Amateur pool competitions in America are managed by the American Poolplayers Association. The organization has tournaments and leagues for 8 and 9-ball competitions. The APA also hosts a handicapped player championship. These tournaments are a great way to meet other pool players and compete against the best.
Standard Rules for APA
The APA Standard Rules to Pool Tournaments includes a number helpful resources for players. These include an Official Team Manual as well as a Rule Booklet. These rules provide information on keeping score and handicap information. In addition, you can download these rules to a variety of devices. There are many online videos that can help you with the game.
APA nineball is different than Texas Express rules 9 ball in many ways. First, balls 1 through 8 count as one point; nine balls count as two points. Likewise, pockets made on the break count as two points. Rules stipulate that object balls are treated as dead balls. The rack is finished and the player with most points wins.
The handicapping system for APA
The APA's handicapping system to win pool championships is based a formula that attempts balancing skill levels. To win a pool championship, a player with 6 balls must play 46 balls, while a player with 9 balls must play 19 balls. This formula is based on win/loss statistics and has been proved to be quite accurate.
NAPA handicapping is different from national pool leagues. It assigns a skill-level to individual matches, and not a theoretical maximum. The highest-skill 8-ball players and the best in nine-ball are rated respectively at 115 & 149. While the majority of players are between the 30s & 70s,
APA's Sportsmanship Award
World Pool Championships recognizes winners of the APA Sportsmanship Award for Pool Tournaments. The award is based on a nomination process. To be eligible for the award you must be a member of a pool team. APA staff will nominate. The tournament recognizes the winners, and the tournament's program will publish the names of the winners.
The tournament host can not switch leagues. The franchisee does not have the authority to do so. The League Operator refused to allow the host location to create an in-house division. This was because it was their business. The APA then contacted a nearby competitive pool league and arranged for an in-house section.
APA's Wheelchair Championships for players in wheelchairs
The APA Wheelchair Championship tournament is for players with disabilities. There are five skill tiers. The Blue Tier caters to players with SL2/3 capabilities, the Yellow Tier for players with SL4+ and the Red Tier for players of SL5 and higher abilities. To qualify players must be APA Members and have at most 10 League match scores in the last two year.
APA Junior Championships
The American Poolplayers Association hosts many major pool tournaments each year. The APA's Junior Championships is a great event for both juniors and teenagers. The event takes place in Lake St. Louis (Missouri) and is open to all ages. The APA also holds two major amateur competitions, the U.S. The APA also hosts two major amateur competitions, the U.S. Amateur Championships in late April/early May and the World Championships in late August. Guinness World Records has rated the APA's world championships as the world's biggest pool tournament in 2010. The APA's junior championships welcome young players. Each division has been divided into skill level categories.
The APA Junior Championships offer two major competitions every year. The nine-ball World Championship attracts over 500 teams. The event attracts APA members of different countries. The APA has international affiliates, the Canadian Poolplayers Association and the Japanese Poolplayers Association. WPBA Tour, North America's most widely televised and televised pool tournament, is sponsored by the APA.