The break has scattered the balls, but the thin racking template is still on the cloth. Reaching down and pulling it away seems like a minor housekeeping task. If a ball obstructs it, however, that movement can change the layout of the game.
The WPA regulations effective September 2025 set out a removal procedure. The referee removes the template as soon as possible without disturbing balls. Without a referee, the opponent handles removal when balls obstruct it; with no obstruction, the player at the table may remove it.
Do not improvise around a trapped ball
The regulation includes limits and an exception for frozen balls obstructing removal. Check the complete provision before lifting or marking anything. “I remember where it was” is not an adequate substitute for the authorised procedure.
Before a casual match, agree which rules apply and how you will handle the template when there is no referee. That conversation is easier before the break than when someone is already leaning over a close cluster.
For an illustrative situation, one ball finishes over part of the template. The player about to shoot should pause and involve the opponent rather than slide the sheet underneath it. The purpose is to preserve the position both players are entitled to assess.
Its storage place matters too
Once removed, put the template away from the playing area and rails. The WPA rules of play identify interference by a removed template as a foul situation, including a ball contacting one left on a rail.
A designated place away from the table avoids turning the next shot into an equipment dispute. Keep the template flat and follow its care instructions so it remains usable for the next rack.
The habit is simple: inspect, agree who acts, preserve the balls, and remove the template from play when the rules allow. Good racking equipment should help establish a fair starting position, then stop becoming part of the contest.