Arrow Leadership International Ministries

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The Game of Firth (International Rules)

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
1. 1 pool table
2. 1 white ball
3. 1 black ball
4. As many world changing & community impacting leaders you can gather

RULES
1. A player will hit the black ball by rolling the white ball towards it or by placing the white ball in the path of the black ball.

2. If the black ball stops or goes into a pocket before a player has the opportunity to hit it, that player shall receive a letter, generally spelling the name of an animal such as D-O-G or E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T OR SOME MAY CHOOSE TO HONOUR ONE THEY LOVE BY SPELLING A WORD SUCH AS P-U-E (feel free to use your creativity on this one).

3. Whenever a letter is issued the next player will resume play with a serve.

4. It all starts with the “HANDS IN” where all players stand around the table and place both hands on the rail establishing who follows who in the rotation.

5. THE SERVE is how it all starts with the black ball on the dot and the beginning player will roll the white ball initiating the movement of the black ball.
a. If the player misses the black ball and sinks the white ball they receive a letter.
b. If a player misses the black ball three times in a row (on the serve) they receive a letter.
i. The aforementioned infraction of missing the serve 3 times is referred to as a BRENDA

6. All rolling or placing of the white ball must take place in the parameters of the “ends of the table as opposed to the sides. If this is not adhered to many obnoxious people will point their index finger at you and yell “SIDE!!!!” --- a letter will be issued.

7. OTHER INFRACTIONS (all resulting in a letter for the infracting player)
a. A GRETCHEN is when a player launches the white ball in such a way that it overpowers the forces of gravity to the point that it leaves the playing surface and goes beyond the boundaries of the table area.
b. THE ULTIMATE GRETCHEN. Please contact the Firth headquarters to get an understanding of the impact of this infraction.
c. A COULTER is when the black ball is struck with such force that it leaves the table.
d. A DR. MITCH is when a player touches the black ball with their hand or when any player who is not supposed to touch the white ball at that time does so. A basic guideline for this infraction is that if there is anything deemed as “inappropriate touching”, the play must be stopped and a letter issued.
e. A FIRTH is when any player over 5’5” releases the white ball in order to strike the black ball while neither of their feet are touching the ground.
f. A BRENDA, for reiteration’s sake, is when a player misses the serve three times in a row.
g. A GERTA, is when the ball skips off the table with such force that it flies and smashes into a mug or cup in which someone is holding a coffee or latte. The mug must break in order for this to be a full Gerta infraction.

8. SOME MOVES OF NOTE (these are encouraged and will likely receive some positive feedback upon completion).
a. A REVEREND DOCTOR is when on the serve both the black and white ball go into the two pockets on the end of the table the black ball is set up on. This name comes from the near perfection and the power that are embodied in this move, much like our own Rev. Dr. Steve.
b. A SNELL is a move brought to us by our Dublin residing native of South Africa. It is the complete circumnavigation of the table by one player during their turn. Please note - the full 360 degrees must be completed - close doesn’t count when you are trying to pull a Snell.
c. The “DIRTY” FIREMAN is observed when the white ball is merely placed in front of the path of the black ball, effectively stopping it in place making it very difficult for the next player to make their move.
d. THE GOSPEL is when a player is about to receive a letter and another player performs a Dr. Mitch thus taking the letter upon themselves.
e. CANDY is the term used for a shot that is a “perfect set-up” for a player to make an easy shot to get the black ball in the pocket.
9. THE ISSUING OF NICKNAMES
a. This is an encouraged practice in Firth, but nicknames must only be applied under the proper conditions.
i. A nickname shall only become official upon a player being the victor.
1. Nicknames may be “tried on” if there is one that seems to “fit” a player that has not won a Firth match, but it will remain on an unofficial trial basis until such time as when the player rises above every other competitor to be the victor.
2. Nicknames shall not be a forced issue. If there is not a nickname that is ready for a victorious player they shall be put into a category that has them as “eligible for a nickname”.