Welcome to the American Poolplayers Association (APA)!
The APA is an amateur pool league designed to give players of
any skill level the opportunity to improve their game while making friends and having fun! In fact, the American Poolplayers Association is the largest pool league in the country, with over 260,000 members participating nationwide!
A typical night in the APA...5-8 of your friends, family and/or co-workers meet on the same night each week at your favorite watering hole. First, you say your hellos, have a beverage, maybe practice a few shots on the pool table. You can already see that the opposing team is kickin' back, ready to enjoy a night of friendly competition. Both team captains shake hands and get the night started by flipping a coin.
The coin flip determines which team picks a player to shoot the night's first match. When a player is chosen they are announced to the opposing team. The opposing team then decides who on their team is best suited to play that player and the match is set. Since your not playing first, this gives you the chance to settle in and cheer on your teammate.
Every APA player is assigned a "skill level". This skill level lets the teams know the playing ability of each player on both team rosters. A player's "Skill Level" also dictates the number of games that player must win in order to win their match. Teams sometimes use this information when picking a player to shoot a specific opponent. A handicap chart can be found on the scoresheet and is used to determine the number of games each player must win to win that individual match.
8-Ball...............................................................................9-Ball
Once both players are chosen, the match is started and the players race to be the first one to win their assigned number of games. (In 9-Ball each player gets a point for every ball they sink, and 2 points for the 9-Ball.) The first player to win the assigned number of games claims the match for their team. (In 9-Ball the first player to win their assigned number of points claims the match)
With the match decided, the process is repeated with teams alternating who puts up a player first in each of the remaining four matches.
Through the five matches played, the total skill levels of the 5 players (on each team) cannot total more than 23 points. This means that teams have to be diverse in the rankings of their players. It also allows the beginner and intermediate players to benefit from the experience of the stronger players on their team.
Teams try to win as many of the weekly matches as possible. One point is awarded for each match won. (In
9-Ball each match is worth 20 points.) At the end of the session, those qualifying teams with the most points advance to the session Tri-Cups were every team that participates wins cash. Also, along with a Wild Card winning team, the top teams begin 2 weeks of playoffs to decide the Division Championship Team for that session. Qualifying teams from the playoffs then become eligible to play in the Local Team Championships to decide which of them proceed to the National Team Championships in Las Vegas.
Your turn at the table...Before you begin the match, you and your opponent, Joe, shake hands and lag to determine which player will get to break first. Your team quickly informs you that Joe is a skill level 6. As a skill level 3 you will have to win 2 games before he wins 5. Soon you begin to realize that Joe is indeed a very good shot and he wins the first 2 games lickety split, but all the while, your team is cheering you on, making you determined to try your best!
At the start of the 3rd game it looks like Joe was only warming up because now he's shooting "lights out" as he pockets all of his balls and the 8-Ball in a single turn at the table...but wait! You can't believe it, Joe scratched on the 8-Ball! Ouch, that's not how you wanted to win that game, but you'll take it. Now the match is 1-2 and you only need 1 more game to win, while Joe needs 3.
Joe is clearly not as confident as he was during the first 2 games. He knows you've got him on the ropes but he bears down and squeaks out 2 more games against you, making the match count 1-4, otherwise known as hill hill. Now this match has turned into a real nail-biter and both teams can feel the suspense.
In the 5th match both players shoot slow and steady, each making good shots, but once again Joe gets down to the 8-Ball first. He's faced with a tough decision, should he go for the tough cut down the rail or should he try a bank shot? In that moment, you turn toward your team. You can't bear to watch, "I think I can hear the fat lady" you whisper. You know Joe has just taken his shot because you hear the soft click of balls behind you. Slowly players on both teams start to rise out of their seats as one team shouts at the 8-Ball to "get legs, get legs", while the other team watches intently, silently hoping it won't fall. Everything is literally going in slow motion now ... the 8-ball is approaching the pocket ... the game has even attracted a few other onlookers ... The 8-Ball inches closer and closer .. the air is thick with anticipation ... the 8 is on it's last quarter turn ... and ... "HOOOLLY COW" you shout, just as the ball runs out of steam and hangs in the jaws of the pocket!
"Awwwe, good try Joe, good try!" the other team says with a clap on his back. "Well, it's not over" he replies with a sly grin as he looks at you.
Uh oh ... that's right! You'd almost forgotten you were even involved in the game and now it's your turn to shoot. You could still win this! Looking over at the table you realize that you still have three solids left and the 8-Ball is just sitting there like a Christmas present all tied up in a bow waiting to be picked off! The first shot is going to be your hardest, there's a lotta green between that cue ball and the 4-Ball. You've never been very comfortable with long shots, and this one looks like that movie title,
The Green Mile. Inhale deep, exhale slow. If you can just make this shot the rest will be easy. Your almost ready, another deep breath, try not to let them see you sweat, you think to yourself. You line up the shot..."TIME-OUT!", someone on your team yells.
O-kay...now your a little startled but what the hey, maybe your coach knows something you don't know. The desgnated coach on your team comes up to the table and says, "I know this is a hard shot, but I just wanted to let you know that win or lose, you're playing a great match! Are
YOU having fun?" Well, yeah, come to think of it your having a blast - good times, good friends, and great pool. "It doesn't get any better than this" you reply. "Good, then whatever happens you've already won for the night! Now bear down and make that 4-Ball."
He's right of course, you are having a great time and even if you rattle the 4-Ball it won't be the end of the world for anybody. Your team will still support you, just like good ol' Joe's team is backing him up. You might as well just relax and keep having a good time. That 4-Ball doesn't look so intimidating now, so here goes...
"YEAH!" your team shouts as the 4-Ball splits the pocket "GREAT SHOT!" And just like it was Christmas morn, you sink the other two solids and the 8-Ball easy as pie. Your team is thrilled, they're all congratulating you and giving you high-fives because you've just clinched a win putting your team ahead 3 to 2 for the night. Someone somewhere shouts, "a round of drinks!" as you go over to Joe and shake his hand.
"Good match" you say, "You should've made that 8-Ball, I can't believe it didn't go in." "I knew it was a risky shot" says Joe, " but I just couldn't resist trying it. Hey, you play pretty good under pressure." "Oh thanks, that's probably one of the best games I've ever played" you say, "I don't know if I can take that kind of pressure again." "Really," says Joe, "'cause my buddy and I have been looking for a skill level 3 to form a team in 9-Ball on another night. You interested?"
