CueSports International manages the BCA Pool League. It was initially operated by The Billiard Congress of America. The BCA Pool League is an umbrella membership organisation for pool leagues across the globe. The BCA Pool League has more than 50,000 members, and there are over 500 leagues across eight countries.
The BCA Pool League is one of the oldest sanctioning organizations for pool leagues in the world. The original organization was operated by the BCA. It was sold to CueSports International, in 2004. It is a significant presence in Canada with more than 450 leagues across eight countries.
BCA Pool League rules allow for team play. Each team can have no more than eight members. Each player on the team may play only one or two games per round. Players must be BCA members. All players must also sign an official Code of Conduct and Ethics agreement. The Hall of Fame honors great players.
In 1978, the BCA Pool League was founded to unify all independent leagues in the world. It was designed to offer pool leagues economies-of-scale. The organization is a strong force in pool with over 450 leagues across eight countries. It is also a major sponsor for the WPBA Tour which is the most prestigious pool tournament in North America.
The BCA Pool League rules were designed to allow for fair play and to promote good sportsmanship. Terry Bell, Larry Hubbart and others founded the league. They were pool professionals. In 1981, they founded the American Poolplayers Association (APA). It has two international members, the World Pool-Billiard Association WPBA (World Pool-Billiard Association) and Japanese Poolplayers Association JPA (JPA).
The BCA Pool League is a nine-ball and eight ball league that plays on 9-foot tables. Points are the basis of nine-ball matches. To win, each player must score two points or more. To win the eight-ball, players need to be at least three levels of skill. The round's winner is the one who has won the most games. This earns the player eight points. If the match is postponed, the match must be played within three weeks. The match is forfeited if the player cannot play within the three-week deadline.
Players must register for the BCA Pool League. All dues must be clearly indicated on scoresheets. Scores will be canceled if a player fails to pay all dues.
BCA Pool League rules also include "Applied Rulings" from large-scale tournament administration. These rules include a lag timing rule that states that the ball should be shot when the ball of an opponent contacts the foot cushion.
The league director has full authority to make placements. The league director is responsible for ensuring that all divisions are competitive. The league director is also responsible to ensure that all teams are equal and no team is considered superior.
BCA Pool League rules include the "Equalizer", an APA handicapping system. This system was created to give every player a fair chance at winning.