Silent" said:

It is always great to read such positive news on here. Does anyone have any good news regarding the possible return of the game we all (I think) love? Contrary to an earlier post customers will be allowed inside pubs from 4th July albeit under strict rules. Let's hope some pubs will want to keep their bar billiard tables believing that they might secure some regular income

Tha is all we can do Matt is hope

[little legs]

Jun 23, 2020 19:48:56 GMT "Silent" said:

It is always great to read such positive news on here. Does anyone have any good news regarding the possible return of the game we all (I think) love? Contrary to an earlier post customers will be allowed inside pubs from 4th July albeit under strict rules. Let's hope some pubs will want to keep their bar billiard tables believing that they might secure some regular income

Matt , I have been in the bevy recently they are doing a complete refurb but are to keep the billiard table , as someone who has worked throughout in an enviroment that there is no real distancing would be happy to play anyone interested in having a game .

[Chris_Sav]

Might I remind people of the warning this forum received from Proboards hierarchy back at the start of the emergency.

barbilliards.proboards.com/thread/22559/corona-virus-covid-19-posts

Encouraging people to ignore social distancing rules and risk both catching this awful disease and infecting others, especially the vulnerable, both then and now, must not happen.

Tennis has just found this out the hard way with the world number one and several other top players catching it after flouting social distancing rules at his recent tournament. How many lives have they put at risk?

We need a way forward, but safely!

 

[4timeschamp]

As far as I can see nobody is saying they would break distancing rules and as a landlord i would do everything in my power to make sure this happens. As far as playing is concerned I think a lot of pubs will have different views and different capabilities. No game is more important than a life but I am confident that a match could be played at my pub without breaking any distancing rules. It is Obviously up to individuals if they feel confident enough to play and I am sure this can be investigated by each league. I for one want this great game to start again but safely and I am sure if all guidelines such as distancing and sanitation are adhered to then this can happen, hopefully in the near future. The future is NOT doomed as some people think and hopefully we can all move forward.

[little legs]

In offering someone a game in a pub that will be following government guidelines on distancing and played in a safe manner after the 4th of June , it was open to anyone who felt safe to do so . Leagues will take longer to get as going as everyone has to feel safe to do so . 3 months ago it was suggested just walking out the door was unsafe , luckily all key workers didn't take this advice .

[4timeschamp]

Exactly Kev. I knew that’s what you meant. We will win this horrible war.

[milhouse]

Jun 24, 2020 8:48:33 GMT 4timeschamp said:

As far as I can see nobody is saying they would break distancing rules and as a landlord i would do everything in my power to make sure this happens. As far as playing is concerned I think a lot of pubs will have different views and different capabilities. No game is more important than a life but I am confident that a match could be played at my pub without breaking any distancing rules. It is Obviously up to individuals if they feel confident enough to play and I am sure this can be investigated by each league. I for one want this great game to start again but safely and I am sure if all guidelines such as distancing and sanitation are adhered to then this can happen, hopefully in the near future. The future is NOT doomed as some people think and hopefully we can all move forward.

Great post Jim, makes a change someone looking on the positive side of things!

I have spoken to the owner of my venue (albeit it is a snooker club) and we will be ok to play as soon as they are back open - with measures in place of course.

I personally cannot wait to get back playing all my cue sports!

[marmite]

We have all been responsible for our own actions during this pandemic and surly this is the way we all proceed, carefully and being aware of our own health and circumstances. If a publican says his pub is open for play and will be aware of everyone s safety then what more do you want ?. I go in tesco s and people brush past and could be infecting , what s the difference ?

[Chris_Sav]

Hopefully we all have each others' safety in mind


Before talking about what can  be done in pubs when they reopen I think players should take a look at the guidance for pubs.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb96e8e86650c278b077616/Keeping-workers-and-customers-safe-during-covid-19-restaurants-pubs-bars-takeaways-230620.pdf

Particularly the rules on customers remaining seated indoors in pubs with gatherings of no more than two households, one-way systems, cough screens, re-use of shared space for more seating and avoidance of communal contact.

My landlord awaits specific guidance on pub games but thinks it unlikely we will be allowed to play.


 

[4timeschamp]

We are also awaiting specific instructions Chris but I can tell you now there would be no screens. As explained before each pub is different. If I have 10 individual people come in that’s fine as long as they are socially distancing and in this case at least 1m. My pub god example is empty on a league night and the billiard players are the only people in the pub and therefore because of the positioning of the table if would be easy to play a match without going within the metre boundary. Nobody is trying to force people to play Chris and it would be up to each individual. Any landlord who pays no attention to the guidelines would be foolish and I for one hope we can start playing again in some format but safely. I realise your health position is different than as lot of people but you seem to be trying to influence people NOT to play rather than let them make their own minds up as long as they are within the guidelines for their pub. Remember Chris positive thoughts are a lot better than negative thoughts for people’s mental state which surely has to be taken into account as well.

[grant]

100% agree with Jim. Don't forget, unless we find a way to start playing soon in relative safety, there will be no game to come back to. Take it from someone who had a major health scare not so long ago and is will to make it work, by taking the small risk that currently exists. At the end of the day its down to the individual to make that choice and the leagues to support them in deciding what is right for them.

[bobhall]

Everyone’s safety is paramount and all pubs will do what is best for them and the customers. I for one am back to work and have to keep to social distancing as best as possible have face masks when needed and we have a sensor that checks our temperature when we are in the office and if we are above the limit we have to go and wait 15 minutes if still high then we must self isolate for 14 days no matter what. I can’t wait to be playing billiards again so I hope that when pubs are open the stags head will still be able to have us in to play

[davejones]

Jun 24, 2020 8:48:33 GMT 4timeschamp said:

As far as I can see nobody is saying they would break distancing rules and as a landlord i would do everything in my power to make sure this happens. As far as playing is concerned I think a lot of pubs will have different views and different capabilities. No game is more important than a life but I am confident that a match could be played at my pub without breaking any distancing rules. It is Obviously up to individuals if they feel confident enough to play and I am sure this can be investigated by each league. I for one want this great game to start again but safely and I am sure if all guidelines such as distancing and sanitation are adhered to then this can happen, hopefully in the near future. The future is NOT doomed as some people think and hopefully we can all move forward.

Well said Jim

[hevvie]

As a landlords wife, i am obviously keen for the pub to re-open and resume normal business.

However, as a nurse i have seen the full impact of this virus. I have been on the front line throughout and sucumbed to the disease myself in April. Thankfully recovering and being able to go back to work to rejoin the fight against the virus.

I would advise anybody who is classed as ‘vulnerable’ to avoid the stress of worrying about social distancing etc and stay safely at home. But for those who are keen to get back to a normal routine and feel the psychological benefits of socialising and a little healthy competition; i can assure you that The Stags Head, along with other pubs who are able, will follow the governments scientific guidelines stringently to ensure customers/players safety.

Bar billiards will survive!! (In my pub anyway)

[Chris_Sav]

Good advice Heather